I had a really interesting experience last night -
In the dream I find myself lying awake in my bed in pitch blackness. I try to get up but can’t, and suddenly a shot of terror runs through me because I realise I’m in sleep paralysis.
I’m excited, because of course I believe this to be real life - and I think finally I’ve had an experience of SP. After a while I become distressed though, because I just really don’t like the sensation of not being able to move.
This causes me to wake up, and again I’m lying in my bed.
But its a false awakening - and again, I’m in sleep paralysis, this time lying on my back. While I stare at the ceiling, for a second I think something doesn’t seem right, and when I realise I can move my hands, I decide to do a reality check. A first for me - I’ve never RCed in a dream before.
So I try to poke my fingers in my palm, because I know in a dream my fingers will go right the way through. BUT… They don’t. I just feel flesh. And feel slightly stupid for thinking I was dreaming, because looking around I think my room is exactly the same.
It depends on expectation, mostly. When you do a RC, you must expect it to work - that is, your hand going through - and since a dream follows your expectations, that’s what will happen when you actually try it there.
It may seem a little silly, but that’s what people do when they do a RC - they try to believe they could be in a dream this time. And they genuinely check for reality; it isn’t just an automated motion that will give you result regardless of what you’re thinking.
What really matters is what you’re expecting, and as such, if you want to do a proper RC, you have to doubt reality in the proper way
Also, I suggest using the breathe-through-nose RC, as it tends to be more reliable than others. You may try that one Wish you many more lucids!
I’d say that, as tosxy mentioned, its all about expectation. However, the hand through palm RC is extremely unreliable. I would highly recommend the nose RC, It works every single time for me, even when I’m not expecting im in a dream. And also train yourself to do an RC every time you wake up. I get about a quarter of my LDs this way.
I also thought the nose RC is more reliable. And if I could have done it, I would have. But of course I was in an ND and not in control of what I was doing. I only realised I should have done it after I woke up. ughh
How bout pulling your tongue out and stretching it so far you can see all of it??? sounds extreme but it’s something that CANNOT be done in real life, well. not unless you’re a Lizard !!x
And also train yourself to do an RC every time you wake up. I get about a quarter of my LDs this way.
[/quote]
Thanks for That, I have had so many times where I miss a chance of becoming Lucid because of FA’s and Such. Why Did i never think of that Before -.- Just need to remember to do a RC when i Wake up now ^^ As for the actual Topic I don’t really know. I have had experiences like this myself and I do feel the Nose technique is Much more Reliable.
Also, make sure when you also expect your RC’s to work in RL as well. After all, if this was a dream you wouldn’t know it unless you RC’d, right? And even if you think you did one, how do you know that isn’t just a false meemory? There isn’t any way of knowing you’re dreaming until you try. To quote a children’s book I grew up with, take chances, make mistakes and get messy!
For me, when I do an RC too many times IRL, it becomes more unreliable. For my first year of LDing, the nose RC worked really good, then I found it failing more and more often.
Now, I count my fingers.
Oh, and don’t try any other variation of the finger-through-hand RC.
I tried to force my arm through my chest, killed myself, and woke up. Juuuust a warning, your mind may be like mine and think “IMPALEMENT!!!”
Most RC’s are not applicable to everyone. In fact they’re usually junk. You won’t always walk through walls, or look in a mirror and see something out of place, etc.
testing Ambient temperature, wind speed/flow, etc is the most reliable IMHO, but even then it can be pretty accurate to waking standards, but it usually throws the most obvious signs of something not being “normal”.
Thanks for That, I have had so many times where I miss a chance of becoming Lucid because of FA’s and Such. Why Did i never think of that Before -.- Just need to remember to do a RC when i Wake up now ^^ As for the actual Topic I don’t really know. I have had experiences like this myself and I do feel the Nose technique is Much more Reliable.