My first lucid dream was not what I expected

I had my first LD last night. I am 32 years old. I have always had some sense in my dreams that they are not real. Usually when I realize it completely, I wake up. Yesterday I was reading about how to have a LD so for the remainder of the afternoon, I did some reality checks. Then last night when I went to sleep, I told myself to remember my dreams as I was falling asleep.

My son woke me up during the night and I tried to remember if I had been dreaming. I remember something about water, but nothing else.

So at about 4 a.m. I went back to sleep and this time I KNEW I was dreaming. I didn't get super-excited or anything. I remained calm and tried a few things. I jumped really high and did several flips in the air. I jumped through a window and was falling. I ended up falling into a body of water head first. Oh, and before I jumped through the window, I made a man appear and, well...you know. That was the most real part of the entire dream.

After falling in the water, I was back in the same room again (which I don't remember other than the digital clock which was my reality check). I thought I wasn't dreaming anymore but every time I checked the clock, the numbers were changing so I knew I was still dreaming.

Finally somehow I woke up, although I don't know how.

The thing that was weird was that the whole dream was very...how to explain it...abstract or faded. I don't remember any colors in the dream or any details about the room. I do remember touching the man, though - he was the only thing that I actually "felt". I was hoping that LDing would feel more real - like real life.

Is this normal or are there varying degrees of "vividness" or lucidity?

I told my husband about it this morning. I think he thinks I'm nuts!!

Catherine

I think there are varying degrees of lucidity. Things fade in and out of focus, appear and disappear, and shift their shapes all the time.

You did very well for your first time. Jeez... creating a hottie and having your way with him. You go girl! :D Sometimes it feels like real life and sometimes it doesn't. It really depends on the person, the situation, and the vividness of the dream. All that is normal.

Congrats, and good job! :)

It's good to know that some dreams will be more "real" than others. Yeah, I was kinda embarrassed to admit that I created a man first thing in my dream! That part of the dream did feel very real - HE felt real. But nothing else did. I just didn't have that totally exhilerating feeling I thought I might have in a LD. It was like I was flying and it was neat, but not super exciting.

Anyhow, I'll keep working at it!

Catherine

Some of my LDs are more vivid than reality. Some of them are like you said, dark or almost colorless.
Last night's was bright and very vivid (visually at least)

Hang in there! LDs are the adventure of a lifetime!

Congratulations to your first lucid dream ! :cheers:

Same here, there are varying degrees in vividness. From completely foggy and vague to clear to the very last detail. There are also some techniques described how you might increase clarity, like spinning or looking to the ground.

My one very vivid lucid dream felt like being in a painting, or a very stylized movie at times.

There were some very striking images. I remember seeing a massive, swirling storm cloud in the distance, and flying toward it. That's what sticks in my mind the most.

Congratulations!

and

Welcome to the board!!

~ Michael : O'nus