Lucid Dreaming

[Veovis]

Hi there. I'm pretty new to OBE and lucid dreaming, and I was wondering, how do you wake within a dream?
I know when I am dreaming but it never occurs to me that I can control what is going on. Is there any kind of key-word or reality check I can learn so that I can tap in?

Also, is time within a dream relative to you? Could what seems like several hours within the subconscious pass by in seconds in the real world?

-Allen

[Godscell]

Hello Allen,

There are many reality checks and you are free to create your own. I pull my finger and it stretches (most the time) but truly it's not the pulling the finger that lets me know I'm dreaming. It confirms it but there have been times I've pulled it and it hasn't stretched and I just known I'm dreaming and pulled it again until it did stretch. At other times I've just accepted that I'm not dreaming because it didn't immediately stretch. So, it's something about a general level of awareness I think.

An idea is to identify your dreamsigns (for me babies, dogs, paths, trains, driving, toilets and shoes) and link your reality checking to seeing those things in real life. If you see them in your dream, you may do a check out of habit and realise you're dreaming.

The other night I had light switches that wouldn't work in a dream. I didn't get lucid but this is a common reality check for many people. A friend of mine used it to get lucid after we'd talked about it. I've even had dream characters ask me how I'm going with my lucid dreaming and still not twigged that it was a dream.

Jumping to see if you fly is also a possibility but it doesn't always work. Checking a digital clock and seeing if the time is stable on a second glance is another popular method.

Affirmations, "I know that I am dreaming. I take control of my dream," or something like that can help.

Rhythm napping is great. You can find information on it on the net. You can also try a WILD (wake induced luicd dream).

"Also, is time within a dream relative to you? Could what seems like several hours within the subconscious pass by in seconds in the real world?"

What has been your experience with normal dreaming? Lucid dreams are the same in this respect.

[Veovis]

Thanks for the advice, Godscell.
I also suffer from insomnia, which makes things like rhythm napping a bit harder. On nights I have to induce sleep (because I have college the next day) I sleep deeply and without dreaming.
About time in my regular dreams: I've had dreams that can last 5 hours to a month in about 10 minutes in real time. (yeah, I know... time is not real :) )

[Godscell]

Insomnia makes it harder, true. I guess your best options are reality checks and being in the moment as much as possible in your waking day. Affirmations are still a possibility for you.

Do you wake through the night? It can be a great time to meditate with a clear mind and that, for me, can lead to lucid dreaming.

[Veovis]

Since I've started recording my dreams in a journal, my dreams have become much clearer and greater in number.
About forty minutes ago I lay down to meditate. After I felt really relaxed and in a very groggy state I started to... well... vibrate. It felt like something was pulling at me very fast, but not in a violent way, almost like it was trying to wake me. It kind of disturbed me and I'm a little freaked out. I've heard of this kind of thing relating OOBE's and such, but I was not expecting such a (excuse the pun) vibrant feeling. It was a good feeling, but completely unexpected and I was unprepared.

Is this normal? And if so, what should I do if it happens again?

[Godscell]

Yes, this is normal. If it happens again there are a number of things you can do. First up, try not to get too excited or afraid. Also, stay perfectly still.

If you see someone else there, don't freak out. This is known as the dweller on the threshold. When you have separate it may take time to shift consciousness and you may perceive your energy body with your physical body. It's common to interpret this as a threat. It will respond to your fear by becoming what you fear, such as a monster or hag or alien. Once your consciousness is fully transferred, the dweller should disappear.

If you feel you might be able to leave your body, you can try rolling out or just willing yourself to float out or sink down. Robert Bruce suggests a lot of exit techniques on his Astral Dynamics site. Among these is imagining a suspended rope and pulling yourself out or being pulled out on a water ski type rope. Some get help by asking for it.

Robert Bruce recommends not staying out too long on your early experiences, watching your hands while in the etheric body as a focus so you can stay out of body and making re-entry memorable (by shouting) so that the memories of your experience are not lost to your conscious mind.

[Veovis]

Last night it happened again. I stayed calm and still. It was really strange, I imagined the lower half of my body being dark and far away, but the rest was still connected. I didn't see the "dweller" or notice any other signs of activity. However, I think I consciously fell asleep.
I was unable to use any of the methods I know of (from Ridgeway's Techniques) to separate from my physical. The floating and rope idea didn't work too well. I had a few mental questions while doing this, like: Should I open my eyes? Or keep them closed?

In dreams I have noticed things and thought "Hey, I'm dreaming" but it's not strong enough to make it into my train of thought, so I don't really notice. I'll try the methods I know a bit more.

[Godscell]

Do you do any body loosening? Get deeply into trance and imagine your body rolling on the spot. You'll feel energy sensations. Or imagine your face up on the ceiling. Move it genty around the room in circular fashion. See what it would see. Or imagine moving your limbs. Let them stretch beyond their normal length if you like, as far as you wish. (You can use this as an exit technique- I haven't- if you hook your fingers into the wall and pull yourself out) Or imagine expanding to fill the room and shrinking to a tiny point. Or imagine your body swaying side to side, maybe in a hamock if it's easier.

You might like to investigate phasing.

[Veovis]

Something I've been using to beat insomnia is salvia divinorum. It has been giving me some pretty wacky lucid dreams and waking dreams, and a few near OBEs. The effects are very similar to that of the hypnagogic state.

[Godscell]

It's not legal in Australia where I live.

[Veovis]

Hi, everybody. It has been over a month since my last post, and since then I seem to have lost the ability to dream.
I can't induce them even while burning incense (which I've heard is supposed to work)..
Any ideas?

[Mendel]

Sometimes lack of dreaming is a sign of not getting enough sleep.
Another thing that can help is meditating and setting the intent
to dream right before you go to sleep at night.

-mike