Another newbie with dreaming difficulties

Hello everyone, I've lurked here for a day or so, and found much of the information very interesting (even moreso because it isn't entrenched in new-age ideas that bring credibility down), and found several links elsewhere on the subject. I am aware of how to attain lucidity, and have done it randomly (without knowing what I could do with it, I've just had a few dreams where I realized I was in a dream), but I don't dream often.

Now I've been wanting (and I tried last night) to attain lucidity again, and although I've only tried once, I couldn't dream. I very rarely dream, so is there any way to be able to induce a dream upon myself, either while sleeping or awake? I've read a little on MILDs, but haven't found too much.
Thanks!

First off, welcome to dreamviews :sheepishgrin: .

We dream everynight, so it's not that your not having dreams, your just not remembering them. To increase dream recall, you should begin recording your dreams. To do this, before going to sleep, affirm yourself that the next dream you have you will remember it. We wake up several times a night only to fall back to sleep, if you make a strong effort you will wake up during one or more of these periods. Make sure to record the dream immediatly (I use a tape recorder cause in the middle of the night my handwriting if extermely illegible). It's funny because later when you read your notes or listen to the recorder, I find on some occasions never remembering that dream or forgetting parts of it.

Hope that helped, you can always read the tutorials and go to the section here entitled "Dream signs and recall"

Welcome to the forum! :muffin:

As Je33icaLy88 said, if you feel you don't have any dreams, the cause is that you don't remember them.
Myself, I usually need to be relaxed and focus much, to be able to remember the dreams from the last night.

Once you are awake, you should try to remember your dreams.
You may notice it is easier to remember your dreams when you have worked much with it.

I'm still not certain exactly how to do this...however, last night I tried creating a dreamsign for myself (repeating and visualizing the item), which didn't work, and it only blurred the lines from when I was sleeping to prior to that when I was thinking of the item in question.

This is proving difficult ;)

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Originally posted by idolcrash
I'm still not certain exactly how to do this...however, last night I tried creating a dreamsign for myself (repeating and visualizing the item), which didn't work, and it only blurred the lines from when I was sleeping to prior to that when I was thinking of the item in question.

This is proving difficult ;)

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Instead of trying to create a dreamsign, look for one that occurs in your dreams! Also, look for common themes so when they occur, you can remember to do a RC :D

But my problem is I can't seem to get any conciousness in my dreams, or recollect them at all. Is there a way to put myself into a dream state, sleeping or not? I'd like ot be able to practice LD.

It sounds like you need to get better dream recall first.

You can try one or several of this methods:

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1.) Wake Motionlessly. Upon awakening, don't open your eyes. Don't move. Lie completely still.

2.) Wake Slowly. Allow yourself time to naturally remember your dreams. Don't start thinking about what you are going to do for the day. Don't allow your mind to be flooded by your waking thoughts or your dreams will start fading or may even disappear entirely like bursting dream bubbles. Let your mind be focused on whatever you were just dreaming.

3.) Let your mind drift. Allow your thoughts to meander through whatever mental imagery you may have. Once you remember one part of a dream. Relax and allow the rest of the pieces to fall into place.

4.) Drift through your dream checklist. If you have absolutely no initial recall, then start running through a dream checklist in your mind. This list should include people you know, activities, places, foods, smells, music, anything that may trigger a dream fragment to surface. Allow your mind to drift through this list and ask yourself if this person or this place was in your dream. Movement is very common in dreams so try to think about action. Were you walking or running or climbing or flying? Emotions are also very prevalent so try to think about your moods. Were you happy or afraid or surprised or confused? The more familiar you are with your dreams the better you will know which questions will most likely trigger your memory, but in the beginning you can use any list as long as it is a big one.

4.) Think and question backwards. Try to work your memory backwards from what you can remember. You will usually remember the most current dream scenario first so for maximum retrieval it is helpful to think backwards, or think in terms of effect and cause instead of cause and effect. If you can remember one part of the dream, ask yourself how you got there? Or where did a certain dream object come from? Did you find it? Was it given to you? One dream fragment will usually lead to another until the whole dream starts to take shape, and your dream memories can be jogged by questioning yourself about what you already remember.

5.) Try different sleeping positions. Try all your common sleeping positions before getting out of bed to maximize your recall. You will have the best recall when you are lying in the same position that you were in when you were dreaming. If you wake up on your right side don't move until you recall all you possibly can, and then repeat this process on your left side, then your back, and your front. This may jar loose some memories and it certainly speeds up your recall.

6.) Keep Trying. Sometimes, you may have no morning recall but flashes of dream memories will surface during your day. Be prepared to jot down any time-released memories. They may unlock your access to more memories.
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After you remember more dreams, it will also be easier to observe your dreamsigns.
Personally, I have blue sandals as a dream sign. It isn't a very strange dreamsign, but I have never used blue sandals in the real life.
Therefore is blue sandals a helpful dreamsign for me.

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Originally posted by idolcrash
Hello everyone, I've lurked here for a day or so, and found much of the information very interesting (even moreso because it isn't entrenched in new-age ideas that bring credibility down)

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Thank you! We try to keep this place a neutral as possible. It's good to see that it is paying off.

I cannot add to the great advice already posted in this topic, but I can say:

Welcome to DV! :yddd: