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07-14-2008, 06:16 AM
Meleagris Gallopavo

Hey Guys

Hey all! Just a quick introduction from me ;) Just a few days ago I had a sudden thought - Is it really possible to control what you dream? It sounded absurd, but being me, I was Google-ing it within the next 5 minutes, Lol (I swear, I have Google on speed-dial or something xP). After reading about "Lucid Dreaming", I found myself here, and I've been reading things from the forums and the site since.

I can't say that I've ever had a Lucid dream (that I can remember...), but I'm now intrigued and I really hope to learn how it is done (or at least how to be better at it). I'd appreciate some information/instructions/suggestions/a good pillow, etc... for beginners if you have them. I've started to write down what I can remember of my dreams from the previous night on a spiral set of 3x5 note cards I keep near my bed. What else should I be doing? From what I've gathered, Dream recall seems to be an important first step. I suppose it's different for everyone, but should I just concern myself with remembering my dreams for now? For how long? What's the next step? *sighs* Darn my enthusiasm, Lol.

Looking forward to a good time here and a good night sleep, Lol

Meleagris Gallopavo
07-14-2008, 06:40 AM
CrazyInSane

First of all, :welcome: TO DREAMVIEWS.COM!

Always great to see new faces around these here parts! Haha, so yes I found DreamViews with Google too, what a great search engine:lol: haha.

There are two ways to lucid dream: through the Wake-induced lucid dream (WILD) method or the Dream-induced lucid dream (DILD) method.

For beginners, we usually recommend the DILD method of LDing, which is where you aim to succeed in realizing that you're dreaming as a dream is already in progress. This is the method where dream recall is important.

Visit these links for in-depth tutorials on both DILD and MILD (Mneumonic-induced lucid dream), which is a sub-method of DILD:
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=12067
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2047

For intermediate users, the WILD method is usually considered, and is often hailed as the "Holy Grail of LDing". This is where you are able to go directly from being awake to being in a lucid dream, without any lapse in consciousness!. The trick is to have your body fall asleep as normal, yet maintain consciousness. It's almost a kind of meditation.

It's not really difficult, but requires dedication, because you have to "trick" your body into falling asleep by remaining completely still (including not swallowing:roll:) so that your body will assume your mind is unconscious (asleep), and it will follow suit. You will then pass through SP (sleep paralysis) and start dreaming, and since you're conscious you'll enter a dream fully lucid and able to exert conscious control over the dream. They say the only difference between a vivid lucid dream and waking reality, is that the primary visual cortex is disabled during sleep, so things won't feel as "3D" or "immediate", but it's still almost impeccable.

It really is amazing. If you feel you want to dive into this method, even as a beginner, view these extremely useful tutorials:
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=12621 (WILD)
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=41135 (WILD)
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2048 (WILD)
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=15630 (Sleep paralysis)
http://dreamviews.com/community/showthread.php?t=42271 (How to trick your body into falling asleep)

Please follow up to my reply with any more questions you may have!
07-14-2008, 03:39 PM
Abra

I call first dibs on recognizing your name as the scientific name for the common turkey. =D

Welcome to Dreamviews, Gobbles! XD

Okay, enough with the jokes. You are definetely on the right track with writing your dreams down. I've never heard about writing them on notecards. Most of the time, I write them in a notebook (more space!), but whatever works for you. You could save a notebook for those long, epic dreams, of course. I'd say that you should move on to serious reality check performing once you find a good dreamsign. A dreamsign is something that appears in many of your dreams. Dreamsigns can be temporary and specific (last week I had dreams about acting in theater, I usually don't), or general and more permanent (dreams about getting chased by something). Start pairing reality checks with your dreamsigns as soon as you recognize them.

Good luck, and have fun!
07-14-2008, 04:48 PM
Meleagris Gallopavo

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyInSane

First of all, :welcome: TO DREAMVIEWS.COM!

Always great to see new faces around these here parts! Haha, so yes I found DreamViews with Google too, what a great search engine:lol: haha.

There are two ways to lucid dream: through the Wake-induced lucid dream (WILD) method or the Dream-induced lucid dream (DILD) method.

For beginners, we usually recommend the DILD method of LDing, which is where you aim to succeed in realizing that you're dreaming as a dream is already in progress. This is the method where dream recall is important.

Visit these links for in-depth tutorials on both DILD and MILD (Mneumonic-induced lucid dream), which is a sub-method of DILD:
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=12067
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2047

For intermediate users, the WILD method is usually considered, and is often hailed as the "Holy Grail of LDing". This is where you are able to go directly from being awake to being in a lucid dream, without any lapse in consciousness!. The trick is to have your body fall asleep as normal, yet maintain consciousness. It's almost a kind of meditation.

It's not really difficult, but requires dedication, because you have to "trick" your body into falling asleep by remaining completely still (including not swallowing:roll:) so that your body will assume your mind is unconscious (asleep), and it will follow suit. You will then pass through SP (sleep paralysis) and start dreaming, and since you're conscious you'll enter a dream fully lucid and able to exert conscious control over the dream. They say the only difference between a vivid lucid dream and waking reality, is that the primary visual cortex is disabled during sleep, so things won't feel as "3D" or "immediate", but it's still almost impeccable.

It really is amazing. If you feel you want to dive into this method, even as a beginner, view these extremely useful tutorials:
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=12621 (WILD)
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=41135 (WILD)
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2048 (WILD)
http://dreamviews.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=15630 (Sleep paralysis)
http://dreamviews.com/community/showthread.php?t=42271 (How to trick your body into falling asleep)

Please follow up to my reply with any more questions you may have!

Thank you so much, I've been reading them all morning and they are very helpful! I wish I could naturally WILD Lol. I've read some other threads on that and going through SP sounds intimidating... blame my imagination, but I can't help but think... How do you wake up? (especially in HILD) Lol, I guess it's still just a dream. You get distracted or excited or startled, and you wake up. Getting into the actual LD would be the hardest part.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abra

I call first dibs on recognizing your name as the scientific name for the common turkey. =D

Welcome to Dreamviews, Gobbles! XD

Okay, enough with the jokes. You are definetely on the right track with writing your dreams down. I've never heard about writing them on notecards. Most of the time, I write them in a notebook (more space!), but whatever works for you. You could save a notebook for those long, epic dreams, of course. I'd say that you should move on to serious reality check performing once you find a good dreamsign. A dreamsign is something that appears in many of your dreams. Dreamsigns can be temporary and specific (last week I had dreams about acting in theater, I usually don't), or general and more permanent (dreams about getting chased by something). Start pairing reality checks with your dreamsigns as soon as you recognize them.

Good luck, and have fun!

Hehe, you win =P (lol, Gobbles :lol: xP) As for the 3x5 cards, most of the instructions do say a notebook. I just don't happen to have a free one lying around just yet. I figured that it's best to write it down on a note card than not at all.

I tend to be a pretty deep sleeper, and I don't always remember what I dream... Normally for me, it's like I'm watching a movie about myself. I don't feel that I have much control over what I say or do in the dream... how do I make myself look for dream signs while in the dream? (Gah, this is hard for me to think about now that I'm awake...) I guess you learn what signs to look for and then begin to notice them while dreaming.

Thanks for all the help and the welcomes!
07-14-2008, 04:51 PM
Dizko

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meleagris Gallopavo

Hey all! Just a quick introduction from me ;) Just a few days ago I had a sudden thought - Is it really possible to control what you dream? It sounded absurd, but being me, I was Google-ing it within the next 5 minutes, Lol

Thats how i found this place! ;D

Welcome Turkey man.

EDIT: How sexist of me, you could be a woman...

*runs*
07-14-2008, 05:00 PM
Abra

Exactly as you thought. It is hard to look for dreamsigns within the dream (otherwise lucid dreaming would be easy!), so look for them while awake. When you get a bunch of dream journal entries, you may notice your dreams sometimes have a common theme. Once you find a theme, you can start doing a reality check whenever you encounter that theme in what you think is waking life (I say "what you think is waking life," because at some point, you will realiy check while dreaming, and discover you aren't as awake as you assumed you were!). Here's a short tutorial about how to use reality checks with dreamsigns:

1. Recognize a dreamsign: "Hey! I'm playing Half Life 2 in most of my dreams this week!"
2. Start reality checking around the dreamsign: "I'll look at my hands before and after playing Half Life 2. If they look weird, or have too many fingers, I am dreaming!"
3. Keep performing the reality check in waking life: "I haven't done it in a dream yet, but eventually I will!"
4. Finally perform the reality check in a dream: "I think I'll play some Half Life 2 now. Better reality check first... Ah! I have six fingers! I must be dreaming!"
5. ?????????
6. Profit!
07-14-2008, 05:30 PM
youssarian

Hehehe I love how you put that!

Meleagris Gallopavo, take it from someone who before Dreamviews never even knew what lucid dreaming was (until that one fateful episode of Star Trek: Voyager), this is going to be a very fun adventure you are embarking upon!

Think about it. People spend a third of their life asleep. Wouldn't it be nice to do something productive during that time? I think so. Prepare for a heck of a ride!
07-14-2008, 05:31 PM
Meleagris Gallopavo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dizko

Thats how i found this place! ;D

Welcome Turkey man.

EDIT: How sexist of me, you could be a woman...

*runs*

100% woman ;) Haha, but no worries :D Google ftw!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abra

Exactly as you thought. It is hard to look for dreamsigns within the dream (otherwise lucid dreaming would be easy!), so look for them while awake. When you get a bunch of dream journal entries, you may notice your dreams sometimes have a common theme. Once you find a theme, you can start doing a reality check whenever you encounter that theme in what you think is waking life (I say "what you think is waking life," because at some point, you will realiy check while dreaming, and discover you aren't as awake as you assumed you were!). Here's a short tutorial about how to use reality checks with dreamsigns:

1. Recognize a dreamsign: "Hey! I'm playing Half Life 2 in most of my dreams this week!"
2. Start reality checking around the dreamsign: "I'll look at my hands before and after playing Half Life 2. If they look weird, or have too many fingers, I am dreaming!"
3. Keep performing the reality check in waking life: "I haven't done it in a dream yet, but eventually I will!"
4. Finally perform the reality check in a dream: "I think I'll play some Half Life 2 now. Better reality check first... Ah! I have six fingers! I must be dreaming!"
5. ?????????
6. Profit!

Ok, thanks! I'll start working on that as soon as I can this week.
07-14-2008, 05:40 PM
Meleagris Gallopavo

Quote:

Originally Posted by youssarian

Hehehe I love how you put that!

Meleagris Gallopavo, take it from someone who before Dreamviews never even knew what lucid dreaming was (until that one fateful episode of Star Trek: Voyager), this is going to be a very fun adventure you are embarking upon!

Think about it. People spend a third of their life asleep. Wouldn't it be nice to do something productive during that time? I think so. Prepare for a heck of a ride!

*buckles seat belt* Bring it on.
07-15-2008, 03:13 PM
Meleagris Gallopavo

Last night I tried something... I didn't focus on any one technique and it wasn't after waking up 5 or 6 hours after sleeping. I laid on my back in bed, palms up, and simply closed my eyes. I focussed on nothing more than breathing deeply; inhaling on 1 and exhaling on I am dreaming. I began to imagine weights being tide to feet, then wrists, and finally head until I couldn't move them at all. Continuing to focus on breathing and being relaxed, I tried not to think of anything else. When colors began to move behind my eyes i simply watched them...

I'm not sure how long I stayed like that. I began to feel a buzzing sensation, except that I noticed it in my chest first, then it began to spread and grow. I could feel my pulse rising much more by now and focussed again on breathing, watching the colors and keeping an open mind. The buzzing built up until reaching a certain point, and then I was suddenly falling, or at least it really felt like I was. My heart began to beat much faster and I opened eyes. I tried sitting up and found myself shaking.

Sleep paralysis? I'm not sure if all that counts as anything at all, but it was certainly wild, even if it wasn't WILD. I will also note that it was pretty late and I was definitely tired.
07-15-2008, 04:09 PM
oubaseballd3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meleagris Gallopavo

Last night I tried something... I didn't focus on any one technique and it wasn't after waking up 5 or 6 hours after sleeping. I laid on my back in bed, palms up, and simply closed my eyes. I focussed on nothing more than breathing deeply; inhaling on 1 and exhaling on I am dreaming. I began to imagine weights being tide to feet, then wrists, and finally head until I couldn't move them at all. Continuing to focus on breathing and being relaxed, I tried not to think of anything else. When colors began to move behind my eyes i simply watched them...

So this was when you first layed down for the night to go to sleep?

P.S. I love the feeling of SP, even if I never attain lucidity I would be happy with SP. Being straight-edge its the closest I can get to drugs lol
07-15-2008, 04:42 PM
Meleagris Gallopavo

Yes. It was late and I was tired, but I'd been thinking about LDs all day and I wouldn't sleep until I tried. I'm not sure if I liked it or not... I was kind've nervous and didn't know what to expect. Before the falling sensation, the buzzing... didn't hurt, but was sort of intense. Maybe it won't be like that next time because I know a little bit more of what to expect (or heck, maybe it won't be), and if I get to that point, I'll try to stay under a little longer.
07-15-2008, 04:57 PM
oubaseballd3

Maybe the point I get to actually isn't SP. I dunno. I always get this feeling like my whole body relaxes suddenly at the same time and I sink into the bed a bit. But I have never felt the vibrations or heard noises or seen lights. Instead I get this feeling of extreme awareness in every muscle of my body. Then my heart starts beating really fast so I try to picture a scene in which I am attempting to reach a familiar destination (my vision is playing baseball, hitting a double and having to run to 2nd base but being forced to slide into the base to avoid the tag...basically adding more feeling to my dream) but I can never seem to get past this muscle awareness. Any advice/comments?
07-15-2008, 07:31 PM
Meleagris Gallopavo

Well i believe its different for everyone... Besides, I may not have gotten to SP. That what was just my experience after a first attempt. I'm not sure how to help you get past the muscle awareness, but I'd like to know what you find out... it may help me too.
07-16-2008, 01:55 AM
nautilus

Quote:

The buzzing built up until reaching a certain point, and then I was suddenly falling, or at least it really felt like I was. My heart began to beat much faster and I opened eyes. I tried sitting up and found myself shaking.

Sounds like you were really close to a lucid dream! I don't usually experience SP (for some reason) and I just wind up skipping to the falling feeling. In any case, the falling means that you were entering into a dream. If you expect it and stay calm you won't wake up. Then once you stop falling, you'll officially be in a lucid dream! Just keep reminding yourself you're dreaming.

You might want to think of something to do with the dream once you get lucid, especially since you're so close. The task of the month is always fun: http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=60951 And of course, there's always flying :)
07-16-2008, 04:48 PM
Meleagris Gallopavo

Wow, sweet. And the task of the month looks fun. I've never been to the beach... (like near the ocean) I should try that - and yep, flying too. Oddly enough, I don't think I've ever dreamed of flying.

I was going to try again yesterday, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I'm not sure if its because I'm uncertain about SP or what, but I was really excited to try again until I started getting into bed. *Sigh* But i'm determined to get this right, so I'll be attempting it sometime soon for sure.

(if I'm starting to sound like a newb who doesn't know what she's talking about, please just slap me xP)
07-17-2008, 12:55 AM
Robot_Butler

It sounds like you're on the right track. Those vibrations and buzzing are a sure sign that you are close to falling asleep. Try doing the same thing after a Wake Back To Bed. You will be closer to a REM period, so you should slip into a dream easily. It is often difficult to enter a lucid dream early in the night.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meleagris Gallopavo

Normally for me, it's like I'm watching a movie about myself. I don't feel that I have much control over what I say or do in the dream.

To combat this, try to practice staying aware during the day. Try to live in the moment, and stay consciously hyper aware of your surroundings. I like to 'step back' by holding my attention and point of view right at the base of my neck, behind my head. That may not make a lot of sense, but I think you probably know what I'm talking about.
07-17-2008, 09:03 PM
Zilverw0lf

I just experienced that fast heart beating thing it was crazy but i didn't really know what to do from there im gonna try again now. By the way this was during a nap so hopefully it would be easier after a WBTB.