New to Lucid dreaming, but not to subject, any tips?

[Belak]

Hello fellow dreamviews users, I'm Belak. Ive been on dreamviews for a few months but never signed up because my mother doesn't approve. I'm looking forward to talking to some of you and advancing in lucid dreaming. I've only had about four, but I know a lot of the information. Right now I'm improving dream recall and ADA. I have tried WILD but I lacked motivation, if you have any tips for me, feel free to comment below. Is there anyone else who's parents don't approve, if so, how did you get over it?

[Verre]

I'm sure your parents mean well, but it's natural for them to worry about things they don't understand (I'm presuming they're not lucid dreamers themselves). Perhaps it's analagous to parents who don't want their kids to watch too much TV or play computer games because they're concerned it will become addictive or distracting, or expose them to "mature" themes and situations. However, unlike TV and computer games, dreaming is a much more personal matter, and not something that anyone else can monitor or control! Perhaps that makes them feel even more anxious. I guess it's up to you how much you want to share with them about your lucid experiences. At the very least, I would think they'd be grateful to have a kid that wants nothing more than to get lots of quality sleep rather than staying out late and partying!

[dutchraptor]

hehe I agree with verre, and justi n case you can always show them this Secret to raising well behaved teens? Maximize their zzzzz's -- ScienceDaily

[Belak]

Thnx guys, but my mom is against it because of her faith. I personally don't agree, but what can I do about it? I guess I'll just have to hide my lucid dreaming from her. On a bright note, my dream recall is really improving due to dream journaling. Also, do you guys have any tips for when you lack motivation? I've had a long dry spell due to this and it is very annoying. Thanks for the help.

[PercyLucid]

Dang man... what a bummer... I do not get it... why because of their faith they would forbid lucid dreaming... too bad, but glad you did sign up man! You are going to have a blast here and there is plenty of information around this community that will help you out. I recommend you to get a dream journal by your bed (if that does not get you in trouble, if it would, then maybe you can sneak a blank paper inside your bible and when you need to write a dream down, you can do it without being spotted.) And then work on Reality Checks. There is a lot of material about that here!! Feel free to ask any questions also, we will love to help you out. WILD takes practice and sometimes, if you feel lack of motivation, a break from WILD attempts can be the best medicine Then after a few nights, re-attempt! And welcome to DVs!!!

[Verre]

Thnx guys, but my mom is against it because of her faith. You don't mention what her faith is, though from the term "faith" I would guess you mean some variety of Christianity. I remembered that I actually have a book that addresses the ways different religions have dealt with the issue of dreaming, which might be of interest to you if you want to educate yourself (and perhaps your mother as well) about the ambivalent attitudes that Christians have historically had about dreaming: Kelly Bulkeley, Dreaming in the World's Religions: A Comparative History (NY: New York University Press, 2008) There are a ton of terrible books about dreaming churned out by the popular press, but this one relies on genuine historical research (with citations!) and is published by a respectable university press, making it at least a credible contribution to the scholarship. Although I haven't read very far in it yet, skimming ahead through the chapter on Christianity, the author suggests that while there was a certain ambivalence about dreams because of their potential for sexual stimulation, they do play a critical role in the Christian faith, even in the Bible (p.167-170). It seems that St. Paul in particular had some very significant dreams that he attributed to divine revelation (p.171). Even more intriguing, when she begins to discuss St. Augustine, she goes so far as to quote the account of a particular dream that he described in his writings and comments: "A self-transcending lucid dream like this was, according to Augustine, a legitimate piece of evidence supporting Christian teachings..." (p.181). If St. Augustine found lucid dreaming to be a suitable practice for Christians, who are we to argue? He's a very important guy in Christian tradition, and he was extremely well-educated in the faith! In the end the author concludes: "In Christianity's earliest texts, in the experiences of its martyrs and converts, and in scattered places throughout the tradition's later history, we find clear expressions of the belief that dreams are a legitimate means of communion between humans and God" (p.191). Obviously your mother is not going to be convinced by this post, i.e., some random person posting on a dream-related forum, but perhaps you could acquire a copy of the book for yourself (if it is inconvenient to buy one, ask your school library if they can get it through Interlibrary Loan), and learn more about the concrete history of dreaming in relation to Christianity... and if I've guessed wrong about the "faith" in question, this book also covers just about every other religion in the world! I've only skimmed the relevant chapter just now, so giving it a thorough read would educate you much more thoroughly on the topic. And if it's true that Christianity has a legitimate place for lucid dreaming, which can be supported through concrete historical evidence and sacred texts... well, maybe your mother will be able to see the matter from another point of view.

[gab]

to Dreamviews! Sorry about your family not approving. Sometimes we get members with same problem. Best thing is really for you to decide how much you would like to share/not share with your mom. You don't really need to talk about it, since in todays society, people don't really talk about their dreams. So it would be nothing strange if you didn't talk about it with her. Welcome Induction Methods and Techniques Dreamviews IRC chat If you have any questions, just ask on the forum, or join us in chat for some dream talk or just chitchat.