Total newbie Freakin anxious

**photodreamer** · 03-12-2008 08:52 PM

Why hello there,

First of all I would like to say that I like to twist reality every chance I get. I am a photographer and I love looking at things differently. I havnt been dreaming as much lately as I used to and they used to be so vivid and clear. I've only once had an experience where I knew I was dreaming and I jumed really high. Sometimes I know the things that are happening can't be but they seem so fun that I sort of except them as they are.
There is nothing in the world I wanna do more right now than take control of my dreams. The second my 2 weeks is up I will be desperately looking for a committed parent to show me the way. I spent the better part of yesterday fine combing through the forum looking for al the advice I could. I am 100% committed right now to experience a LD ASAP.
Day1 dream jounal entry already complete.
Hope to elaborate soon.
Nic

**GestaltAlteration** · 03-12-2008 09:08 PM

Hey photodreamer! I love the enthusiasm, something I have sadly lost (though seek to regain!) Assuming you have read all the basics, I'll share some advise that works for me. Others will have different views on how to handle things.

- First, set your alarm to go off every hour after 6 hours of sleep. From then on each time you wake up you should have something to record in your journal. Depending on how long you sleep you could snag 4-6 dreams a night. This is great for stimulating recall! Also once doing this enough you should wake up every hour without the aid of an alarm clock.

- Make a list of five (or perhaps ten) dream signs that you can apply to real life. If your sibling is in your dreams a lot, reality check every time you see your sibling. if your dreams are always at school, do a RC at school. If your dreams are in an unknown location, RC every time you go someplace unfimilar. I write at least 5 of these and strive to do each one of them each day. Naturally the best place to get these dream signs is your journal.

- After you have at least one dream per night and have the reality checks down, experiment around with the many techniques in the tutorials page. People have varying results so you may want to find out which technique works best for you.

- Finally, don't spend all your time focused on lucid dreaming pursuits. That's a easy way to get discouraged (slight obsession is acceptable

).

Ask any questions, and best of luck. =)

**Clairity** · 03-12-2008 09:10 PM

photodreamer, I'm glad you decided to join us!

It sounds like you have a lot of determination and starting a dream journal is a great way to begin!

As for the forum, you might want to check out the the Newbie Zone Guide which contains helpful information about this site: http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=36723

And be sure and check out the Tutorials forum which contains information on the various lucid dreaming techniques and other helpful stuff: http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...splay.php?f=25

If you should have any questions, please ask and we'll do our best to get you answers.

Welcome to Dream Views!

**PeteB** · 03-12-2008 09:36 PM

Welcome Photodreamer! I love you're whole reasoning for wanting to undertake LD'ing, aswell as the committment you have to it! I whole-heartedly wish you the very best of luck in you're dreaming adventures!

And perhaps you could show us some of that photography some time?

**photodreamer** · 03-12-2008 10:30 PM

thanks for all the tips and suggestions. I don't understand why more people wouldnt want to take advantage of all the time they spend in bed. I honestly cannot wait till my first. Any suggestions as to what to do first when I realize I'm dreaming?

**eppy** · 03-12-2008 10:39 PM

hey.
relax, getting excited will wake you up.
take a minute to look at your surroundings.
then, maybe try and talk to a dream character.
stressing too much on one thing usually makes it impossible for it to happen.

**drmrgrl** · 03-12-2008 11:17 PM

yepp. just keep calm. when i get excited i wake myself up and it sux!!!! good luck and

to DV

**photodreamer** · 03-12-2008 11:49 PM

I am so absorbed in LD right now. I am actually in the middle of a class at school right now reading posts. I read that some people actually have LDs just by thinking about it alot. Hopefully this will aid me although I'm not expecting much for the next few weeks. It feels like I just discovered time travel....and in a way i did!
Also I was wondering what sort of effect does recreational drugs like mushrooms and weed have on dreams?

**Twoshadows** · 03-13-2008 12:35 AM

Welcome, Photodreamer, I can understand your excitement because I feel that way about lucid dreaming too. I agree completely about what you said about taking advantage of that time spend sleeping. You might as well be having the time of your life, right (flying, having super powers. etc)?

I think that thinking about lucid dreaming can really help you to become lucid. Throughout the day I try to question my state ("am I dreaming?") Reading about it right before bed is a good thing, too.

There are more specific techniques that you can try too (explained here on this site).

And keeping your dream journal regularly will really help with dream recall and motivation and recognizing dream signs.

Good luck...let us know how it goes.

**drmrgrl** · 03-13-2008 12:38 AM

drugs might actually mess dreams up. and they're dumb to do.

lol i look on DV at school too

**FreeOne** · 03-13-2008 12:54 AM

hey photodreamer. Welcome to DV!

Originally Posted by photodreamer

I was wondering what sort of effect does recreational drugs like mushrooms and weed have on dreams?

I dont do these, so i can't offer you an opinion from my experience, but I have heard that weed ruins your dream recall, and what good is a LD if you can't remember it right? I dont know much about the effects of mushrooms though.

well anyway, hope you enjoy your stay!

**photodreamer** · 03-13-2008 04:53 PM

Argh, that's frustrating. DILDs seem so impossible cause i feel so oblivious to the fact that I''m dreaming. I had a very vivid dream which i guesse is a start but I had no hope in hell of iguring out it was a dream. MOre reality checks i think.

**analyst** · 03-13-2008 05:55 PM

photodreamer,
welcome. real cool your perspective. for me it took a good 3 weeks of journaling and patient dream recall (sitting and mulling over what you think you didn't remember in the morning) to have my first LD. just be patient and keep your enthusiasm under control. i know for me when i got into my first LD, the enthusiasm really gets kicked up a few notches and if you aren't careful, it can make you lose it. also, substance-wise, i know alcohol ruins my dream recall and makes me sleep like 6 feet below ground.

-->>

be good.
analyst

**skysaw** · 03-13-2008 06:50 PM

I think it all comes down to how much you think about it. I had my first LD many years ago after seeing something about it on TV. I thought so much about it in the following couple of days, that I spontaneously had an extremely vivid and lengthy LD only about a week after.

And I agree that the best thing to do at first is to stop and take in your surroundings. Take some time to look at everything, listen, touch, smell. Once you've taken this moment, things will become clearer, and easier to maintain. After this, you can do whatever you wish, but I personally like to see where the story I'm already in leads, especially if there are interesting people in it. My other favorite thing is to see what new people I can find... I'll wander the street and call out "is anyone here I can meet?"

**photodreamer** · 03-13-2008 07:10 PM

Well, I've been thinking about it pretty much 24/7 so I'm hoping it will help. If it doesn't though I'm not gonna be too bothered. Sometimes if you are too obsessed with something and try too hard it doesnt work. Last night I already had a vivid dream which doesnt really happen that much so i see that as progress.

**photodreamer** · 03-27-2008 05:37 PM

I did it! My first LD! Two to be exact. I had two for my first experience. I tried and couldnt get it done so i thought screw it and tried to fall asleep on my stomach and then seconds later i was standing infront of my mirror and my face was all distorted so i knew. Then I walked around my apt and got the hang of it. The second one i was outside and I still knew I was outside then I just put my hands up and flew away. Woohoo