New to the forum - Here is where I am at with lucid dreaiming - any feedback?

[timetohunt]

Hi there. I have not read a single line of information about lucid dreaming yet, and maybe that is frowned upon, as is the case for most forums before posting. I am short on time now but felt compelled to dip my foot into the information exchange about this phenomenon. When I have time later this week, I will really did in and search the forum. I would like to tell you a little about my ability in lucid dreaming and maybe someone can sort of tell me 'where I am at with this'. I have always found my lucid dream states to be fun/exciting and have become increasingly more interested since I seem to be getting more control lately. I am 42, have always had some some dream awareness, but lately things have advanced to such degrees its tripping me out a bit. On many mornings (almost always morning), when the house is quiet, I can often will myself into a 'fragile' dream state. I say fragile, because, if I over exert my will in the dream, it often ends. Even with this I can still get back to similar a theme within minutes of waking, if not the same dream. Basically, I know I am dreaming, I actually know I am laying in the bed, with real date and time awareness. First a setting sets in. I seem to not have much at all control over the setting as it begins. It could be a warehouse, a city street, a tropical island, you name it. I have not been able to set the scene (yet?). I can feel my footsteps if I am walking, I have decent control of my hands, and will feel slight pain if encountered with something painful. I generally have a sensation in the sexual region as well that is present, a sence of physical arousal if you will (if the situation calls for it). Very aware that I am laying in bed and dreaming all the while. Vision sense is ususally very vivid, there are usually people around, but not always. I have not been able to will any one person into the dream on my own. I can usually take off and fly if I want to, and observe the area from cloud level. I am able to control my actions to a varying but every increasing degree. I sort of approach the dreams as a bit of a rogue at times, not inflicting pain on others, but gernerally doing as I please. Lately I have learned some lessons. It seems the calmer and less rogue-like I am the longer the dream will last. I have actually felt some remorse in how I treated some of the characters I met in my dream. In one instance one of these characters actually said to me "you will do well not to treat us badly in this dimension if you wish to visit here" - or something very close. That wierded me out, and put some odd doubts in my mind. You see, these things are becoming so vivid, that it even stumps my whole awareness a bit. I have become more careful when dreaming lucidly, I give my actions second thoughts. Its really becoming a whole other hobby, that far exedes watching a movie. Also there is some unbelievable auditory stuff going on. I often feel like I am hearing music (new and to my knowledge umcompsed), so loud and detailed that I often wake thinking the stereo is blasting. I love music and make notes at times of this, since I fiddle around with guitar (not often and not well, but I do have a good ear and like to write lyrics sometimes). I can often hear every note of every instrument in a passage when I am dreaming. I wish I could put it all to paper. Some of the compositions are quite exceptional, others so..so. The auditory dreams, while I am well aware that I am dreaming, I usually am not doing any actions, or maybe I can't. I usually just listen, and listen, enjoying it until it stops or I wake. Again, super aware, when I am in that state. I do have some other types of dreams, those late at night, less memory and less control. A few monsters/ghosts here and there, but rarely every anthing I could call a nightmare. In the past I have found intense love for someone in dreams I did not even know. Again, those where not really what I would call lucid. And I usually seem to have more of a 'paralysis' type thing going on with these. I struggle to move, both in the dream, and in the actual bed. For the most part I still know I am dreaming, but the fear/reality factor seems to be more prevalent. Sometimes there are dreams involving my parents, not bad stuff, mostly good (I might be getting chewed out for something stupid at the worst). The settings are often 20 years in the past. Those are always the most real to me, with very little lucidity involved. With the very lucid dreams, if I take it much farther, I believe I can darn near create my own worlds. Its actually getting a little scary mentally because the touch, sound, vividness, is all there, and yet I know I am laying in my bed. Any thoughts. I think I'd like to take it up a notch if that is possible.

[NeAvO]

Welcome to the forum. You seem to be doing fine, you're getting lucids even if they are "fragile". Still it's a start. If you want to try and stop yourself from waking up during these periods, try a stabalising technique such as rubbing your hands. The audio is completely normal too. It usually happens with Sleep Paralysis, when your body goes into sleep mode however the mind is still conscious.

[Vex Kitten]

Sounds to me like you're quickly becoming an exemplary lucid dreamer. A lot of the things you describe have happened to others. here and there are threads sprinkled throughout Dream Views that deal with the fragile dream state, the music, the awareness of being in a dream yet feeling and knowing one is still in bed. Dig around the place and I'm sure you'll find a thread somewhere where you can discuss those things. If you can't find such a thread after searching, create a new topic and ask away. Someone will come along to discuss things with you. Lucid dreams are very very vivid and many people describe them as feeling more real than reality, the sights, sounds, emotions, smells, tastes, etc are all intensified to a degree that is astounding and yes, sometimes kind of scary. But you have to remember to not be afraid. The more you appreciate everything in the dream environment the more stable and vivid it will become. Instead of feeling afraid of your inner world look at it and be amazed and grateful to be where you are.

[timetohunt]

Thank you. I actually am quite grateful about the chance to dream like this. I will be doing some research here on the board when I get a chance in the next day or two.