Lucid Dreaming

[Omega007]

I don't know much about the subject, but I have recently heard a bit about Lucid Dreaming. From what I can understand, it is the ability or training one can undertake to be able to control what happens in your dreams and to make them more memorable/vivid. I'm learning a little bit about how to do it and I would like to hear what you all have heard on the subject. I want to know if yall have done it before. If you have, what is it like? If you haven't done it personally, then anyone you may know who does it and what they think about it. Also if you have heard anything bad about it. Basically I want to know anything that yall have to say on the subject.

Thanks,

Omega007

[Arjuna34]

IMHO an archive search on "lucid dreaming" would be fruitful:

Lucid dreaming and dreams to share (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=12462)

Lucid Dreaming (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=4741)

Arjuna34

[DarrenS]

Fascinating subject - right up there with hypnotism as far as I'm concerned.

Check out the FAQ:

http://www.lucidity.com/LucidDreamingFAQ2.html

[dragonlady]

I can do it on a limited basis. I use it to end nightmares.
When I get to a certain point in the dream, I recognize it as such and force myself awake. With more work I'm pretty sure I could change the focus of the dream, but I don't have nightmares enough to get enough practice.

[Road Rash]

It has happened to me on a few occasions in my life. About a dozen or so. As far as controlling them, it does not really work that way. You can't just conjure up women without waking up. But if you go along with the dream knowing it is a dream, you are in for a cool time. It's the dream's story, go with it.

[FEotU]

It happened to me once; during the dream (while being shot at by terrorists), the car I tried to escape in hit a speed bump at high speed, resulting in it spiralling about 4 stories into the air. Look ing out the window, I thought "This is impossible, I must be dreaming". At that point, it clicked, and I had a lot of fun as I took control of the dream.

[Badtz Maru]

Actually, I have been able to conjure up women in my lucid dreams, especially if it's one where you wake up in the middle of and then get back into.

[MrPenbrook]

First post ever! Wish me luck...

In the past, I have on occasion gone on Prozac to treat depression. One of the more interesting and welcome side effects, for me, was lucid dreaming, with which I had had no previous experience. Doesn't look or feel any different than normal dreams, except that I suddenly realize I was asleep and am able to take the controls, so to speak. Unfortunately, when it happens, the only thing I have the presence of mind to do is take off flying like Superman, and occasionally burst through a wall like the Kool-Aid pitcher guy (and no, I won't tell you what's on the other side of the wall in a dream... you'll have to find out for yourself! ;) )

[TheLoadedDog]

I can agree with the post about waking up when things simply get too weird. I have often done that: "WOAH, purple gorillas with three heads. Naah, time to wake up".

Also, a technique to train yourself for lucid dreams (though I haven't tried it) goes like this: Get into the habit, when you are awake, of asking yourself, "Am I awake?" Don't just automatically tell yourself "yes I am", but have a look at your surroundings, check things out, and only tell yourself "yes" when you are thoroughly sure you are awake. The idea is that if you so this often enough, you will start doing it in your dreams, and suddenly you will start answering "no. too much weirdness; I must be dreaming". It is at this point that you can control your dreams, and they become lucid.

On a similar theme, a dream control technique my mum told me when I was a kid was very simple and went as follows: if you wake from a nightmare in the middle of the night, change your sleeping position, and you will dream different things when you fall asleep again a few moments later. If, on the other hand, you wake from that dream involving Lucy Liu **ahem**, stay perfectly still, and you have a good chance of slipping back into the same dream. This one realy works!

[Perderabo]

On several occaisions I have realized I was dreaming. Most of those times I elected to go flying just like Superman. This is really very cool. The holodeck depicted on StarTrek is small change by comparison.

As for terminating a dream and waking up at will, I did this twice. But the third time, I simply dreamed that I had awakened and was fooled for awhile. That was very weird until I realized I was still dreaming.

[Frumpy Jones]

I've been Lucid Dreaming for years.

It's caused me to be late for work WAY TOO MANY TIMES.

I seem to have always been able to do this. It's easier to control closer to the waking hours (For me) than middle of the night.

I am also able to do something else, that I think is similar.. I think I even posted it here... lemme look...

here it is...

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=5261

I forgot that I'm considered an enlighted soul. :)

My WAG is that Lucid Dreamers should be able to this also, but I base that on the fact that I can do both. Which means all of you should be able to sink a free-throw without much trouble :)

[manhattan]

Once again, we don't need a thread full of every story by anyone who as ever done this. As in the prior threads on this subject, I'll ask that you limit your posts to factual information about the practice -- studies of it, etc.

Thanks.

[jb_farley]

a good technique to have on hand for lucid dreaming is "spinning". I guess the quotes aren't necessary, since really all you do is spin.

Works like this. A lot of times, when you realize you are dreaming, you start to bobble back up thto the surface of consciousness. If you can make yourself spin in place (like an ice skater, but not with arms out or anything) you won't wake up. Often though, the dream changes. But you are still awake and in control.

Learnt that little trick from Omni a few years back. Works for me.


jb

[Road Rash]

Originally posted by manhattan
Once again, we don't need a thread full of every story by anyone who as ever done this. As in the prior threads on this subject, I'll ask that you limit your posts to factual information about the practice -- studies of it, etc.

Thanks.

So, the moderator NAZI is stepping in again trying to tell us, the posters what to do AGAIN. I'm sorry, but WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG with relating personal experiences. How many of us are experts on lucid dreams? Few or none. How many of us have experienced it? Many.

If you want factual information in the form of studies, search the web and send us a link. Write to Cecil himself. Personally, I think personal experiences about lucid dreams are far more factual to me than reading some dissertation, and much easier on the eyes and brain.

Manhattan, I may not have a full understanding of the pressures of being a moderator, but this is not encouraging to the free exchanging of knowledge. This is a topic of intertest to me, and I personally defy the moderator and command all of you write about your experiences. Anything else I have to say about Manhattan would be more appropriate in the pit.

[Frumpy Jones]

I think I did mention on how I find it easier to indce Lucid Dreaming in my post.

And I think others personal experiences may help others realize how they, themselves may be able to induce it.

If your "Stick tot he facts" attitude is being stated due to lack of hard drive space, then say so.

being a Natzi is one thign, being concerened about the betterment of the board's capicity is another.

But just don't go stomping in here demanding we not post.

That's just wrong :)

[Abe]

From what I hear, most people learn lucid dreaming by themselves--has anyone not thus gifted been able to learn this trick by reading the FAQs or picking up one of those (usually corny) books on the subject? I am really keen to experience this type of dreaming, but the attempts I have made so far have not worked.

[Doc Moss]

Originally posted by cooldude
Originally posted by manhattan
Once again, we don't need a thread full of every story by anyone who as ever done this. As in the prior threads on this subject, I'll ask that you limit your posts to factual information about the practice -- studies of it, etc.

Thanks.

So, the moderator NAZI is stepping in again trying to tell us, the posters what to do AGAIN. I'm sorry, but WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG with relating personal experiences. How many of us are experts on lucid dreams? Few or none. How many of us have experienced it? Many.

If you want factual information in the form of studies, search the web and send us a link. Write to Cecil himself. Personally, I think personal experiences about lucid dreams are far more factual to me than reading some dissertation, and much easier on the eyes and brain.

Manhattan, I may not have a full understanding of the pressures of being a moderator, but this is not encouraging to the free exchanging of knowledge. This is a topic of intertest to me, and I personally defy the moderator and command all of you write about your experiences. Anything else I have to say about Manhattan would be more appropriate in the pit.

I'll just chime in and say that I second your opinions here. Manhattan appears to be more iron fisted of late then usual. But yeah, as you said... this is more for the Pit.

[manhattan]

cooldude, Frumpy Jones, and dippymonger:
I'll type this slowly, so you can keep up.
We. Have. Other. Forums. For. Personal. Experiences. If. You. Don't. Get. That. Than. You. Are. Too. Stupid. To. Use. This. Board.
Oh, and if anyone calls me a Nazi again in this forum, that person is banned. There will be no further warning.

[Frumpy Jones]

And personally, I tremble. I know better than to tick off a moderator. Question them? Yes. Annoy them? Not if I can help it.

I DID offer a way to try and induce lucid Dreaming (in the moments before waking up: like when you hit your snooze and doze back off), but I understand how personal experiences can lag down a factual discussion.

Problem here is: Lucid Dreaming is not something that FACT plays in on. It's a very persoanl experience and the ways of doing it differ from person to person.

Personal experiences on HOW you induce your LD are as factual as you can get in this discussion. telling us your whacky dream about dancing with poodles is not.

So I haopr the moderator understands my point on all this, and that I do understand his point on this. *ass kissing off*

P.S. I never called anyone a nazi, nor would I (except for the real McCoy). I stated that (Generally) being a NATZI is one thing. See. Mine has a T. Entirelly different. (Thank the Good Lord for Typos).

But the point is understood and shall be headed.

[Omega007]

I had no idea that this post would become so heated. I mean I was just looking for some experiences and methods on Lucid Dreaming. I didn't think it would become piss off the moderator time. I understand where yall are coming from. This forum does seem to be becoming a bit more strict lately. I mean I have had several post closed simply for the fact that they were in the wrong forum. Correct me if I am wrong but where to post something is highly subjective, some of the time. I mean sometimes a post that would probably go to great debates ends up in general questions, but that is no reason to close down a perfectly good post.

I didn't come back on here to start up a revolution I came back to ask another question. I have, of course, been doing research on the subject of lucid dreaming and I seem to see a pattern. First I see that you must be able to remember your dreams so that having lucid dreams would have any effect on you.

My problem is that I can't seem to get past that first stage. I can't remember that much of my dreams. There is a split second where I seem to remember it perfectly and the whole things seems like I just got through with a day and I was reflecting on it, but after that second is gone. My entire memory is gone of the entire event. I mean I remember having a dream, but the contents in it are vanished. It a rare occasion that I can remember a large portion of my dream.

I want to know how do I start remembering my dreams? I can't work on lucid dreaming until I can remember my uncontroled dreams.

Thanks,

Omega007

[Gut]

Keep a notepad beside your bed and write down as much as you remember of your dreams when you wake up. If possible wake yourself up during your dreams and write down what has happened so far. I know your goal is to eventually stay asleep and direct your dreams but this is the first step.

I searched Amazon for the book I read on this topic with no luck. I suppose it would help if I fully remembered the title but that was ten years ago. A title that tugged on a loose memory strand was out of print so again no help there.

I'm not sure how much else I can tell you that a book can't but being patient is the key. As you get better at recongnizing you are in fact dreaming stay with the dream longer. You will begin to recognize common cues to the dream state. Basically things that just can't happen in real life. Then you will kind of say to yourself "I'm dreaming! Cool!" at this point you may wake up and have to start over.

I think I'm rambling now so I'll end this. Just start by keeping a notepad by your bed and writing down what you remember and what caused you to realize it was a dream.

[Ace_Face]

Originally posted by Gut
I searched Amazon for the book I read on this topic with no luck. I suppose it would help if I fully remembered the title but that was ten years ago. A title that tugged on a loose memory strand was out of print so again no help there.


Lucid Dreaming and Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming, both by Stephen LaBerge, are probably the two most definitive books on the subject. Was it one of these?

I've tried to have lucid dreams for quite some time, with only partial success. My main problem is this: almost as soon as I realize I am dreaming, I wake up with a shooting, almost electrical sensation going up and down my spine. Anyone else get this?

[Gut]

Originally posted by Ace Face

Lucid Dreaming and Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming, both by Stephen LaBerge, are probably the two most definitive books on the subject. Was it one of these?

I'm not sure. The cover was different than the one on Amazon,Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming,that is. If it discusses the influence and importance of dreams in various cultures then that is the one.

I've never had that shooting electrical spine sensation thing you describe. That would make me want to avoid dreaming or at least realizing that I was dreaming.

[Ace_Face]

Originally posted by Gut
I've never had that shooting electrical spine sensation thing you describe. That would make me want to avoid dreaming or at least realizing that I was dreaming.

Well, despite my description it's not really painful. It's just kind of a weird feeling, and it usually happens before I have a chance to try the spinning technique.

[jb_farley]

Gut, kudos to you for being the first to break the chain of studpidity. Goddamn, you nincompoops, what the hell? manhattan is a nazi!!!? what the fuck?

(manhattan, please notice I wasn't actually calling you a NAZI!!! don't wanna go and get banned accidentally)

okay, this board has been deluged as of late. way too much congestion and waaaaayyy too many posts. lay off the fucking dudes who have to actually work to make this board work, peoples. if a post is not germane to a board, the moderator can close it or move it. a lot of posters chime in and complain either way.

SHUT UP. really. it's less than becoming, you motherfucking idiots.

open a new post in another forum, or email the question to those who seemed interested, or go back in time and kill your birth mother so you are never born and can't grace this board with your complain-y manure.

anyway, a lot of posters have contributed good-GQ-esque responses. More should follow, if I know this board. Anyway, I hope I didn't thorw the thread into IMHO territory with this post, manhattan you NAZI!!!


jb

[Doc Moss]

:eek:

[Morrison's Lament]

I haven't read much of this thread, but I have had lucid dreams.

During a very confused period in my life I had a very life-like dream in which I suddenly got this strange sensation that I was in fact dreaming, after all. I saw a window and decided to smash it in order to test the reality of the universe I was seeing.

I looked at my bloody hands and realized that I wasn't actually feeling pain in my hands, so it had to be a dream and not reality. That's when I started to have this elaborate romp around strange, yet familiar locales. I ran through scenes from movies and computer games as I progressed through my dream and some of it was actually original material as far as I can remember.

The whole time I knew I was in control of my dream and the experience has been repeated, but not often enough. It is VERY entertaining, to say the least. In some ways it's the ultimate drug.

--- G. Raven

[Omega007]

Originally posted by jb_farley
Gut, kudos to you for being the first to break the chain of studpidity. Goddamn, you nincompoops, what the hell? manhattan is a nazi!!!? what the fuck?

(manhattan, please notice I wasn't actually calling you a NAZI!!! don't wanna go and get banned accidentally)

okay, this board has been deluged as of late. way too much congestion and waaaaayyy too many posts. lay off the fucking dudes who have to actually work to make this board work, peoples. if a post is not germane to a board, the moderator can close it or move it. a lot of posters chime in and complain either way.

SHUT UP. really. it's less than becoming, you motherfucking idiots.

open a new post in another forum, or email the question to those who seemed interested, or go back in time and kill your birth mother so you are never born and can't grace this board with your complain-y manure.

anyway, a lot of posters have contributed good-GQ-esque responses. More should follow, if I know this board. Anyway, I hope I didn't thorw the thread into IMHO territory with this post, manhattan you NAZI!!!


jb



Hey JB,

Does your post have anything to do with Lucid dreaming? Are you helping with the quest for knowledge? Or are you just bitching about something that annoys you. you say that the post aren't relative to the forum, then what the hell are you doing?

To make sure I practice what I preach, I don't completely understand how I can take down an entire dream on a piece of paper within the few dwindling moments that I can actually remember my dream. Like I said before, I can only remmeber my dreams for a split second. How would one go about delaying the fleeting dream type thing?

Thanks,

Omega007

[Gut]

Omega. Just write down what you can. As time progresses you should remember more as you are 'training' your brain to remember. When you go to sleep start thinking that you want to remember and record what you dream. Create the expectation in your mind. Even if you remember only vague points of your dreams write them down. You will tend to remember more if you wake up immediately after a dream or during.

REM occurs several times during the night each cycle being deeper and longer than the last. You will probably have better luck with recall of the last cycle,generally just before you wake up. Weekends are great for this,sleep in and write down what you can remember at your normal waking time. Go back to sleep,hopefully you will get some more REM time and can again record anything you recall.

I'm not sure what other tips I can give you for recall. Basically creating the expection of recall and writing down what little you can remember.

[Chronos]

[Moderator watch ON]
jb_farley, while your support is, of course, appreciated, the manner in which you gave that support is not. Profanity is usually discouraged in this forum, and personal insults are always forbidden. Watch your step there, OK?

[wahoo11]

I have not heard the term lucid dreaming before reading this thread. I can tell you that I experience it almost everynight since taking Melatonin as a natural sleep aid a few years ago.All dreams are pleasant...no nightmares. If I get up in the middle of the night to take a leak and the dream is interrupted ,I can usually reset the scene in my mind if I want it to and continue.

I'm certain I could recall a good potion of my dreams for a period of time,but what's the point?

[Frumpy Jones]

Instead of writing down on a notepad, take 20 bucks and buy one of those mini tape recorders, or a digital one. Doesn't matter. All you want to do is say into the damn thing everything you can remember about your dream. Then, after you are fully awake (After your shower and off to work), listen to what you said and try to remmeber it. The images should still be there in your mind somewhere.

Hope this helps :)

[Omega007]

Originally posted by Frumpy Jones
Instead of writing down on a notepad, take 20 bucks and buy one of those mini tape recorders, or a digital one. Doesn't matter. All you want to do is say into the damn thing everything you can remember about your dream. Then, after you are fully awake (After your shower and off to work), listen to what you said and try to remmeber it. The images should still be there in your mind somewhere.

Hope this helps :)

Good idea. I think I may have to try that. that's pretty damn immediate. Also I've been told that I talk in my sleep maybe I should get one of those tape recorders that is activated by sound. Ya think that would work?

thanks,

Omega007

[Frumpy Jones]

I think it would help.

My wife tells me I talk all the time in my sleep.

I haven't tried a recorder in years...

Now you got me thinking about it...

See ya at radio shack!

[ronan]

Wow, after reading this and the FAQ on Lucid dreaming, I'm deffinitley going to give it a shot (well at least try the techniques) it sounds like it could be really cool. I can't wait for bed tonight....