anticipation...

Look at my joining date: that’s how long I’ve been waiting.

Theoretically, you can, but a DJ is a pretty awesome tool that 90% (maybe even more) of the LD’ers on this forum use. The reasons for this are simple: besides motivating you to have LD’s, it also makes you able to recall more dreams than you averagely do without a DJ. A good dream recall is crucial, since you don’t want to forget a LD you had (which is very easy to forget). Secondly, it is fun to have, especially when you look at it after a long time (a couple of years). It works as a dream archive. Otherwise, all those awesome dreams would be lost.

That’s a damn long time :eek: . Are you sure you put enough effort and/or practice the right techniques?

Damn… Have you tried a diet or/with some supplements to help your dream recall? That’s what I’m planning to do.

I began trying to have lucid dreams on September 27, 2009. On September 28, 2009 I had my first Lucid Dream. So yes, it varies very greatly for everyone. The key components that will affect your chances of having an LD I rate as follows:

Dream Journal: 40% - Absolutely necessary for hardcore lucid dreamers. If you don’t naturally have lucid dreams this tool is paramount. Not only does it allow you to review your dreams for patterns and improves your ability to recall dreams, but it also allows you to read through the wanderings of you mind from years and years passed. I have dreams from 2009 that are simply a joy to recall.

Technique: 15% - I would say that a good repertoire of techniques is only almost a fifth of the battle for having lucid dreams. While overloading on the techniques can sometimes produce consistent lucid dreams, I don’t find that power housing like this as a reliable means of having lucid dreams. One reason is that it puts an intense bearing on your lifestyle, and if you don’t have time (or just have a hard time remembering to do an RC every hour) this can assist, but generally can’t be counted on to fight the battles for you.

Motivation: 35% - “You’ve got to accentuate the positive, Eliminate the negative, And latch on to the affirmative, Don’t mess with Mister In-Between.” While cliche like, this is undoubtedly true for lucid dreamers. Didn’t have an LD last night? Just wasn’t the time, you will tonight. You had one? HUZZAH! Been a while since last time? Meh, you’re due for a good one any day now. Keeping up a good attitude and motivation will influence everything as your subconscious takes cues based on what you think, ergo every thought you have will either help or hinder you so don’t get yourself down. No matter what!

Luck: 5% - Luck definitely plays a role in LDing. I found that sometimes after I’ve given up entirely (and there’s been a few these past few years) a week, day, or even later that night I’d have an unexpected LD or unbelievable DR and I’d leap back in. Sometimes I’d have pretty decent recall, but no LDs in sight. Then out of the blue, success!

Now I’m sure my little list above didn’t cover every aspect of a successful Lucid Dreamer, I know I covered some major points. There are many more and there are also exceptions to some of the above portions of the list. Techniques for example, the Tech Lucid Living can cause no strain on lifestyle, but is usually very difficult to get into the swing of it.

You can, however, make compromises between the aspects. You could DJ very diligently and only occasionally use techniques. You could not DJ at all, but use a very effective technique (like LL) and not need to record. I myself try to record as often as I can and keep my spirits up, but everyone has their down days. “Accentuate the positive…”

As for techniques, I’m currently focusing on one and only one: WILD. My ultimate goal is to practice this Tech until it is the only one I need. That means no WBTB and then WILD. I know it’s difficult, but I intend to learn / achieve WILD from start of sleep straight into a dream.

Well I hope that’s helpful. Sorry if it’s a little long winded… I like to write. :tongue:

I’ve been trying on and off these years. The initial enthusiasm soon wore off, and I discovered that I suck at realizing I’m dreaming, the thing on which everything LD is based. For many months at a time I just forgot about it.

I haven’t used any instruments or supplements, but I may in the future.

Being able to realise that you are dreaming isn’t necessary to have a LD. Have you tried WILD? Or maybe WBTB combined with MILD?. With these techniques you practically enter a dream already lucid, thus you don’t need to realise anything.

WILD is out of the question now, I can’t stay still, it’s too hot. I’ve noticed I woke up at pretty good times last night but it was missed DS after missed DS. MILD, with my (non-existent) awareness that’s never going to happen.

WILD is my best bet, but not now.

we can’t have LDs without WILD or MILD? I mean, only by realising it’s a dream within the dream…

I can’t. WILD and possibly WBTB are the only things I can see myself doing. I never realize it’s a dream, ever. Let alone remember during the dream that I wanted to be lucid (MILD).

My awareness, memory and rationality completely go to hell as soon as I fall asleep normally. I’m a zombie in normal dreams.

You can have LD’s without using the WILD and MILD techniques. The most simplest form of a LD is when you realise that it is a dream. This is called a DILD. It requires some basic awareness, no WILD or MILD.

Regarding The Nameless One, have you been trying to raise your awareness by doing RC’s when you see a DS in waking life? The key here is to do these RC’s consistently and long enough. If you do them for a couple of days and lose interest, it won’t really work.

Yes, I randomly check if I’m dreaming. Like, I concentrate and scour the surroundings for inconsistencies. And I’d be pretty much set if I were dreaming. Which I never am. I also do a lot of RCs while outside, like looking at my hands or seeing if my nose is still there.

But I’ve never found myself doing a RC in a dream. In this very moment I’m checking the time and text and the letters on the keyboard and the physicality of the chair. How often should one do RCs?

RC’s should be done whenever you see a DS, or just think about them. From your explanation, it sounds that you are doing RC’s in the right way and that it is not the problem.

Another question, do you use a DJ? It is a good thing to have and helps to keep your motivation up. Also it focuses your mind on (lucid) dreams.

I used to have one here years ago, but then I took a huge hiatus from dreaming and who knows where it is now.

I’ve been thinking of starting a new one, I’ve been waiting for a decent dream to start it with, but I may have to just start it anyway with whatever shreds I have.

Yes, you definitely should. It might help, who knows. I can’t comprehend how some people could not be able to have lucid dreams. That seems nonsense. I will personally make sure that you get a LD :happy:.

Unfortunately, in most cases you’ll have to build up at least some DR before having a decent dream, not the other way around :razz: although I understand you’re way of thinking/feeling. DJ can be VERY effective. Try typing/writing out as much details as you can possibly remember. At the beginning it will be a bit hard and boring, but the snow ball will soon start rolling :wink: When I was really serious about my DR (I was mainly focusing on DR, almost not at all in LD’s) I was remembering some dreams with so much detail that my general dream awareness was higher than normal and I would just realize it was a dream. I know you said you never realize it’s a dream, but slowly increasing your awareness in dreams through DR, you might at least get closer.

On another note, have you ever tried meditation? I can rarely do it, but when I do I realize a great increase in DR and LD chances.

Anyway, I like to think (don’t care if it’s BS, really XD ) that the longer you wait the more awesome it will be when you get one! :tongue: And seeing as you’ve been here for a while and haven’t given up yet is great. So many people just give up after a month.

sometimes having too much anticipation can prevent me from becoming lucid; or it just wakes me up again.

One fragment yesterday, two today, I see an increase. I can make all my wishes come true even if temporarily, how could I not keep wanting it as long as I’m capable of wanting anything?

But I haven’t tried meditation. I barely know what it is.

Cool! the trick is being able to have fun with your ND’s. :smile:

If you’re interested you can just google meditation (or even meditation for western people, in case the “religious” side bothers you). I’m not the best person to explain as I have little experience myself, but meditation is nothing more than being aware. Sitting straight and focusing on your breathing or on your senses, letting your thoughts just float by instead of getting involved in them.

I can’t even have fun with a ND now that I barely have any recall, let alone vividness. I guess that will be the first thing I’ll enjoy.

Nothing “religious” would bother me if they don’t beat me over the head with it or blatantly go against fundamental scientific facts. In that case, I might even be interested, even if just to hear what they have to say.