Becoming aware you are dreaming...

Kenneth · January 17, 2003, 10:18:41

Hi Lukepearce, and welcome to the Forums !

...

Great to hear, that you too are becoming more aware in your dreams. I did exactly the same thing, when I first had a similar dream.

The main problem with this is (IMO), that our feelings when we find out get too high - so in short: We get too excited, and it works like a "shock" to us, and we wake up

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So the next time try to keep a "cool" attitude towards this experience - an attitude like "Okay, this is what I do every day" ... And wait with the REAL feelings until you are back in your own body again

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All the best!

lukepearce · January 17, 2003, 10:32:46

Thanks for the reply Kenneth. I think you are definately right for the first time at least I was way too excited to do much!!

Last nights one I was definitely less emotional (at least I think its hard to remember clearly), just more inquisitive. I think I may have sabotaged my own intent by thinking about what went wrong the last time though. I'll concentrate on seeing whats around me next time - gotta remember to learn to walk before I run - or should that be sight b4 flight [

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fredhedd · January 17, 2003, 13:12:27

keeping your mind calm is a very difficult task. as soon as you get the least bit excited when you are lucid, you lose it. meditating to keep your mind calm and clear will help. i don't know of any other way. also at www.lucidity.com there are many things you could read about to help maintain lucidity.

Ash · January 17, 2003, 13:13:00

i find the castaneda technique works wonders. basically, whenever you realize you're dreaming, stop what you're doing. don't go rushing off to fly or have sex or anything. too much action will wake you lose awareness. and as kenneth mentioned don't get too excited either...

so you realize you're dreaming. stop. look at your hands.just focus on them for a bit until you start to lose focus or they look like they are melting or something. then shift your gaze to something else. after a few moments, go back to your hands again. the end result will be that you will feel very grounded and very much in your dream. it will become more and more real and stable. castaneda calls this developing your dreaming attention. it's basically the ability to stay calm and aware and focussed in your dream.

the first time i tried this i wound up having a dream where i was standing in an ordinary room. i focussed on each object in the room (bed, dresser, etc) and on my hands and i wound up being so much in the dream that i honestly could not tell the difference between this dream and ordinary reality. it's a pretty powerful experience.

good luck!

ash

fredhedd · January 17, 2003, 14:07:55

i thought the technique was just to stare at your hands. i wasn't aware that you should switch it and come back again. i'm going to try that.

coral1 · January 17, 2003, 19:22:36

Hi Lukepearce

I always wave a hand in front of my face after becoming lucid in a dream.I find it both raises energy and increases the clarity of my vision.It also gives me a chance to calm down.I like the way Ash described it.Even though it`s tricky, developing a certain ammount of detachment from the the whole experience will make it much more rewarding.I still don`t become lucid as frequently as I`d like but I`m working on it!

Happy Trails

lukepearce · January 18, 2003, 03:58:57

Thanks for all the replies!

Trying to concentrate on your hand sounds like an excellent idea for keeping myself grounded & giving my thoughts a task to do - I'll give it a go next time.

lukepearce · January 17, 2003, 10:07:51

Although I haven't managed to OOB when I want to, I've noticed that I'm a lot more aware in my dreams since I started using the Monroe Wave 1 CDs. I've had the same experience a few times now, where I'm dreaming something and suddenly realise that I'm dreaming.

The first time it happened I dreampt I was at my local train station and there was a band playing on the other side of the tracks. This must've caught the attention of my concious as I suddenly thought; "Hang on there isn't a band at the train station - I'm dreaming!" Immediately the scene dissolved into darkness - I was pretty damn excited and tried to 'fly' in an upward direction. Unfortunately all that happened was I could feel myself gradually lowering to what I assume was my body. I then felt what I can only describe as the fair-ground ride yank back into my body and woke up.

I had a similar experience last night where something made me think hang on I'm dreaming. The scene dissolved into darkness again. This time I tried the "CLARITY NOW" idea that someone else had posted so I could see. I dont think this worked so I tried to will myself to fly again, although I definately thought about what had happened last time (probably half the problem). So I felt myself gradually falling to the floor again. Then the high-speed yank back into my body.

Does anybody have any good exercises for controlling stray thoughts or explanations on getting your desired intent across?

Oh and anybody else had similar experiences?

Great forum!

Luke

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Becoming aware you are dreaming...