Already first lucid dream!

[Ham or Turkey?]

This night I had my first lucid dream, you guys were right when you said I shouldn't try too hard. I got this dream without even trying. I don't remember anything of the dream before I noticed I was dreaming. I only remember doing a nose reality check, and I kept breathing through my nose even when I plugged it, and oh yeah, I was outside my room. Then I became very excited, I started thinking very fast "Wow! I'm lucid!" and I rushed down the stairs. I started looking around, not really concentrating on what was around me. I wanted to find some people, but I couldn't even find my dogs. I can't remember any more, I probably lost lucidity because I was so excited and I forgot to spin or rub my hands... Strange, I haven't really done a lot of reality checks and I still did it in a dream... And my dream recall hasn't gotten much better either. Wow. Next time I'm going to remember to rub my hands! By the way, is thinking about everything you know about lucid dreaming before you fall asleep a good idea? I thought that could remind me about the spinning or rubbing your hands.

[james-25:22pm]

anything you do at anytime of the day to do with Dreaming is a good idea. It will mean you are spending more of the day thinking about dreaming, and therefore have a greater chance of remembering about it when you fall asleep. Have you been keeping a dream journal? Do you look for dreamsigns during the day? And on the chance you get Lucid soon...I reconmend rubbing and watching your hands over spinning. Less chance of losing the dream altogether.

[Ham or Turkey?]

Sure, I have been keeping a dream journal, but I have problems with it... I only have 5 dreams written in it. Don't worry, though, I'm getting the hang of it. And dream signs, eh, right now the only one of my dream signs I know is that my computer doesn't work like it should. So... Every time I get an error I remember to do a reality check.

[james-25:22pm]

That's good. some people find it hard to even find any dreamsigns (myself for one)! you may enjoy this tutorial I keep linking new members to it, because If you are dedicated enough it looks to provide great success in addition to your normal practices. It teaches observation, even without dreamsigns. http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=34263 hope this might help!

[Ham or Turkey?]

Wow! Thanks a lot, it looks like something you have to try before you know what it's like. But, isn't that really the same as stopping and taking a good look around you every now and then?

[Ronstek]

This night I had my first lucid dream, I got this dream without even trying. I probably lost lucidity because I was so excited. Congratulations Ham or Turkey. Unbelievable experience isn't it? I was soooo pleased to read of your success but especially that you heeded advise and it worked for you. Yes, excitement can cause you to loose lucidity but another reason is failure to regain control of the LD. When you became Lucid, your dream was put on hold, like the pause button whilst watching a DVD. You decided to run down the stairs and the dream came back into focus with the lucidity on pause. Correct? This is where the habit of RC's comes in. If you had done a RC or recognised a dreamsign (something not possible during real waking life) then the lucidity would have come back with the dream on pause and you can control it again. Proof now that LDing is possible for you and with that first experience, you will now want to do it again and again. Be careful that anxiety does not prevent you from achieving another LD. Be relaxed and calm. Great news, best wishes and welcome to the club of experienced LDers.

[Ham or Turkey?]

Thanks a lot, friend! I will continue to do my best, and maybe next summer (vacation with lots of free time and long mornings!) will be the time for me to master lucid dreaming! I also have to try everything you guys have suggested people to do, flying, having conversations with dream characters, summon stuff and characters, dream guides... and so on, whatever it was. But my bad dream recall is still the most important issue to be dealt with, let's hope it gets better before my Christmas vacation. Then, what comes after dream recall? Learning how to control your lucid dreams better, am I right? Also, another thing about my dream, I forgot to mention this: The first thing I thought about (after "Wow! I'm lucid!") was "I have to wake up so that I will remember this!", then I rushed down the stairs.

[james-25:22pm]

Wow! Thanks a lot, it looks like something you have to try before you know what it's like. But, isn't that really the same as stopping and taking a good look around you every now and then? yeah basically...except its like "every second of the day you should be taking a good look around"...or atleast "every second of the day you should already know whats going on" But...I find that hard...so basically whenever I remember I just try to "have a good look around" for as long as possible. After about 30mins I get sidetracked...but It gave me 1 DILD....so its worth a shot for anybody...especially if you combine it with other techniques

[GestaltAlteration]

I think dreamsigns for those who can't pick out specifics should be made more abstract. For example most of my dreams occur in a place that I don't recognize IRL. This may not be a specific sign, such as all my dreams having the same red car, but it's enough for me to reality check every time I enter a new area to confirm that I know where I am. I'm sure by going over those five dreams you can make a list of 5 instances to RC over each day. In any event a big congratulations to you.

[Ham or Turkey?]

Thanks, now it's seven dreams. I think I know a way to remember dreams that suits me now. It's like this, first I go to sleep normal and set the alarm clock for low volume (so that it won't scare me and I forget what I'm dreaming) and set it to wake me up in about 4 hours, when I wake up I write down anything I remember from my dreams (or atleast some notes that will help me remember) and then I go to sleep again, but before I fall asleep I keep telling myself that I will remember my dreams and it works! I remembered 2 dreams today. He he, now what should I do next?