Thread: Why didn't rubbing my palms work in the dream?

I was lucid in a dream a few weeks back (I had 3 LDs in that week) and remembered my intentions. When I noticed I was dreaming (DILD) I jumped over a knocked down tree and rubbed my palms together as fast as I could, feeling warmth and touch. After rubbing them for about 3 seconds I was awake. Am I supposed to rub lightly or slower? I didn't repeat to myself "I am dreaming" could this have been the problem? Any help is appreciated.

No no no, you don't rub palms, you rub your coconuts

Rubbing them as fast as you can is a bit of a frantic motion - the idea is to be calm - I think you woke up from being to frantic about it.

Next time try rubbing your hands together more slowly, like an evil mastermind, or maybe a medium speed I guess.

Why did you start rubbing your palms in the first place. Did you start because you thought you might wake up if you didn't?

If you are rubbing your hands in order to prevent yourself from waking up then you're doing it wrong. You rub your hands to engage yourself in the dream world. There should be no thoughts or worries about waking up. That thought alone is enough to wake up you and no amount of rubbing will prevent it.

Like DreiHundert said, you need to stay calm. Stay focused only on immersing yourself in the dream.

And since there are no natural laws in your dream world there is no guaranteed continuity from one dream to another. A stabilizing technique may work in one dream and then not work in another. If a dream doesn't work out the way you want don't always assume you're doing something wrong. Sometimes a dream will just end. Accept it and look forward to the next.

I had a similar problem once. I somehow noticed I was dreaming (probably because I had my phone in my hand and the time change and I realized it) so right after I noticed it, I decided to try the rubbing of my hands while spinning in a circle, while thinking about a place I wanted to teleport to. So when I tried spinning, it was like some force was working against me, I couldn't spin fast. I decided to open my eyes, and in one eye, I saw the dream environment I was just in. While in the other, I saw the place I wanted to go to. Very strange feeling it was, almost like crossing your eyes. Anyways, from the spinning, I ended up waking up with my head shaking side to side. Next time try immediately touching your surroundings, while demanding out loud the phrase "Clarity Now!" That might give the results you're looking for.

I think, that doesn't work on me..rubbing your hand will almost feels your Excited..which is bad..Next time just be calm, don't expect or think that your dream will collapse, just start creating your world and enjoy it without too much excitement!

The point of rubbing your hands is to engage your senses inside a dream, to become more connected to the dream. Hands are suggested, because they are always there. Also ground is always there. But you can use anything else for the same purpose - a nearby wall, a DC or any objects.
And slow down. Don't think that your dreams are going to be short. Think the opposite. It helps.
Happy dreams

I had another lucid and this time a few seconds after I noticed I was dreaming I opened my dream eyes. They seemed closed (somehow) but I could still see. It felt as if I was in another body, not in any control. Basically I closed my eyes softly and imagined my world clearer and when I opened it was. With the clarity I examined my surroundings and confirmed, but I blinked again and woke up. Good while it lasted, I have been working on blinking (it just comes out of nowhere even if I don't need to). -_-

test

After rubbing them for about 3 seconds I was awake. Am I supposed to rub lightly or slower? I didn't repeat to myself "I am dreaming" could this have been the problem?

No.

There are no rules or proper ways of dreaming.

I am not sure if rubbing your hands together was for a reality check or to gain more clarity. I find biting my finger hard enough to feel pain works as a RC for me. My hands/fingers have no feeling in a dream (usually). It may be an idea to work on controlling your emotions in your dreams before you start to work on gaining more clarity. Personally I think stability is the second most important skill to learn after gaining lucidity. Once you have some experience stabilizing your dreams then you can start to work on more clarity. I find it best to flow with the scenario of the dream for a while before attempting to change anything. Just my 2 cents.

What ever you believe will happen in your dream WILL happen in your dream. Ex. Candy in your pocket, waking up, flying, having something appear around the corner.

Originally Posted by JShadow

What ever you believe will happen in your dream WILL happen in your dream. Ex. Candy in your pocket, waking up, flying, having something appear around the corner.

It can work that way, but what if you think "I am about to wake up." and "rubbing my hands together stops me from waking up."

You believed both, but only one happened. Not everything you believe will happen. Look at things that "The Cusp" says. He is seems very knowledgeable on this subject.

It also might have been the end of your REM cycle. Later in the dreams you normally get more aware, so this leads a lot of people when DILDing to become aware nearer the end of REM, where you automatically wake up. Good luck. Remember that not everything that works for everyone else will work for you.

I don't think that rubbing hands will do any good.

This is a funny topic. It's based on the premise that rubbing your hands will help but I certainly have no verifiable evidence that it does and it certainly goes against everything in my personal knowledge base.

Gimmicky quick fixes may sound convenient "Oh if I just rub my hands together I'll stay lucid forever and ever" but they have no rational basis most of the time.