RC Issues

**JapJap** · 08-02-2011 03:26 PM

I don't fully understand RCs. So through my day i'm at home, then go to work, then come back home. I've heard different variations of RCs, that you SHOULD NOT do them randomly, because the chances of just randomly doing a RC in a dream are slim, but that you should do them when you feel like something is unusual or could be in a dream...

Now, my day has no unusual occurrences, if i go to the store, nothing seems unusual. So how am I suppose to RC in a dream, if I don't even properly understand RC in RL.

I am keeping a dream journal, and attempting WBTB technique, but I feel like that won't help until I fully understand RCs, and how I would apply them to a dream.

**Mancon** · 08-02-2011 03:52 PM

Hey JapJap, i

It's fine to do RCs randomly throughout the day. I like to do one every hour. I recommend you check out this Reality Check Tutorial. Also while doing a reality check you have to believe that you are in a dream. For example, if you are doing the nose pinch RC, then you have to believe that you will breath through your nose, or it might not work!

Another time you can do a reality check is if you see your dream sign. You can find out more about what a dream sign is here. Good luck!

**JapJap** · 08-02-2011 03:56 PM

Hey thanks Mancon,
like i understand that you have to believe that you will be able to breath out of your nose if you pinch it, but what are the chances that i'll do that in a dream?
Is it that once i realize i'm in a dream (by dream signs) that i'll perform a RC; reconfirming i am dreaming. Or that I perform a RC thus making me realize i'm dreaming?

**Mancon** · 08-02-2011 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by JapJap

Hey thanks Mancon,
What are the chances that i'll do that in a dream?

Is it that once i realize i'm in a dream (by dream signs) that i'll perform a RC; reconfirming i am dreaming. Or that I perform a RC thus making me realize i'm dreaming?

1.) I'm not sure of the exact chances, but the more you do it, the more likely you will do it in a dream. The whole idea is making RCs a habit, and then that hbbit will carry down into your dreams, since you do it so much.

2.) Both. You perform and RC, and realize you are dreaming or if you already know you are dreaming and perform a RC to be sure of it.

**JapJap** · 08-02-2011 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Mancon

1.) I'm not sure of the exact chances, but the more you do it, the more likely you will do it in a dream. The whole idea is making RCs a habit, and then that hbbit will carry down into your dreams, since you do it so much.

2.) Both. You perform and RC, and realize you are dreaming or if you already know you are dreaming and perform a RC to be sure of it.

So I have to make RC just a habit? That doesn't seem natural to periodically pinch my nose and check if i can breathe.../=

What's your RC? and how do you view it as?

**Mancon** · 08-02-2011 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by JapJap

So I have to make RC just a habit? That doesn't seem natural to periodically pinch my nose and check if i can breathe.../=

What's your RC? and how do you view it as?

1.) Yup, you do. And yeah, some people might look at you weird but you can do other RCs

2.) I use the nose pinch RC, like I described above. I think it is one of the best RCs.

Also you should check out this ADA Tutorial. It helps me with DILD a lot.

**JapJap** · 08-02-2011 05:02 PM

Do you think about having to perform RCs? or throughout the day it just comes natural?

**Mancon** · 08-02-2011 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by JapJap

Do you think about having to perform RCs? or throughout the day it just comes natural?

For me when I was new to lucid dreaming and doing RCs, I had to keep reminding myself to do them. I recommend you write RC on the back of your hand, and whenever you see it do a reality check.
After about 30 days of doing RCs I didn't need to remind myself as often, and started to do them naturally.

**JapJap** · 08-02-2011 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Mancon

For me when I was new to lucid dreaming and doing RCs, I had to keep reminding myself to do them. I recommend you write RC on the back of your hand, and whenever you see it do a reality check.
After about 30 days of doing RCs I didn't need to remind myself as often, and started to do them naturally.

Wow thanks for the tip! I'm sure that will help a lot!
What Lucid Inducing Technique do you use? like WBTB? Which works best for you?

**Mancon** · 08-02-2011 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by JapJap

Wow thanks for the tip! I'm sure that will help a lot!
What Lucid Inducing Technique do you use? like WBTB? Which works best for you?

WILD is the best technique for me, but everyone has a different technique that is right for them.

When you pick a technique, you should stick with it and not just give up after 2 weeks. If after about 2 months, it isn't working at all, and you don't think the technique is right for you, then change techniques.

**JapJap** · 08-02-2011 06:18 PM

Did you start by using wild?

**JapJap** · 08-02-2011 06:19 PM

Btw congrats on getting 1000 posts

**Mancon** · 08-02-2011 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by JapJap

Did you start by using wild?

Yes actually, but I got really confused by it and was doing a lot of things wrong, so I switched to DILD/MILD and now I am back into WILD.

Originally Posted by JapJap

Btw congrats on getting 1000 posts

Thanks! I didn't even notice!

**JapJap** · 08-02-2011 07:43 PM

For WILD should this be used with WBTB for a beginner?

**Puffin** · 08-02-2011 07:52 PM

JapJap, I'm a bit late to answering your questions, but I'd like to provide some input. I don't go about doing my RCs by making them a "habit:, per say (you could end up doing them in your dreams just from muscle memory). Instead, I completely stop what I'm doing so that everything around me is quiet, and I have my full attention on the possibility that I could be dreaming. I then observe my surroundings and ask myself how I got to where I'm standing, and whether I could seriously be dreaming at the moment. RCs for me are more of a confirmation that I'm dreaming, and don't cause lucidity. "Lucid" is another term for clarity and consciousness, so a lucid dream is caused by being conscious. Saying this, it would definitely help to practice awareness and use RCs to confirm if you're awake or not.

**JapJap** · 08-02-2011 08:16 PM

Thanks for adive Puffin!
So a reality check i could use would be removing my glasses, because in a dream if i remove my glasses nothing happens, but in reality I can't see shit. Would that work?
and how does muscle memory work?

**Puffin** · 08-02-2011 08:20 PM

No problem! As for your RC, it could definitely function as one. Where the (often random) nature of dreams is concerned, however, there might be a dream where your vision will become blurry like real life. I'd pair it with another RC, just to be safe.

Muscle memory is basically just doing a motion over and over again, often enough that you end up doing it involuntarily or without thinking about it. If you go about your RCing by not really thinking about whether you could be dreaming, this will transfer over to your dreams and you'll end up doing them without really considering the fact that you're asleep.

**Mancon** · 08-02-2011 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by JapJap

For WILD should this be used with WBTB for a beginner?

WILD should definitely be used with WBTB

**JapJap** · 08-03-2011 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by Mancon

WILD should definitely be used with WBTB

Does this work if your not anywhere near REM stage? Like when you first go to bed

**JapJap** · 08-03-2011 03:22 AM

Originally Posted by Puffin

No problem! As for your RC, it could definitely function as one. Where the (often random) nature of dreams is concerned, however, there might be a dream where your vision will become blurry like real life. I'd pair it with another RC, just to be safe.

Muscle memory is basically just doing a motion over and over again, often enough that you end up doing it involuntarily or without thinking about it. If you go about your RCing by not really thinking about whether you could be dreaming, this will transfer over to your dreams and you'll end up doing them without really considering the fact that you're asleep.

Thanks! I'll be practicing my RC and ADA as much as possible!