New to the concept of Lucid Dreams.

[jestyre]

I just found this site and forum today. I've really enjoyed reading about everyone's experiences and techniques. I wish I could say I've had my first lucid dream but I still haven't. I'm really interested however and think it'd be a great way to spend my nights. I've seen movies like Vanilla Sky and Little Nemo and always felt it would be nice to be able to control my dreams. For some reason earlier today I was thinking about vanilla sky and I googled lucid dream. I wasn't expecting anything other then maybe a fan site. Boy was I surprised when I got slammed with information! I really like the concept and seeing so many people are successful is really encouraging. There have been times when I'm dreaming and I've unknowingly performed a reality check and figured out the dream wasn't real, but I've never taken control from there, I always either wake up or go along for the ride(in the long run usually forgetting I knew it was fake). After reading more and more into it I've decided this is something I really want to master. Tomorrow I'm starting a little journal. I put my cellphone across the room underneath a notebook so I would remember when I wake up. Artelis had a post about Brainwave which creates binaural beats. I don't own an mp3 player and can't forsee moving my bed closer to my computer so I can plug in headphones so that's out of the question for now. I also read about people concentrating on their breathing. The problem is I live in Los Angeles, and there is always some sort of noise that I think will throw me off. I'm used to falling asleep with the tv on just to drown out the racket of cars and slamming garage doors. Would ear plugs be a good device to use? Or does the excess noise contribute(sort of like binaural beats) and you need it?

[irishcream]

Originally posted by jestyre I just found this site and forum today. *I've really enjoyed reading about everyone's experiences and techniques. *I wish I could say I've had my first lucid dream but I still haven't. *I'm really interested however and think it'd be a great way to spend my nights. *I've seen movies like Vanilla Sky and Little Nemo and always felt it would be nice to be able to control my dreams. *For some reason earlier today I was thinking about vanilla sky and I googled lucid dream. *I wasn't expecting anything other then maybe a fan site. *Boy was I surprised when I got slammed with information! I really like the concept and seeing so many people are successful is really encouraging. *There have been times when I'm dreaming and I've unknowingly performed a reality check and figured out the dream wasn't real, but I've never taken control from there, I always either wake up or go along for the ride(in the long run usually forgetting I knew it was fake). After reading more and more into it I've decided this is something I really want to master. *Tomorrow I'm starting a little journal. *I put my cellphone across the room underneath a notebook so I would remember when I wake up. Artelis had a post about Brainwave which creates binaural beats. *I don't own an mp3 player and can't forsee moving my bed closer to my computer so I can plug in headphones so that's out of the question for now. *I also read about people concentrating on their breathing. *The problem is I live in Los Angeles, and there is always some sort of noise that I think will throw me off. *I'm used to falling asleep with the tv on just to drown out the racket of cars and slamming garage doors. *Would ear plugs be a good device to use? *Or does the excess noise contribute(sort of like binaural beats) and you need it? Hiya, welcome to the forum! Sounds like you've got a good start, in that you realise you've had some lucidity in the past. When you begin writing down your dreams and recognising dreamsigns, it should become easier to you. Hmmm...as far as noise or no noise goes, that's completely up to you. Do you find that having the television on helps your dreaming, or does it prevent you sleeping? Earplugs are a good idea if the noise is a problem. PM me if you have any more questions.

[jestyre]

Originally posted by irishcream Do you find that having the television on helps your dreaming, or does it prevent you sleeping? I generally use it as background noise to fall asleep to. Is this wrong? Or should I be concentrating on something, such as my breathing?

[irishcream]

Oh, definitely not...there's no right or wrong way to go about lucid dreaming. Everyone has their own little versions of standard techniques, and some people use techniques that are unique to them. Just go with whatever works for you! Although concentrating on your breathing can be good, but i personally find that difficult. I like you have to have some kind of back ground music. Usually a sort of ambient chillout.