Getting Into Lucid Dreaming
As I am no dream or sleep expert, but I have been a lucid dreamer since my teenage days. Of course, at that time, I did not know it is called lucid dreams. And further more, I did not know that such sensation exists.
I thought I was the only freaky one around who has the ability to be aware that I am dreaming and even could manipulate them. Then secretly I was experimenting how get into a lucid dream and also how to prolong or stabilize lucidity.
Before I discovered more about this rare phenomenon from books like “Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming” by Stephen LaBerge and Howard Rheingold and “Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self” by Robert Waggoner, I just experimented on my own then.
Some of my own techniques do work (for me at least) to some extent. For instance, if I want to get into a lucid dream, I would do it in a morning or an afternoon nap. Or I would go to bed later than my normal usual bedtime.
Of course now, I know there are these two main techniques to induce or initiate lucid dreams, which include Waking Induction of Lucid Dreams (WILD) and Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD).
Those days, what I did was something similar to wake induced lurid dream method. I forced myself into the dream state directly from waking consciousness, while still maintaining consciousness. It didn’t work all the time then.
Then when I came to know about reality testing, and I tried it out for myself. Yes, reality test has improved my lucidity.
One of my methods of getting into lucid dreaming is by thinking about places full of people which I usually patronize, like shopping malls, cafes or parks.
As I lie in bed getting to doze off, I focus on any of these places; seeing people walking around. If I want to get into a ‘naughty dream’, then I just imagine touching someone in the crowd. Gradually, as I fantasize further, I just drift into a full-blown sexual lucid dream.
But back then, I did not know how to extend my dream or rather lucidity as they called it. I got all excited and it quickly faded off. Of course now, I keep myself calm and if I feel that it is going to fade off, I quickly rub my palms together or focus looking at one point in the dreamland.
But if I did wake up in the midst of a lucid dream and i wanted to get back to it, I tried not to move my sleeping position. Keep still and mentally focus back on the dream. Many a times, it work.
For those of you who are interested in lucid dreaming, you can read up more information from books or get it free from websites.
One word of advice is , do not rush into it. Be patient, as you would not successful all the time. From my own personal experience, do more reality tests in your waking hours, as these help a lot in inducing lucid dreaming. As for keeping a dream journal, I still haven’t tried it out yet. I have tried Wake Back To Bed technique a few times, I managed to get into lucidity a few times though.