Lucid Dreams

[catintheoven]

Are they a way to contact your subconcious?
Are they usefull?
How do you achieve one?

[jankren]

There was a thread about this a while ago somewhere including methods to control your dream which I cant put to work no matter how I try.

[catintheoven]

There was a thread about this a while ago somewhere including methods to control your dream which I cant put to work no matter how I try.

I tried searching for a thread by couldnt find one

It would be amazing to do, one of my friends had one by accident, its not my quest, I think I may of had one, I was definatly in control but still didnt feal free of responsibility

usualy I cant control my dreams and the more I try not to think something the more I do

can you remember any methods?

[Ultraman]

The most popular methods that I know of are as follows:

1. KEEP A DREAM JOURNAL!!!

Anything I've ever read about lucid dreaming emphasizes doing this as it actually helps you recall dreams more consistently. Keep a small notebook by your bed for when you wake up (you'll often forget if you don't do it immediately), and if you wake up in the middle of the night with a dream, just jot down a few notes so you'll remember in the morning.

2. Are you dreaming now?

This method involves checking yourself throughout the day. Wherever you are, pause and ask yourself, "Am I dreaming?" Now you need to actually check. One popular way of doing so is to read something, look away, and then read it again. If it changes, it's a dream. If not, well here you are. Then say to yourself (if you're not dreaming), "I'm not dreaming now, but tonight, while sleeping, I must remember to realize that I am dreaming."

3. If you wake up in the middle of a dream, and rather than write it down right away (assuming it's not time to get up), just close your eyes and imagine yourself in the part of the dream you were in before you woke up. If your lucky, you'll transit into the dream at that point, or close enough, with the knowledge that you're entering a dream.

Sounds hokey, I know, but as a teenager when I dedicated myself to it for a bit, it actually worked. But you gotta be dedicated and consistent. It may work soon, or it may take a few weeks. If you do some research online, you'll find that many veteran lucid dreamers can do almost anything they want in their dreams. Most of what I've read also says that if you do happen to get really good at it (as in having them regularly), you should let yourself go and dream normally a few nights a week, so your mind can just do what it normally does when we dream.

Anyway, that's about all I remember. Good luck!

[Sétanta]

I have always been able to control my dreams. Well, ever since I was about six. When I was younger I was plagued by nightmares, every night. So I learned to control my dreams. I don't know how, but eventually I could be completely in the dream and realize, "Hey, this is a dream" and then be able to completely control it. I could force other characters in the dream to do things, I could make things. It was cool. I could remember every single thing about them. I don't dream much anymore, but I had one a few nights ago (first dream in about 6 months), and I could control it, as usual.

Wonder if that means I am a Second Degree Dragon Rouge, a Gamaliel?

[Ultraman]

Yeah, I've met a few people who just have an innate ability. No tricks or anything involved, they just have them regularly.

[Ummon]

All dreams are useful. To say the least they tell you something about yourself. I'm being obviously elusive.

Additionally, if you are interested in Dream research, read the (bad under many aspects, but he doesn't have the tools to evaluate his profound and widespread mistakes) book of Domhoff, The Scientific Study of Dreams.

This should serve to you as a basic introduction on methods.

[Captain Arrrgh!]

I think we discussed this a bit in the altered streams of consciousness thread, and someone mentioned our dreams are lucid and unusual due to our 'logic processor' being turned off while we sleep.
When I was younger I was able to 'choose' my dream by simply focussing on it as I was falling asleep. I'm no longer able to do that, my mind wanders too much. I can't control my dreams while I'm in them, though I can control my own actions in them.
For example I had a "Star Trek" dream a while back (I don't even watch star trek). I could "choose" to use my phaser, but the phaser wouldn't fire.
Damn warranties!

[Ummon]

Actually, it's not like we have a logic processor. We do have a set of rules for wake periods, on the other hand.

A cognitivist will tell you: dreams are random processes, therefore they are meaningless.

Right, indeed.

I'll let each man enjoy his presumptuous ignorance. :wink:

[Captain Arrrgh!]

Ouch, that last part wasn't necessary, Ummon

[Ummon]

Truth is often cruel, my friend. But I wasn't clearly addressing you.

[Captain Arrrgh!]

Ha, truth is indeed a cleansing flame. Thanks for the clarification. Thanks also for your enlightening posts, for I'm the first to admit I'm ignorant in many areas. In regards catintheoven's last question, is there something more to dreams, something profound or spiritual perhaps?

[Ummon]

From a psychological and scientific point of view, we can state consistently that dreams are a form of thought (good Cognitivists agree).

We can hypothesize that dreams are a form of superior intelligence (with regards to certain functions, which I won't address).

In terms of undemonstrated hypotheses, we might be led to think that dreams are one of the expressions of what Theravada terminology calls the substrate consciousness.

The matter is so complicated and fascinating that, in truth, I am happy to have a life to spend studying it.

PS. The line in the previous post, wasn't in reference to yours, nor anyone's ignorance, but after all a caustic continuation of a long school polemic in the field of psychology between Psychoanalysis and Computational, Cognitivist theories. Today, the fight has passed to connectionist and modular exemplifications of the brain, and it won't end quickly. No reason to thank me either: I am cursed with curiosity and scientific interests, that's all.

[Kythras]

I used to have dreams when I was a kid, but very rarely these days - I even kept a dream diary. I remember having real issues with this one recuring nightmare.

Nowadays I don't remember having a dream, I just remember remembering that I had a dream... 2 degrees of separation in a way, like I know someone told me soemthing, I just can't remember what they told me...

[harm]

[catintheoven]

Ive begun realising that all my dreams are influenced by the things ive spoke about or seen the day before, they often follow the plots of tv programs ive seen, which is quite bad, and they cut into different scenes, like 3 storys happening at once, but some how I still know expactly whats going on, very odd

[Elohim]

I can program myself to remember things when I wake up, sort of instantaneously (good for forgotten hwk, I can tell you).

The problem I've found with lucid dreaming is that a lot of things become more real. Good fun in certain situations *wink*, unfortunately, it also includes getting shot/stabbed/kicked in the head.

All I'm saying is, you might be happier where you are.

[catintheoven]

I can program myself to remember things when I wake up, sort of instantaneously (good for forgotten hwk, I can tell you).

The problem I've found with lucid dreaming is that a lot of things become more real. Good fun in certain situations *wink*, unfortunately, it also includes getting shot/stabbed/kicked in the head.

All I'm saying is, you might be happier where you are.

I already feal pain in dreams, and it lasts into the day sometimes, say I get kicked in the leg I will limp when awake

[Scar Face]

I've actually read up on controlling Lucid dreams. Beyond all the garbage and non essential steps, basically all you have to do is train yourself to spot something that doesn't fit. Wether its a purple cup, or you flying on a cloud through a lobsters eyeball, you have to train yourself to spot something that cant be. Eventually you will get good at it and can accomplish it once a week, and eventually you will learn how to control it without waking up. Often I managed when I was young without trying, to accomplish a Lucid dream- it only lasted for seconds. Once you realize its a dream you often feel your eyes opening, by then its too late. However recently after more attempts and less of a "shock" when I realize its fake, I've managed to control my Lucid dreams. In fact just last week I accomplished one without even finding something that didn't fit, just randomly it came to me that it wasn't real.

Lucid dreams are indeed fun, but they dont really help you see into your subconscious. There are 3 types of Lucid dreams I've experienced:

1) You realize its a dream, and in the shock you wake up in a few moments.

2) You realize its a dream and have complete control over it- in which case your not finding out anything about your self conscious, your just living your imagination.

3) The most Common: You realize its a dream and "think" about whats going on, and how its weird, etc. However much like a Dream when you say things you dont consciously decide to-it just happens. Nothing makes sense and your just stringed along. Its almost like you half realize its a dream, enough to comment on its strangeness and vaugely realize its implausibility but not enough to actually effect anything.

[VoodooTengo]

My cousin is a psych student and i have talked to him about this in the past so i can share what hes told me.

The best way to achieve it is to set your alarm at a very odd hour, get up while your still extemely tired (and this next part takes a lot of effort), and look at a clock or watch for 20-30 minutes. Then lay back down and fall asleep, and you should in your dream start looking at your watch/clock again. But because you are asleep the numbers will start to progress in an inconsistant/random order. When you realize this and realize you are in a dream then, you can achieve a state of lucidity, though it takes a lot of practice and you may have to do it every night for a few weeks to get it to work right.

I tried to do it for a while but i valued sleep more than the possiblities of achieve lucidity.