Thread: Kinda Skeptical..

Well someone recently posted an article on www.digg.com about Lucid dreaming, I thought it was kinda funny, but I knew it was true. I have had Lucid Dreams before, and thought they were very rare occurrences.

Someone suggested this site, and seeing as how there are a lot of people into the Lucid Dreaming Scene, I really want to try it.

So far, I've picked up this Method, and I just want somebody to give me a thumbs up on it, or make suggestions to me:

1)Dream Journal, write down your dream as soon as you wake up, or as soon as possible. Try to get down plenty of details, especially the small things.

2)Dream sign. Basically keep checking your watch?

Actually I'm not sure on the Dream Sign. What exactly is the dream sign, and what is it supposed to do? I read on the Tutorial, something about a Pink Elephant. I don't understand that bit. I've seen several things in my dream that are impossible In real life, so can anyone explain that part to me?

3)The Status Check, where I ask myself "Am I awake" several times a day, minimum of 21 times. (Is that the phrase? I think it's all the same, but if it's not, let me know.)


I figure, I'm going to start out like that, if anyone sees any fallacies, please point them out. Thanks, and hopefully I'll remember my dream, and remember to write it down in the morning. Getting that Journal and pen Prepped

Oh yea, can't forget the introduction. Just wanted to say Hi, and GREAT site, I'm looking forward to creating planets, flying, racing cars I'll never own, and anything and everything!

Hi! Welcome onboard!

Your link did not point to the specific technique on digg, but I welcome you to look around, read our tutorials, and ask plenty of question!!!

1) Correct. Keeping a dream journal helps identify your dream signs(if any) and improves your dream recall.

2) A dream sign is a common occurence in your dreams. Once you know what it is, it's easier to become lucid just by recognizing it. Checking your watch would be an example of a reality check.

3) We call it a reality check or RC around here. It doesn't really matter, most people will know what you mean. A reality check is when you do something that works in real life, but impossible in a dream. Just asking yourself if you're awake or not probably won't work, we tend to accept the strangest things in our dreams. Most people do the nose rc, you hold your nose and try to breathe. If you can still breathe, you're dreaming.

I suggest reading the tutorials section. As for being skeptical, well... lucid dreaming has been proven scientifically to be true.

Originally Posted by Seeker

Hi! Welcome onboard!

Your link did not point to the specific technique on digg, but I welcome you to look around, read our tutorials, and ask plenty of question!!!

http://www.stuartwilde.com/Articles/..._dreaming.html

That's the direct link to the article I read on digg. Interesting stuff.

A dream sign is just something that you tend to dream about a lot, so it's different for everyone. For example, I often dream about the house I grew up in, so I try to condition myself to associate that house with dreaming. When I find myself in the house, I must be dreaming. Ideally, if I can always remember that, I should realize I'm dreaming whenever it happens.

My other dream signs are old rotary phones (especially if they have too many numbers on them!), my father, and UFOs.

The reality check is just confirming for yourself that you are awake. If you fail the check, it naturally means you're asleep! My usual check is to read something, look away, then try to read it again. If I have trouble reading, or if the words change, I am dreaming.

I actually posted a yellow sticky note on the wall of my cubicle at work which has in bold hot-pink highlighter the words "Reality Check." I put it just out of sight so that I only tend to notice it every now and then. Every time it catches my eye, I do a check. Conditioning yourself like this can do wonders.

What's up, Blogoroga? Welcome to Dream Views.

"Kinda Skeptical" is, believe it or not, a good thing, to many of us. There isn't much more entertaining (to me, at least) than watching someone that's skeptical of lucid dreaming start to develop the ability to do so, so; best of luck to ya.

As far as your methods: It's good that you have Dream Journaling as #1. I have never had such a surge of LD's as since when I started my Dream Journal. It helps you realize dream signs, for 1, and it's always good to have a running record of the experiences you have, just to go back and read through, later on.

About the dream sign thing: Don't worry about "how many times" you Reality Check, throughout the day. Simply make it more of a point to be aware of your surroundings. Look for things to be out of the ordinary. If anything (anything at all) happens during your day/night that is absurdly strange, make it a point to stop and question your state. Ask yourself if you might be dreaming. It doesn't really matter so much how many times you do this, as much as how intently you stop and try to discern reality from the dream state.

If you are going to ask yourself, at random times throughout the day, whether or not you are wake, put some commitment into your answer. Look around and make sure things are as they should be. Do a reality check such as holding your nose and trying to breathe through it, or something else that you know you just couldn't do, while awake.
A "dream sign" is basically anything that you know is exclusive to the dream state (where anything could happen) and is impossible in waking life. It can be something you experience once, and realize is simply "not possible" or something that may seem normal in waking life, but reoccurs constantly, in dreams. Say; if you dream about swimming pools a lot, then swimming pools is a possible dream sign, for you, meaning that, whenever you see a swimming pool (whether you think you are asleep or not) you should stop and question your state.

Welcome, I just have one question:

Originally Posted by Blogoroga

I have had Lucid Dreams before, and thought they were very rare occurrences.

What exactly are you skeptical about?

Originally Posted by Oneironaught

Welcome, I just have one question:


What exactly are you skeptical about?

Well I've had several dreams in which I would love how everything was going, I could not ask for anything better. When I woke up, I could remember the whole dream with full detail. However, I could not control myself, I saw in 3rd person.

One Actual LD I had was me surfing a Rainbow, it felt real, and it felt good!

But bad Experiences I've had were sleepwalking. I walked into my parents room, started packing, and proceeded to leave my house to meet a stranger waiting at my door, which really didn't exist! This whole time I was completely aware that I was awake and walking and moving and talking to my parents, but I couldn't do anything!

Another time I was scared to almost death by a ghost in a dorm at college (I'm only in High School ) and I woke up, and started to yell, but I couldn't, I just opened my mouth and little to no sound came out.

After these bad experiences, it makes it hard to believe that people can control their dreams, but since I've done it once, I'm sure I can do it again, there's nothing stopping me.

Originally Posted by Blogoroga

After these bad experiences, it makes it hard to believe that people can control their dreams, but since I've done it once, I'm sure I can do it again, there's nothing stopping me.

Aw, sorry to hear that. Don't let scary experiences deter you. With some practice and positive dream incubation, you can turn your dream life right around. But, if the sleepwalking becomes a regular occurrence you really should consult a doctor. No sense getting hurt, or worse.

But you'll be OK. Just practice and keep a positive attitude about it. Sometimes you get what you expect to receive. That includes negative dream experiences.