Getting Lucid

The act of getting lucid in a dream is basically to realize you're dreaming.  The problem that we fail to realize while we're awake, is that while we're dreaming WE THINK WE'RE AWAKE.  See, that's the issue.  It's so clear now, but it certainly isn't then.  Just think of the last nightmare you had.  So people expect to hear what they can do to change how they think in dreams when in fact it's changing how you think about consciousness and awareness.

Step 1: Reality Check.  This seems a little odd until you start lucid dreaming, then it'll get a whole lot clearer regarding the depth of this little action.  Just ask, as often as you get a quiet second, "am I dreaming?"  Then do something tiny to prove that you aren't.  I don't mean pinch yourself, I mean try to levitate, lets have fun with it.  DO THIS religiously, it works.  "But how will that help me lucid dream?"  Well, once again you think you're awake when you're dreaming, and trust me, you'll be surprised when you levitate.  It starts as a "am I dreaming?  Yeah right," and soon will become a very startling "oh my god am I dreaming?  haha no? No, okay then." 

Step 1a: Reading Test.  Every morning find SOMETHING directly on your person that can be read.  If you wear a watch then you can read that, but even better try to read the little name of whoever made the watch.  If you don't wear a watch like me, see if there's tiny print on a shirt button, or a tag that's easy to get to, or something.  If nothing, tear a little strip out of a magazine or text book, just a little bit with a few words, and keep it in your pocket.  A few times a day read a few of those words, look away, and then read again.  If the words change you're dreaming.  Same as above, you'll go from expecting the words to be the same to checking real quick because you expect them to change.

Step 1b: Mechanical failure test.  ANYTIME lights blink out unexpectedly, somebody's car stalls, stores are randomly closed during business hours, triple check to see if you're awake.  Anymore, odds are you're sleeping.  This stuff happens so often in dreams, and you have a good long dream at least once a night, most of your mechanical failures may very well be in your dreams.  Great indicator here. 

Step 1c:  Finally, review your journal periodically and look for trends.  Many people notice things called Dream Signs.  1a and 1b are Dream Sign-based reality checks.  You'll find your own like, for example people from their past, or celebrities, or dead people will hang out like its no big deal.  The thing is you can't just look for ODD stuff, because in dreams its too late to be odd.  It's going on, so you just have to look for specific things.  "Here I am talking to BatGirl at my friends house, and she's not that great.  WAIT, am I dreaming?"

Step 2: Get WILD.  This isn't as fun as it sounds.  WILD stands for Wake Induced Lucid Dream.  It means setting your alarm clock an hour and twenty minutes earlier than you're going to get up.  When it goes off you get up and STAY up for twenty minutes to a half hour.  Write down any dreams so far, check email, ask a friend on AIM why the heck they're up, watch birds, whatever, but get AWAKE.  Then after your 20 minutes, go to bed like its your Lucid Dreaming spaceship.  You're gonna do it this time.  Go back to a dream you had started or come up with a new one.  The WILD technique is extremely effective.

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