Could do with some help

[Chris182t]

Okay, so i'm new to this forum. Im also new to this whole lucid dreaming thing aswel so bare with me Last night i was dreaming about walking through the amazon...why i don't know, when all of a sudden i THINK i realised i was dreaming. I say i THINK because im pretty sure i did, its all abit hazy. But anyway, once i realised i was dreaming, i had an overwhelming feeling of actually having a body. All of a sudden though, everything seemed to fade away, and i remember spinning to try and keep myself lucid, which i've read is supposed to help. I then, however woke up in my bed, and decided to write down the small dream that i actually did have in my dream journal. But something seemed odd, and something made me pull my finger to see if i was dreaming,(so i hear, if you are dreaming your finger will stretch out) but nothing really happened, my finger didnt feel asif it was really there. It was then that i realised i was actually still dreaming. I then REALLY woke up. I don't have a clue why i dreamt i woke up when i was trying to have a lucid dream..and im pretty sure that i wasn't in control of it either like i had hoped. Is there something im doing wrong?

[skysaw]

Welcome to the forum! Congratulations on your LD! Take heart, it sounds like you're on your way. You should know that people who lucid dream very frequently have false-awakenings (FAs). They sometimes have several stacked one on top of the other! I consider it a good sign. As to the finger stretching, I haven't heard of that test, so I can't vouch for its effectiveness. I usually use looking at my hands and trying to read text. Both of those are very reliable for me, probably working about 95% of the time. If I actually do both, it has always worked for me. Control in LDs varies from none at all to complete. It usually takes a few dreams before you have much control. I believe the trick is to remain calm, and try to focus on all of your surroundings. LaBerge suggests that for your first dreams it may be best to simply go along with the story, and see what happens. You'll still be able to make choices such as which way to go, and what to say to people for example. Eventually, you'll find the control easier to manage. I hope this helps. Happy dreaming!

[Chris182t]

Thanks! Ill give your methods a try. And yes, this is only my second night of actually trying to have a lucid dream so hopefully ill have many more successful experiences to come

[Clairity]

Thanks! Ill give your methods a try. And yes, this is only my second night of actually trying to have a lucid dream so hopefully ill have many more successful experiences to come You're doing VERY WELL for only your second night of trying! For all those new to lucid dreaming, I advise that you don't try to set the lucid world on fire your first few dreams.. don't try to do tricks, summon people, etc. Simply go with the flow and take it all in. Get used to what being lucid FEELS like so you can ground yourself in your dreams.. that's when the tricks/stunts can happen. Your first few dreams simply act like a tourist in a new place.. go sightseeing and take in all the different colors and sounds. You may try to increase your vividness by confidently declaring "increase lucidity" or "clarity now" but that would be the extent of control I would recommend for struggling dreamers. I know when I first become lucid, I have to fight that initial rush of adrenalin. I do this by telling myself to calm down, breathing naturally (or a little slower) and I try to "ground" myself in the dream (i.e., make it as lucid as it can be) instead of immediately racing to do something before I lose lucidity. One of the tricks I use to "ground" myself is to "touch" things. By touching.. I mean really "feeling" them. Get into how they feel.. are they hot, cold, smooth, rough, etc. (this also increases the vividness of the dream along with helping me remain in it longer). Also, there is no "try" when you're lucid.. only "do". You must KNOW that there is nothing you can't have nor perform while in your dream. Just remember that "the deeper the level of lucidity.. the better your lucid experience should be". Oh, and welcome to Dream Views!

[Wavefunction]

Also, there is no "try" when you're lucid.. only "do". You must KNOW that there is nothing you can't have nor perform while in your dream. Yep, you have to do that. It's the key to all this dream stuff Everyone else pretty much helped you out just like I would have. But they didn't use the welcome sign