I’ve been lucid dreaming for a year now and have had moderate success. Here is a brief summary of my full routine which, as a beginner myself, would probably be perfect for other beginners to utilize, though perhaps less desirable for advanced lucid dreamers that can WILD.
For now I’ve chosen to DILD as I have a tight sleep schedule and don’t have much room for error during the night. I find DILD’ing to be the least disruptive for my sleep. For me, it provides an average of 13 lucid nights/month, in which most of those nights I have just one lucid dream but sometimes I have more.
During the day:
- I wake up and do a state check (you never know if it’s a False Awakening!).
- Throughout the day I continue to do state checks, either from encountering dream signs or when simply lost in thought.
- Record my dreams in my dream journal (expanding them from my nightly notes).
- Get out in nature for a walk if time allots.
- Do a meditation in the evening if time allots.
Just before I fall asleep:
- Set up my dream journal; including goals.
- Tell myself that, “Tonight I will have a lucid dream.”
Throughout the night:
- Upon each wakeup, I record each dream in my dream journal. At minimum I write a title, if able to, I write more.
- After about 5-6 hours of sleep, I do a part of the MILD technique; telling myself that “The next time I’m dreaming, I want to remember I’m dreaming!”
- If I don’t get lucid in the next dream, I say that same phrase…but incorporate more of MILD by thinking of the last dream and what should have triggered lucidity for me.
Although to me it’s mainly just a portion of the MILD technique, it also combines the WBTB method in a way as when I record my dreams, it breaks up my sleep.
Also, in general I find it helpful to do a state check (normally by looking at my hands, or pushing my finger through my palm), and then throughout the dream rubbing my hands together.
There are some qualities I’ve discovered that make it easier for some to lucid dream more than others. One is to have strong intent, though to be relaxed about it. Another is to have the “element of play”; have a playful side and see lucid dreaming as fun! Another seemingly important measure is to make goals; I make daily and monthly goals. Some of my longest lucid dreams have involved trying to achieve up to 5 different goals in the one dream.
Lastly, and probably the most important, have good sleep hygiene. Get enough sleep. If we want our consciousness to become aware in a dream, I find that for the most part I have to have about 6 hours of decent sleep first before it’s even worth trying. Of course, that doesn’t always stop me. My guides and Higher Self know my famous phrase of “I know it’s early, but maybe one little technique won’t hurt.”
This article was released in issue from
March 2021
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