Taking other forms in Dreams and Otherwise

[ChopstickFox]

I'm throwing this in the dream section because it is probably the most applicable. It's just not limited to dreams.

Most of us probably have had dreams of being something other than human at some point. I have been curious recently to hear about others' experiences regarding it.

I think I've probably mentioned this before, but in probably 90% or more of my dreams, I take another form. It is always the same form and it has happened since at least I was around 5. Sometimes it has felt like I have been growing up in two places at once. Because a picture is worth a thousand words I will post a picture rather than trying to explain:

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b492/ChopstickFox/ryubig.gif

So... tail, claws, wings... yeah.

I needed to teach myself to fly and practice at night. Couldn't get the hang of it until about high school. Now it's not a problem, though environmental factors come into play. Such as the presence of wind, if I'm indoors, or not. What made me think of this was the recent topic talking about what is real. Just like, Bedeekin didn't need to know how a lightsaber worked to create one. He could observe how it worked. This is similar. Everything is so real and consistent. I could go into it like crazy, but I don't want to drag myself off topic.

Sometimes I share my thoughts with the waking world, being completely lucid. Sometimes I am oblivious, but I'm always me, if that makes any sense. The form feels just as real and my own as my physical human body.

I am really curious to know if anyone else has experienced something similar or really any thoughts on it. Even branching out to other forms in general, even if they aren't consistent. Such as, every so often I am a fox/kitsune. So yeah... any thoughts are really appreciated.

[Steel Hawk]

A shaman would say that you are a shapeshifter my friend. Personally I only experience dreams from a single point of consciousness perspective, like I'm the camera in a movie. But I would love to soar the skies as a  hawk 

[Astralzombie]

I just very recently had my first experience in which I was not my physical self even though I was still me. But during the experience, I was in conflict with the "real" consciousness of the body I was "in". So this is different than what you are describing.

Do you feel more empowered when you are in this form? If so, that may be a real clue as to why you keep taking this form.

Do others recognize that it is still you? If so, do they react differently and do you enjoy their different reaction?

These are a few questions that you can ask yourself. Finding the answer to them can have a profound impact. Szaxx can help point you to the areas that you need to examine better than I can.

I have no answers because I just don't know but answering questions with questions is what helps us reach conclusions that are our own.

[ChopstickFox]

Steel hawk, does that mean you are not aware of a body in dreams? Like a camera observing? I couldn't imagine not being able to fly

its_all_bad, I had mentioned in your post before that I've had similar experiences when I've observed dreams as different consciousnesses at the same time. The most mind numbing one was when I was in that form, but I was male, I came across myself as the normal female version, was both at the same time thinking independently and I was also watching from third person with the two 1st persons of me not aware of the 3rd person me. It's pretty nuts what our minds can do. Oh, come to think of it, that might be a good bit different because after all, it was all me. I didn't have anyone else in there with me, so it wasn't that bad ><

I actually feel exactly the same, not more empowered. Besides the apparent differences. I am also a bit lighter because it's much easier to move around, also, I can jump pretty high (FUN). The world feels physical, laws of physics apply. It's probably the consistency of it all that is the oddest.

It is actually pretty rare when I come across people that I know while in this form. I'm usually human when I have dreams with people I know in them. I usually try to avoid or hide from people I know. People in general usually don't take too kindly or they freak out a little. Kids don't seem to care. In quite a few of my dreams people already know me so they don't have any special reaction. Or I'm a kid often enough... Rambling...

There are certainly themes which I reflect right with my waking life like any other dream.

Have you had dreams as something other than human? I've been under the impression that it is common. Like... people randomly being pink polka dotted hephalumps and such, I don't know...

[Bedeekin]

I have never had subconscious dreams of being other than human... maybe superhuman.

All my 'animal' based ones have been conscious efforts. A dog and then a gorilla. The gorilla was amazing. I was so powerful. I ended up dispensing with the actual whole gorilla avatar and instead took the best bit... getting from A to B on all fours. Very exhilarating. The other was a dragonfly after merging with what I got told was a Merkabah. I wanted to know what it felt like to be a Dragonfly... dug deep into the data-stream and found it... I can't really describe it offhand though because there was so much I couldn't comprehend and it was way above my ability to relate. I would have to write a full post about it. But the problem is with that... there seems little use in doing so because the effort put into writing it will probably go unnoticed and instead the post will most probably have replies such as "But maybe you were just imagining it..." or "I imagined I was a butterfly once and it was cool".. in which case I will deflate thinking that maybe it wasn't worth the effort to elaborate on what would be essentially a very subjective yet exhilarating experience.

[Astralzombie]

I am always human and myself. At least as far as I can remember and I've have better than average dream recall. Well, I think I do.

I am completely fascinated with big cats. The cougar and leopard in particular. I know I can easily achieve their form but I am truly and anal retentively in my OOBE goal for the time being. I will have to relax and just enjoy it soon but that was my approach for so long that I missed out on so much learning.

[Astralzombie]

I have never had subconscious dreams of being other than human... maybe superhuman.

All my 'animal' based ones have been conscious efforts. A dog and then a gorilla. The gorilla was amazing. I was so powerful. I ended up dispensing with the actual whole gorilla avatar and instead took the best bit... getting from A to B on all fours. Very exhilarating. The other was a dragonfly after merging with what I got told was a Merkabah. I wanted to know what it felt like to be a Dragonfly... dug deep into the data-stream and found it... I can't really describe it offhand though because there was so much I couldn't comprehend and it was way above my ability to relate. I would have to write a full post about it. But the problem is with that... there seems little use in doing so because the effort put into writing it will probably go unnoticed and instead the post will most probably have replies such as "But maybe you were just imagining it..." or "I imagined I was a butterfly once and it was cool".. in which case I will deflate thinking that maybe it wasn't worth the effort to elaborate on what would be essentially a very subjective yet exhilarating experience.

I would so welcome an OOBE in which I was another being great or small.

Who cares if some don't get what you describe or question your experience? Don't punish the majority of us who do by a short tease. Gives us details. Your post with the light-sabre was beyond intriguing. The details of the sabre burning dust particles is not something that most of us would "create" consciously. It really is the small stuff that blow my mind and validate this for me.

[Bedeekin]

Haha... ok... I shall. Not at this exact moment. It may need illustrations. lol

[Astralzombie]

Haha... ok... I shall. Not at this exact moment. It may need illustrations. lol

Make it epic. As if it was to become a sticky!

[ChopstickFox]

I'd love to read about that too! I couldn't begin to imagine what it would feel like!

And I'm still finding it hard to believe taking other forms aren't a dime a dozen... Please if you're reading this and you have, share!

[Steel Hawk]

Steel hawk, does that mean you are not aware of a body in dreams? Like a camera observing? I couldn't imagine not being able to fly

Well I'm never in it. It's like I'm watching a movie, normally I see the actors on the screen one is normally me. There are different scenes and sometimes I see a first persons view. But generally I am detached from them like watching a movie, maybe I'm being entertained or learning something. I feel it's a movie because of my emotional response level to my dreams are about the same as watching a movie would be. I see a bag full of dead zip-locked vacuum packed kids and I'm a little disgusted and horrified but I'm not screaming as I would be should that ever happen in waking real life. And by the way, should I ever see a bag full of dead kids in my hall I'm going to think I'm tripping my bawls off and what did my wife put in that drink anyway? And then I'm going to puke, say "WTF? WTF? WTF IS THAT ****!" I'm then going to run the **** away and scream "HOLY **** THERES A BAG OF KIDS IN MY HOUSE AND I HAVE NOOOOOO IDEA HOW THEY GOT THERE REALLY!" and then I'm going to do a lot of ... medication ... and see a shrink, after taking time off for work. Then I'm definitely moving out, and burning the house down. Then I'll set up alarms on every door of my house and buy a shotgun just in-case santa claws dumps his stash in my house again (cause really he's a baby eater and that's why he comes down the chimney that fat b*****!).  Wow I am so out of it right now, this post freaks me out I blame you. I'm disconnecting and turning off my computer now. 

[Szaxx]

Now that's a sense of humour!


Brilliant diversion, very impressed.

[ChopstickFox]

That... was amazing. Yes.

[Bedeekin]

 

Genius!

Steel Hawk has just actually defined the 'dream' and how we are quite detached from the narrative in terms of how we would actually react to a situation.

[Mini stapler]

I think I'm usually myself, as far as I remember... or variations of physical me. I do remember being an alien once, I had a circular view around myself, kind of like a 3rd person console game, swinging the camera around 360 with 'me' at the centre.

[silwer]

I shift into a huge dragon rather often in my dreams. I also had to learn how to fly and maneuver in the air.. getting pretty good at it now but the takeoff is still a bit tricky ._.;

[ChopstickFox]

About learning how to fly, I was giving tips to someone last night while dreaming, haha!