Thread: Wow, have a question already and have only been here for a few minutes...

Thats what I thought at first.

The reason you do these Reality Checks is so you're sub concious does it while you're dreaming. You have to do these reality checks in real life daily and then you will automatically do them in your dream.

I do the time check as a reality check. And 2 times in the past week i've been looking for the time desperately in my dreams so I can figure out if i'm dreaming or not. So the reality checks work.

Alright, some techniques for RCing are:

-Pinch your nose, and try to breathe in. If you cannot breathe, then you are not dreaming.
-Just stand still, and pay attention to what everything feels like. Notice the air, notice the gravity, notice everything.
-Look at a clock. Turn around, wait two seconds. If the time has changed, or an impossible time comes up, then you are dreaming.

There are endless ways to reality check, and it shouldn't take long to find one that suits you.

I've seen numerous references to counting fingers, and I've been doing that as of late. Throughout the day I try to do it as often as I can, and this usually equates to three or four times a day on average. Does finger counting work as an RC? Is it possible to do it too many times?

Originally Posted by oklahomahoss

I've seen numerous references to counting fingers, and I've been doing that as of late. Throughout the day I try to do it as often as I can, and this usually equates to three or four times a day on average. Does finger counting work as an RC? Is it possible to do it too many times?

It works great, it's discrete, it's one of my favorites, and you can't do it too many times. Make sure you count your fingers as

three fingers + one finger + one thumb

NOT

two fingers + two fingers + one thumb

In a dream, it's easier for your brain to recreate your hand if you count your fingers using the latter method. That's bad.

You can't do it too often, but make sure you do them properly and REALLY question your reality. Don't just count your fingers and take for granted that you're awake.