Another intro post and a question...

So, I'm new to DV, and relativly new to lucid dream themselves. I just learned about LD's, maybe a month ago and was kinda... half-interested if you know what I mean. I tried some basic techniques and failed and just gave up I guess due to lack of real interest.

So, I started thinking about LD's again, and I'm pretty serious about it this time around. I'm keeping a dream journal (might start one on the forums to keep me commited), I'm doing constant reality checks, and I'm learning about all the different techniques out there. I'm pretty excited about having my first LD, though in the back of my mind I'm a bit worried it won't be as great as people say it is, but whatever...

Anyhow, I was also a bit curious on something concerning Dream Signs. I think I may have found my first real dream sign, but I'm not sure. I only started keeping a Dream Journal about 5 days ago and in two of my dreams I recorded the presence of Roman-esque columns. Picking that up, I recalled them being present in about 3 of the other dreams I had recorded. Thinking back further, they seemed to be in a lot of my older dreams. I think columns might be a DS for me but I just want to make sure I'm not too quick to assume, considering I JUST started keeping a journal.

So yeah, hopefully you'll see me around the forums, and whatever...

Hey Neverman, welcome!
I started out lucid dreaming because out of the blue I had one, so I didn't have the skepticism that probably someone just hearing about it would have. Regarding your first lucid dream, you may end up waking up quickly if you get too excited, so be aware that the very first might not be the most dazzling experience quality-wise, though having your first lucid should be an exciting experience all on its own ;) Maybe check out the Dream Stabilization tutorial, and remember when you are reality checking to also tell yourself to stabilize!
It sounds like you're off to a good start though, especially with reading as much as you can. As far as the dream sign goes, that is definitely a possible dream sign. You may want to do something like print up pictures of these columns and leave them around your room/house to prompt you to RC when you see them. Just keep up with the reality checking, you should get results especially if you are putting in the effort and consideration that it sounds like you are :) More dream signs may start to become evident over time too, so just keep the DJ and look out for people, places, emotions, situations, etc.
Good luck!

Thanks. Now that I'm pretty much positive the columns are a dream sign it kind of makes me happy we're studying Romans currently in school, so whenever I see pretty much anything in my textbook, I'll be reminded to do a RC.

Now, since my original post, I just remembered another question I meant to ask: is it possible to dream about having a lucid dream (if that makes any sense)? I ask this because the first night I started my DJ I remember dreaming about waking up and looking at my hands only to notice I had an indefinite amount of fingers. At that point I thought I had become lucid and I went out to try flying. I failed at flying and I woke up very soon. Looking back, I doubted it was actually a lucid dream because things weren't very clear to me, I wasn't thinking rationally, and I didn't ACTUALLY have any control over myself. So, I've been wondering to myself whether it was my first LD or if I was simply dreaming about my first LD... or if I was semi-lucid (though I'm don't really know what semi-lucidity is supposed to be like).

Hmm, is it possible that learning about them is the reason it's a dream sign? Either way, awesome opportunity to keep yourself working on awareness :D

As far as dreaming about lucid dreams, it gets a bit tricky. It's certainly possible to dream about being lucid, but not actually make that critical "Oh wait I AM dreaming" connection. I've had a few of those and people first learning to lucid dream especially seem to report them. Once you've had a bit of experience with real lucids you'll definitely get the distinction. When it comes to an actual lucid dream though, really the only requirement is that you are in the dream and very consciously saying "Oh hey, I'm dreaming". Depending on the dream, and if you stabilize your lucidity or increase it, you can have a very fuzzy knowledge and still be thinking more like a crazy dream person. You can even forget that you are lucid while still in the dream. You sometimes are even just barely lucid that you might have trouble controlling what does go on and how you behave. A lot of people seem to have this problem when it comes to lucid sex distractions. They'll become lucid, and know they want to do something fun like fly into the sun, but instead they just end up having sex (I think guys are way more prone to this :tongue:). So, as the person who experienced it you'll have to be the one to gauge your own lucids and really determine if they were lucid dreams or not, and if they were what you didn't like about them and how to improve upon that. Like I said, with more experience you should get more comfortable with the notion and the feeling of being lucid, as well as the ability to control yourself and the dream.

Damn that was long :shock: sorry :oops:

Hello Neverman, and welcome to dreamviews. Glad to see you're getting back in the game! I lost interest a few months ago myself, but recently I've been committing myself to lucid dreams. The effort has definitely paid off, and I am having very vivid dreams and a few lucids a week. Also, congratulations on finding your dreamsign. Most people never really figure out what their dreamsigns are unless they keep a dream journal or have very intense dream recall. Just keep at it with the dream journal and reality checks, and you'll be getting more lucids in no time!

Anyway, good luck to you, and happy lucids! :)