Something like Lucid
Mar. 2nd, 2006 04:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflydreamingLast night/this morning I did something I have wanted to do since I first heard it could be done: lucid dreaming. Or something like.
I frequently have dreams where I am intensely thirsty. It becomes the focus and goal of the dream, no matter how it starts, to quench that thirst. They are very active dreams where I try to solve the problem; I think of places where I can find water (always water, nothing else) and look for them. I remember one where I went to a bar that was closed, cajoled a waitress to bring me a glass of water, then when that didn't help, to let me into the restroom. Because no matter what I drink -- tap, rainwater, water from a stream -- nothing relieves the thirst because I really am physically thirsty. I don't wake easily from these dreams.
When I wake up, I feel extra tired and just awful. Usually my mouth and throat are like paper. The last time this happened, I thought to myself that I really need to realize the cue and wake up.
This morning, the thirsty dream happened between when I got up to take care of the cat and before the alarm, so I don't think my sleep was as deep. I was in a small, cramped public restroom. I could feel the slightly colder than room temp water pouring into my cupped hands from the sink faucet, and before I even tried to drink it, I was aware that I was dreaming. That the water couldn't slake my thirst confirmed it. I thought to myself that I needed to look for the exit, and then I would wake up.
There was no outer door to the restroom, only several stalls, but I told myself that if I decided that the way out was beyond the stall door that it would be -- and it worked! I imagined a hallway. What I found was a dark, short hall, with the sense that it would lead me not to another room, but to consciousness.
For a brief moment the hall became a large space empty of everything (light, walls, up, down) and then I was awake!
I was so excited. I *knew* that I was dreaming, and I made myself wake up! That's lucid dreaming, from what I understand, or at the very least, the beginning of learning how.
I was going to write this in my private journal, not here, but I didn't have any time this morning and I won't be home until late tonight.
I frequently have dreams where I am intensely thirsty. It becomes the focus and goal of the dream, no matter how it starts, to quench that thirst. They are very active dreams where I try to solve the problem; I think of places where I can find water (always water, nothing else) and look for them. I remember one where I went to a bar that was closed, cajoled a waitress to bring me a glass of water, then when that didn't help, to let me into the restroom. Because no matter what I drink -- tap, rainwater, water from a stream -- nothing relieves the thirst because I really am physically thirsty. I don't wake easily from these dreams.
When I wake up, I feel extra tired and just awful. Usually my mouth and throat are like paper. The last time this happened, I thought to myself that I really need to realize the cue and wake up.
This morning, the thirsty dream happened between when I got up to take care of the cat and before the alarm, so I don't think my sleep was as deep. I was in a small, cramped public restroom. I could feel the slightly colder than room temp water pouring into my cupped hands from the sink faucet, and before I even tried to drink it, I was aware that I was dreaming. That the water couldn't slake my thirst confirmed it. I thought to myself that I needed to look for the exit, and then I would wake up.
There was no outer door to the restroom, only several stalls, but I told myself that if I decided that the way out was beyond the stall door that it would be -- and it worked! I imagined a hallway. What I found was a dark, short hall, with the sense that it would lead me not to another room, but to consciousness.
For a brief moment the hall became a large space empty of everything (light, walls, up, down) and then I was awake!
I was so excited. I *knew* that I was dreaming, and I made myself wake up! That's lucid dreaming, from what I understand, or at the very least, the beginning of learning how.
I was going to write this in my private journal, not here, but I didn't have any time this morning and I won't be home until late tonight.
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Date: 2006-03-03 01:22 am (UTC)Also, maybe you should drink more fluids?
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Date: 2006-03-04 12:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-03 01:39 am (UTC)I did realize I was dreaming once, but I woke up immediately (not because I tried to wake up - it just happened).
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Date: 2006-03-03 03:44 am (UTC)i used to lucid dream a lot but haven't done so lately... it's fun though
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Date: 2006-03-03 12:22 pm (UTC)In the years I pursued lucid dreaming very seriously, (and events related to lucid dreaming), what worked best was if I'd get up at around 5am and do something to wake myself up a bit...go sit in the living room for a few minutes, get a glass of water, whatever. Then I'd return to sleep, holding the intention to go lucid as I drifted to sleep.
*shrug* Worked for me, anyway.
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Date: 2006-03-06 06:58 am (UTC)