Thread: New here, and few questions

Welcome to the forum! You definitely found the right place to learn how to LD.

Originally posted by Overseer+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Overseer)</div>

So I was wondering, is there is anyway to aid my dream recall? So far I've just been telling myself to remember my dreams at night.

Of course, I've only been making an effort to remember my dreams for 3 days now, so I suppose it's possible I just need more time. [/b]

Are you keeping a dream journal? If not, that would be step #1. Recording your dreams, or anything you remember at all, will help train your mind to remember more. A good way to start keeping a journal if you don't have much recall is to keep a notepad and pen next to your bed within close reach. When you wake up, don't open your eyes or move. Concentrate on what you were just dreaming. Record anything you get glimpses of or remember. Eventually, you've get better.

Originally posted by Overseer@
My second question is:

Will music/background noise affect my dream recall at all? I sleep with a very large, very loud fan. I also put music on every so often.

I wouldn't think that would matter, but you may want to try sleeping with it off for a few nights. See if the difference in environment does anything for your dreaming mind.

<!--QuoteBegin-Overseer
My third question is:

I've been wearing a watch and performing reality checks every hour, and was wondering if I should be doing them at shorter/longer intervals.

I've never had much luck doing RC's so predictable as that. I usually take something from a common dreamsign of mine (like misdialing a phone), and do an instant reality check if I do it during the day. This will give you the advantage of attaching the reality check to your common dreamsign(s), so you have a better chance of attaining lucidity. Anyway, that's what works for me - you should try different things and see what does it for you.

My favorite thing to do in dreams is fly! Do a search on the subject and I'm sure you'll find helpful information.

Good luck

Welcome, Overseer! For the most part, Burns gave you the same advice I would have; however, I'd like to add a few things.

As for background noise, I am personally unable to sleep with anything that has a beat or words, but I can sleep to the sound of a fan very easily. With it being merely white noise, I have not noticed a difference in my dreaming with it on or off. Music, I know from years past, can affect your dreams to a degree, though. I actually had my first flying dream to the tune of "I believe I can fly" and it was quite amusing. Flying is quite enjoyable, if I do say so myself.

Originally posted by Overseer
Of course, I don't expect to lucid dream anytime soon (let alone fly in one), so until then I'm stuck with imagining what it must be like.

Egh, don't think like that. Some people have actually had LDs the night after finding out that it's possible to have them. Some people take longer to have one, but don't ever think that you're limited. Expect to have a lucid dream, and really work on your recall. It'd be awful to have an LD and not be able to remember what you did or how you did it

Anyway, I hope this was helpful. Let us know if there's anything else we can do for you!

-Amé

Thank you both for the advice and kind words.

I woke up about 20 minutes ago, and recorded a very short, very vague dream.

Originally posted by Burns
Are you keeping a dream journal? If not, that would be step #1. Recording your dreams, or anything you remember at all, will help train your mind to remember more. A good way to start keeping a journal if you don't have much recall is to keep a notepad and pen next to your bed within close reach. When you wake up, don't open your eyes or move. Concentrate on what you were just dreaming. Record anything you get glimpses of or remember. Eventually, you've get better.

I'm keeping a laptop next to my bed with Notepad open, and I've created a folder that I can keep what I remember of my dreams in. I don't think I'd be comfortable with my mom finding a book full of odd recordings.

Here's the dream I recorded today:

A distant voice was talking about the Japanese bow and arrow, and how much more difficult it is to fire than western bows.

It went on to say that in order to hit wandering drunk people in the distance, they would wrap the arrows in the country’s supersonic maize.

The whole time I was looking at an odd looking arrow that someone was holding. The only thing I could see of the person was their hand.


That's all I remember.

I'm not sure if I was totally asleep or not. I remember opening my eyes during the dream and it stopped, but then I closed my eyes again, fell asleep, and the dream continued.

Despite the fact it's short, I'm happy I could record something.

PS: I didn't think about it until now, but the thought of supersonic Japanese maize is cracking me up.

EDIT: I was thinking about what I'd do if I had a LD, which spawned a few more questions.

I didn't really think about all the possibilities of Lucid Dreams before, but the more I think about it, the more amazing it sounds.

How complex can they be?

For example:

I want to try a cops and robbers scenario. At first I'd be a cop trying to stop a bank robber, then once I'm done with that I'd like to reset the whole thing and actually be the robber. If I had team mates, and I told them something like "Stay out here and page me if you see anything suspicious" do things like that usually work out?

I guess I'm sort of in love with a cops Vs robbers/terrorists Vs anti-terrorists/Werewolves Vs Vampires, thing.

Or being Naked Snake from Metal Gear Solid 3 and dueling with The End, or infiltrating Groznyj Grad. Oh man, that would rule so hard.

Or being in a race - Burnout: Revenge style. Hitting cars every which way.

Also, has anyone ever flown an airplane in their LD? Flying missions like those in Ace Combat 4, 5, or 0 would be awesome.

I'm getting ahead of myself, but I'm sure you guys know what I mean.

Anyway, would any of that be possible, or are things like that too complex, and you'd end up loosing lucidity?

Originally posted by Overseer
Hi there.

I was directed here by the Wikipedia article about lucid dreaming, I was linked to the Wikipedia article from a dream interpretation website, and I found the dream interpretation website by searching for a way to control my dreams.

I've been reading these forums; all of them, for 3 days straight now and it has been very helpful. I do have a few questions regarding how to start lucid dreaming, though.

My dream recall is abysmal. The last dream I can remember was a nightmare which occurred 2 weeks ago (I was at my grandmother's house with several of my friends, and we were all gathered around a small wooden box. The box opened and a pure black, deformed figure, that somewhat resembled a girl was crawling out. I ran out of the house and my friend yelled that if I left I wouldn't make it past the lawn. I went back inside and the dream ended. The whole time I had a feeling of extreme terror.) And I had no control over it whatsoever.

So I was wondering, is there is anyway to aid my dream recall? So far I've just been telling myself to remember my dreams at night.

Of course, I've only been making an effort to remember my dreams for 3 days now, so I suppose it's possible I just need more time.

My second question is:

Will music/background noise affect my dream recall at all? I sleep with a very large, very loud fan. I also put music on every so often.

My third question is:

I've been wearing a watch and performing reality checks every hour, and was wondering if I should be doing them at shorter/longer intervals.

Those are my questions.

I have several motives for lucid dreaming. One of which is the desire to experience the thrill of (I wonder what he will say...?) FLYING!

The second of which is to simply do as I please, and to do so with the knowledge that nothing can hurt me.

Of course, I don't expect to lucid dream anytime soon (let alone fly in one), so until then I'm stuck with imagining what it must be like.

Thanks.

I just started too. When I first woke up I knew I had a dream but I couldn't remember any of it. I spent about 5 minutes just concentrating on it, then it came to me. Now I remember it all clear.

I have a question about B6.

Will taking B6 before you go to bed give you a better chance at Lucid Dreaming? If so, how much is a safe amount?

I'm 15, 5' 7", 140 pounds. I've read that taking too much can be bad for you, so I just want to make sure that it's safe.

Originally posted by Overseer
I have a question about B6.

Will taking B6 before you go to bed give you a better chance at Lucid Dreaming? If so, how much is a safe amount?

I'm 15, 5' 7", 140 pounds. I've read that taking too much can be bad for you, so I just want to make sure that it's safe.

Yah, good question.

B6 doesn't directly affect lucidity, as far as I'm aware, but, it definitely helps recall and vividity. As for a safe amount?

I'd go with 50mg, no more than 100mg, once a week MAX.

Originally posted by The Blue Meanie

Yah, good question.

B6 doesn't directly affect lucidity, as far as I'm aware, but, it definitely helps recall and vividity. As for a safe amount?

I'd go with 50mg, no more than 100mg, once a week MAX.

Cool, thanks for the info.

We have a bottle of "50mg tablets", how long before I go to bed should I take one?

Originally posted by Overseer


Cool, thanks for the info.

We have a bottle of "50mg tablets", how long before I go to bed should I take one?

No idea about that, sorry. I'm still experimenting myself. You'll have to just try and find out...

I think you could probably take one right before bed, but just eat a little something with it. I think that it makes you sleep lighter, thereby enabling you to think a little bit clearer, but that's my theory. As for taking too much B6, it takes quite a bit to have a lethal dose, but as with any vitamin or, well, anything in general, start small. There should also be more information under the Tutorial forum.

And as a disclaimer, DV doesn't encourage the use of substances (legal or illegal) to induce LDs. Use at your own risk. (Just to cover our butts)

As for background noise, I am personally unable to sleep with anything that has a beat or words, but I can sleep to the sound of a fan very easily. With it being merely white noise, I have not noticed a difference in my dreaming with it on or off.[/b]

I believe that's known as pink noise amé.

Oh and Overseer...your sig is quite interesting.

I took 100mg of B6 last night before I went to bed, I didn't notice any difference, though. I can't remember any of my dreams either.

I tried the WILD, and had some interesting results.

I didn't see any lights, and I didn't experience any weird sensations, but I did hear noises. I heard the sound that keys make when you rattle them on a key chain. At first I thought my mom or brother was in the house, but I didn't hear the door open or close. I started getting itchy, and when I scratched myself I lost concentration, so I stopped.

Originally posted by Inverting_world_lines

Oh and Overseer...your sig is quite interesting.

Thanks. (The guy in my sig isn't me, by the way.)