Failed Reality Check - Didn't Realize Lucidty Until Awake!

This week was slim pickin's when it came to LDs - just one two days ago since my last post (last week was highly stressful, thanks to the election), and a frustrating one at that.

In the dream, I was on the street with my friend, when a man in a mask, something of a cross between mime paint and a Japanese kabuki mask, came up to me. I laughed and said, "Hi, how are you doing, I must be dreaming." I tried the finger-through-palm RC, and it failed. So I turned to my friend and said, "Well, I must be awake, then!"

Why did my RC fail? And, is there a way to double-check the RC when it fails? I was very frustrated that it failed and I 'dropped' lucidty, because last time I was just about to try flying for the first time ever when I was startled out of the dream! :(

maybe your brain told you that putting your hand through your palm is impossible, even though it was just a dream...
try to do numerous tests before you give up, like reading a text and see if it changes..

but you shouldn't listen to what i say, wait until someone more experienced give you an answer, and good luck :)

Do you think it's possible for the mind to totally convince itself that the laws of phisics work within the dream world, even though we are convinced we are dreaming? Therefore we can remain lucid while having no more power than we will in reality?

...err, maybe I should get back to work! :undecided:

I think i get what you mean there. You mean is it possible to be convinced that things won't work within a dream?

and if so i think its true. Its all about belief from all the posts i've read on this forum, and my own expirence.

I had two reality checks fail on me the night before last; closing an eye and looking at my nose - there it was, bright and happy, and checking my watch. Took me flying around to convince myself in the end. I think the reality checks would be more effective if I wasn't expecting one - I was expecting to see my nose, and there it was for example. Not sure exactly how you'd organize a spontaneous reality check without knowing about it though...

You have to expect that your already are inside a dream when doing a RC. Everything else i just feel is pointless. If you cant set your reality at the test, and convince yourself about the posiblity that your dreaming right now, you wont make it in a dream either.

For the RC's. Expect them do work. When looking for your nose expect it to not be there.

Good advice from Jammy there ;)

And yes, reality checks are about belief, and the expectation.
Thats why different reality checks work differently for different people.
For example - I can read perfectly in my dreams, but thats meant to be a reality check!

So if you can't put a finger through your hand - try something else.
Look in the tutorials section for a nice list of reality checks

Personally, I use (1) look at hand, check its normal - count fingers. Make sure you can count (2) Question how you got to where you are. And what did you eat last. Does it all make sense? If you cant answer ... then get suspicious ;) (3) Close your nose and keep breathing. Make sure you closed your nose properly, and for an entire breath or two. I've failed this one before because I got lazy on it...

My reality check is simple. I ask the question 'am I dreaming?' and then I answer 'yes' - always ;) .So much easier than having a check that can fail.

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Originally posted by Nighteyes
My reality check is simple. I ask the question 'am I dreaming?' and then I answer 'yes' - always ;) .So much easier than having a check that can fail.

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That doesn't work well for most beginners
You simply learn to say 'yes' automatically without checking properly
Once you're more aware of the difference in feeling between a dream, and reality - and/or force yourself to assume its a dream until proven otherwise.... then it may work

At one point I didnt need much of a reality check, I just looked around and 'sensed' if the objects around me were part of me... hard to explain...

yes, sorry - a whimsical answer from me there :oops:

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Originally posted by Placebo+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Placebo)</div>

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<!--QuoteBegin-Nighteyes

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My reality check is simple. I ask the question 'am I dreaming?' and then I answer 'yes' - always ;) .So much easier than having a check that can fail.

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That doesn't work well for most beginners[/b]

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Actually, mate, this is exactly how I realised I was dreaming - I just 'sensed' it, or knew it maybe! Maybe this is because I've just started and it's not as convincingly real as some people. I only looked at my hands to focus and clarify the dream.

...Either this or I'm a super-LD'er and it just comes naturally to me!! :mrgreen:

Everyone's different - thats why I said 'most'
Not everyone finds eg. VILD easy. Or reading in a dream.
Depends on the person, consider yourself lucky ;)

you mean gifted! :bigteeth:

They were actually the first reality checks I'd ever done - for last couple of years up till now, I'd just begin dreaming and then say "I'm dreaming.". Thought I'd try one or two RCs for a laugh.

For RC i do I hold my nose,look at my watch and count my fingers