Thread: Lesson of last night's mildly-lucid dream

So, I had an LD last night, my third since picking the hobby back up.

It wasn't very strongly lucid. The most memorable moment was when I was mostly convinced I was dreaming, but wanted to do a reality check just to make sure. This strongly-built guy with long straight red hair tied back in a ponytail, thick red eyebrows, and a clean-shaven, distinctly masculine yet youthful-looking face happened to be in the area. I ended up getting into a fight with this redhead. He stared at me, and I knew he was going to attack, and I felt that tingly kind of fear I tend to feel in nightmares. I wondered if this dream was going to turn into a nightmare, but I was determined to let this guy pass through me as a reality check to confirm that I was dreaming. So he charged at me, and passed through me, and I shouted at him, "Ha! You're a ghost!"

Reflecting on that dream today, I realized that a lot of my day-to-day fears, impulses, and insecurities are just as much "ghosts" as any dream character. They're in my mind, and are not tied to any immediate danger; so rather than giving into them all the time, I can let them pass through me and I'll be fine.

I want to recruit that redhead as a dream guide or something. His appearance reminded me a little of this guy I know, kind of an internet friend of an internet friend but I've met him IRL, who's into archetypes and warrior skills. He inadvertantly taught me a lesson - reminded me of some bit of wisdom I'd forgotten. I could interpret him as my inner warrior archetype who was training me to be better able to face my fears. I'd like to see if I can meet him again tonight, or the next time I LD, or find some other trainer or guide.

I like what you concluded from that dream. That's a good thing to remember.

I used to want to use lucid dreaming to help me with public speaking, which is something that I'm terrible at. I never managed (so far) to create that group to talk to in my dreams, but somehow lucid dreaming has helped me nonetheless. I think facing fears in lucid dreams helps with facing fear in real life, even it the situtations are not exactly the same. Also, when I get up in front of people, I pretend it is a dream, and do a lot of RC's, and realize that if it were really a dream I wouldn't have any fear at all--and somehow that takes a lot of the fear away.

Good luck on getting your guy back. I've never had much luck with that, but I think a lot of people do. Let me know!

Thanks.

I didn't have a lucid at all last night, because I tried too hard to WILD after getting up to use the bathroom and write down my creepy nonlucid dream (that I did NOT want to go back to for a DEILD attempt, lest I wind up in a nonlucid nightmare...should have applied last night's lesson there). grr. I'll keep trying, though. And maybe if I can't find the guy, I'll find someone else for warrior training...IF I can get lucid enough! I think I'll try visualizing the kind of scenario I want, and maybe writing it down, before I go to sleep. And I'll either rely on the old-fashioned method of "be interested in lucid dreams, have random DILDs" or see if I can manage to retain some level of consciousness as I fall asleep while lying on my side. Last 3 or so times I tried lying on my back (generally WBTB's) I've gotten the same result - light, fitful sleep for the rest of the night.

Originally Posted by Moonbeam

Also, when I get up in front of people, I pretend it is a dream, and do a lot of RC's, and realize that if it were really a dream I wouldn't have any fear at all--and somehow that takes a lot of the fear away.

That's very buddhist of you. And those liars say dream buddhism is difficult to master.