Lucid Dreaming Theory and Help

[Nelson]

I have always been very hyped up about the idea of Lucid Dreaming. I think it would bea wonderful sensation to be able to control my dreams.

Also I have always had the idea in the back of my head that through Lucid Dreaming it might be possible o directly enter the subconcious in order to completely and directly throw out negative beliefs and install positive beliefs instantly. It might be possible even to activate the part of your brain that is connected to the superconcious, the universe your soul and God, in this way you might be able to send out super-powerful intentions through direct contact.

Anyways, the only real problem for me is that I have not yet been able to initiate a lucid dream. I have written down my dreams for moths and have read two books on the subject trying to activate a lucid dream, but I am getting zip, zero and nada. I sthere any online resources or advice that helped you guys get your firt lucid dreams and learn to control them?

[Stu]

I know Lucid Dreaming -- Dream Views has some solid info / FAQs on lucid dreaming and a very knowledgeable forum. I've never seen anything on lucid dreaming as a way of actually accessing and effecting the sub-conscious though, but I think its a great idea. Cleaning out all the negative riff-raff from your sub-conscious would be an excellent, positive way to start your day, you would feel great every single morning.

[Jim]

Nelson, I'm not sure how technically adept you are, but you could attempt to build your own lucid dream induction device.

Kvasar
Mathieu Mallet // Morpheus REM Monitor


There are commercial equivalents (e.g. the Nova Dreamer) but they are fairly expensive.

[julien]

For me, the method of picturing myself climbing down stairs and saying to myself "I'm going to enter the dream world" almost always works.
Lucid dreaming is really enthrilling !!

[Phil Newton]

The best reality check I've found is to hold one's nose and try to breathe. If you're dreaming, you'll still be able to blow through your nose even if your nostrils are closed tight! It still takes some effort to realise that you might be dreaming, so a good tactic is to try the reality check when you know you're awake. A common dream sign is technology acting in strange ways, so if you're awake you can perform an RC to check if you're dreaming. Eventually you'll develop the habit of checking if you're awake, and you'll be able to figure out that you're dreaming.

My first LD was very short, but I realised I was dreaming because a CD I was listening to was in the wrong order. Since then I've had a few more dreams, and I'm starting to build up a picture of my "dream world". It's strange to say the least. I'm still no expert, but that first lucid dream helped me to realise that is was possible.

The website that helped me the most was LD4all. They have an active forum too, which is a great place to get help with and dream related problems.

[Erin Pavlina]

One of the easiest ways to have a lucid dream is to wake yourself up at like 4 in the morning, stay awake and in your bed for about 30 minutes, then go back to sleep.

Also, tell yourself every night before you go to sleep that you will have a lucid dream.

Don't give up. It took me 3 years to begin having lucid dreams regularly and now I can have one whenever I want. It's worth the wait!

[BillPerry]

One method I found that seems to work for a lot of people (other than myself) is the Brainwave Generator. Uses basic binaural entrainment technology with headphones. I created a preset on there which seems to have worked well for several people who tested it. It can be found at LD Test Preset

The only prohibitive thing about this preset, is it was designed to take the user through the first complete sleep cycle, with an intense spattering of high beta during when REM should be taking place.

I've only managed to get one False Awakening with it.

My personal favorite method is to simply use the anchor of touching my forefingers to their respective thumbs while holding the intention to have a lucid dream. I do this sometimes throughout the day. Then as I'm lying down to sleep, I'll do it again for as long as I can, while awake. I sorta use that combined with the "stay awake as long as you can" method Erin talks about in the Podcast#10 on Steve's blog.

Hope this helps in some way.
Bill Perry
Financial Freedom and Practical Spirituality

[jaden]

After hearing about Lucid Dreaming in the podcast, I began a dream journal to keep track of my dreams, bought and read Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LaBerge and started keeping a penny in my pocket to remind myself to do reality checks throughout the day. I started in late July and so far I've had 3 short lucid dreams which have served to at least verify that they're possible. I look forward to learning how to actually control what happens in my dreams in due time.

[placebo]

i had only one lucid dream till now. my biggest problem is being aware that i'm dreaming. Few days ago i stated taking afternoon naps and dreams were fantastic. I remembered them all. Why is that so ? Are naps better for lucid dreams than night sleep?

[Erin Pavlina]

I have lucid dreams more often during naps too.

I think partly that when you go to sleep at night it takes 90 minutes before you even get to REM. I think during naps you hit REM faster so you are closer to consciousness. Just a guess though. If anyone has a more scientific explanation I'm all ears.

[RandomJohn]

For me, while I can't induce an LD at will, just intending and trying has increased my frequency from once every few years to a spurt of them once every few months.

However, I've found that it's taking some experience "working" with them. At first, I really couldn't do much with them at all, except pretty much play by the rules of the dream with some awareness. However, as I've done it more, I can start to manipulate them. One time I tried a dream interpretation while in the dream. Another time, I tried to change the scenery completely. The dream interpretation worked wonderfully, but changing the scenery completely didn't work so well, until the dream started to end.

[BillPerry]

Erin,
Not sure how "scientific" this is. Long time ago, I read somewhere that you are more likely to remember REM dreams if they occur during a time that you are sleeping outside of your "NORMAL" sleep routine. So REM dreams are more likely to be remembered if you Start taking naps, as opposed to regularly taking naps.

I guess the trick in this situation might be to mix it up a bit. Slightly vary your sleep patterns over time.

Bill Perry
Financial Freedom and Practical Spirituality

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

I have lucid dreams more often during naps too.

I think partly that when you go to sleep at night it takes 90 minutes before you even get to REM. I think during naps you hit REM faster so you are closer to consciousness. Just a guess though. If anyone has a more scientific explanation I'm all ears.

[calicles]

In my case, I was having around 1 lucid dream a year until upon reading about it here and reading about it on the web, I "decided" (or intended) to have more. Basically it just worked - I've had about 10 in 5 months.
I feel it's very much a confidence thing though and suspect though I might be wrong that many techniques are simply placebo. I had a spurt of 4 in one month then just one a month except in september - where for some reason I had anticipated I'd have a lot because I'd be on vacation and my sleep patterns would be changed - and indeed I had 3.
My last dry spell was broken just this night. It may have had to do to the fact that I picked up the PhotoReading course. I somehow felt that in having to tap into the non-conscious mind for the course, I'd develop useful skills for lucid dreaming too.
So basically my recipe would be to think about it and be confident. Good luck!

[Roman]

This was my post on October 25th on xtrememind forum that may help you:
Hi all,

Well, from my experience(not that much!) I always had lucid dreams, since I was a kid, almost every week. But now as an adult I haven't with that frequency, very seldom, but I think it is mostly by my other interests plus going to sleep late at night plus girlfriend, if you know what I mean
But as said above, keeping a journal is very helpful... other things that I recommend:
- think about it as much as you can in your day-to-day life
- A strong desire to have lucid dreams
- Ask yourself during the day: Am I dreaming right now?
- Do some third eye activation(this is very very helpful for me)

I have a really good e-book on LD very insighful, worked for me...

I hope this helps you,
Be well

[Victoria]

For me, intending lucid dreams worked well. Just my sheer will seemed to do wonders. Also, meditation with the Hemisync and Holosync stuff probably helped. Whatever happens, don't give up. Sometimes the subconscious can be quite unruly and uncharted territory, but suddenly we get a break.

[skinnyninja]

Just one lucid experience for me, here were the circumstances:

1) I was very, very tired--and trying to stay awake. I did not want to fall asleep yet...but I did anyway.

2) I was quitting smoking and wearing a nicotine patch

3) I was drinking lots of coffee

It was a very vivid dream (usually I don't even remember my dreams) and I realized I was dreaming and starting "taking control." Then, when I tried to do something, the "dream" took control back and really freaked me out! Then I woke up.

I know there are other reports of "disturbingly vivid" dreams from people who sleep with a nicotine patch on. Not that anyone should risk nicotine addiction for a more vivid dreaming experience!

[elainevdw]

A few months ago, just for the heck of it, I ordered some tumbled stones (quartz, amethyst, Picasso stone, and a few others) from a crystal site that said they could be used together to enhance dream work. I just thought they were neat and had a nice theme to decorate my bedroom. I put them on my bedstand with some lavendar (for the relaxing smell), and I've remembered at least one dream a night ever since -- which is really odd, because prior to that I remembered only a few dreams a month.

Has anybody consciously used crystals to enhance dream work or lucid dreaming?

[Erin Pavlina]

I had a very special quartz crystal that I used to keep under my pillow when I slept. I also carried it around in my bra during the day. That thing never left my side.

I think it did something but I'm honestly not sure.

[tropicality]

Hehe...

"Hello, what would you like to do in your lucid dream today?

"I'd like to continue removing all the negative things around here..."

"Excellent, right through this door, which weapon of destruction would you like to use today?"