Thread: Introduction!

Hello!

I've been lucid dreaming on and off for about 15 years now. I started reading about it in college (with the advent of the internet). I because curious because one night I realized I was dreaming and controlled my dream, and flew. I looked it up and found the term Lucid Dreaming.

I do dream in color, and can smell and taste in my dreams. That I know for sure. Certain things always taste the same, but not like they do in real life. (I really don't care to say "what" it is I taste.. but being a guy, you can probably figure out what it is.. lol). It would be interesting to compare other's "tastes" one day of certain things.

For about a year I was very into it and could reach LD about 1 out of every 10 dreams. Then, I forgot about it.

That was until recently. I did it again out of the blue, and what I "did" in the dream was very VERY fun. So now I'm trying to get back into it.

Most nights I have amazing dream recall. I don't keep a DJ, but I find if I wake up after a dream, think about it and replay it, the next morning I remember it.

My problem is now, is that I wake up saying "why didn't I realize THAT was a dream?!?" So I am experimenting with other things.

The last couple nights I tried Melatonin (3mg with B6). It seemed to help more with dream recall, but not gaining lucidity. I also tried the MP3 posted on this board by a member that reminds you that you're sleeping. I woke up at 3am to use the bathroom, then went back to bed with the headphones on. But it was just enough where it didn't seem to let me fall asleep, or get to dreaming. I will try it again, though, when I am more tired.

I've done lots of stuff in my dreams, like flying, shooting laserbeams out of my hands (lol... Austin Powers comes to mind.. ) and of course, willing people into my dreams, mainly for.. well... nudge nudge.. wink wink.

I would say that while lucid I am in almost total control. After one night where I accidentally became lucid and did what I wanted, then next few nights I tried again. I obtained lucidity finally and again tried to will this person into my dream. But they wouldn't show. I tried all sorts of things, walking around corners "knowing they would be there", opening doors, etc (this was a hotel-like setting). I didn't dry spinning, though. That idea is new to me.

What I had thought here was something peculiar. Maybe the reason I couldn't will this person into my dream again is because they weren't sleeping. I always wondered when I will someone (not a movie star or something, a good friend instead) and they're not asleep if it would work. Or if they are asleep and you will them into your dream, would they have any recollection of it.

So, I hope to gain more insight from here. It seems like the harder I try and the more I think about it, the harder it is. But, I do find I have better recall of my dreams.

I try to mention Lucid Dreaming to others but most think that the term itself sounds "sexually explicit". I explain that's not what it's ALL about (but partly). And I am realizing that since you spend 1/2 your life sleeping, why not explore that realm as well!

Happy dreams to all!