Playing by the Rules

[LightBeam]

Just woke up from a mixed AP/dream experience.  but it was interesting because the moment I wanted to change the "rules" or environment I would lose awareness and fall into a dream mode, so I continue playing along. When I woke up I realized that when i analyzed the experience as a whole.

It started as a vivid dream. I was in a very dark place, swamp like, no sunshine, everything was black and grey. There was a group of people with me that I could not recognize, but it appeared that they were all confused what was this place and what we were doing there. There was one older guy who appeared to be living there. If you look at it from a video game perspective he would be NPC. He gathered us around him and told us that in order to get out and reach sunshine and green pastures we would need to pass through the dark maze. I said "oh hell no", I gained awareness at this moment and I was like " look everyone, we are in a non-physical reality. we just have to wish us out. That's all". Then I used all of my mental power to teleport us out of this place. The clouds started parting and a little sunshine came through, but nothing else was happening. I got very frustrated and I couldn't understand why my power wasn't working. It typically does. At that moment I fell back into a dream state and lost awareness. I started playing along just as the NPC told us. We started preparing to go through the maze and face the challenges. When we got on the dark path all of a sudden dark figures jumped at us and started screaming and chasing us. I said to everyone "stop running, lets us chase them". We started chasing them and pulling their dark cloaks, pushing them. The entity I was fighting all of a sudden started transforming and so were the other dark figures that my group was fighting. They turned into a very weak creatures with sad faces and said to us "oh you are changing the rules. you were not supposed to do that". They shriveled and disappeared. We felt stronger and gained courage. Then a cavalry came to our aid and we started matching along the maze feeling undefeatable. Then I woke up. I think we are not meant to have full awareness when we are in character so that we play along and meet our lessons. Otherwise, we wouldn't want to go through the challenges and will choose the easy way out. Same with life.

[Lumaza]

Just woke up from a mixed AP/dream experience.  but it was interesting because the moment I wanted to change the "rules" or environment I would lose awareness and fall into a dream mode, so I continue playing along. When I woke up I realized that when i analyzed the experience as a whole.
   

I think we are not meant to have full awareness when we are in character so that we play along and meet our lessons. Otherwise, we wouldn't want to go through the challenges and will choose the easy way out. Same with life.

It's not a real test, quest or challenge if you can cheat. Sometimes you have to go with the narrative you are given and keep the fact that you are consciously aware, in the back of your mind. This is why I always say to people, when you become consciously aware in your Dreams, don't change or alter the scenario you are currently in. There is a "reason" you are there. Seek that out. It's always tied into some kind of an interesting adventure!

I always hear how people want to have OBE from a Dream. My question is why? You are already in a 'nonphysical reality". Enjoy and explore where you are. An adventure awaits you! 

[EscapeVelocity]

This reads like a really great experience LightBeam! You had several impressive and subtle insights as you went through the challenge which highlight the development of your NP personality; I love how those realizations just instinctively occur as the experience progresses; a satisfaction unique within the NP! You observed the confusion and indistinct nature of your companions, but you realized the focal point of the "NPC" fellow and his purpose in describing the challenge. You stepped up your awareness and took charge of the situation, but then when confronted with the frustration of not being able to "Intend" an immediate solution, you instinctively relaxed back into the preferred dream narrative without continuing resistance and likely ending the simulation prematurely. Nice!
Your response to the assault of the dark creatures was obviously another take-charge moment but with a less radical response than the first. Maybe if you had just given chase without uncovering/disrobing your attackers completely, they might have led you deeper into the maze and further adventure; I'm still unsure on what degree of response is required at moments like these when the adventure seems to end almost as quickly as it had begun. The dark creature's response maybe is a clue...

Nonetheless, the arrival of the cavalry and triumphant feelings leave little doubt as to your success, lol. Sweet!

[Lumaza]

 One question I forgot to ask Lightbeam is, was there any "re-scripting" involved in this. You said that while attempting to change the situation you just lost conscious awareness and fell into the Dream/Scenario at hand. But then, once again gained awareness and when you did, the scenario was still occurring. Do you feel that at that point, it was a "do-over"? If you answer yes to that, it means there was an underlying importance of the entire experience. Like EV said, possibly that importance was in honing/strengthening your NPR awareness even further. Your sense of "realization" in your NPR experiences is improving quite a bit! Occasionally, we experience these "tune-ups"! Great job nonetheless! 

[LightBeam]

Thanks, EV! I must admit that my approach to the attack the dark figures was aggressive, but my intention was to show the group that they have the courage and strength to defeat the dark instead of running. Confronting head on was my strategy. Give the creatures to drink from their own medicine. In dreams I tend to be more aggressive, where my current physical character is more diplomatic and approaches with love.  But during APs I have all my freedom to drive the experiences, visit places I want to, explore per my own desires. Dreams are more of controlled environments with restrictions, for a reason of course.

Lu, yes so my instincts tell me to get out fast out of unpleasant or dangerous situations. That's why I tried to convert the experience the moment I became aware. When I gained awareness I ran out of the shack we were gathered with the NPC. When I was outside I tried to convert the environment and get us out of there, but when that didn't happen and I fell back to dream state, I found myself back in the shack at the exact moment before awareness kicked in. I resumed the dream from where I left off. The question is "who" or "what " decides what should we experience, like we are forced into experiences that we do not desire by an external force. Well, I think this is still "us" who decide, but our "larger entity" and then our portions as characters have the illusion that it is external forces that push us to experience certain things.