Greetings! I'm a new NovaDreamer owner, and I've been working at lucid dreaming since December of 1998 (tho with very little success).

I've had my NovaDreamer for a week now, and I find I'm still adjusting to it. I'm one of those people who have difficulties falling asleep; although once I'm asleep the house could fall down around me and I probably wouldn't notice. However, if I am woken up at key times, I find it difficult to sleep again.

My first night with the NovaDreamer was hell... I found myself 'drowsing', but not sleeping. From a lab study I did at Stanford, this equates to Stage 1 sleep, but not descending into Stage 2 sleep...I'm dreaming, but everything is kind of transparent, and I'm quite aware of my surroundings and what's going on at the same time as I'm dreaming. Also, the dreams are random disconnected snippets as opposed to a fully scripted 'story'. This also means I am not getting any rest. :(

My second night I opted to sleep with the Nova Dreamer on my face, but not turned on...this worked out fairly well, so by the third night (Friday night) when I woke up early Saturday morning I turned on the NovaDreamer...and WOW! Even on the light sleeper setting, those cues are BRIGHT!

Over the weekend I was sleeping 12 hours a night with the NovaDreamer on...I had several incidents of seeing the cues and saying, "Hey! I'm dreaming!", but then I would fall out of the dream.

The last two nights (both work nights) I find I'm simply not getting enough sleep...I wake up with puffy, tired eyes and I'm still sleepy. I'm thinking that, even though I don't appear to remember all 11 cues from the night, that those cues are actually bouncing me out of sleep.

Has anyone else experienced this effect? Should I stick with turning the NovaDreamer on for weekends, but leave it off on work nights? Or does one persist and adapt so that one doesn't perpetually wake up?

Tired, but excited and grinning...... G.

All advocates of the brain (good morning, Lester) are certain to agree with Marco. But whereas a good case can be made that transcendence is simply another production of our brain, the experience is "higher" than anything ever experienced in waking life, so where did our brain "learn it?" Perhaps it somehow takes our sensory input and puts it under a powerful perception microscope complete with aspect ratio of emotion.

I wonder what the case would be for transcendence to be a product of the brain. Likewise, I wonder what the case is for any mental experience being the product of the mind. When we talk about the brain, we're talking about matter, structure, biochemics and electricity. I never as of yet read any explanation how these produce mental experience. A good case for the idea that the brain produces mental experiences should atleast clarify by which "mechanism" the brain produces these experiences. Ofcourse, we know that certain mental faculties no longer seem present when we destroy parts of the brain yet this still doesn't explain exactly how we get from this grey matter to the subjective experience of the mind. The lack of this explanation makes me doubt whether there is a "producing" brain in the first place.

Frederick

Hello.

I have a general question which affronted me recently after I had an allergic reaction to pistacio nuts.

Having never had any previous allergies I was made to understand (by the doctor) that they can strike at any time, at any age and without reason.

I have been advised not to eat any nuts until I have had proper tests done and to carry with me an adrenaline-shot kit (just in case.)

After reading about nut allergies on the inter-net I have discovered the severity of some reactions (death within minutes.)

Authorities are (and are considering) in some school cafeterias banning peanut butter because of the risk to people with extreme allergies. The odour alone can trigger a reaction.

In the time between my initial visit to the doctor and the time of my scheduled tests, I cannot eat any nuts. These demands have not been problematic in my waking state.

But it has been problematic in my dream state. Only two days after my initial visit to the doctor I found myself dreaming that I was eating a nut-filled chocolate bar. I say I "found myself dreaming" because it did trigger a lucid moment.

I was almost finished the chocolate bar when I thought "oh-oh, I shouldn't be eating this." At that point I realized that I was dreaming because I wouldn't be so careless in the waking state.

When I became lucid every detail of the dream seemed heightened (this seems common to lucid dreaming.) And, of course, this did not exclude the taste of the chocolate and the nuts... I was very conscious of the taste and how it felt in my mouth. It was extremely realistic.

Rather than continuing with the dream (I was lucid so I could have continued the dream as I would any other lucid dream) I chose to wake up because I was concerned about my safety.

Needless to say I am still alive (and had no negative reaction to eating the dream peanuts.)

But, as I stated earlier, I haven't yet had the tests to see if I am even allergic to nuts and if so which ones they are (you will remember that my reaction was to pistacios and not to peanuts- which is what I was eating in the dream.)

So, I am wondering....

....if people with extreme allergies are having a reaction to simply smelling the peanut butter in the waking state could they not also have an extreme reaction to eating peanut butter in a lucid dream?(where the senses are heightened and completely realistic.)

So that's my question. Any thoughts, evidence, concerns or anecdotes about this?

Thanks.

A good question! But, think about this from a chemistry point of view: allergies aren't caused by thoughts, but by reactions to chemical components in the oils and substance of particular items.

For instance, thinking about poison oak doesn't create a rash. But contact with the oil, airborne or surfaceborne, will create an allergic reaction in those people allergic to it.

Dreaming (lucidly or not) won't give you an allergic reaction because your physical body hasn't been exposed to those chemical components that cause the reaction...much in the same way that you can eat a food that nauseates you in real life but doesn't nauseate you in a dream, or how you can eat as much as you want in a dream and never get fat.

You may find that you develop a 'dream rash' on your dream persona, though. I have an extra heartbeat, and I have on many, many occasions experienced the extra heartbeat phenomenon in varying degrees of severity in my dreams. I have been unable to establish if I'm actually experiencing a physical sensation and incorporating it in my dream, or dreaming about having the sensation. Based on some of the more extreme variations in the reams, I'm leaning towards dreaming about the sensation...if my heart had really done all that, I wouldn't be typing this now. :) (Yes, I've had it checked out. Several times.)

hello folks! i like yur idea patrick about getting an allergic reaction to dreaming of eating nuts! like lucid dreaming itself, it questions the traditional conceptual barrier between the dream and the real. it reminds me of the old superstition that to dream that you die causes you to really croak. but i've died a thousand times in my dreams and i'm still here typing...i think (or am i dreaming this?) but could a real physical psychosomatic reaction be brought on by a dream event? who knows? i want to know when this peanut butter allergy thing started. when i was a kid EVERYONE ate peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and nothing ever seemed to come of it. and now they're about to be banned from school cafeteria's. what brought on this development?

I need Some help....Ive been reading up on lucid dreams and just this morning i had what i used to belive was one but i am not sure anymore...i Could only semi control it..and it was a nightmare (all my "lucid" dreams are) and i couldent change it into anything nice...your supossed to be able to control a lucid dream right? ive had these for years but i dident know what they were until recently ive started to learn how to control them but i still dont understand why they are always nigthmares, i also frequently experience sleep paralysis which ive heard can lead to an OBE? If anyone can give me more information on their own experiences with either lucid dreams or sleep paralysis PLEASE e-mail Me!!

Love, RaVen

This is a very interesting idea. I'm a hypnotherapist, and know that many people have overcome various allergies through suggestions given in hypnotic state. I have no idea whether the allergy vanishes completely, the subconscious mind short circuits the symptoms of the reaction, or some other phycho/chemical combination is responsible for the results, but it definitely happens. It would be very difficult for me to say it is not possible for the opposite to happen as well. I think there's much more to consider than simply the chemistry of an allergy. When it comes to suggestion in deep states, I'd have to say that I believe most anything is possible.

Thank you for a very interesting topic Travis

Dont fear, OBE one of sort expirience for Dreamers. I begin from OBE than go to LD. Relax and observe this situation. Good luck.

I am, among other things, a jazz musician. When playing with four or five other musicians, true jazz is something that rarely "happens." If you're lucky it may accidentally happen in the middle of a song for half a minute or so. When it does, it's very much like a lucid dream. You, and all the other musicians playing are, for lack of a better term, transported to a higher plane. Often parts of the audience experience it too. It is an awesome, electric feeling. There you are, playing your instrument, harmonizing perfectly with the other instruments, and all of a sudden you become aware of everyone else's consciousness simultaneously. It's a feeling shared by those present, musicians and audience alike.

You are, "trapped" in the song, much as you are "trapped" in a lucid dream, aware of yourself playing (dreaming), but "seeing" yourself away from the group (bed) at the same time enjoying and appreciating it as if you were also one of the audience.

The first time you experience this is what usually ends it. I remember the first time it happened to me I was so impressed about being a part of it, that I was the one who caused it to end and go away, not being able to handle it. Practiced musicians become able to handle everything that's going on and can sustain it for longer periods.

You can of course stop any time you like, as in a lucid dream you can wake yourself any time you like. But with jazz, you don't want to. The feeling is so enjoyable and exhilarating that you try to sustain it as long as possible. It's like one of the highest levels of sober waking consciousness I've ever experienced.

I compare it to having a lucid dream because that's the only other thing I've ever experienced that even remotely resembles it, even though there are very real differences. In a lucid dream I am asleep. Playing jazz I am wide-awake. The sense of having a "second order of consciousness" is what intrigues me about both sensations. I liken it to Don Juan's definition of a "seer".

Does this only happen to jazz musicians? It has never happened to me while playing any other type music, what is special about jazz that causes this? Do any other artists ever experience a similar feeling? Is there a name for it? Does it have anything to do with dreams or dreaming? Can I make it happen more often?

Nick

Dear Raven,

There is often a misunderstanding about the idea of "control" in reference to lucid dreaming. What defines lucidity is simply awareness of dreaming while you are dreaming. Control is a separate issue, and one's ability to manipulate dream elements can fall anywhere along a wide spectrum. If you read some of the writings on this subject (under the topic: "Philosophical Aspects of Lucid Dreaming"), you'll quickly see that it is generally agreed that the most beneficial and integrative form of control one can aspire to in dreaming is "self control". It is one of the sweetest gems that can actually be brought back from the world of dreams and incorporated into waking life.

Regarding the comment that all of your lucid dreams are nightmares, you may find it interesting to know that nightmares are in fact one of the most common ways in which people come to realize they are dreaming. So you're not alone! As a side note: At the recent Dreaming & Awakening workshop, we watched several video films over the course of nine evenings, some of which included very bizarre or frightening imagery. Aside from preparing our minds to notice odd or dream-like imagery, Stephen LaBerge made the point that occasional exposure to such imagery can actually be helpful in preparing the mind to become lucid during nightmares. (Ah! It's just a movie! Ah! It's just dream imagery!)

As for sleep paralysis and OBE: You'll find several posts on these subjects under the topic headings "Post Your Lucid Dreams" and "Aspects of the Dream State".

Sweet Dreaming Adventures, Keelin

Hello everyone.

I'd like to thank ghelms, Ralph & Travis for responding to my question concerning allergies and lucid dreaming.

The three responses seemed perfect to me in that they differed enough on their positions and content to continue to keep me undecided on the issue (and therefore, the issue, for me, is still alive...)

It was very interesting for me to learn that allergies can be cured (or conditioned) through hypnotherapy.* (I did not know this.)

And although it amazes me it is no more incredible than the fact that the brain (or some part of it) can suddenly (and without reason or warning) decide that a product (benign to it since life's beginning)is now a serious threat.

In a way it seems that there exists some sort of betrayal. Without one doing anything to provoke this response, the brain has somehow become confused.

One day you're eating peanuts, the next day you're choking to death on them.

It certainly seems obvious that an allergic reaction needs to be triggered by a true chemical presence (and not one which is dreamt.)

But, then again, what is it we're relying on when we're giving ourselves up to sleep? And can it be trusted?

• Note to Travis: We may have to set up an appointment.

Hello again.

Just another question concerning lucid dreaming and allergies...

Has there been any attempts to cure an allergy through lucid dreaming? (as one might do with a phobia.)

And can one, through lucid dreaming, access the same regions of the mind that hypnosis can?

Just curious.

Nick, your "peak experience" while playing jazz, I believe, is a common experience among creative people, at least. It's what keeps an artist/musician/writer (whatever) slaving at all the slog work necessary to produce a worthwhile piece of music, art, or writing. Unfortunately, it has been my experience, that trying to have the experience guarantees that it will not come. It comes, like the thief in the night, when one is not watching for it but merely absorbed in the moment's action, and then not always. If as you say, experienced jazz musicans have it frequently and can abide in the experience, I guess the secret is just plain old practise, practise, practise, until performance becomes such second nature that the wonderful sense of connectedness and effortlessness, as though the act were performing itself, can just arise of its own accord. The experience certainly only seems to come when one is completely relaxed and performing one's task without effort, and not when one is struggling or trying to think of what to do next. I do believe, also, that athletes would describe the same experience at peak moments. When I watch cats, I think they live in the experience 100% of the time -- like embodied air.

Joan

In reply to Nick's question asking if other musicians other than jazz players, experience an altered state when playing. I play fiddle and have experienced that feeling of sublime connectivity with the other musicians while playing celtic and bluegrass styles. My experiences are close to yours Nick. It get's easier to maintain this state over time. It's still kind of rare for me, although now I can "do it" while playing solo, so that's ok, although it's much more satisfying when I share it with others.

Bill

Hello Joan and Bill. Although I'm no musician, I can certainly vouch for the 'peak experience' in athletics. I was an All-American in the obscure sport of fencing, and that handful of peak moments I had still stand out as the most exalted moments of my life. We often call it 'being in the zone.' One of the most incredible aspects of it was that time seemed to slow way down. I felt as though I had all the time in the world to perform multiple complex tasks, when it was really all happening in just a few split seconds! I also remember feeling almost bodiless, just sheer will or intent. And I could seem to read my opponent's mind as well. I recall knowing what he was gonna try next without even looking at him. Yet, as Joan says, whenever I tried to regain that state it was an exercise in futility. When it happened, it usually did so after fighting like a dog for bout after tough bout, maybe barely winning. Then suddenly, for some mysterious reason, I'd break through and enter 'the zone.' Funny, I probably put in thousands of hours of painstaking practice just to get to a half a day's worth of that state...Yet it seems well worth it.

chuckle I would get in that altered state when I was playing ice hockey. I used to play goalie, and whenever I was in a game that pushing the envelope of what I could do, I would hit a level where I my body was simply reacting (and reacting damn well, too), but my mind appeared to just be watching and offering the occasional "What an INCREDIBLE SAVE!" commentary. A very weird sensation indeed.

The last time I experienced this phenomenon was in the '95 California State Hockey Finals, and it lasted for about an hour. :) I still have no idea how I managed to make it through that game...it ended with us getting clobbered 11 to 1, but I faced around 70 shots, which is more than you usually see in an NHL level game. And when the game was over, I was so exhausted I could barely stand, and had tears rolling down my face when I finally got to sit down in the locker room. I've been told this is a classic exhaustion reaction.

But wow! That game is probably the highlight hour of my life! :)

Interestingly enough, when I first started playing hockey I used to have hockey dreams EVERY night after a game or practice (my boyfriend hated this...I used to wake both of us up attempting to do butterfly saves in my sleep. This is a little tough to do when lying on your stomach). After about a year, those dreams dwindled down and stopped. I haven't played for a few years, but about once a year I'll get a real intense hockey dream again.

I thank everyone who responded to my message about the feeling I sometimes get when playing jazz. It is encouraging to know people besides musicians have the experience too. Apparently, as Joan Relke put it, "The experience only seems to come when one is completely relaxed, and performing one's task without effort, not when one is struggling or trying to think of what to do next." It surprised me that athletes also experience this. I guess it transcends "what" you are doing. It seems to depend on how much you are into what you are doing and how comfortable you are doing it.

Since most normal dreaming occurs in our sleep, doesn't it make sense the better we sleep, the better we should dream?

I used to have difficulty sleeping. It took me a long time to fall asleep. Once asleep, I tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable position. I often woke up with indigestion. I did not feel rested in the morning but wanted to stay in bed when the alarm went off to rest more. I changed a few things that made a big difference for me:

1. Changing my eating habits solved my indigestion. I used to eat a bowl of cereal or ice cream, or munch on potato chips or sweets, like candy or cookies before going to bed. I stopped that. Now if I am hungry before going to bed, I eat a piece of cheese or some lunchmeat. I switched those high carbohydrate foods to high protein foods. My chronic indigestion went away in less than a week, and has not returned. All those carbs I was gorging myself on sent my metabolism into overdrive. The energy rush produced by all the sugar peaked hours later waking me up around 2:30 AM. I would end up taking Tums and watching Info-mercials until I became sleepy again about an hour later. Protein does not do that to me.

2. Before going to bed I sometimes take 1 or 2 milligrams of Melatonin, a natural human hormone we all produce from our pineal gland. One of its primary functions is to regulate our sleep/wake cycle, to keep it in perfect synch with night and day. Light has strong negative effects on melatonin, the darker it is when we sleep, the better. As we age, we may not produce melatonin as efficiently as when we are younger. When I take it I sleep longer and more soundly. I awake feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. I dream better. There aren't any side effects common to other sleep medications. I do not take it every night.

3. An herbal supplement I occasionally use to sleep better is Valerian. I take it in capsule form, but it can also be made as a tea. Sometimes I take Valerian alone or with melatonin. In either case I sleep like a baby and wake up refreshed roaring to go. My sleep is restful and I dream well. Valerian also has no side effects.

These things improved the quality of my sleep. If we all spend, on average, 1/3 of our lives sleeping, doesn't it make sense we should sleep as well as possible?

Pleasant Dreams. Nick

To add to the discussion about peak experiences, you may be interested to know that Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a researcher, has been studying such experiences, which he describes as a state of consciousness called "flow." You experience flow when you are so absorbed in what you're doing that you lose your sense of self and experience effortless control over your actions. Since this involves a state of heightened awareness without self-consciousness along with very focused concentration and highly-skilled results, it would seem to have at least some relationship to lucid dreaming. There must be a study in there somewhere! For more info, see FLOW: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OPTIMAL EXPERIENCE by Csikszentmihaly, which was published orignally in 1990.

Hi Gretchen -- Your mention of practicing hockey skills brought to mind a recent (August 2) article in The New Yorker called something like "Physical Genius". Among other factors the author believes combine to create genius is mental rehearsal. I don't think sleep rehearsal is mentioned specifically, but seems very relavent to me, esp. given the role sleep plays in consolidating memories. You might like the article, it may ring some bells for you!

Katie

Reading the discussion about "peak" experiences, an underlying theme seems to be control. I think the feeling that we are ever in control is an illusion. When I have a peak experience playing jazz, I am not "in control" any more than the sun can decide how hot it is going to burn tomorrow. That I am playing an instrument, making my fingers do what I want, is like a waterfall. The water and I are merely seeking our own level, equilibrium with our environment. The water has no awareness of itself. I am trying to do no more than the water, trying to be like the water. For both of us, we are doing what we are supposed to be doing to sustain the Karma of the moment. Learning to play an instrument, the countless hours of practice, has only allowed me to become more like the water. The more I can play without control (judgement) the more it "flows" through me. I let myself "fall" through space/time.

I would be interested for athletes to comment on this. I am a musician, just as some of you play sports such as hockey. It is not the type of music I play that is important, just as the particular sport is not important. It is how selfless I can allow myself to be when I do whatever it is I am destined to do.

Music existed long before mankind discovered it; we did not invent it. It is pure and simple physics, a natural phenomenon. A vibrating string produces a note, cut the string in half and it produces the same note an octave higher, double it's length and it produces the same note an octave lower, and so on towards infinity in both directions. The divisions of notes between each octave making up the scales are natural, not arbitrary. There is an order to our chaotic universe that is at first invisible. Pluck a string on earth or the other side of the galaxy and the vibration produced is the same.

An initial precept in jazz is to play a song like it's never been played, even if you've played it a thousand times before. There is liberation, freedom in that idea. Each time is necessarily a new rendition based on mood, the other musicians, many other factors. Jazz acknowledges this up front; realizing each time is different because each moment in time is different. The goal is not to always be the same, but to celebrate the subtle differences. In jazz, the Chord changes of a song are often the only commonality everyone agrees to beforehand. The Chord changes become a subliminal canvas with colors added by each musician to paint a picture.

Music is intangible. It is a medium you cannot see or hold. Once a note dies out, nothing is left but a memory of what just happened (much like memories of dreams.) Sound vibrations resonate and linger at a deeper level than the one in which they were produced. There are tensions and mood insinuations from resolved and unresolved harmonies, minor chords are sad, major chords are happy. This makes instrumental music different from vocal music or poetry, where, to appreciate them, you must also understand a language. Instrumental music transcends (or descends) language. The audience, including the musicians producing the music, paints their own mental picture based on how the sound makes them feel, unencumbered or restricted by words and their often ambiguous meanings.

It is crucial to be non-judgmental when playing, or the sensation will not occur. I don't mean not to try and play well, that is a given. I mean not to judge myself while playing (no ego.) I must forget about myself. The goal is not to be perfect, but to accept what I am doing as perfect for that moment. There is a movie, "Being There" (1979/comedy) starring Peter Sellers & Shirley Maclaine. A key scene is when Chauncey Gardiner, Sellers" character, walks out onto the surface of a lake while exploring his surroundings, unaware he is "walking on water." This analogy is close to what I'm trying to describe. It is being fully conscious (awake) and aware of my surroundings yet at the same time detached, not preoccupied with distractions that could keep me from appreciating the moment. I'm talking about things like ego, judgement, delusions of morality, concepts of good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, this note being "better" than that note, etc. These considerations are unimportant and will rob me of my chance to have a peak experience.

There is a great song called "Flamenco Sketches" on the Miles Davis Album "Kind of Blue." A neat thing about the song is how it bounces back and forth from minor to major modes, covering a full spectrum of emotion in the process.

NK

Well, for me hockey is a very Zen thing, as weird as that sounds. In the women's hockey leagues there is very little violence like you commonly see with the men's leagues..the women go out of their way to be courteous.

When I'm playing goalie, it becomes me and the puck. Nothing else. Anytime the puck is on the ice I'm locked onto it, and anytime it crosses center ice, I'm moving in response to it. It's a unique way of becoming centered in the moment, and the more you do it, the easier it becomes. During the last two years I played, friends who sat in the stands said that it appeared I was psychic because I was moving in response to where the play was going to be. This is actually just pattern recognition in action.

There is, however, a substantial difference between playing goal and playing out (forward or D). Non-goalies play in spurts of roughly two minutes, then come off the ice to rest. It's REALLY HARD for me to maintain the same level of focus when playing D that I get easily playing goal.

So I'm curious if other people experience this flow in other sports, or if this is unique to the position. Everyone always said goalies were weird. ;)

But you're also right about music. I've played bagpipes for 25 years, and there's a flow you get into with music as well. Bagpipe music is very strictly regimented, and you rarely find bagpipes improv'ing with other instruments or even on the fly solo or with other pipes. In any competition, if a competitor forgets his place in the music, he stops cold. I learned early on not to panic, and that if my mind went blank and I couldn't remember what came next, all I had to do was relax and my fingers knew what to do until the music came back on-line. :)

One of my favorite stories was a performance where I completely goofed the second part...accidentally played the fourth part. I rapidly decided that perhaps I could fake out the judge by repeating the fourth part as if it was the normal second part, then playing the second part where the fourth part would have been. Finished the piece, and the judge looked up and said, "We both know what you just did, but I'm giving you top marks anyways because you were able to keep your head and pull it off without any hesitation."

A bit off topic for dreaming, but amusing anyhow.

Peace,Love,Life and Light

Greetings co-creators, This is my first posting in this forum although i've visited many times. Lucid dreaming has being a major focus for me over the past 3 years, I've had about 20 l-d's in the that time(not the highest percentage) but enough to greatly effect my out-look on what we call "reality". Now my focus is on living lucidly which is living in the "now", not in the future or the past. This is one of the hardest things to do but paradoxically also the easiest. I believe life is a dream, in which we are presently not fully conscious. Enlightenment and lucidity are two words for the same thing. When asked to explain his state of being Buddha simply said "I am awake". Any response to the idea of connecting lucid dreaming and lucid living would be welcomed.

Ian Andrew Sands

Hi Ian. I agree with your idea about "lucid living". It occurred to me that the wonder and joy and spiritual high that I often get in lucid dreams is just a matter of attention. If I have a lucid dream and I see the tree in my front yard, I may feel intensely moved by the vividness of the color of the leaves, the intricate veining, how it rustles in the breeze. But then I get up in the morning and hustle by that tree wondering if I'll catch the bus, if I have exact change, what I'm going to say in the meeting with my boss, etc. Tree is still there "large as life and twice as real" as a teacher of mine used to say. When I really try to "stop and smell the roses" -- pardon the cliche, but apt as a dream task we forget in life -- I can sometimes approach the same sense of wonder and be filled by the same happiness. Sometimes I think this is the kind of thing going through the minds of babies when they stare at something for several and seem to have a fit of joy, waving and wriggling and laughing: they've just discovered it and they think it's a really cool thing to have in the world.

Cheers -- Katie

Book Review: Dreamwork for the Soul; Guiley, Rosemary Ellen; Berkeley Press

I'm interested in hearing about what other folks are reading dream-wise and thought I'd put up a contribution myself.

Unlike other books I've read on spirituality & dreaming, this one uses a fairly broad definition of "spiritual". Christianity, numerology, astral projection, yoga/kundalini/chakra energy, basic dream psychology are all woven in together. Topics covered include an historical review of dreams in various cultures, dream interpretation, dream incubation, shared dreams, lucid dreams, OBE's, etc. Solid guidelines for working with dreams are given. The book is very "open", it seems to pull information from numerous sources and be comfortable with a medley of disparate philosophies. This openness makes for rich and interesting reading and is one of the strengths of the book, but for me was something of a drawback as well as the author seems to embrace every form of spirituality or dreamwork she's ever heard of more or less equally. But it gives you a nice variety of approaches to consider. I think this book would not appeal to folks who believe that dreams are only physical or only psychological, but then I don't suppose they'd be picking up a book by this title anyway! The "New Age" stuff is pretty heavily represented and far left of center. I'd recommend it for people who think dreams have an extra-personal dimension of whatever sort; there's quite a variety of thoughts represented from this angle.

Katie

Hi Katie,

I also have read this book and I really enjoyed it. I agree that the author took a very open and eclectic approach. Might I also recommend 'Conscious Dreaming' and 'Dreamgates' by Robert Moss. These books in my opinion are the best dream books written about the viewpoint of indigenous peoples and shamans. (No offence to Carlos Castaneda) Jan*

Jan - Those two books you mentioned were already next in the pile! Glad to know they're worthwhile. I have some other rec's if you're interested in this angle in dreaming. One is a transcription of a conference on consciousness headed by the Dali Lama called Sleeping, Dreaming and Dying and includes not only Eastern spiritual perspectives but also biophysicists from America, etc. Quite a heady brew! Not focussed on dreamwork per se but quite relevant. Feel free to write me at my email address if you're interested in others, I've read some great ones.

Katie

Here are two movie recommendations. Both deal with the idea of lucid living, or, are we all really just dreaming?

1. "Matrix", 1999, http://whatisthematrix.com/

2. "Being There", 1979, http://search.excite.com/search.gw?search=Being+There%2C+the+movie&trace=1&src=nsl&sorig=netscape

ARE YOU DREAMING AS YOU READ THIS?

AM I DREAMING AS I WRITE THIS?

I have a story!

Hello fellow journeyers, This is an experience i had a month ago.

My father has a spiritual gathering annually, called the "Gathering of Eagles".Which was inspired by a man named Menno Pauls(no-joke).Anyway the gathering was over and the 250 or so people that attended had headed home. I was riding an amazing spiritual high when this experience took place. I was fast asleep when i was jolted awake by something moving about in the room i was in. I grabbed a flash light,(having no electricity) and shined it where the noise was coming from. A frog crawled out into the beam of light. I don't know how to put into words what happened other than "a powerful connection". The frog, after some amount of time turned and crawled out of the beam. I fell back into a deep sleep and had the most incredible lucid dream i've ever had. Too much happened in the dream to describe it all but it was a total release of a life time of suppressed emotion. Stuff dealing with being seperated from my father at an early age as well as growing up in an integraded family. Although being totally lucid i cried through the whole dream. I awoke in the mourning to the "ribbit-ribbit" of the frog that had awoken me earlier that night, with tears running down my face and rain pounding down outside. I knew the frog played an important part in the experience but what i didn't know. I got up and felt compelled to look up frog in "Animal Speak" a book on native american animal medicine. It said that frog sings for the rains of purification/healing and that's exactly what i was given. I released, through dream, feelings hidden so deep within my self that i didn't even know that they were there.

In this amazing time of change these burried emotions we are all lugging around with us are coming to the surface to be washed away. So be aware and let them go, for where we're going we can't bring any luggage with us.

"for this is the journey that men make: to find themselves. If they fail in this, it doesn't matter much what else they find." -James A. Michener

p.s hello Adastra!

Hi, Ian! Glad to see you on the forum these days, welcome! Great dream - thanks for sharing it. :)

Hello Everyone and Thank You Algernon.

I received an Email Notification of Post with your "test of mental flexibility, creativity and animal cunning." I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I've nailed 20 of the 23, and my best friend's girlfriend (isn't that the name of a song?) has solved them all!! It has also been a real hit at work.

Be sure to post the answers in a week (no sooner please). And I did in fact come up with one answer in the middle of the night between dreams.

To add an element to the puzzle though, I don't see your posting in the Forum. The Email Notification clearly came from the Lucidity Institute, so I don't know what happened. So, in case anyone did not get this terrific brain teaser, here it is again:

By Algernon (aquarius.larc.nasa.gov - 128.155.29.14) on Wednesday, September 1, 1999 - 01:54 pm:

This test will give some gauge of your mental flexibility, creativity, and animal cunning. In the many years since the test was developed, few people have been able to solve more than half of the questions on the first try. In at least one instance the entire test was completed from memory in less than 13 hours. Many people reported answers occurring to them long after the test was set aside, particularly at unexpected times when their minds were relaxed. Some of the answers occurred to a few people in their dreams. A relatively small number were able to solve the test in a few days. No books, no groups, and no cheating. I will post all the answers on the bulletin board next week. GOOD LUCK!

EXAMPLE: 12 MONTHS IN A YEAR

1. 26 L _ _ _ _ _ _ OF THE A _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2. 7 W _ _ _ _ _ _ OF THE W _ _ _ _
3. 1001 A _ _ _ _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ _
4. 12 S _ _ _ _ OF THE Z _ _ _ _ _
5. 54 C _ _ _ _ IN A D _ _ _ WITH J _ _ _ _ _
6. 9 P _ _ _ _ _ _ IN THE S _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _
7. 88 P _ _ _ _ K _ _ _
8. 13 S _ _ _ _ _ _ ON THE A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ _
9. 32 D _ _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ AT WHICH W _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _ _ _
10. 90 D _ _ _ _ _ _ IN A R _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _
11. 200 D _ _ _ _ _ _ FOR P _ _ _ _ _ _ G _ IN M _ _ _ _

12. 8 S _ _ _ _ ON A S _ _ _ S _ _ _
13. 4 Q _ _ _ _ _ IN A G _ _ _ _ _
14. 24 H _ _ _ _ IN A D _ _
15. 1 W _ _ _ _ ON A U _ _ _ _ _ _ _
16. 5 D _ _ _ _ _ IN A Z _ _ C _ _ _
17. 57 H _ _ _ _ V _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
18. 11 P _ _ _ _ _ _ ON A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T

19. 1000 W _ _ _ _ THAT A P _ _ _ _ _ _ IS W _ _ _ _
20. 29 D _ _ _ IN F _ _ _ _ _ _ _ IN A L _ _ _ Y _ _ _
21. 64 S _ _ _ _ _ _ ON A C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
22. 3 B _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ (S _ _ H _ _ T _ _ _ R _ _)
23. 36 I _ _ _ _ _ IN A Y _ _ _

Hello, It's been some time since I posted anything here, although I do frequently visit, since lucid dreaming practice and success is really the way in which I gauge my "learning capacity". The more I recognize when I am dreaming, the more alive I feel during the day, as opposed to being lost in an endless barrage of thought after thought after thought, from morning to night, and night to morning.

As I've seen mentioned elsewhere here, lucid dreaming really helps to enhance lucid waking. I would love to be able to prove to to myself that awareness through waking, sleeping, and dreaming is possible. Although I have strong suspicions that the obstacle to this is the "self' that wants to prove it.

I had 6 LD'd last month (Nov 99) scattered throughout the month. That's the most I've had in one month in a long time. The rest of this year I've had only 1-2, and several months with none at all.

My work schedule generally hampers my sleep quality during the week. I get up for work at 4:00 AM, and build up a sleep debt by Friday which demands attention. But, on Friday, sleep debt or not, I'm usually ready to give it a "serious" try. I go to sleep and get up after 6 hours feeling very sleepy, meditate for 45-60 minutes feeling very sleepy, then go back to bed feeling very sleepy, often putting on my NovaDreamer and nearly always falling back asleep instantly. Then I usually wake up at some later point, wondering how there could have been 12 cues at such blinding intensity without me noticing any of them?

But, after Friday, with my sleep debt paid, I seem to have better success. Success not necessarily in terms of actual lucid dreams, but false awakenings, missed (but remembered) cues, broken NovaDreamer dreams, and just general nocturnal awareness. And, luckily, an occaisional LD payday.

Last weekend I tried to follow the nasal passage/LR side/napping experiment, but didn't have a lot of luck with dream recall, and no lucid dreams. I have several 3 day weekends coming up this month, so I hope to give it another go.

Well, it's time to get back to work... Good Luck to everyone!

Jeff

The townspeople were having a discussion in the teahouse when a scholar stood up and pronounced: "There is no conversation more boring than the one where everybody agrees.' "I agree' exclaimed Nasrudin.

Hi all!

I'm relatively new to the forum and lucid dreaming, but I've budgeted the summer out to seriously take the course, and work with my brand new SuperNova!

Last night with the DreamAlarm I couldn't believe it...I rarely remember any dreams! But for the last two nights (my first nights sleeping with the device) I have recalled 2-3 dreams per night!

I am so psyched about mastering lucidity, that tonight I started a web site dedicated to the endeavor. Only the home page is up at this point, but as I progress, I'll be fleshing it out with my experiences, experiments, and progress.

Hope you'll check it out sometime!

http://www.impressivedesign.net/lucid/

Dream on! Tom Gleason

Welcome Tom!

That's a handsome web page you have there. Best wishes to you this summer in your pursuit of lucidity. It's a great investment. Please keep us posted on your progress, and let us know if there's anything we can do to help you along the way.

Best Wishes, Nibbana

hello everybody, this is my first time leaving a message on the forum and i am very excited about getting to know other talented people in the field.ive had a lot of wonderful experiences,and from the things ive seen and done i know that the people who are able to master the gift,will be able to change the world we live in.i am looking for allies!im looking for creative and powerful minds to help make positive and influential decisions.i would like to combine my gift with others who are also gifted. yours truly,dreamwanderer.

I'm sure there are lots of people out there who read a book about lucid dreaming, took a nap, and had one. That, however, has not been my experience. I've been at it for a very long time, with little success. Last night I had the ultimate frustrating experience, and I know you'll be glad I shared it.

I am dreaming that I have been invited to the dream lab at a hospital. (That right there is a BIG clue, right?) But I don't know where the room is, so I'm wandering around, asking people where the dream lab is, WEARING MY NOVA DREAMER, which I have propped up on my forehad so I can see my way around. I wake up, remember the dream, and marvel at my ability to make it all the way through such a long, obvious dream without ever becoming lucid. I'll bet no one can top that one.

Haha! Doug, sounds like me lately! That's actually an interesting form of discussion--we should have a section of the forum to share dream bloopers ;)

I've only been working at it for a couple of weeks, but so far I've been able to conclude just a couple of things:

1. I have more vivid dreams and a natural slight base-level of awareness that I am dreaming if I am laying on my back. By slight base-level, I mean that whenever I sleep on my back, I slip in and out of a very low level of lucidity consistently--and I'm figuring that with more practice, that this slight level of awareness is going to be the gateway to fully lucid dreams.

This seems to be because I normally can't sleep on my back at all, so if I can use willpower to stay in that position and meditate on letting my body sleep, until sleep paralysis kicks in, then I'm set.

It's very difficult, and sometimes it takes a good hour and a half, but invariably I have a full night of vivid and more easily-'lucidified' dreams.

In that position I am a much lighter sleeper. Probably for two reasons:

-I am very conscious that I have a 300 dollar fragile computer on my face. Well.., it hasn't broken yet, and I've done some acrobatics, but definitely it helps to be aware of it, and protective of it, by sleeping on the back. It doesn't work as well when I forget it's there, or the purpose of it.

-If you watch Mad About You, you might remember an episode where Paul is talking about how men always protect their n*ts in some way while they sleep. Sleeping on my back, to me, is a very vulnerable position--the face, throat, solar plexus, and on down... If, for example, my little brother decided to jump on me to wake me up (which is sometimes necessary), I'd be hurtin'.

The first night I resolved to try this new position, I set the NovaDreamer wrong and it never worked...but even though it wasn't working, I felt like I dreamt all night, and remembered 3 full and vivid dreams! I remember having that base-level of awareness, which I think will allow for lucidity with more training in MILD and with the light cues.

Even though it takes a lot more time for me to fall asleep that way, I find that it's just as restful, if not moreso because of the "base-level" of lucidity in my dreams.

I am also more receptive to the dream alarm when I am on my back. On my stomach, it almost never wakes me (yes, even the alarm...hate to say it, but I almost envy you people who can be woke up with just the cues!)

Dr. LaBerge, I was suprised that sleep position is hardly even touched upon in your courses (so far as I have read, at least...if there is research available on this, someone please inform me!). The Dalai Lama mentioned position very briefly in the "Sleeping, Dreaming,and Dying" book, and certainly, I find that sleeping on my back or sitting up is useful for awareness.

2. Food and drugs-- I have had the most success with my dreams in general when I don't pig-out before bed, and avoid drugs like caffiene and nicotine, and ESPECIALLY sleeping pills. If i use them I wake up groggy, and can rarely remember a dream. It's like throwing time away into oblivion.

Peace.

Tom Gleason

Dear Doug, Tom & Fellow Oneironauts,

Hi Doug! A "masked dreamer" you may be, but rest assured you're not the Lone Ranger when it comes to missing obvious dream signs. In fact, it may comfort you to take a peek at some of the postings under the Forum topic "Post Your Dreams:Dream Signs - Hits, Misses and Tips". And there's more helpful advice under "Learning Lucid Dreaming:Frustration Support Group" as well. Many of us have been there -- and not had a clue. The fun part is in the sharing -- which keeps the antenna up, the funny bone intact, and provides entertainment and encouragement for us all. Thanks for posting your mis-adventure! ;->

And Hi Tom: Thanks for sharing your comments as well. And just so you know, there is an experiment that specifically deals with sleeping position posted under "Experiments in Lucid Dreaming: Sleep Posture, the Nasal Cycle and Naps" which I highly encourage you (and everyone else) to try. Lucidity Institute is still collecting data, so please don't think it's too late to do this one. For added incentive: Research indicates the "Nap" to be the most effective lucid dreaming technique of all. If I recall correctly, early findings showed that lucid dreams were about ten times as likely when using this technique.

Wishing you all recognizable dream signs in any position, Keelin

Thanks Keelin! Somehow I missed all the buzz about this experiment....

I'll give the pdf a read tonight...it looks interesting.

Misc. questions-

I am new to the forum, so my questions and comments may seem a little spuratic and may have all be previuosly addressed.

Has anyone else noticed the effects of amino acids on dreaming. For a while I was taking 2000 mg of Lysine and Acidolpholus for nutritional reasons right before bed and found that I would have much more vivid dreams that evening?

Is it typical in lucid dreaming to attempt to convince others in the dream that "this is all a dream" by attempting things that are not possible in the waking world? I have found that reaching into a solid brick wall, forcasting the next thing that will happen in the dream, etc. usually solidifies my own realization that it is a dream.

Until recently, I was not aware of lucid dreaming, and had never spoken to others that were aware of it. Are their any statistics of the percentage of people that naturally have lucid dreams?

Hi Clifford,

I'm new to lucid dreaming too, and one of my first ponderings was on the effect of proteins, especially amino acids. As a bodybuilder, I know that certain foods seem to stimulate brain activity and certain foods suppress it.

Throughout high school, my pre-test ritual was to eat a can of tuna fish the morning of any test. I graduated with high honors and hardly ever studied...coincidence?

I read somewhere that protein was brain food...that it stimulates the mind. On the other hand, complex carbohydrates seem to sedate your mind.

In any case, I've done a test in the past two weeks regarding amino acids and dreaming. For the first week, I supplemented with amino acids and a protein shake right before bed, and another if it occured to me to do it in the middle of the night.

That week I had a long series of very vivid and memorable dreams, sometimes as many as 4 per night. Interestingly, I don't normally remember many dreams, nor are they very vivid.

This past week without supplementation, I have had a dip in dream recall and much less vivid dreams.

There may be a coincidence factor here, but I'm going to continue the cycle until, hopefully, I see a pattern.

In NeuroLinguistic Programming, they talk about how a person may mimick any other person's success by noting and adopting their-

-physiology: how they use their body, and what goes into it. I believe that is a very important part of being "predisposed" to lucid dreaming. If you aren't sleeping LIKE they sleep, then you can't expect to get the same results. There is also the possibility that these people are regularly eating foods that predispose them to dreaming.

-beliefs: Obviously this is important as well. People who are predisposed to lucid dreaming seem to have very fluid belief systems that won't question simple POSSIBILITY. And not only that--they believe that they WILL and DO have lucid dreams.

-and syntax: This is something that may be overlooked. How do "lucid dreamers" talk to themselves and others on a regular basis? What exactly are the mental images they create, and the words that they use?

This is very true, and also a basis for rapid learning of any subject, or mastering any skill, which I have used many times. We don't need to re-invent the wheel.

It would be interesting and beneficial to have full-fledged reports from very accomplished lucid dreamers about the "little things" in their daily life that relate to physiology, beliefs, and syntax.

I think that we would find some interesting "coincidences".

The purpose of the books and courses is to ingrain the proper attitudes and habits that we have defined as useful to developing lucid dreaming. However, from the level of difficulty that a lot of people experience, it is clear that there are simple peices missing which may have been overlooked, and may be far more influential.

I am especially talking about the physiological causes of lucid dreaming. To me, it has been glaringly obvious that certain foods, drugs, behaviors, and positions are enormously influential, and yet, most of the training and research seems to be in the area of beliefs (e.g. hypnotic suggestion, "lucid dreaming is easy") and syntax (e.g. reality checks, visualization, etc.)

Again, I'm fairly new here, so I may be missing some major discussion, but I think I'm correct in saying that the courses and books on lucid dreaming have a lack of the physiological component.

I noticed that Dr. LaBerge said that sleeping on his back, he had more lucid dreams...but its almost impossible to sleep on his back. That is my experience too...but it is also my experience that certain physiological factors make it easier to sleep in this position.

I've noticed that lucid dreamers don't always agree on the "position" topic, but I think that this has a lot to do with the deepness of sleep, which may be affected by other factors in the people who do not have to rely on position. It would be interesting to ascertain what these other factors are that determine the deepness of sleep.

It seems that position and diet are very essential to the Tibetan Dream Yogis, and we are just beginning to scratch into their vast experience. For example, the nasal laterality experiment is very interesting. Could these slight physiological variances such as how we breathe due to posture be be kinds of keys that coincidentally "predispose" some people to lucid dreaming?

Does anyone know of any research that has been done to any extent about the (seemingly) MINOR daytime physiological and syntactical behaviors of accomplished lucid dreamers?

What kind of diets do they tend to have, and do they eat late or not? What is their sleeping environment like? When do they excersize? What is the before-sleep ritual? How do they awaken? With what thoughts? What kind of social lives? What is the work environment like? Is their daily attention normally introverted or extraverted?

It seems as though several of the above factors could have a significant effect.

I'm interested in hearing what other people have to say about this.

Peace, RainKing

Hello Fellow Oneironauts

I'd like to introduce myself to this on-line group. I'm Edmund Paul Charnley, Baron of Ree.

In the 1980's I heard about the research being carried out into lucid dreaming and have been following this on and off ever since. I have wanted a Nova Dreamer for ages, but never dared to take the plunge.

Three weeks ago however I bought a one and took a holiday just to relax and practice. I read the course material during the day, visualised and slept whenever I wanted. After a few bad nights due to trying too hard, the first lucid episodes happened. Brief - but breathtaking. Last night, back from holiday but still practising, I had my first feature length lucid dream, in serial form, running from REM to REM phase. Hours later I am still dancing around the room from time to time out of joy!

I'd love to get in contact with other lucid dreamers so that I can learn from others who are on the same path.

Best Wishes, Edmund Paul

Hi Edmund Paul!

It is awesome, isn't it? I got my ND at the end of July and have had two "feature length" lucid dreams, as well as many short snippets. There's no way to describe the feeling of power and exhilaration to those who haven't had the experience!!! Congratulations and keep up the good work!

Kristina

Dear Kristina,

Thanks. For your reaction. Mind you, I seem to have lost it a bit at present.I need to focus on the basics and not push too hard.

This is usual I suppose.

Edmund.

Hi Edmund,

It's easy to get "hooked" isn't it!? Don't push too hard. Figure out what works best for you. Keep in mind your brain will get used to the mask, and will try to ignore the cues. You may have to use a heavier setting after a little while.

I have the best luck when I sleep all night without the mask, but then put it on around 4:00am. Then I'm fully rested, still sleepy enough to have some good dreams, and close enough to waking consciousness to see the cues and recognize them. Don't forget to question your state of consciousness many times during the day, especially when you see changes in light, or hear strange sounds. Best of luck.

lucidly, Kristina

Hello Fellow Oneironauts

A month ago I bought a Nova dreamer took a holiday just to relax and practice to see if I could get lucidity. I recently had my first feature length lucid dream! This is very important to me - I am very enthusiastic about it. It has already had a profound impact on my life by allowing me to re-live difficult times and face the difficulties with the maturity I have now. This is a truly liberating technology - technology at it's best - effective and user friendly and backed up by a very good course in the mental techniques that are needed.

Although I seem to have achieved a great deal in a relatively short time due to the holiday, I know that I still have a very long way to go to achieve proficiency.

I'd love to make friends with other lucid dreamers by email, whatever their stage of development, as well as using the news-group here. Please feel free to contact me by email if you would like this too. All welcome.

Edmund Paul

Hi again Edmund!

I LOVE to talk about this stuff... any time you would like to e-mail with me, that would be great and most welcomed! kscheps@hotmail.com

Kristina

Thanks Kristina. I'll do that shortly.

I forgot to put my email address in the posting above. Silly me! Its paul@alcoholadvice.com

Only simple email format text files please.

Does anyone have a photo of Stephen LaBerge they could lead me to, by the way? I use the cassette tape to get to sleep and would like to know what he looks like.

Edmund Paul

hi all...question for everyone and anyone

I want to get a novadreamer...but is there anyway i can get just the novadreamer without the course stuff? I already own the course and the tapes

thanks

Hi Bryan,

To answer your question about purchasing a NovaDreamer, it would be best to contact Lucidity Institute directly at 1.800.GO LUCID and talk with Keith, Nathen, or Debbie.

And when you do get the ND, please let us all know how your journey unfolds! Keelin