2 Forms of Dreams?

Alright, so am i wrong in thinking that there are 2 different forms of dreaming? i've always thought lucid dreaming was just an earlier sleep state, and once we get deeper in sleep we don't have the ability to become aware we're dreaming. those are always easier to remember, because they take place closest to our awakening.

but reading through the site, it seems more like - we just need a reality check method, to make our dream-selves realize it's a dream? wouldn't the crazy stuff that happens in most non-lucid dreams be enough to alarm us? like pink elephants floating around or whatever.

or is the lucid dream a lucid dream from the start. where we are creatures of habit, thinking we're awake and will do reality checks.
and there is no way to become lucid from a normal dream.

bah, this was all probably confusing, i'm going to bed. heh :|

[quote]
wouldn't the crazy stuff that happens in most non-lucid dreams be enough to alarm us?[quote]

In the dream world, occurences like that SEEM normal, no matter how strange it would be in waking life. In a dream you see strange things, and they seem nothing out of the ordinary. You need to perform reality checks to stop and say, "wait, was that actually a flying elephant?"

My best advice to you, is to read all the information on the main site. You have quite a bit to learn. ;)

Darth put it the best way.

Lucid dreams aren't just another stage of sleep, they're when you realize that you're dreaming, and you gain control of your dream. Just read the pages, they'll teach you a lot.

And a quick comment on sleep stages, you actually start out in a deeper sleep state and eventually your sleep becomes lighter and lighter, which is why you can remember your dreams when you wake up. Also, as the night goes on, the amount of time spent in deep sleep lessens and the time spent in REM sleep grows, so you are more likely to remember your dreams in the morning rather in the middle of the night.

:) Welcome to DV.

-Amé