Greetings Everyone,

Last night I had my first intentional lucid dream.

I have spent the last few weeks reading your experiences and advice on this board, reading LaBerge, practicing reality checks, and watching Waking Life.

This would not have happened without this board and I am so grateful.

I want to share.

In the minutes before I became lucid I was swimming with a friend and a stranger. I stopped to show them this "figure 8" route that I found very relaxing. My view then switched to third person perspective and my body turned into a piece of photo film which was peacefully moving in a figure 8 pattern. The stranger interfered with the film's motion and I said "Hey, nobody ruins my concentration when I'm dreaming." My body immediately began to float towards the sky and in front of my eyes was a gigantic banner that said "I AM DREAMING!" I became very excited and woke up into a false awakening...

I was in a very small room in a bed and the room was blinking blue and white. This room was terrifying. I was in there for a brief second and then woke up into another false awakening.

This time I was on a beach in front of the most beautiful skyline I have ever seen. The colors were breathtaking. There were people sitting with me. I looked over at one of them and said, "I think I am dreaming because I do not remember how I got here." She said, "No you are not. This is real." I said, "No, I really think I am dreaming right now," and began running down the boardwalk. At this point I still was not sure and noticed roadsigns along the path. After a few weeks now of practicing reality checks in my waking life I was able apply the technique in the dream and then knew I was still dreaming.

There is more but I have already written so much.

Anyway, I am really looking forward to learning from everyone and reading about your experiences.

Peace.