Counting Method by Stephen LaBerge

[Xanth]

I'm currently reading Stephen LaBerge's book, "Exploring The World of Lucid Dreaming".

In it, he shares a BUNCH of different methods and techniques for having lucid dreams (aka Projections).  One of them I just came across is one I'm going to be attempting myself.  It's REALLY simple too which makes it nice!

First, relax your body in whatever manner you'd like.  If you're doing this upon waking, then you're probably sufficiently relaxed already.  Next, in your head count upwards, after each number say "I'm Dreaming"

One, I'm dreaming
Two, I'm dreaming
Three, I'm dreaming

Do this all the way up to 100... then go back to 1 and start over.

The idea is that as you eventually fall into a dream, you'll continue this pattern in your dream and you'll say "I'm dreaming" in the dream, which will trigger your alertness and notify you that you are non-physical and aware!

Pretty darn simple if you ask me.  It's a simple act of reminding yourself what you intend to do upon and AFTER falling asleep. 

[Tak]

I liked that book very much! In fact, with it I learned everything I know about Lucid Dreams twelve years ago.

Did you get it Xanth? The Counting Method? In my case, counting forward or backward only makes me feel sleepy, and therefore enters into the hypnagogic state, where abstract patterns or visuals (chaotic or controlled) begins, that will lead me to dream, but when I go through that filter I already don't even know what a number means... I'm not sure if when I start  dreaming I will continue counting and saying that I am dreaming, unless I do it consciously in the hypnagogic state and do the direct phase continuing the counting?
This method would be the same as falling asleep just repeating "I'm dreaming" without counting, which will most likely lead to becoming aware of the Rem state at some point, but I don't know if immediately after falling asleep.

I think The Counting Method could be good to maintain awareness during the lucid dreaming, telling yourself that you are dreaming, also counting or doing some calculations (addition, multiplication) makes my awareness increases quite a bit.

The truth is this book is excellent, not all the techniques have worked for me, such as "spinning" to gain awareness or changing scenarios, since in dreams my body is usually holographic or "vapor" or does not even exist and spinning seems strange to me. That could induce an obe (rolling from paralysis), I mention it because the book insists a lot on using it. But everything else has worked wonderfully.

Something that always caught my attention about this excellent book is that it has a particular philosophy, for LaBerge, out-of-body experiences are only dreams and nothing is real outside of the imagination. In fact, he cites some APs from some people that are incredible, trips to space with 360 degree vision or even the connection with the Source itself from the Void, but they only qualify them as dreams. I believe that the book simply tries to reach a broader audience, where people feel more comfortable with the idea of dreaming, since if we talk about projections, many could be prejudiced and not practice, this gives the opportunity to encourage people to explore their own consciousness. He says to "draw your own conclusions" if you see yourself outside the body, he doesn't deny it.

Xanth I'm finishing reading your book, I loved it! Thank you. I already wrote down many tips, I also have many questions but I will try to solve them in practice and ask later, like a good student.

Tells us if The Counting Method worked.
Greetings!

[Lumaza]

Something that always caught my attention about this excellent book is that it has a particular philosophy, for LaBerge, out-of-body experiences are only dreams and nothing is real outside of the imagination. In fact, he cites some APs from some people that are incredible, trips to space with 360 degree vision or even the connection with the Source itself from the Void, but they only qualify them as dreams. I believe that the book simply tries to reach a broader audience, where people feel more comfortable with the idea of dreaming, since if we talk about projections, many could be prejudiced and not practice, this gives the opportunity to encourage people to explore their own consciousness. He says to "draw your own conclusions" if you see yourself outside the body, he doesn't deny it.

If I may interject here for a moment, Tak, I think you may like what Robert Moss says about Dreaming. He says, "Dreaming is waking up". I think that was also the Title of one of his books on the subject as well. I made a thread years ago here, under my former name "Lionheart" that has a number of links to some great interviews Robert did that talk about that further. I believe what he says. When I changed my "mindset" on what I thought "was", it in turn changed my reality to what "is"! 
https://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome-to-dreams!/dreaming-is-waking-up!/msg377445/#msg377445

[Lumaza]

 I have been using that counting method since Xanth made that post above. If anything, when I use it, it makes me more awake and aware of everything. The counting usually disappears when I am in the 70-80's range and then, I click out. N sleep has been deep though. I even missed all of the violent storms we had here last night, and my bedroom windows were open. The violent winds closed them for me though!