Hello Am I Dreaming?

[roBob]

Hello. So this is my introduction thread. I'm a guy who's into Lucid Dreaming, Dreams, and other dreamy type stuff. I used to lucid dream quite frequently until highschool, at which point I stopped for an unknown reason. So now I'm back on track to regain that ability since I enjoyed it quite a bit. Consitency is my sticking point. I keep an irregular dream diary, having learned that I just have to write the dreams down in my regular journal, because if I keep a seperate dream journal I'll never write in it. I almost always remember my dreams upon awaking, but sometimes don't consider them important enough to write down, like this morning. If a dream bores me, I have trouble forcing myself to write it down, instead of just going back to sleep, or starting to think about my daily activities. The last time I kept a consistent dream journal I eventually gave it up in frustration because it was taking me 3 hours every morning to write down all the dreams I'd remember as my dream recall kept expanding. I'll keep working on this part though. This current go round I am using Reality Checks for a starter, and doing them 21x a day, since this was a method recommended by some tibetan lama, or goat or other. I keep a small note book for keeping track that I've done them, 8 so far today (I wake up around noon.) The last time I used this method I had a lucid dream within 3 days, it's been at least 7 so far this time. Although last time I wrote "Are You Dreaming" on the palm of my hand, and checked each reality check off next to it. I'm trying to look less scruffy for work these days, so I've opted to simply look at my palm, along with some form of text elsewhere for my reality checks this time. Well, I am super commited to having consistant Lucid Dreams this time. I have a few other tricks up my sleeve, and am happy to be here to expand the the tool box a bit. So hello! How you doin'?

[Gwendolyn]

I think that you are on the right track. Make sure that you write in your dream journol avidly. Also, take a look at our tutorials. I definately look forward to hearing from you in our forum in the future, and if you need any help, just pm myyself or another staff member, or experienced member. Everyone is pretty nice here!

[NeAvO]

Hello and welcome to DV Thats pretty clever to write "are you dreaming" on your hand. Well keep doing the reality checks and using the dream journal and you will be Lding in no time. Good luck.

[roBob]

Thank you for the welcomes. Yep, I really need to kick my own butt when it comes to the dream journaling. Working on that. I'm not writing on my hand this time, yet. It might be easier than remembering to take my little note book every where though. (Today is the first time I forgot it, and I had to remember to jot down 8 reality checks before I got home.) I was very pleased by my previous success earlier this year, and am excited to repeat it.

[XMindfreakX]

I have no seniority on the boards whatsoever, but welcome anyway.

[Burns]

I have no seniority on the boards whatsoever, but welcome anyway.[/b] You don't need senority to welcome new members! We love seeing newbs welcoming newbs. By the way, roBob - to the forum!

[roBob]

well thank you Mindfreak, and Burns. I wrote down my boring dream about not wanting to be in the company photo for my last job, and scheming to be the one to take the picture instead. I just can't get excited about these type of dreams, even if there were smirking vampires in the background. Unfortunately I didn't capture my afternoon nap dream, I did scold myself for not writing it down, before I went back to sleep though.

[tiddlywink101]

I personally find writing down my dreams a chore but I guess if I want to LD I should keep at it

[Daen]

Hey RoBob, I can certainly identify with not writing down the "boring" dreams. To rehabilitate this problem I decided to devote these moments of lapse to another important and benefitial dream practice: dream re-entry. Shaman's (a very general and apparently offensive term, so sorry) used this technique extensively in their cultures as a means of dream travel (soul journeying). When their children had nightmares the elders would use monotonous drumming to help them re-enter the dream world with the intent of awareness. The drumming was about 4-6 beats per second which actually translates to a similar rhythm that the brain 'emits' as Theta and Delta waves (dreamy and deeply meditative). I could never get anyone to drum for me to try this out so I took up listening to my heart beat and maintaining a strong focus of returning to the dream state. This was particularly effective after nightmares (and very challenging&#33. My heart would be racing and my attention was certainly not waving from the events of the dream. As I relaxed I would focus on the main turning point in the dream and listen to my heart slowly but surely slow down and calm. Sometimes you will re-enter the dream with no lucidity, but more often than not (particularly if you have been lucid before) you will be lucid (at some stage at least). This technique is remarkable and works for normal boring dreams as well. So if you don't feel up to writing a dream down why not try re-entering it and spicing it up with a dash of lucidity? Also, 3 months ago I cut the tendons in three of my fingers on my right hand. I write with my right hand so I could not keep a journal. This was agonising because I gave up weed (which had killed my dreamlife for years) straight afterward and as a result had an absolute flood of dreams. I felt lucidity around the corner (as I had done it a few times before) but I knew I had to keep a journal if I wanted them to come. I resolved the problem by buying a digital dictophone. Now I wake up at any time and just talk the dream out (in present tense as if it were happening right then) which actually really helped. Hearing it, talking it, thinking it, visualising it, imagining it... it was like a lucid shortcut as I was soon having a lucid dream a week, often more. I know it sounds like possibly a greater chore to speak when one just wakes up, I certainjly thought so before I tried it, but I have not returned to writing since my hand has gotten better and I'm more lucid than I have ever been, in waking and sleeping. Also, because they are a digital audio format, I have actually turned the recordings into music, hypnosis and an aural dream journal, a personal way of "honouring my dreams"... all on the old computer. Dae, Rob.

[tiddlywink101]

Shaman's (a very general and apparently offensive term, so sorry) [/b] How is it offensive? Isn't a shaman essentialy a village wiseman or witchdoctor?

[Daen]

How is it offensive? Isn't a shaman essentialy a village wiseman or witchdoctor? [/b] I don't remember exactly why it is offensive, it seemed to be the general concensous in articles that I read some time ago. Suffice to say, that those we would reffer to as Shamans (of times gone by, not modern ones) would not call themselves that. Rob.

[roBob]

hi all, just a short update, I haven't really had much excitement to report on the LD quest front lately, and I've been super busy in waking life, however I am still commited, and slogging through the 'boring parts' till i reach my Lucid Goal. after maintaining a practice of Reality Checking 21 times a day, and recording each time, I've slacked off a bit. I went 11 straight days going the full 21, however since that initial burst the most I've managed has been 15. I've stuck with the practice though, even though I've been discouraged. Writting down more of the 'little' dreams too. Even when they're so dull I'd rather just nap again. LOL last night I dreamt I was IMing someone under the monkier "O'Brien"... I've never used IM before in my life. Daen-Thanks for the advice about Dream Re-entry, and Talking the Dream Out. Both are excellent suggestions, and I am aware of both techniques. I sometimes use Micheal Harner's techniques for Shamanic Journeying, however I have yet to apply them to my Dream Work. I take it you are familiar with Robert Moss' writings? For now I'll leave the whole 'Shamanism' discussion alone. Suffice to say, it's a can of Oroborouseses. My time, and net time have been limited lately, but I haven't forgotten this place, and haven't given up! I'll post more, and more often as I am able. Pleasant Dreams everyone!

[Daen]

I sometimes use Micheal Harner's techniques for Shamanic Journeying, however I have yet to apply them to my Dream Work. I take it you are familiar with Robert Moss' writings? [/b] Hey RoBob, Robert Moss' "Concious Dreaming" is one of my favourite Lucid Dreaming books and was the first I read at age 14 (10 years ago&#33 I have never met anyone who has read him!!! The stuff he writes about"dream guides" really works! I haven't read Harner but have heard much about him so I will put him on my list. Peace, Rob.

[TweaK]

Welcome to Dreamviews, yada yada yada.