Trying to lucid dream

Well, I read about lucid dreaming a while ago (and by a while I mean 6 months ago) and I thought I would give it a shot. So I set myself to start preparing myself to do this, and the first step is training my memory so I can remember as many dreams as possible. Not an easy task since I have a deep, DEEP sleep and it's hard to remember anything (I'm that kind of person that would usually say "dang, I never dream anything"). Still, I think I've improved a bit through the last 6 months, since now I can at least remember some dreams, even if not all of them. The problem is that some days I remember a dream (sometimes even 2 per day) and then maybe the whole next week I remember absolutely NOTHING. Blank. The pattern kinda goes like, I remember some dreams for 2 weeks and the next 2 weeks I get nothing. There are some exceptions to this rule, but I only wanted to give you an idea of where I'm standing. My question is: is there anyway to improve my memory even more? I take it I need to remember at least a dream per night in order to remember my lucid dreams (if I ever get any), so I really need this.

PD: If you think I'm already prepared to lucid dream, then maybe you could give me tips onto how to lucid dream instead.

[wstein]

There is NO requirement that you remember any dreams in order to lucid dream. I would say yo are ready to try to lucid dream. I would however still keep trying to remember dreams as it IS helpful.

There are several lucid dreaming threads which can be found by using the search function (above). You may recognize at least one of them.

Here are a few:
http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/sh...ad.php?t=36405
http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/sh...ad.php?t=37213
http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/sh...ad.php?t=39376

[Xan]

Here are a few suggestions for increasing your dream recall, Seeking.

- When you first wake up, Don't Move... especially Don't Move Your Head until you remember some images and feelings from your dreams

- Keep a dream journal and pencil by your bed and before you move jot down a few notes about what you remember.

- Before you go to sleep every night affirm or program yourself with something like, "I easily remember my dreams."


There are a variety of methods for lucid dreaming, so some investigation is necessary to find what works for you. Two books I like to recommend are:

Robert Moss - Conscious Dreaming: A Spiritual Path for Everyday Life

Robert Waggoner - Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self


Xan

Originally Posted by wstein

There is NO requirement that you remember any dreams in order to lucid dream. I would say yo are ready to try to lucid dream. I would however still keep trying to remember dreams as it IS helpful.

There are several lucid dreaming threads which can be found by using the search function (above). You may recognize at least one of them.

Here are a few:
http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/sh...ad.php?t=36405
http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/sh...ad.php?t=37213
http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/sh...ad.php?t=39376

Yep, one of those threads was made by me. However, when I did that thread my goals were a bit too high for the moment, as it was somewhat hard that I would be able to AP if I didn't know how to lucid dream first. So, I decided to go 1 step at a time and made this thread so I reach (at least) lucid dreaming.

Anyway, I already have my dream diary and I've been writing on it for 6 months (I jot down some key words on paper and then I write the full dream in a text document on my computer, with date and everything). I try not to move when remembering dreams as well, but sometimes it's just not enough, and I'm afraid I can't afford to read those books with my mom being a bit suspicious about this sort of stuff. Still, I'm gonna try the "list everything weird in your dreams" method and see what happens. :)

@wstein: Btw, in that thread you said it would take me 6 months, and now I made this thread 6 months later. Isn't that just funny?

[Xan]

If it were me I would see if I could get those books from the library, Seeker. They give quite a broader view of what can be experienced in dreaming.


Xan

Originally Posted by Xan

If it were me I would see if I could get those books from the library, Seeker. They give quite a broader view of what can be experienced in dreaming.


Xan

I could always try to get them, but I wouldn't get my hops up about it.
Is there a pdf or someway to read them online? That could work.

[Xan]

I haven't read this book, Seeker, but here's the free pdf...

http://www.kobblestones.com/arc/archives7/Lucid%20Dreams/Exploring%20The%20World%20Of%20Lucid%20Dreaming%20 -%20S%20Laberge.pdf


Xan

Originally Posted by Xan

I haven't read this book, Seeker, but here's the free pdf...

http://www.kobblestones.com/arc/archives7/Lucid%20Dreams/Exploring%20The%20World%20Of%20Lucid%20Dreaming%20 -%20S%20Laberge.pdf


Xan

Thanks, I'll read it as soon as possible. I really appreciate it.

By the way, it seems I forgot to mention something that's very important; I DID become lucid in one of my dreams, but it wasn't 'til near the end (just 1 minute before I woke up). After I realised it was a dream, I got kinda overexcited and lost control over the dream. It was like it went lal crazy and it was just funny images going through my head in a flash; and then after a while like this I just decided to wake up since I wouldn't be able to control the dream in that situation (seemed logic at the time, proved stupid afterwards). Partly my fault since I put lucid dreaming like a distant goal at the time, and the fact that I had managed to achieve it at the time seemed outstanding, so it was only natural that I would get so excited. Still, I'm 100% sure I was lucid.

Congrats on your first lucid dream!! I found that reading a book about it helped, because it stayed on my mind. I would also do several things.

One is keep telling yourself throughout the day "I am dreaming", esp if anything strange happens. This gets your mind used to thinking like that, and can help you realize you're dreaming while you're asleep.

Next, I would plan to lucid dream when I first laid down to sleep. I would say to myself, tonight when I lucid dream I want to fly (or whatever goal you have for yourself.) Planning to LD made it more likely to happen.

Lastly, you can say things like I have clarity while dreaming, I remember my dreams, or any other affirmation you want to. While you are saying this, tap your right temple, and keep tapping in a line over your ear and down to your hair line stopping at your neck. Repeat the affirmation with the tapping 3-5 times. The tapping is on meridian points that help express the words to your subconscious. Also stroking your hand while saying your affirmations can help it stick in your subconscious.

Good luck! I know you can do this. I too started lucid dreaming before trying to Astral Project. I've only had one AP so far, but I think my lucid dream experience did help.

[Xan]

In my view, lucid dreaming and astral projection are both valuable ways of experiencing and often overlap.


Xan