Hey everyone,

I've been lurking around this forum for a while, and I think that last night I had my first lucid dream.

But I am wondering if I only had a dream in which I dreamt that I was lucid, rather than actually attaining consciousness in a dream. I know it's a rather shady distinction. So I thought that I'd ask for some input.

Anyway, here is what (vaguely) happened:

A friend and I were running from some security guards in a mall. It's one of those multi-story malls with an empty center column, so one can see the shops on each level. It happens that I push one of the mall-cops over the edge of the handrail, so naturally, he falls down a few storys.

I wonder, "Did I just kill someone?'' But then I think, "no, this is just a dream."

So at this point, I think in the dream, "Oh, I'm lucid dreaming. I'll try to fly." And I do -- although it seems more like hovering, as there is no sensation of wind or air or acceleration. I look back to my friend and shout "Hey get over here." Then I slowly (and against my will) wake up.

The whole process took perhaps fifteen seconds. The thing is, I feel that I would have been more sensible, were I fully conscious. For instance, it would have been far more rational to stabilize the dream, rather than taking the singleminded act of leaping up and flying/hovering. I am typically a cool-headed person.

So any thoughts? A legitimate lucid dream, or not?