Thread: How can I prevent pain in Lucid Dreams?

I've always wanted to do magic in lucid dreams. I've tried to do the Magic Missiles spell from Dungeons and Dragons in my dreams previously, unsuccessfully.

Last night I got lucid for the first time in a while and thought to give it another shot. This time I called on Skyrim for inspiration. It's been a while since I've played the game, but I distinctly remember the two fire spells that I used most in that game. With one spell you immediately shoot out a column of flame from your hand. With the other you build up a fireball and release it.

On the first try with the column of flame I succeeded in performing my first magic in a lucid dream. However as soon as I started casting it I experienced some of the worst pain I've ever felt (including real life). I've done a lot of cooking and have burned myself accidentally on the stove, but the pain I felt with this flame spell was ten times worse than touching a hot stove, and covered the entire palm of my hand. I had to immediately stop casting it.

I tried the fireball spell with the other hand and experienced no pain from that one. So I conjured an alligator and took some close range shots at it (all of them missed, because I suck at aiming that one in Skyrim too).

Could someone tell me why I would feel pain from the flame column spell, but not the fireball spell. Also, how could I prevent the pain from the column spell because I would prefer to use that one.

I'm not quite sure while the flame column spell would cause you pain while the fireball didn't, but it's not hard to prevent pain in lucid dreams. They key to dreams is expectations. You have to expect things to happen in order for them to. If you expect something to hurt, especially if it's just subconsciously, then it will hurt. If you believe that you'll be fine, no pain will be felt.

I haven't played Skryim in a long time, is the fireball one where you create a fireball above/between your hands? Is there any contact between flame and hands? As I recall, the flame column is more of a constant line of fire from your hands. It may be that you saw/noticed the fire touching your hands and your subconscious kicked to give the feeling of pain.

I may be completely wrong (I probably am) but the part about expectations is true for sure. If you expect something to hurt, it will. If you believe you'll be fine (which you should, because it's just a dream!) then you'll be fine

Yeah there is a gap between your hand and the fireball, but the flame column comes straight out of the palm of your hand...at least in my dream.

I think I need to work on my awareness level then. As evidenced by the fact that after I killed the gator I laid down in the grass to try to have an OBE (I've read LD's are a good place to start them). I rolled over in the grass and immediately realized I was in my bed. For a second I thought I woke up, but then I noticed that my room was slightly larger and had an extra bookshelf with a Tiffany lamp on top. I tried to get up and explore but I was stumbling around like a drunken idiot and had to "squint" to see any detail. I soon lapsed back into normal dreaming.

Originally Posted by FoxyGrandma3000

I've always wanted to do magic in lucid dreams. I've tried to do the Magic Missiles spell from Dungeons and Dragons in my dreams previously, unsuccessfully.

Last night I got lucid for the first time in a while and thought to give it another shot. This time I called on Skyrim for inspiration. It's been a while since I've played the game, but I distinctly remember the two fire spells that I used most in that game. With one spell you immediately shoot out a column of flame from your hand. With the other you build up a fireball and release it.

On the first try with the column of flame I succeeded in performing my first magic in a lucid dream. However as soon as I started casting it I experienced some of the worst pain I've ever felt (including real life). I've done a lot of cooking and have burned myself accidentally on the stove, but the pain I felt with this flame spell was ten times worse than touching a hot stove, and covered the entire palm of my hand. I had to immediately stop casting it.

I tried the fireball spell with the other hand and experienced no pain from that one. So I conjured an alligator and took some close range shots at it (all of them missed, because I suck at aiming that one in Skyrim too).

Could someone tell me why I would feel pain from the flame column spell, but not the fireball spell. Also, how could I prevent the pain from the column spell because I would prefer to use that one.

Pain is extremely rare to feel in dreams and many (including some sleep scientists) don't believe it's even possible. They argue that pain is beyond the simulative capacities of our dreams.
If you did indeed feel pain however, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It will probably never happen again.