Great! We have a lot of wonderful reality checks that I have summarized below. Doing periodic reality checks and reality checks on events as they occur throughout the day is a wonderful way to train your mind. Combining reality checks with dream signs provides an even more powerful tool since dream signs are already being served up by your subconscious mind. Think of it as a two way street, periodic reality checks to prod your subconscious and dream sign related reality checks to tie your subconscious to your conscious mind.
I'd like for each of you to select a new reality check from the list below. In your workbook, write down your current reality check and tell how you will use it periodically, either time based or event based like walking through the door.
Also, write down in your workbook one or more of your dream signs and place next to it one of the new reality checks you will use whenever you encounter that dream sign while awake.
Reality checks:
Pinching your nose and trying to breath Floating/flying/levitation Counting fingers/examining hand, special gestures Checking the time Finger through the palm Do something painful Critically examine your surroundings Critically examine the timeline Check for personal item, like jewelry
Gee, It's hard to believe we have been in this almost two weeks now. I have only a few more basic concepts to post and then it will be all "hands on" and "homework" for the rest of the week.
I've created this thread for general questions, clarifications, and help. So, if you have any, please post them here.
I've been lucid twice in May, having had no lucids in April and only about 5 in the last year. I've never managed to WILD, DILD etc.
Now, none of the techniques in the forum have directly played a part. I've done no RCs in dreams and missed zillions of dream signs. Yet my lucid count has shown a marked increase. Any ideas why? Could it be just that I'm thinking about it more?
General question for the community >.> am I the only one in the workshop who hasn't had a lucid dream yet?
I'm hoping that by going through this, and with some of my own personal changes, I'll attain it.
Well AR I thought I might be posting something like that. Sometimes it gets me down knowing what others can achieve. But my interests are different and I love the topic of dreams whatever the type. My LDs are infrequent and brief and I've never been able to induce them so I DO sympathise. But after months of casually thinking about it, I get two in one week (no more than 10 seconds each, mind). So if you manage 20 seconds of LD tonight then that makes me bottom of the table!
What say you, Seeker???
Quote from: Burned up on May 12, 2008, 12:53:30 PMWell AR I thought I might be posting something like that. Sometimes it gets me down knowing what others can achieve. But my interests are different and I love the topic of dreams whatever the type. My LDs are infrequent and brief and I've never been able to induce them so I DO sympathise. But after months of casually thinking about it, I get two in one week (no more than 10 seconds each, mind). So if you manage 20 seconds of LD tonight then that makes me bottom of the table!
What say you, Seeker???
Well, I am determined to have a lucid dream of... (bum bum bum) THIRTY SECONDS!!! I'll beat you! XD
Well, Aspir, I havnt had a dream that i've controled directly, although I have had a couple moments where i know i've been dreaming, and a very close to WILD, where I felt my head going through the pillow, before jolting myself out of it through adrenaline.
So i'd pretty much say we're in the same position right now!
Well, this is good, we have some other newbs. Lets see how this workshops helps us out ^_^
I think people like us are called "squibs" in Harry Potter.
Ah, question: since reality checks has never actually been apart of my lucid experiences (unless random thoughts that lead to understanding count) will reality checks really increase my lucid rates?
And why are numbers a more prominent dream symbol/sign in my sleep now-a-days? (This one seems a bit irrelevant, but it was a question.)
I have a question:
After exam week is over (this week), I'll be devoting a lot more of my time to dreaming and will also be under much less stress. Although I'll still be going to school, I was thinking of doing a WBTB on a daily basis. Wake up around 4 or 5 in the morning, do something for 30 minutes to an hour, and go back to sleep. What I was wondering is, would it make sense to combine this with a nightly WILD attempt? WBTB partially relies on self-hypnosis or dream incubation while going back to sleep if I remember correctly. Would WILDing mess up my chances of lucidity or is there no harm in trying.
By the way, I've hardly tried WILDing at all, and have never even got to HI.
thanks
Having a dream count at the beginning of the month has inspired my recall. I have been remembering a lot more dreams from very early in the night. I have caught myself, in the middle of the night, deciding a dream was not good enough to write down. I then remembered the dream count, and decided I better record it so I can include it in May's count to get credit. I've remembered a lot more boring, mundane, and fragmented dreams that I otherwise would have discarded.
I'm not sure if the questions are supposed to be specifically for Seeker but, if I may, I'll put forth a few quick answers from my own perspective. If I'm out of line please let me know and I'll back off.
Burned up - Yes, thinking about dreams and allowing them some waking "mind share" works wonders for both recall and lucidity rate.
Lucidbulbs - While there's obviously no magic bullet, RCs can greatly increase your odds of becoming lucid, even if you fail to do so during your dreams.
Toast - WBTB and WILD are perfect bedfellows. Most of my successful WILDs were performed along with WBTB.
Quote from: Oneironaught on May 12, 2008, 07:03:13 PMBurned up - Yes, thinking about dreams and allowing them some waking "mind share" works wonders for both recall and lucidity rate.
Thanks GH. I'll continue doing what I'm doing, then. (Kind of mind over matter I think).
Is it too late to get in on this? School just got out so I finally have some free time.
Okie Dokie GH, since you answered that question here's another: how long does it take consistently using RCs before they pay off then?
Lucidbulbs, I'd say until you become used to doing them. Your mind must take it as an usual thing for your subconscious to try it on its own.
My question:
My dreams sucked lately. Extremely short and unvivid. My recall is not a quarter of its previous glory. I checked real-life for stress and lack of sleep but I think I'm just fine. What can I do about it?
I also notice that, when I oversleep, especially when I go way ahead the line of 8 hours, I tend to dream more. The dreams are still quite superficial, but they are longer and easier to recall. Should I try to swap sleep patterns again?
Do you drink lots of caffeine, work out late in the day, or stare at computer screens or TV screens an hour or two before bed? I remember in a book (can't find it at the moment) they said doing those things can reduce dream recall.
Quote from: GestaltAlteration on May 13, 2008, 03:17:39 PMIs it too late to get in on this? School just got out so I finally have some free time.
GA, I don't think there's anything we've done already that can't be done now. All you'll have missed out is feeding into the threads which Seeker summarised. More accurately, everyone else has missed out on your contributions! Having said that, I find there's something encouraging about everyone being involved with the tasks at the same time.
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Hey Seeker & everyone,
I have isolated two significant dream signs - my two brothers. I do not see either of them on a regular basis. Anyone have any ideas on how I can work with these dream signs on a daily basis, along side my reality checks?
Don
Quote from: halloweenfirecracker on May 13, 2008, 11:32:11 PMAnyone have any ideas on how I can work with these dream signs on a daily basis, along side my reality checks?
Don
Mnemonically (MILD). Make it a habit of reminding yourself that the next time you see your brothers you will be dreaming. Then do an RC just to reinforce the idea of performing one when you see one of your brothers.
Honestly, I need to be doing the same thing myself. My two bros. are fairly common DCs for me but I only see them in real life a few times a year.
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I am going to start looking at pics of my family members that are frequently in my dreams but that I rarely see. Maybe if I RC while looking at pics of them (especially before bedtime).. it will help.
Hey Clairity,
It's funny. Just before I read your post I printed up a photograph of my two brothers to help with RCing. One of my brothers I only see about once per year and the other one, my eldest brother, died two years ago. When I dream of him, which is quite often, they are usually quite powerful dreams as part of me knows he has passed on and it is a very special opportunity.
Don
Quote from: halloweenfirecracker on May 14, 2008, 03:30:00 PMIt's funny. Just before I read your post I printed up a photograph of my two brothers to help with RCing. LOL!! Great "lucid" minds think alike!
Quote from: halloweenfirecracker on May 14, 2008, 03:30:00 PMOne of my brothers I only see about once per year and the other one, my eldest brother, died two years ago. When I dream of him, which is quite often, they are usually quite powerful dreams as part of me knows he has passed on and it is a very special opportunity. Don, I'm so sorry about the loss of your brother but it's wonderful that you are with him again in your dreams.
Quote from: AspirationRealized on May 12, 2008, 10:59:01 AMGeneral question for the community >.> am I the only one in the workshop who hasn't had a lucid dream yet?
I hadn't had one this month until this morning...it was a pretty solid and vivid lucid, and I do consider this workshop to have helped. I think that because I have put more daily focus on thinking about the techniques, continuing my dream journal, etc., that it put me in just the right frame of mind.
Wow, you guys are on the ball! Sorry for being absent these last few days, real life is asserting itself with a vengence!!
Don, great advice given to you so far. I might add, home videos as a source for your reality checks.
With luck, I'll be back this weekend and we can move onto the next lesson. =)
Just wondering on how many lucids everyone has had so far this month? Ive had 4 which totals 7 all up. My recall has gone down a bit though, and sometimes i cant be botherd to write down dreams i remember.
0 >.>
Quote from: chris31 on May 17, 2008, 11:31:51 PMJust wondering on how many lucids everyone has had so far this month? Ive had 4 which totals 7 all up. My recall has gone down a bit though, and sometimes i cant be botherd to write down dreams i remember.
2 quickies at the start then nothing since.
Lucid virginity? Lucid quickies?
Lucid dreaming is so sexy...
I've had 3 this month. I don't remember much of one, though. :(
I need to start improving recall and actually trying to get lucid again. I've been slacking.
I'm RCing a lot, though.
I've had three this month so far, which is up from two half-assers last month... which was up from zero the month before and 1 or 2 the month before that. Which was down from...
This past week has been so busy for me. Work has consumed practically every waking hour and sleep has been at a minimum. I'm trying to get back in the game though.
3 early in the month...
Make that 4 total, just had one on the 19th.
I've had two this month, three if you count the one on the night of the 31st.
Only 1 so far but I WILL have another!
(didja check out the positive thinking there? )
I cant believe i'm in the lead so far. It feels like it has been ages since my last one, although it was on the weekend.
Ive heard that you go straight into REM sleep if you have a nap during the day. Ive never recalled a dream by doing this scince i started trying it. Until what time of day roughly can i still enter REM straight away in a nap, if i go to sleep at about 11pm and get up at 7:50 on average?
You can go straight into REM, but only if you interrupted a REM cycle the previous night by waking up too early...
Simply put, its not that simple.
I had another last night but woke up soon after realising I was dreaming. It was rather late into a med/long dream so maybe the timer had just run out. I sure didn't startle myself awake.
The final thing we will review in this workshop is simple induction techniques. I'm not going to bore everyone with a comprehensive review of the pro's and con's of individual inductions techniques. I'm not even going to list many of them since they are readily available on this and other websites. What I am going to speak about though is the importance of practicing at least one technique in your quest for lucidity.
To date, we have focused on dream recall, dream signs, and reality checks. These are essential building blocks for the Dream Induced Lucid Dream (DILD). DILD is the condition in which you find yourself realizing that you are dreaming while you are in a dream. For many successful lucid dreamers, this is a very reliable method. I become lucid in this way most of the time. My favorite thing about DILD is that it does not cut into my sleep time!!! I know there are others out there in the same position. When you have only 6 hours a night to sleep, you need to make the best use of it.
Another low impact induction method is MILD, or Mnemonic Induced Lucid Dream. In MILD, you take time out immediately before bed or when you awaken at night and affirm to yourself that you WILL realize when you are dreaming. There are many ways in which MILD can be performed. Some use meditation, some prayer, some even use technology such as brainwave entrainment in order to plant the suggestion in their subconscious minds.
For those that have more sleep time available, I recommend Wake Back To Bed (WBTB) or Waking Induced Lucid Dream (WILD) induction. Again, there are many good tutorials written and available on these methods so I will not repeat it here.
Homework for the rest of this month: Add an entry in your workbook every day listing the techniques you will use that day and evening to induce a lucid dream.
I've had three LD's so far this month, which is pretty good for me. Last month i had four, but before that it was way less.
Just one LD for me so far this month, but a whole bunch of recalled cool non-LDs!
I've got about a weeks worth of journal entries to catch up on when I get a few free hours.
Had 4-5 LD's last night. Sorry I wasn't keeping track earlier.
In one I realized it was a dream then had a false awakening and realized again that I was still in a dream.
This is so much fun!