Mantras. When to stop?

When I created my mantra "I perform a RC if I start dreaming and I will remember it" I started thinking it over and over again last night. Either my sleeping pattern affected it or something because I couldnt even sleep. I try to stop reciting it but it was the only thing in my head and I couldnt stop:/. I need advice on how to get sleep while performing my mantra. Ive never had a lucid dream and I've recently just now started to know how many dreams I have a night. Last night I slept for 3 hours...had a weird dream...I knew I was dreaming but my body did what it wanted to do and I couldnt control it. This is another thing I have stumbled upon... Anyone want to shed some light on my issues? Oh and BTW if you thing my mantra is to long I tried shortening it when I couldnt get to sleep.

Mantras can be tricky sometimes. If you are focusing too much attention to your mantra (which it seems like you are), then it can absolutely prevent you from falling asleep. The idea is to kind of passively repeat your mantra while allowing your body to fall asleep. It can be difficult to find that perfect balance of your attention (especially if you have trouble falling asleep anyway).

What I like to do, besides repeating a mantra, is a bit like how actors get into character. Basically, you need to convince yourself and truly believe that you will have a lucid dream. Upon laying down to go to sleep, convince yourself that you are an excellent lucid dreamer and you will easily become lucid. Truly believe that there is no chance of missing out on lucidity and fall asleep simply expecting to have a lucid dream. I use this to get out of dry spells.

About your dream, if you realized you were dreaming, then it was a lucid dream. You simply had a control issue, which is very common for beginners. The easiest way to improve control is through experience and practice. Once you get a few more lucids under your belt, the control will begin to get easier for you (it took me weeks to learn how to fly properly). Good Luck to you and I hoped I helped out a bit.

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Originally Posted by KingYoshi

Mantras can be tricky sometimes. If you are focusing too much attention to your mantra (which it seems like you are), then it can absolutely prevent you from falling asleep. The idea is to kind of passively repeat your mantra while allowing your body to fall asleep. It can be difficult to find that perfect balance of your attention (especially if you have trouble falling asleep anyway).

What I like to do, besides repeating a mantra, is a bit like how actors get into character. Basically, you need to convince yourself and truly believe that you will have a lucid dream. Upon laying down to go to sleep, convince yourself that you are an excellent lucid dreamer and you will easily become lucid. Truly believe that there is no chance of missing out on lucidity and fall asleep simply expecting to have a lucid dream. I use this to get out of dry spells.

About your dream, if you realized you were dreaming, then it was a lucid dream. You simply had a control issue, which is very common for beginners. The easiest way to improve control is through experience and practice. Once you get a few more lucids under your belt, the control will begin to get easier for you (it took me weeks to learn how to fly properly). Good Luck to you and I hoped I helped out a bit.

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Man your a savior:) by the way do you take any lucid aids?

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Originally Posted by KingYoshi

Mantras can be tricky sometimes. If you are focusing too much attention to your mantra (which it seems like you are), then it can absolutely prevent you from falling asleep. The idea is to kind of passively repeat your mantra while allowing your body to fall asleep. It can be difficult to find that perfect balance of your attention (especially if you have trouble falling asleep anyway).

What I like to do, besides repeating a mantra, is a bit like how actors get into character. Basically, you need to convince yourself and truly believe that you will have a lucid dream. Upon laying down to go to sleep, convince yourself that you are an excellent lucid dreamer and you will easily become lucid. Truly believe that there is no chance of missing out on lucidity and fall asleep simply expecting to have a lucid dream. I use this to get out of dry spells.

About your dream, if you realized you were dreaming, then it was a lucid dream. You simply had a control issue, which is very common for beginners. The easiest way to improve control is through experience and practice. Once you get a few more lucids under your belt, the control will begin to get easier for you (it took me weeks to learn how to fly properly). Good Luck to you and I hoped I helped out a bit.

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Man your a savior:) by the way do you take any lucid aids?

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Originally Posted by Silence

Man your a savior:) by the way do you take any lucid aids?

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I have taken melatonin before with some nice results, but I usually just drink a glass or two of apple juice and eat some peanut butter crackers just before bed. It seems to help just as much as melatonin, for me anyway. I also always smoke before I go to bed and it usually makes my dreams pretty random and crazy. I guess I would call it my own, personal, lucid aid, lol.

Yeah, mantras can be a touch tricky...

In regards to the mantra you are using, if it doesn't work for you, might I suggest a present-tense one? "I AM dreaming" seems to help convince me that I am dreaming or will have a lucid dream than a future-tense one, or one that is more tentative. "If I'm dreaming, I will do a reality check." You gotta really convince yourself that it's going to work, and that you'll be lucid dreaming that night.

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by KingYoshi

I have taken melatonin before with some nice results, but I usually just drink a glass or two of apple juice and eat some peanut butter crackers just before bed. It seems to help just as much as melatonin, for me anyway. I also always smoke before I go to bed and it usually makes my dreams pretty random and crazy. I guess I would call it my own, personal, lucid aid, lol.

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Smoke cannabis? Calea Z? Cigs?

cannabis

it helps to relax for 5 minutes first, then think your mantra slowly. Just say it many times, you shouldn't force your self to though. When you feel yourself losing consciousness you can stop, but you will probably just lose consciousness anyway.

A twenty minute stint before falling asleep, combined with mantras and mental alertness throughout the day, is usually enough for me.

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Originally Posted by Bizarre Jester

it helps to relax for 5 minutes first, then think your mantra slowly. Just say it many times, you shouldn't force your self to though. When you feel yourself losing consciousness you can stop, but you will probably just lose consciousness anyway.

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But what if its hard to stop at all.

I mean i tried to make myself stop but it would just keep repeating itself in my head and I couldnt stop

Don't fight it, then. Don't concentrate on it, but don't fight it. Also try reverse blinking, as it has helped a lot of people.

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Originally Posted by Mario92

Don't fight it, then. Don't concentrate on it, but don't fight it. Also try reverse blinking, as it has helped a lot of people.

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I just discovered reverse blinking about 15 mins before you reccomended it :)

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Originally Posted by Silence

But what if its hard to stop at all.

I mean i tried to make myself stop but it would just keep repeating itself in my head and I couldnt stop

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it's okay to keep thinking it a little.

This doesn't really have anything to do with lucid dreaming but a good exercise is to practice clearing your mind. It's a lot harder then it sounds. Lie down and just try to not think any thoughts. This helps calm us down as we spend the whole day thinking.

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Originally Posted by Silence

Smoke cannabis? Calea Z? Cigs?

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Cannabis :)!

Cigs...cnt help it its an addiction obviously lol tehe its a guilty pleasure