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My initial motivation for lucid dreaming boiled down to "it seems cool." After reading more about dreams and psychology, I've wanted to get a closer look at my subconscious mind, to improve my understanding of myself. It could be said I'm seeking enlightenment.
Originally, I wanted to get into lucid dreaming because I expected it to allow me to "hypnotise myself", as it were. Hypnosis has never really worked on me, probably because I instinctively will not allow someone else to hypnotise me. But inside a lucid dream, where there is nothing but yourself present - no external world - it should be very possible to get your own subconsciousness's full attention, and actually bring about the desired change. Also, I expected (and still do expect) that from in there it should be much easier to "listen to your own body and mind", to learn what really is going on, and from that learn what to avoid in life - and what to pursue - in order to have a healthy life style.
Later, after having experienced a range of very different kinds of mental states in lucid dreams, I have also become interested in finding out, once and for all, whether there is access to an "astral plane" through dreams. And, if there is such a place, what that place allows.
Also, I would like to learn new skills - and perfect existing ones - through practising inside lucid dreams.
My main motivation/reason is simply for the fun of it; to do the things I can normally only daydream about doing.
Unfortunately, it seems my motivation never lasts long enough to get me past the dream recall stage to the induction stage... :]
At first i was doing this for fun. You can see and do incredible things. But recently it has changed to wonderment and wondering how far one can take this? Rationally I think it is just my mind doing this. But now I wonder if it really is more spirit than mind, and if we are spirit beings, this may be closer to touching the next reality for us. So it is exploration for me, but an exploration that might just involve two dimensions, if that makes any sense. I just don't know at this point....
Wow, so many replies!
Thanks everyone for sharing! :)
As cliché as it may sound, I get a certain kick out of the fact that I'm pretty much the only one among the people that I come in contact with on a daily basis who's able to lucid dream. A citizen of two worlds, one shared with others, the other one of my own. A place where I can accomplish extraordinary feats: Fly freely, shape shift into amazing creatures, explore awe-inspiring worlds, talk to my subconscious so as to get to know myself better growing spiritually along the way, and enjoy freedom like no other.
Initial drive = figure out what is the real reality.
Current one = the possibilities. Studying, fighting and self-imposed experiments are the top three right now.
It's really beautiful how this is written,it touches me actually. The thing is, I can't really Lucid Dream yet.. When I first discovered about lucid dreams, it was on the internet just randomly on google, or was it a video on youtube, anyway. It was really randomly that I have happened to know about it and I think it's one of the biggest goal of my life since then, is to achieve full lucidity and perfect dream recall etc. I first knew about lucid dreaming 4 years ago and I quickly informed myself about all there is to know about it and I am still reading about it alot now, and soon after this I started trying to improve my dream recall by having a dream journal and focusing on remembering them at the same time as starting to RC. To be honest, it really worked and I was amazed. I started remebering my dreams more and more vividly. I could get some dream signs out of them too and I think it's what got me my first real lucid dream ever. You won't be amazed, it was ma first lucid dream. -- So first I am standing in my old apartment in between the refrigirator (which happened to be my dream sign at the time) and the dinning table almost in the hallway. I'm in front of my dad and we are conversing and straight from the start I say "in french"-"Hold on dad, I'm dreaming and this is for real" He says nothing and I dont really look at him but I tell him to come with me outside, that I will show him what I am talking about. You probably feel me, but the feeling to be in a dream and to be in control, and to be lucid is the best feeling that ever went through me. It is simply freeing. So I'm out side and looking back at this dream, my dad disappeared but I am getting a bit too exited at this point. I am standing on the porch and everything is magic:I can feel the wind on me and it smells good like it has never smelled, the night is white with stars i never saw in the sky and the moon is a full circle, the grass in front of me is long dark green and it ever so slightly swirls with the brease as some blades carry a couple of crystals of water from the dew which sparkles in my eyes. I hop and the grass and intend to fly. I look and the sky and puch my self up! It doesn't work at first but it doesn't discoureage me. I intensively look at the sky again and I push as hard as I could, superman style up in the air. I could feel I was going faster and faster, I even could see myself in the stars already. I woke up there, feeling so energic and thinking it was the best night of my life. It is still the best night of my life because i haven't had lucid dreams since this one because i kind of forgot about it for a while and since this week I've gathered all the tools and made all the mental arangements to finally go for it for real. I am really motivated.
To give my reasons after all this is mainly because I believe I will greatly enlight myself if I can understand my dreams and learn from my subconscious. I also think it's the greatest hobby anyone can ever have and I want the ability, and I am sure I will find even more ways to improve myself and my lifestyle with the help of lucid dreaming.
Thanks
My original intent was to learn how to deal with nightmares. I'd had nightmares all my life but it honestly never occurred to me that I could learn how to manage them in any real way.
An element of escapism was present too, because at the time I was at a low-point in my life both emotionally and otherwise.
From there my motivation evolved more into a desire to learn more about it in general, so that I could perhaps one day master it somehow. Still not there yet obviously but the work-in-progress thing appeals to me.
And of course the creative aspect of dreaming is always appealing.
Wow.Quote:
Originally Posted by LaBenezra
Just... Damn.
Thanks for sharing, really cool reading your post. Even cooler knowing it's your first post.'
Thanks!
Very practical stand point for your first reason, and very noble for your second :)Quote:
Originally Posted by acatalephobic
I'm not really sure why I started. I knew someone who did it and "pooh pooh"'d it as silly/crazy for quite a while, then I had a weird experience one night and all of a sudden I was fascinated with the idea and have been hooked ever since.
Why do I continue?
Dream recall, even non-lucid (most of it is) makes life so much more enjoyable. I got recall on the very first night I set intention for it and have had recall almost every single night since. Dreams are funny, weird, sexy, ... awesome! Recall almost always puts a smile on my face during the day.
Lucidity, being aware inside your dreams, is freaking awesome, there is nothing nothing anywhere like it.
To lucidly fly and visit various fantasy book scenarios (Zelazny's Amber being at the top of the list) is one major motivation.
And those shining beautiful dream girls, ah...... that can be magical.
Y-y-y-y--you were one of th-them?!Quote:
Originally Posted by FryingMan
The ones who trash LDing as silly and nonsense?!
Shame on you!!
http://troll.me/images/pissed-off-ob...ame-on-you.jpg
Lol JK
Anyways you're absolutely right, there is nothing like LDing!
Really what catches my eye about it is that one can live fantasies and stories, build them up and destroy them, bond with DCs and have various relationships with them, all with full control and power!! AND NO CONSIQUENCES!!!
I was wondering. Is flying a big motive for you?
Personally I don't put flying on the top of my list, cuz I'm persuing more complex meaningful (for me) goals.
Have you tried flying before in a LD?
I do love flying, and I have sort of flew in some LDs, but not very satisfyingly. I mean I want to experience flying like it would be in waking life if I was superman, or something like that. Very high detail, complete speed/direction/altitude control, etc. So far I have not. It's not a major motivator of LDing but it's definitely on the list.
What motivates me to LD?
Knowing that LD'ing is by far the most effective tool I've found for the exploration and expansion of consciousness, and may possibly be the bridge to whatever "More" there is out there (if any), and being aware of the limitless adventures and sheer fun stored in every dream, I would have to reply by asking:
"What wouldn't motivate me to LD?"
This.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sageous
I mainly just do it for entertainment, I think pretty much EVERYONE lucid dreams partly for this reason... I mean WHO doesnt like an all access pass to your own brain and doing whatever you want? Another small reason I do it is I learn alot from it, i've learnt alot about dream science by taking up lucid dreaming
Well unfortunately i'm kinda low on motivation nowdays :cry: but when I have it, I generally like to LD to explore myself(my subconsious self)
and to do whatever I feel like doing, cuz why not? :wink:
I can agree with you on that. I have learned a lot about the brain and quite a bit of science because of my love of dreaming.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kman43759
What motivates me? Fantasy movies as a kid, Primarily "Little Nemo" strengthened my curiosity. From Limitless exploration, Seeing fantastic creatures and places, to understanding my own mind. It's all about discovery and adventure for me.
I absolutely agree with this. Lucid dreams are so vivid, so beautiful, even the lucidity in dream by itself is amazing feeling, nothing can be compared to that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Creation
And the limitless possibilities of subconscious... Damn, there isn't enough english words to describe all that. :D
i like the freedom. i also like the exploration! spikes my curiosity
I have two main motivations:
For self improvement, as part of my battle with depression: a lot of the lucid dreaming preparatory work of being mindful and making positive lifestyle changes work for both reducing depression and for lucid dreaming preparation. I am not depressed now, but if I become self aware enough to lucid dream regularly, hopefully I will also notice the depression sneaking back in next time it does, and will nip it in the bud.
My second motivation is pure fun: I want to fly, soar, become a dragon or ride on a dragon, eat dream chocolate, visit the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall, and much more.
Oh I love this thread!
I have multiple motivations for LDing.
I always had a certain love for dream, or just escaping reality in general. I have quite some trouble abiding any rules anyone lays on me, including the laws of nature I guess. So to be able to escape into a world where I can truly do whatever I want, was my initial motivation.
Then When I learned more and more about LDing, I found it also fits other goals I already had in my life. I have been on a quest for wisdom for about 6 years now. I want to learn more about myself. I want to truly explore all my weaknesses and strengths. I want to know who I am, what I want, why I am here and most importantly: Why I want to stay here. I also want to be able to overcome anything. So I guess this all falls under self improvement. Though I do feel there is a higher truth to be found here as well, that doesn't necessarily apply to just me. I don't think it's spirituality, though I am open to change my mind on that one later ;)
Lastly there is the obvious one. Fun! It just seems a lot of fun to explore the mind. To do anything. Anything you can dream of :P
At this moment, I would say that self improvement is my main goal though.
Loved reading all of these.
My motivation at first was adventure and the exploration of my own imagination. Growing up my friend and I crafted our own dimension through our play and imagination, and the biggest motivator to me was to revisit this dimension in my dreams. To visit the castles we had created, see the battles we had fought in... To relive the innocence and magic of childhood dreams.
It has largely remained the same, as I haven't yet been able to make it back... But I am also motivated simply by fun and the sheer amazement of becoming lucid.
EDIT: I don't actually think we created a separate dimension, I mean we created a persistent world that we always played in.