What can I do?

[LucidSleeperCel]

I've started my journal, and I'm developing the needed "critical - reflective attitude;" meaning that I'm preforming reality checks about every ten to twenty minutes (btw, can you do reality checks too often?). I've read that I should keep a dream journal for about a week, while in this time attempting to gain the ability to recollect at least one dream per night; but preferably two. But I'm four days into keeping this journal, and it just feels like I could be doing more to progress my development. I mean in this weeks time, isn't there ANYTHING that I could do on top of dream journaling and consistent reality checks in order to develop that "critical - reflective attitude?" Or is that pretty much it? Also, if anybody has any tips for methods that can help one to fall asleep, I would appreciate it if you let me know on my other thread "Help Falling Asleep." As I have trouble falling asleep, almost every night.

[BenTheDream1018]

before u go to sleep try a mantra, and as for falling asleep try to focus on ur breathing or drinking milk

[Hot Chocolate]

You should always keep a dream journal, not just for a week. If you stop, you'll notice that you'll have harder time remembering your dreams. Have a look over at the tutorial section, there are a plenty of methods for inducing lucid dreams there. Good luck!

[LucidSleeperCel]

Oh I know not to stop after a week, but I know that you should keep a dream journal for at least a week before identifying and counting your common dream signs so that you might better train yourself to recognize them in your dream. That's what I meant by that But all the tutorials say that you should keep your dream journal for at least a week before starting any induction methods; what I'm asking is if there is anything I can do during this preliminary "training" week that might also help my lucidity development.

[Brunor2]

How long it is since you started your dream journal? You need to give time to yourself, dont rush, if it's not long since you started dream journaling, you're getting adapted to it, yet. Try to keep writing down in your DJ, It'll only bring you benefits. Look for some techniques that might apply to you, I would recommend you the FILD technique (the only one I can recommend is this one, since I've tried it.), or the MILD if you works nice with mantras and words (I don't, hehe).

[LucidSleeperCel]

I'm on day 4 of keeping a dream journal, but while I'm in this training period I think I'm just going to do some supplementary exercises to aid in my development a bit more; as well as meditating whenever I get the chance (it seems a lot of lucid dreaming techniques have several striking similarities with meditation and astral projection O.o). I've been trying the DILD technique, I was thinking about trying the MILD; just because I'm somewhat adept at meditation, and the two practices are extremely similar. I want to get some more experience with lucid dreaming before I attempt the WILD technique though, to prevent any frustration from a failed attempt haha

[Philosopher8659]

When I was into deep exploration of the state, I did not worry about falling asleep. I simply closed my eyes and pictured myself walking in the dark. I would actually walk into lucid dreaming. Just stay focused and let the body do the sleeping. You set up a conflict of interest when you think it is you who want to get into sleep--it is in fact the body.

[LucidSleeperCel]

When I was into deep exploration of the state, I did not worry about falling asleep. I simply closed my eyes and pictured myself walking in the dark. I would actually walk into lucid dreaming. Just stay focused and let the body do the sleeping. You set up a conflict of interest when you think it is you who want to get into sleep--it is in fact the body. That's an interesting viewpoint, and certainly one that I'll admit I didn't think of. But when you did this, was it the first time you fell asleep for the night? Or were you using the WILD or WBTB technique?

[sol]

When I was into deep exploration of the state, I did not worry about falling asleep. I simply closed my eyes and pictured myself walking in the dark. I would actually walk into lucid dreaming. Just stay focused and let the body do the sleeping. You set up a conflict of interest when you think it is you who want to get into sleep--it is in fact the body. That is a very interesting post, I like it. Never heard it put like that before. In fact all your posts in this thread have been really good, keep it up!

[Philosopher8659]

I started my Lucid dreaming in the late 50's and for over twenty years had no idea anyone else had even thought of it, I don't use a technique. Focus is focus, and is not a technique, but an act of will. I played and explored, thinking I was working with my own mind. I was mistaken, but if one takes it far enough, they will learn. One has to look at it as a learning experience with quite unexpected results--but that depends upon the student. With practice, one can walk into the dreamstate and stay lucid through every dream of the night.

[LucidSleeperCel]

So just focus alone then? Doing this, is there visualization? Or just pure sensation? If visualization, do you picture your physical body, or some formless dream body? My apologies for the string of questions, I just find this method you're using to be quite interesting; that is, the method of using pure focus.

[Philosopher8659]

You can dream in many senses at one time, or in just one. You can also learn how to say what you see, in other words, ask questions and get answers. You can get them in english, of course, it depends upon your teacher. You have to realize, it is a learning environment, which stage you are at is up to your own abilities. You are free to make mistakes, and take years overcomming them, there is no hurry. I always concentrated on the darkness--believing that at the end of it was light. One learns to disregard everything else.

[LucidSleeperCel]

You can dream in many senses at one time, or in just one. You can also learn how to say what you see, in other words, ask questions and get answers. You can get them in english, of course, it depends upon your teacher. You have to realize, it is a learning environment, which stage you are at is up to your own abilities. You are free to make mistakes, and take years overcomming them, there is no hurry. I always concentrated on the darkness--believing that at the end of it was light. One learns to disregard everything else. I agree with sol, I've yet to hear anyone put it quite to simply. Everyone else has steps, and while your concentrating and concentrating; you keep thinking about which step your on! I'm going to try this, to completely disregard steps that is, and make my attempt to just... focus. Perhaps through practice, I can learn this (would you be willing to answer any of my quesions that might arise in my pursuit of lucidity through this method?).

[Philosopher8659]

What I have learned is that everything that happens in state is a question, a learning experience. Answer the question, choose right action, and you progress. One must be curious and honest. The real process is between the learner and one's teacher. Although I hve plenty to do, I am certainly not qualified to be a teacher. There is one principle of truth--perception determines conception, conception determines will. It is really quite simple. Whatever the teacher is, it is certainly not a wishing well, or a geni in a lamp. One has to earn each step. One must set their own goal, any goal, then one can learn.