Can't cross over the bridge into Lucidity.

Quest for Lucidity
1

Hey everyone,

:help: I’ve been trying and trying for a lucid dream for many months now (about 6-7,) but I am not having much luck. I know the number one thing is patience, but c’mon, almost a year? However, in these past few months, I have been literally at the edge of complete lucidity. I am in my dream, and I completely realize that I am dreaming. In the dream, I keep telling myself, “this is a dream, I know it, this is a dream, I know this isn’t real.” Then I attempt to make that leap to do my own thing, like touch a mirror, or fly or something-- but I cannot. It’s like I am just watching the dream all in first person, on auto-pilot, unable to do anything. I wake up both amazed, and frustrated. Now I’m not sure what to do, maybe there is a trick that I have missed. I’m not going to give up, but some advice would totally help me out big time.
Thanks,

Rabs (Rabid Eskimo)

2

There are a couple things you can try. I haven’t heard of anything like this, but theoretically you could try to do something small first, like shout or try to teleport by blinking. You could even just try to relax yourself.
Don’t give up, you are THERE, and you CAN make that final step!
Good luck!

3

Yeah, I guess I get over-excited sometimes. I’ll try to become more calm during a dream. Also, good idea with starting off small, I often try to go big by like diving into a mirror or flying. Thanks Shadow.

4

Over-excitement is the most common factor in stabilizing lucid dreams–it is fatal for lucidity.
I’m not sure if this is totally true, but my guess is that you have not fully convinced yourself or your SC that you are going to have a lucid dream. I have, and I have one nearly every night (sometimes I don’t journal some of mine for obvious reasons- laziness or it may be inappropriate).
Since dreams are direct literal and metaphorical manifestations of our own thoughts (during the day and the dream itself), you need to know that you will have a lucid dream, try to expect one to come, chances are if you do, then some really amazing ones will happen (and they tend to surprise you).
This realization that dreams are direct literal and metaphorical manifestations of our own thoughts is what really unlocks future lucid powers. Believe in yourself.

SPOILER - Click to view

“Instead, realize the truth: there is no spoon.”

5

Well firstly, you have crossed the border into lucidity, congrats. :smile: A lucid dream is simply a dream when you are aware you are dreaming, whilst you are still dreaming. That certainly isn’t to say that all LDs are like this. The issue you seem to have is with control. As has been mentioned it is helpful to try to remember the dream is under your control. I found it helped to do this whilst awake too, since it’s not always straightforward getting into a lucid dream in the first place for some, plus you will be in part occupied with maintaining stability. I sat and thought about how dreams were completely under my control. It helped me to overcome issues I had with flying in my earlier LDs.