Lucid dreaming (1 Viewer)

[Maurile Tremblay]

Anyone have any experience with this? I know someone who says he can do it. It sounds kind of cool -- something I've been interested in learning more about, but hadn't gotten around to it.

I just came across this link a couple days ago. It lays out a method for achieving lucidity that doesn't sound all that hard.

The first step is to remember your dreams -- just by telling yourself as you go to sleep that you'd like to remember your dreams, and then to trying to remember them upon waking.

I almost never remember my dreams. But over the past two nights I've remembered lots of them. Just by reminding myself. Normally I don't think about dreams at all, but now that I'm thinking about them before and after sleeping, I'm remembering them.

So step one is no biggie. On to step two.

Here's the link again to the article: Lucid Dreaming for Slackers.

Can any of you do this? If so, do you have any additional tips or tricks?

 

[the rover]

I used to be able to this, but it takes practice and I haven't for a while. You really need to work at it until it's habit. Really, the key is to create a trigger to get yourself to acknowledge that you're dreaming. I can't recall if it was Carlos Castaneda or someone else that I read, but one simple suggestion was using looking at your hands as a trigger.

Once you're in the dream and you "remember" to use the trigger, you allow yourself to acknowledge that you're dreaming. Once you are aware that you're dreaming, being able to control yourself and your surroundings is surprisingly easy.

 

[njxbean]

 

[Dexter Manley]

I used to lucid dream all the time. Back in college, I would take a nap in the afternoon a couple days a week, sleeping on my couch. I would lay down and know I was going to lucid dream. I would fall asleep quite quickly, and then instantly dream I woke up on my couch. So then I could do whatever I wanted in my dream.

I don't lucid dream as often as I used to, but when I do now, it's usually right after I fall asleep at night, and I dream I wake up in my bedroom. I usually confirm I'm dreaming by leaving the house and starting to fly. It's weird though, because sometimes I have trouble talking when I'm lucid dreaming, and if I try to hard I wake myself up.

I bought a book about 20 years ago, 'Lucid Dreaming in 30 Days,' or something like that, and it had an exercise you would do every day. A big thing was a dream journal. The instant you wake up start writing down all of your dreams.

I've used the looking at your hands trigger with success. Try catching yourself througout the day and ask yourself if you're dreaming, and look at your hands. That's how I did it at least.

I've been very erratic in controlling my dreams, once I've gone lucid. For example, when I'm flying, sometimes I'll slow down and only be hovering a couple of feet off of the ground, and it's like I'm sputtering.

I've also had some crazy stuff go on in my lucid dreams. For example, one time I was lucid dreaming and I was running to the nearest bar, because I couldn't fly very well. Then this huge bear comes out of no where and starts chasing me. The bear starts biting and clawing my back - I knew I was dreaming and it wasn't real, but the pain I felt was excruciating. It took about 15 seconds of me concentrating to make the bear stop attacking me and disappear.

Another common problem I have when lucid dreaming is people won't die when I shoot them. I often find myself in some sort of gun battle or war, I know I'm dreaming and am going to dominate like it's a video game, but when I shoot the bad guys they don't die. Very frustrating.

I'm not nearly as good as I used to be at lucid dreaming because my dream journal became too much work. I was remembering 6 or 7 dreams a night, and it was taking me 20+ minutes to write everything down each morning.

 

[commisholio]

I've had a few, but can't do it reliably. It sure is fun when it happens, though.

 

[videoguy505]

I can recognize & control my dreams pretty easily, but, it doesn't last long, after a minute or so I wake up.

 

[Drifter]

I'm often able to do this. The trick is to not think about it too much once you realize you are dreaming or you start to wake.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

I've had a few, but can't do it reliably. It sure is fun when it happens, though.

 

[Giant Wooden Badger]

I remember my dreams pretty frequently and I've been able to wake up in the middle of a dream, realize that I was dreaming, and try to go back to sleep to continue the same dream successfully. Pretty weird.

About a month ago I had an exact dream that I had several years ago. Even weirder.

 

[Corporation]

I would prevent myself from dreaming if I could. Night terrors are teh suck.

 

[SlimShady]

i'm not really interested in my dreams. I've had some absolutely horrible ones, so it doesn't bother me not to remember them

 

[videoguy505]

i'm not really interested in my dreams. I've had some absolutely horrible ones, so it doesn't bother me not to remember them

Well, this is where lucid dreaming kicks ###, because, as you're being chased by 10,000 vampire bats, suddenly you realize "Wait, this is a dream. And I'd be safe in that building right there. And it just happens to be a strip club where Natalie Portman is performing. And because it's a dream, I could just run up to her and start doing all sorts of things..."

 

[yankeebrat]

I almost always remember my dreams....especially the bad ones. Once I realize it is a dream though, I wake right away, so I am not sure I would ever be able to have any level of control in a dream. Sometimes that is a good thing though...just sit back and enjoy it! :X

 

[red_stapler]

I can't believe there is an actual name for this.

Not only do I remember my dreams vividly, I can often times control them. I'm a very, very light sleeper. It's almost like only being half asleep. A lot of times, I realize I'm dreaming and can make decisions about what happens next. It's pretty cool.

 

[Steve Tasker]

This is something that's always fascinated me.

I have lucid dreams pretty often....I'd say about 50-75% of the dreams that I can remember, which puts it at about 2-4x/month..

One poster referred to the trigger...looking at your hands is a good one, I've never tried that. I always close my eyes and wish that something is different. Example: I'm dreaming and a friend in my dream is wearing a red shirt. I'll close my eyes and wish as hard as I can that he's wearing a blue shirt....almost every time, the person will be wearing a different color shirt.

From then on, it's awesome. Control whatever you want, fly instead of walk, etc.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Another thing about my lucid dreams is that they almost always happen either immediately after I fall asleep or when I'm really really tired.

I've had many instances where I'll be dozing off, either on the couch or wherever, where I'll cross between a state of lucid dreaming and almost paralyzed consciousness. Someone also referred to being able to re-enter the same dream...for me, it's like an interrupted dream....I'll be dozing off in bed, starting a lucid dream...and someone will score a touchdown and the tv will wake me up momentarily....it's similar to an out-of-body experience, I would think...like I'm aware of what's going on in the game, but I'm not really consciously awake....and then I'll immediately re-enter the same dream.

I tend to have the best lucid dreams when I'm really really tired...the kind of nights where you were working outside all day and you fall into bed and you're asleep in 60 seconds.

 

[Jefferson the Caregiver]

I have lucid dreams just about every night and I often remember them. They don't usually make much sense on the surface but I can remember them.

 

[oddball]

A great book to pick up is Super Brain Power by Dane Spotts. It covers learning how to remember your dreams, lucid dreaming, and much much more.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Acid, Peyote, shrooms. Wierd, that's the second time I've posted that trilogy today.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Been slowly working on this. Became interested b/c it seemed as though I have fairly vivid dreams and could remember 1-2 most nights. Haven't been able to control anything yet though.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

i'm not really interested in my dreams. I've had some absolutely horrible ones, so it doesn't bother me not to remember them

Well, this is where lucid dreaming kicks ###, because, as you're being chased by 10,000 vampire bats, suddenly you realize "Wait, this is a dream. And I'd be safe in that building right there. And it just happens to be a strip club where Natalie Portman is performing. And because it's a dream, I could just run up to her and start doing all sorts of things..."

Even when I'm dreaming, the f'n bouncers still throw me out!

 

[e-mom]

Oh the things that go on in some of my dreams that wake me up to pleasant surprises.

 

[KarmaPolice]

i'm not really interested in my dreams. I've had some absolutely horrible ones, so it doesn't bother me not to remember them

Well, this is where lucid dreaming kicks ###, because, as you're being chased by 10,000 vampire bats, suddenly you realize "Wait, this is a dream. And I'd be safe in that building right there. And it just happens to be a strip club where Natalie Portman is performing. And because it's a dream, I could just run up to her and start doing all sorts of things..."

See, I don't seem to be able to control things but since I've been more conscious of the dreams I do still have this "I am married, or I can't do this b/c I'm a father" etc. feeling. Can't seem to separate the real world from the dream world.

 

[the rover]

i'm not really interested in my dreams. I've had some absolutely horrible ones, so it doesn't bother me not to remember them

Well, this is where lucid dreaming kicks ###, because, as you're being chased by 10,000 vampire bats, suddenly you realize "Wait, this is a dream. And I'd be safe in that building right there. And it just happens to be a strip club where Natalie Portman is performing. And because it's a dream, I could just run up to her and start doing all sorts of things..."

See, I don't seem to be able to control things but since I've been more conscious of the dreams I do still have this "I am married, or I can't do this b/c I'm a father" etc. feeling. Can't seem to separate the real world from the dream world.

that's where the whole concept of a trigger or "dream signs" as the link MT provides comes in. once you can "prove" to yourself that you're dreaming, you are consciously separated from reality.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

Oh the things that go on in some of my dreams that wake me up to pleasant surprises.

 

[prosopis]

 

[Harris]

So wait, if I do this I could control what I dream control what happens in my dream? Like I could just go around and conceivably bang whoever I wanted whenever I wanted in my dreams? Hmm...

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

I was also having a conversation about this with a friend of mine today. I don't think it is that difficult.

 

[Relentless]

I can't believe there is an actual name for this.Not only do I remember my dreams vividly, I can often times control them. I'm a very, very light sleeper. It's almost like only being half asleep. A lot of times, I realize I'm dreaming and can make decisions about what happens next. It's pretty cool.

I am the same way, I honestly thought this was the norm for everyone.

 

[The Juggernaut]

I would prevent myself from dreaming if I could. Night terrors are teh suck.

"Ah! Cobras!"

 

[prosopis]

I woke up remembering my dream/nightmare this am. I tried to go back to sleep and control things but could not get there.

 

[QUEZILLA]

Ever have that dream where your the only one naked

 

[KarmaPolice]

i'm not really interested in my dreams. I've had some absolutely horrible ones, so it doesn't bother me not to remember them

Well, this is where lucid dreaming kicks ###, because, as you're being chased by 10,000 vampire bats, suddenly you realize "Wait, this is a dream. And I'd be safe in that building right there. And it just happens to be a strip club where Natalie Portman is performing. And because it's a dream, I could just run up to her and start doing all sorts of things..."

See, I don't seem to be able to control things but since I've been more conscious of the dreams I do still have this "I am married, or I can't do this b/c I'm a father" etc. feeling. Can't seem to separate the real world from the dream world.

that's where the whole concept of a trigger or "dream signs" as the link MT provides comes in. once you can "prove" to yourself that you're dreaming, you are consciously separated from reality.

I'll keep plugging away at it. Also have noticed a big difference in dreams and the ability to remember them by the "state" that I go to sleep. Ie - if I'm overly tired, had a couple beers, etc.

 

[Flash]

Ever have that dream where your the only one naked

I HATE those.Especially when you are the only one naked and you're working like normal. Or walking into work and everyone is looking at you, and you just put your head down and keep on walking through the building, naked as can be. And you feel powerless.

 

[QUEZILLA]

Ever have that dream where your the only one naked

I HATE those.Especially when you are the only one naked and you're working like normal. Or walking into work and everyone is looking at you, and you just put your head down and keep on walking through the building, naked as can be. And you feel powerless.

I kind of like the dream... Walking through the building naked gives me a sense of power, but to each his own

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

sehorn!

 

[CBus Alex]

Can any of you do this? If so, do you have any additional tips or tricks?

If you're going to use the lightswitch trick, make sure you try at least two lights. One time I thought I was dreaming, but the bulb was just burned out. Fortunately for me, she didn't press charges, but you might not be so lucky.

 

[Papa Georgio]

Just to agree with lots of the methods here. For me the biggie is to want to remember my dreams before I go to sleep. I don't know why but if I focus just a little on it, I can remember a few dreams a night. I lucid dream a lot and was something I got into after watchting "Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Warriors".

I don't know what this says about me but once I gain control I usually make some hot chick appear and we get ummm...happy. Unfortunately she will turn into the old chick in the bathroom from "The Shinning" sometimes. Not cool!

I always have re-occuring dreams as well. For the longest it was about being in a tornado or being in a car where the breaks didn't work. Oh and then I still have one a lot about being able to breathe under water.

Also funny, is how the memory of dreams will fade farily quickly. I can wake up and remember small details of a dream I had but by mid-day I am somewhat fuzzy on what I even drempt of. I always thought it would be cool to keep a dream journal but it seemed a little hokey.

 

[IC Alkies]

Anyone have any experience with this? I know someone who says he can do it. It sounds kind of cool -- something I've been interested in learning more about, but hadn't gotten around to it.

I just came across this link a couple days ago. It lays out a method for achieving lucidity that doesn't sound all that hard.

The first step is to remember your dreams -- just by telling yourself as you go to sleep that you'd like to remember your dreams, and then to trying to remember them upon waking.

I almost never remember my dreams. But over the past two nights I've remembered lots of them. Just by reminding myself. Normally I don't think about dreams at all, but now that I'm thinking about them before and after sleeping, I'm remembering them.

So step one is no biggie. On to step two.

Here's the link again to the article: Lucid Dreaming for Slackers.

Can any of you do this? If so, do you have any additional tips or tricks?

I have always been able to do this never given much thought to how or why.

 

[IC Alkies]

Also, the level of control often changes. Sometimes I can't control the dream at all and I also can not wake myself from the dream, which seems almost like you are dead. One of the first times I experience this I literally went from sleep to jumping off my couch. My wife happened to be on the couch with me and asked me WTF happened. I was sleeping, knew I was sleeping, and could not wake myself up which really freaked me out. I also can experience extreme night terrors.

 

[IC Alkies]

Can any of you do this? If so, do you have any additional tips or tricks?

I think the more control you try use in the dream the more likely you are to wake up. If you are dreaming you still have to play your part once you get controlling everything it is more fantasizing and not really dreaming.

 

[strykerpks]

I punch myself in the face while sleeping after a good night of drinking, does that count?

 

[CBus Alex]

I punch myself in the face while sleeping after a good night of drinking, does that count?

A friend of mine once punched himself in the genitals while sleeping.

 

[SuperJohn96]

i'm not really interested in my dreams. I've had some absolutely horrible ones, so it doesn't bother me not to remember them

Well, this is where lucid dreaming kicks ###, because, as you're being chased by 10,000 vampire bats, suddenly you realize "Wait, this is a dream. And I'd be safe in that building right there. And it just happens to be a strip club where Natalie Portman is performing. And because it's a dream, I could just run up to her and start doing all sorts of things..."

That sounds like fun, but, um...

I can recognize & control my dreams pretty easily, but, it doesn't last long, after a minute or so I wake up.

Oops, a minute.

 

[SuperJohn96]

I can't believe there is an actual name for this.Not only do I remember my dreams vividly, I can often times control them. I'm a very, very light sleeper. It's almost like only being half asleep. A lot of times, I realize I'm dreaming and can make decisions about what happens next. It's pretty cool.

I am the same way, I honestly thought this was the norm for everyone.

Me too. I never heard of this until reading it here.Ever since I was a kid I had "choose your own adventure" type dreams. I'd dream something, and if I wanted it to turn out different, I would actually go back to a certain part of my dream and do it differently.Imagine the movie Groundhog Day but only when you dream.This is cool.

 

[goldenchild]

Here are some things you can do when you get good at it:4. You can have sex with your favorite celebrity, or your best friend's spouse, or that hot yoga instructor at the gym, or hell, all three at once--with no horrible guilt or divorce papers or awkward morning-after conversations.

Where do I sign up?

 

[SuperJohn96]

I e-mailed my buddy about this:

Response:

there was a whole movie made about this. it's made by the same guy that did Dazed and Confused.

I would recommend watching it on mushrooms or pot though....it's very..uh..high level stuff.

So I did some digging...

Waking Life (2001)

Dreams. What are they? An escape from reality or reality itself? Waking Life follows the dream(s) of one man and his attempt to find and discern the absolute difference between waking life and the dreamworld. While trying to figure out a way to wake up, he runs into many people on his way; some of which offer one sentence asides on life, others delving deeply into existential questions and life's mysteries. We become the main character. It becomes our dream and our questions being asked and answered. Can we control our dreams? What are they telling us about life? About death? About ourselves and where we come from and where we are going? The film does not answer all these for us. Instead, it inspires us to ask the questions and find the answers ourselves.

The main character is played by the same kid who was Mitch Kramer in Dazed and Confused.While searching for Waking Life, I came across this one...

The Good Night (2007)

Gary Shaller is at a crossroads in his life: his job is going nowhere, his wife, Dora, drives him crazy, and he passed his thirtieth birthday four years ago. Add to that his best friend Paul seems to become more successful every time he breathes. Gary is feeling depressed and dejected... until he meets Anna. She's beautiful and smart; she's sexy and funny. Best of all, she's crazy about Gary. Anna is the girl of Gary's dreams...literally. And that's the problem. Gary can only see Anna in his dream life, so he's got to find a way to carry on the most satisfying relationship of his life, in his dreams. His quest for lucid dreaming techniques introduces Gary to some crazy characters who ultimately give him a new perspective on life.

Some of the cast:

Penélope Cruz ... Anna / Melodia

Danny DeVito ... Mel

Gwyneth Paltrow ... Dora Shaller

Simon Pegg ... Paul

 

[Mike Crimes]

makes me think of the movie dreamscape when I was a kid.

 

[Tirnan]

Dreamscape was another movie in the 80's that dealt with lucid dreaming in a "government run super project sci-fi horror" sort of way.

I used to do mental exercises and practice actively lucid dreaming. I met with fair success. Everything I read at the time (late 1980s) indicated that we all have some innate capacity for doing it and that with practice, most (but not all) folks could master the process. It has some limited amounts of positive effects. Masters of the process indicate it is a way of reaching your subconscious mind through an evolutionary throw back doorway in the mind. With practice and some understanding of what dream icons mean, you can then retrain portions of your psyche in positive ways.

EX. maybe the guy with bear dreams has a subconscious fear of failure that manifests as a bear nipping at his heals. This is his psyche reaching out in a self-preservation manner to stop him before embarrassment or other factors can tank his success. With time and training he can force a win over his psyche and retrain his brain to bypass the self imposed failures of the "fear factor beast". The theory is that retraining the subconscious will then net positive gains in everyday waking life.

I was a bit lazy and never achieved great success, but I did achieve some, enough to believe in the potential in the process.

The process I used focused on achieving awareness that you were in a dream state and just trying to follow the thread of the dream while maintaining that semi awake awareness. This was then followed by building triggers to recognize when you were in this state to effect and then prolong the awareness. The next step was actively fashioning new ideas into the dream. This is about the point I dropped out. The future stages of the process involved taking complete control of dream threads and refashioning them to suit your purpose.

hope that helps a little.

FYI there are some good books out there on the subject.

 

[piratemike]

After reading this thread, I tried last night to concentrate on wanting to remember my dreams before I went to bed.

I ended up lying awake for most of the night. Probably ended up sleeping about 2, maybe 3 hours total. I think my brain was in overdrive whereas usually I'll just turn it off and conk out.