Former Natural - Like Riding A Bike?

[Vismund Cygnus]

Hi, Dreamviews! I'm 21, but I used to have intense, vivid dreams when I was in the middle school range - I had LD's regularly (every Saturday) and WILD'ed a couple times (I used to think of it as "shifting", but all these acronyms are a lot cooler)... but the ability sorta faded between puberty and girls and changing sleep patterns and all that stuff. But I've been really stressed out the last three months or so between intense classwork and probably doing too much donating/volunteer work for the US election season, so I figured I'd try to get back into it - I have no idea if it'll be easier because I'll mentally know it's possible (I've done flying and slowing time before), or if it'll be like a locked door, one of those hippie dippie kinda things like the touch that you cant get back once you've lost it. I'm also trying to tap into my imagination, I guess - I never believed in writer's block, but I've had a lot of demands on me as far as creative writing goes... So I started keeping a dream journal last night - and I remembered two dreams (barely), and I'm starting to get that "wake up twice in the night" sleep pattern, which is a good sign, I think. Wish me luck!

[ninja9578]

Well, it's a mental skill. You should be able to get back into it quickly. Your dreams have changed a bit since then I'm sure though, so you may need to pick out new dream signs.

[Reality_is_a_Dream]

First off, to Dreamviews! Yea, I don't think that you will have to start from square one, but I also think you won't start where you stopped. But keep at it, and you will be having vivid LDs all the time! Hope to see you around, and good luck!

[seeker28]

Happy to have you at Dream Views! I'm a natural too. I think you'll find getting lucid will be easier for you than someone who has never done it. Too much stress can really mess with your dreams, so it will probably be harder than when you were younger. Good luck!

[Vismund Cygnus]

Thanks - and yeah, I'm willing to go through the process this time.

[Vismund Cygnus]

Got one, 2:30 this morning! It wasn't all that long or vivid, but it worked! I got so excited that I tried to log into DV- did you know usernames are case sensitive? I'll put details in journal later.

[Reality_is_a_Dream]

Congrats, Vismund! Even a short one like that usually means that you are on your way, and I know that plenty more are coming your way! Good luck! By the way, I don't think they are case sensitive, I usually log in with my username plauued with caps.

[Vismund Cygnus]

Yeeeah, I was on the cellphone, and it was 230 AM. It's entirely possible I screwed up, believe it or not.

[WakataDreamer]

but the ability sorta faded between puberty and girls Yeah, my girlfriend is holding my attention and I haven't RC'd in far too long. I'm starting to get that "wake up twice in the night" sleep pattern Try to DEILD as soon as you wake up. Instant lucid. The most guaranteed of all techniques, but hard to train yourself to do. Look into it.