Gaining lucidity

[Werebull]

I can remember a couple of times when I became lucid within a dream. One time I became lucid but just couldn't keep this state for long. Something happened in the dream that made me forget about the fact that I just realised I was dreaming. So the dream's course couldn't be influenced. Another time, after I achieved awareness of me dreaming, I got enthusiastic and I felt like I was in a rush. I had the urge to see someone that is very special to me as fast as I could, as if I knew the dream would end not much after I gained lucidity, so I had to hurry. Everything around me was happening faster and faster, almost dazzling, that special someone didn't appear and I woke up extremely ticked. I'm looking forward to my dream experiences every night, but I'm often dissapointed in the morning, when I realise that either I didn't memorise my dreams or it didn't occur to me to become lucid within one. Anyway, I have to do some research on educating myself a bit regarding these problems, but your advices would be extremely gratefully received.

[Leilah]

Eh. I don't understand. Are you asking advice on how to stay lucid during a dream or HOW to get lucid??

If so, here's whats worked for me:

Affirming that you will become lucid during your dreams and writing down all your dreams down every single day. As far as staying lucid goes... I've heard about starring at an object/spot for a long time and even. Ah i forgot the second one. Why don't you try checking out some lucid dreaming sites. I'm sure they have a lot of methods there.

Hope this helps!

[knightlight]

Good advice here for you, write down all your dreams.  I fail at this myself, but when I did write them all down I had more lucid dreams than I can count.  It is well worth while.

[Dean]

heaps of ways of gaining lucidity. but basically you need two things:
1. Reality Checks (when doing reality checks in the day they will eventually cross over into your dreams. when the reality check fails in the dream you can assume you are dreaming)
2. Slow down the speed at which you fall to sleep (the first method i used for this was going to sleep on my side and holding upright the hand from the arm that i am laying on. when you start to fall to sleep your arm will relax, causing it to fall and you'll get woken... extending your time into sleep.
- you can also do things like
1, am i dreaming,
2, am i dreaming,
3, am i dreaming etc, etc as you fall to sleep)

I know the feeling of gaining lucidity (and even being lucid for a while and loosing it only to gain lucidity again later in the same dream) . i've been practicing on and off for years and i still have dreams with no lucidity, or nights when i don't remember any dreams and even dreams where i get lucid only to loose it. as suggested keeping a dream journal is of benefit here (one thing in need to be better at).

One thing that i do try to do to stabilize the dream environment once i am lucid is use my peripheral vision more. you may get benefit from looking directly at an object but i'd suggest while starting out that you keep this period brief. Look until it is stabilized (better still to remember to use peripheral vision while doing this), then progress. otherwise melting etc of the object may occur and i've found this can trigger excitement about being lucid.

You also need to manage strong emotions when lucid to keep lucid.  

When you are more present, and active in the dream environment the stability is easier.

There's heaps of info out there but check out this site:
http://www.consciousdreaming.com/

between his site and his book (you can download it for a small fee) you will have all the info you need to get and stay lucid, the rest is practice,

Peace to you,
Dean