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I've been ill lately and using Vix VapoRub, a strong minty Eucalyptus balm, to open up my snot-blocked nose and get some better sleep.
I couldn't help but notice how penetrant the Smell was.
Instead of focussing on the body, the breath, your imagination...etc I thought:
Could it be possible to focus your attention on a Smell and use that to stay aware and wakefull during sleep and dreams? Now Vix vaporub is an extremely penetrant smell. I'm still rather ill so that will affect my Dreaming. But are there any people interrested in trying to sleep with a little Vix Vaporub balm under their nose to see if it is easier to focus your attention on the rather ''present'' smell whilst falling asleep? Let me know.
Anyone?
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I experimented with "Scent-ILD" for a while, but I used a cotton-candy flavored perfrume (trying to eat clouds, when that was the lucid task.) It wasn't wildly successful, but it was much less obtrusive than Vick's. That may be the key... actually I'm kind of sick too, but I don't have any Vick's. I'll pick some up tommorrow and join you in this.
(Hey I made a pun--not WILD-ly successful. Sorry)
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Once you are better you could put some vicks or any scent you really enjoy on a hanky or some small bit of cloth and place it near your pillow. The idea would be to only get a 'glimpse' of the scent periodicly through the night. This might make your brain say 'woah, what is that? I like that. That is my favorite smell' and be activated.
Not sure how you'd link this with a cue to dream lucidly or whatever. I had tried dreaming of a story I'd concocted concerning the world of that movie Sleepy Hollow. I had a not very clear idea of what the story was except I wanted to dream of this world. I also had a few pictures I'd printed from the internet by the bed so I could see them. For some reason I associated the smell of popcorn with the movie and each time I watched the movie on tape I would eat and smell a bag of popcorn.
It did not generate lucidity but I did get some dreams now and again mixing my favorite book and movie characters with hints of Sleepy Hollowishness. One dream was rather funny, fun, not really controlable, and not completely lucid though I did know enough to try to make the dream do what I wanted. I was playing a gothic-romance-novel-heroine-type that was trying very hard to get rescued and adored by Johnny Depp. The dream wasn't very long and seemed very sluggish like I was very tired and uninspired and couldn't get any fresh ideas. That may have been what state my brain was in and reflected in the dream content.
I tried several times to generate Sleepy Hollow dreams but did not get anything that I really wanted to dream. Like I dreamed of a female grim reaper who did not have a head. I am a Terry Pratchett Discworld novel fan and had been reading or had read recient to that dream Soul Music or something with Susan Sto Helit, Death's adopted granddaughter. I hate Susan.
At any rate, it is a good idea but it did not work for me. I think I don't try hard enough. Or I fuss and do a few things and then not do any more wanting the technique to do all the work.
:bigteeth:
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OK, I got the stuff. Will try tonite. Any luck SKA?
