Experienced Lucid dreamer big changes after COVID
I discovered Lucid dreaming after having sleep paralysis and the old hag experience most of 2000. I learned all I could and turned it into Lucid Dreaming. Eventually the SPs and Old Hag went away. I read every book I could about LD, I have quite the library, listened to every pod cast and youtube video and started studying the Bon. It became a major part of my life. How I meditated, how I walked during the day, how I thought etc. revolved around having LD that night. I even started teaching in my local community and had dozens of people show up for my classes. I now have an entire little community out here in the middle of no where Missouri that Lucid Dreams!
Then I had COVID March of 2020 and after that developed a chemical sensitivity so bad I had to quit work. I had a small business on my farm so all is well. I began noticing that when I closed my eyes during the day, I could no longer see what I thought of or what plant I had been working with. Pre-covid, If I harvested rose petals all day, I could close my eyes and see rose petals with zero effort. When I closed my eyes, I couldn't NOT see something. If I thought about rose petals and closed my eyes, the same. Now I can't see anything when I close my eyes but darkness and if I think very hard, I can sort of see the image I'm trying to think of. I can see it in my mind, but it doesn't feel like it's just right behind my eye lids if that makes sense.
I also stopped Lucid Dreaming after covid. In trying to get it back, I have worked extra hard at my mindfulness practice and dream tests all day. Journaling too (as always). Now it seems that even though I test while I'm dreaming, so I'm at least pre-lucid, the tests always fail. I'm testing more than I ever have, almost nightly in my dreams, several dreams a night. They Always fail now.
Previously I would always test when in a stair well, elevator, or parking garage in my dreams and I always passed indicating I'm dreaming (because I'm never in those place in "real life"). Now however, when I jump, I just land normally like there is gravity. When I try to float down a flight of stairs like I've done in dream time for 20 years, I can't do it etc. Zero dream tests result in discovering I'm sleeping. It's very frustrating.
Has anyone else had covid strip away their LD super powers?
