First Lucid and a noob question

[Nosantee]

Hey all! Skip the first paragraph if you just want the question. I'll start with the Lucid, it really wasn't anything special, but still gave me an amazingly strong grin when I woke since I've kept a DJ about 1 1/2 weeks. I was sitting in my room, browsing the internet, when I happened to notice snacks! Snacks alllll around me. Crackers to my right, pocky boxes under my monitor and said "Wait... I don't eat pocky!" and I immedietely lifted my hands and stabed them with my finger. To no avail that failed horribly, but I didn't give up, I grabbed hold of my nose and..."wait, what? I can breath?! hehe-haha~! Hahahaa a dream! Knew it!" luckily I contained my excitement and stayed sitting and breathed. I started with something small, I screamed "FLY FLY FLY!" and used telekinesis and levitated a pillow off of my bed and hurtled it across the room by merely lifting a finger and extending my arm, then gently lifted it back up and slowly lowered it back to its spot on my bed. Here is where my problem came in though. I then tried to change my settings to a beach. I focused, closed my dream eyes for a moment and whispered to myself 'beach...beach...beach" then shot out my arms, opened my eyes and was still at my desk T_T; so I opened google and tried to search of images of beaches (Yeah, I'm that stupid, I'm in a dream thinking my brain is hooked up to the net *facepalm*) ofcourse it failed and at that point I woke up. I was amazed how real it was, aside from the deformed clock and snacks I'd have thought it was real. It lasted about 30 seconds. So here is my question, How does one gain more control in a dream to the point they can alter the environment? Is it just a matter of experience? Getting more used to the fact it IS a dream and you are its lord? Also I think a reason I may have failed in control is because I live in texas and we lack beaches (ergo, haven't seen one in about 13 years since I left cali at 7) T_T Next time I'll check google before I go to sleep and look at images of them or whatever/wherever I want to explore. Either way, I have learned the MILD method at my usual 9-10PM then wake at 3-4AM and using WBTB is the way for me. Thanks for any responses!

[Luminous]

First off, welcome to DV! And congrats on your first lucid dream It's great that you have found a technique that works for you. Control does take practice, for most new lucid dreamers at least. You did well on your first lucid, levitating a pillow. I have a few tips for you. It is a good idea to look at pictures of beaches to prime your mind to dream about them. When you go back to bed during your WBTB, visualise/daydream about beaches. If you don't succeed right away with control, don't get frustrated. It does take some experience, and frustration can actually make it worse. Good luck, and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

[Nosantee]

First off, welcome to DV! And congrats on your first lucid dream It's great that you have found a technique that works for you. Control does take practice, for most new lucid dreamers at least. You did well on your first lucid, levitating a pillow. I have a few tips for you. It is a good idea to look at pictures of beaches to prime your mind to dream about them. When you go back to bed during your WBTB, visualise/daydream about beaches. If you don't succeed right away with control, don't get frustrated. It does take some experience, and frustration can actually make it worse. Good luck, and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. As silly as this sounds, I have almost started thinking of using the images to go where you want in a dream as being almost like the main characters in the movie "Jumper" work haha. Since I don't get out much i'll probably end up tacking images of beaches, forests, jungles, caves and miscelaneous countries to my walls lol. Ohh where to go where to go~

[Luminous]

As silly as this sounds, I have almost started thinking of using the images to go where you want in a dream as being almost like the main characters in the movie "Jumper" work haha. Since I don't get out much i'll probably end up tacking images of beaches, forests, jungles, caves and miscelaneous countries to my walls lol. Ohh where to go where to go~ Do whatever works for you! You just need to find a technique that works for you.

[ninja9578]

to DV Yes, dream control comes with experience. I'll bring up the best quote that I can to give you dream control. "Don't try and bend the spoon, that's impossible. Instead only try and realize the truth." "What's that?" "There is no spoon." Same principle applies to lucid dreaming. Knowing that what your senses are picking up isn't real is the key.

[Nosantee]

Thanks for the replies 忍者 and luminous! I figured it was just a matter of getting used to, since even when I tried lifting the pillow the first half I didn't REALLY believe and nothing happened, then I took the breath and said "My dream, my rules" then I could lift it =p I come again with another question! The past 3 days I've been practicing. Like I said I had a Lucid on Tuesday, but the last two days doing WBTB + WILD I've had a serious issue... My brain is a time freak for work! My dream Wednesday was about me being late for work, which makes sense since I was trying to WBTB when I had a 6AM shift *Hits hand against head* and Thursday I had a 8AM shift, not as bad with "enough" time, but when I entered the dream I was sure to become lucid, it was my room which I notice odd things quickly, but one of my DCs ask "Hey, what time is it?" and my brain FREAKED, and shocked me awake with fear of being late to work. My new question now is, should I just surrender trying to do WBTB/WILD and just attempt DILDs when I have morning shifts at my job? Have any of you experienced this over concern when something must be done early in the morning?

[Luminous]

Thanks for the replies 忍者 and luminous! I figured it was just a matter of getting used to, since even when I tried lifting the pillow the first half I didn't REALLY believe and nothing happened, then I took the breath and said "My dream, my rules" then I could lift it =p I come again with another question! The past 3 days I've been practicing. Like I said I had a Lucid on Tuesday, but the last two days doing WBTB + WILD I've had a serious issue... My brain is a time freak for work! My dream Wednesday was about me being late for work, which makes sense since I was trying to WBTB when I had a 6AM shift *Hits hand against head* and Thursday I had a 8AM shift, not as bad with "enough" time, but when I entered the dream I was sure to become lucid, it was my room which I notice odd things quickly, but one of my DCs ask "Hey, what time is it?" and my brain FREAKED, and shocked me awake with fear of being late to work. My new question now is, should I just surrender trying to do WBTB/WILD and just attempt DILDs when I have morning shifts at my job? Have any of you experienced this over concern when something must be done early in the morning? I know EXACTLY what you're talking about! That often happens to me in lucid dreams that I have when it's getting close to the time I have to get up. I become convinced that if I don't wake up right away, I'll be late for work (even though I have an alarm clock). Yep, WBTB/WILDs would be then better for the mornings you can sleep in. Not only because of that, but also because you risk taking too long to fall back asleep, ruining your sleep when you have to get up at a given time.

[Nosantee]

I know EXACTLY what you're talking about! That often happens to me in lucid dreams that I have when it's getting close to the time I have to get up. I become convinced that if I don't wake up right away, I'll be late for work (even though I have an alarm clock). Yep, WBTB/WILDs would be then better for the mornings you can sleep in. Not only because of that, but also because you risk taking too long to fall back asleep, ruining your sleep when you have to get up at a given time. Ah-ha, good to know I'm not the only one to suffer from this =p I suppose I'll just lay off the wake requiring LD methods when it comes to early shifts. Plus like you said, it did actually ruin my sleep a bit (Got back into bed at 4... Didn't go unconcious till 6) DILDs now assigned for workdays! Danke for your thoughts~

[Robot_Butler]

I have the time problem also. I have a solid REM cycle every morning at 6:00, but my alarm goes off at 6:45. In long lucids, I sometimes get worried that I've been dreaming longer than 45 minutes. It will feel like I've been in the dream for hours, so I'll get scared that I slept in. There's no logic behind it. I have an alarm, and I know my girlfriend would wake me up if I slept in accidentally. I guess we're all getting mentally beaten down by this crappy timeclock culture. In East Africa, on the Swahili Coast, they don't even tell time. They only really have three times asubuhi "morning", jioni "evening" and usiku "night". Wouldn't that be awesome? If someone tells you they want to meet you in the afternoon, they mean, go to the meeting place, wait there for the entire afternoon, and I will show up sometime. You could be waiting for three hours or more. No big deal. To make things even stranger, they use regular 12 hour western watches, but they start their day at dawn, when the watch reads 7:00am. When the big hand points to the seven, they say "Its one o'clock". When its 12:00 noon, they say "Its six o'clock". If someone tells you they want to meet you at "Nine o'clock", they mean sometime in the afternoon.

[Minervas Phoenix]

So here is my question, How does one gain more control in a dream to the point they can alter the environment? The same way you alter the environment in your waking life. Now understand why your so apparantly 'limited'?

[Nosantee]

Woo! Second lucid! I now understand what most of you mean by "How do you irl" and "There is no world". You must ENTER the environment, not change it~ I was climbing up some stairs on a cliff and said to myself "Gee, sure would be nice if there was a "CLIFF-BEACH" at the top of this cliff, and my mind bought it haha. I was thrilled. I now know that it is a matter of expectation, not forcing things. Thanks to whoever wrote the dream control tutorial for showing me that, and you all ofcourse. I'll have to get used to it ofcourse, just letting things flow, trying not to control them (With so much power! it'll be hard, but I can handle it I'm sure) I did that alot in this dream "Well I need some scissors, I bet if I check an office..." BAM, scissors, and so on and so forth. Oh and I ate some raw meat I just 'happened' across in a fridge in a shop. Did not taste good at all Man the site you people run is awesome at teaching. Only 2 weeks in, and I have managed to have 2 LDs and the capability to get more. Sadly this post is just a report without a question. I now have some experience and am feeling good. I have a working method, and am on the path to control. I have learned spinning COMPLETLY works,and that waking up right after a dream will guarentee me Lucidity if I can fall back asleep in a minute or two. Huzza! Go natural talent <3

[Jdeadevil]

I think this would be the best time for me to move in and give a warm welcome to someone. Hey, that was quick! You're certainly getting the hang of this. My second Lucid was like, I can't remember. But the point is that you're progressing very well, and knowing this, you'll have your third in no time. I also see you're completed WBTB and MILD. This is also a great achievement, most of my Lucid Dreams have been DILDs, in fact, all of them have been DILDs. If you're finding the official methods rather possible to complete, maybe you should try DILD too! I see many people have given you advice, this is good. Because just reading people talking about it can help you. Even if you forget this information, your mind will still take it in. Again, congraulations!

[Nosantee]

3rd Lucid Woo! No story this time, just gonna ask perhaps my final question and say I had 6(!) dreams this night, only 1 LD though. I'll admit this for my question, in my dreams I am very perverted apparently, irl, sneering at sex jokes, in dreams, grab and have way with first DC character seen (which I did this time... Go... me?) My question is something I actually heard someone talk about earlier in chat and that I experienced with this LD (Bit explicit, warning). It wouldn't fit! Yes, you know... 'it' wouldn't fit. quite odd. And I was in no way... er, large. But I mean it got half way in and then it was like hitting a brick wall! It was almost painful oo; Does anyone have any experience with that? A way to rememedy it? I'd assume trying to remind myself of that fact its supposed to fit would fix it then try again haha . I know this is an odd question, but my first goal in an LD is bow chicka wow wow- (Despite the fact I hear its hard, i'll do it anyway! /arrogance) It is important to me because not only that, but this has happened in every dream of that type that was non LD, once I can fix this, i'll feel that I can move onto other things without having this problem lording over me. Thanks for the thoughts~<3

[Robot_Butler]

Wow, you've got a good lucid streak going. Whatever you're doing, it seems to be working. In regards to the sex thing, It sounds like you have developed a habit. You can convince yourself that you have certain limitations in dreams, and your expectation will make it happen. Similarly, someone can tell you something is hard in a dream, and you will expect it to be hard. You have to somehow overcome this expectation.