Thread: What is Your Motivation to Lucid Dream?

I am curious to see what everyones' reason to lucid dream is. I have had a few messages asking for help in certain tasks. Some are going into the supernatural, like one message I got about a man who believed he was visited by a spirit in his dreams, and wanted to LD to talk to this spirit.
I've had a surprisingly large amount of messages related to dream control and bending the elements (I wrote a few guides on that, incase you we wondering. Working on the next as we speak)

Some people find relief in lucid dreaming.

Some find happiness in their own, private world.

Some people like being alone.

Some people strive on self improvement.

Some people do it for fun.

Some seek enlightenment.

What's your reason?

Here is a good quote from another user that explains my motivation;

Personally I don't feel I must have a deep spiritual, intellectual or emotional reason for my pursuit of lucid dreaming. I find joy in the pursuit of, as well as the success of the achievement of finding myself in a lucid dream. This is a hobby for me. A hobby with many rewards and opportunities for self improvement.

Four days ago I had a lucid dream where I witnessed the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen in my entire life. Then I swam in the ocean. I recorded this dream in my dream journal and can go back and read it, and recapture a bit of that joy each time. Isn't simply adding joy to ones life enough of a reason for achieving lucidity?
-Tygar

I do it for the memories. Being able to look back and see everything I did, everything I created. The relationships I created, the people I met, the memories. Even people like you guys, I get to meet because of my love and pursuit of lucid dreaming.

So, once again...

What's your reason?

I think escapism is a big part of it for me. My life is boring, and I always feel like I'm in a rut. Lucid dreaming gives me the opportunity and the means to create something new, have some adventures, and feel like I actually have some control over my life.

Originally Posted by spellbee2

I think escapism is a big part of it for me. My life is boring, and I always feel like I'm in a rut. Lucid dreaming gives me the opportunity and the means to create something new, have some adventures, and feel like I actually have some control over my life.

Awesome, thanks for sharing!

A good as reason as any!

I'm looking for something more than the me I know now, if that makes any sense. To be more broad I'm looking for enlightenment.

See how far I could go with control over daily life using lucid dreaming as a guide.

Originally Posted by PKJacker

I'm looking for something more than the me I know now, if that makes any sense. To be more broad I'm looking for enlightenment.

See how far I could go with control over daily life using lucid dreaming as a guide.

Very noble.

Thanks for sharing

I have all sorts of motives. Getting to do amazing things and have actual memories of them is up there. I also explore deep mystical stuff through dreams, so spirituality is a factor, not to mention the excitement truly weird mystical stuff gives me, adding an adventure component to my life. Finally, I consider this art to be one of the most advanced mental skills humans can explore, so mastering this is a sure way to have a well developed mind.

Originally Posted by sivason

I have all sorts of motives. Getting to do amazing things and have actual memories of them is up there. I also explore deep mystical stuff through dreams, so spirituality is a factor, not to mention the excitement truly weird mystical stuff gives me, adding an adventure component to my life. Finally, I consider this art to be one of the most advanced mental skills humans can explore, so mastering this is a sure way to have a well developed mind.

I agree with your final statement

Thanks for sharing, always good seeing you post.

OK, definitely for these reasons:

_Sex
_Visiting my favorite shows and living them(I love Adventure Time, being inside of it is amazing!), and building up stories and relations inside of them.
_Seeing wonderful scenery and visionary arts and places, savory for my art hobby and definitely extremely pleasurable to watch.
_Doing all kinds of crazy fun stunts(flying, gliding, piloting a 747 through Tokyo while the kaydrous are attacking, ...)

Pretty much these, and of course meeting new friends here is a big bonus too!

Originally Posted by LouaiB

OK, definitely for these reasons:

_Sex
_Visiting my favorite shows and living them(I love Adventure Time, being inside of it is amazing!), and building up stories and relations inside of them.
_Seeing wonderful scenery and visionary arts and places, savory for my art hobby and definitely extremely pleasurable to watch.
_Doing all kinds of crazy fun stunts(flying, gliding, piloting a 747 through Tokyo while the kaydrous are attacking, ...)

Pretty much these, and of course meeting new friends here is a big bonus too!

Awesome reasons. I love Adventure Time. That must be a lot of fun.

Thanks for sharing

I want to do it for fun and also kind of an escape. I want to fly, transform into different animals and mythical creatures (wolves, dragons, centaurs, deers etc..) and feel what it's like. I've made an entire bucket list of things I want to do in LDs and I'll be so happy to complete it. I also want to meet fictional characters from different shows, books and movies (Supernatural, Sherlock, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter etc..) and become friends with all of them and have people to go to whenever I have a dream. I'd also really like to get inspiration for art or writing from my dreams as well, I think it'd be amazing.

But overall, I'd love to explore my imagination in a way that seems more real than daydreaming in class or just having regular dreams.

Originally Posted by TheLucidDragon

I want to do it for fun and also kind of an escape. I want to fly, transform into different animals and mythical creatures (wolves, dragons, centaurs, deers etc..) and feel what it's like. I've made an entire bucket list of things I want to do in LDs and I'll be so happy to complete it. I also want to meet fictional characters from different shows, books and movies (Supernatural, Sherlock, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter etc..) and become friends with all of them and have people to go to whenever I have a dream. I'd also really like to get inspiration for art or writing from my dreams as well, I think it'd be amazing.

But overall, I'd love to explore my imagination in a way that seems more real than daydreaming in class or just having regular dreams.

Also some more awesome reasons.
Game of Thrones would be a terrifying place to be. What a terrible, sex-crazed, brutal world.

Inspiration is also a strong point to lucid dream! Very glad you mentioned it.

And don't under estimate day-dreaming!
I've been having some really awesome day-dreams.

Not sure if it's connected to my lucid dreaming habits or not.

Thanks for sharing

Originally Posted by SinisterDezz

Also some more awesome reasons.
Game of Thrones would be a terrifying place to be. What a terrible, sex-crazed, brutal world.

Haha, I'd more like to meet the characters like Jon Snow and Rob Stark and perhaps kill Joffrey over and over again. Obviously I won't be going to beheadings, maybe a medieval-battle would be cool, or being the only female on the wall and defending it, flying around on wings whilst sending fireballs and arrows down at my enemies.

I'm also planning entering the world of Attack on Titan and shrinking all of the titans. It'd be terrifying if I lost control and got eaten by a titan ;-;

Originally Posted by TheLucidDragon

Haha, I'd more like to meet the characters like Jon Snow and Rob Stark and perhaps kill Joffrey over and over again. Obviously I won't be going to beheadings, maybe a medieval-battle would be cool, or being the only female on the wall and defending it, flying around on wings whilst sending fireballs and arrows down at my enemies.

I'm also planning entering the world of Attack on Titan and shrinking all of the titans. It'd be terrifying if I lost control and got eaten by a titan ;-;

Shingeki no Kyojin would by far be the worst. What if you had to be Eren? Poor kid, so many sad things.... Too many damnit!

Originally Posted by SinisterDezz

Shingeki no Kyojin would by far be the worst. What if you had to be Eren? Poor kid, so many sad things.... Too many damnit!

I know. But it'd be funny shrinking all of the titans and kicking them, throwing them, stomping on them and keeping one in a jar as a pet. It'd be hilarious. But it'd also be cool fighting titans, as well as scary because they're so terrifying and I could get eaten. But as long as I'm lucid and in full control it can't end too badly. Maybe I'll be like Eren and have a titan form. That'd be pretty rad.

What fascinates me the most is the ability of the subconscious to create images, sceneries, ideas and even music which you would have never thought of. They seem like they come from someone else. But they still originate from your mind, a deeper inaccessible part of your mind. It´s like you have a completely different self deep within you. And I want to explore and understand this deeper self.

Dreams are the realm where the subconscious is present. But when you are lucid your conscious is present as well. I hope in my lucid dreams my conscious self and subconscious self can meet and understand each other better.

Originally Posted by Creation

What fascinates me the most is the ability of the subconscious to create images, sceneries, ideas and even music which you would have never thought of. They seem like they come from someone else. But they still originate from your mind, a deeper inaccessible part of your mind. It´s like you have a completely different self deep within you. And I want to explore and understand this deeper self.

Dreams are the realm where the subconscious is present. But when you are lucid your conscious is present as well. I hope in my lucid dreams my conscious self and subconscious self can meet and understand each other better.

Awesome motivations. I too find myself wanting to explore that deeper-self.

Thanks for sharing

Originally Posted by Creation

What fascinates me the most is the ability of the subconscious to create images, sceneries, ideas and even music which you would have never thought of. They seem like they come from someone else. But they still originate from your mind, a deeper inaccessible part of your mind. It´s like you have a completely different self deep within you. And I want to explore and understand this deeper self.

Dreams are the realm where the subconscious is present. But when you are lucid your conscious is present as well. I hope in my lucid dreams my conscious self and subconscious self can meet and understand each other better.

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.

And the limitless possibilities of subconscious... Damn, there isn't enough english words to describe all that.

I used to ld to help with frequent nightmares but now that that's no longer much of an issue, I think I am looking for enlightenment. Combining meditation and lucid dreaming can be very rewarding so I hear.

Originally Posted by Nfri

My main motive is to understand... ehm... reality?

Good point. I never really thought of it that way. I guess it is a far more acceptable way to gain perspective than let's say, psychedelics. lol

When I first started I was in a transition phase of my life where I was suffering from depression, so I guess at the time escapism may have been a motivation. But Lucid dream has been so much more than that. Lucid dreams have been one of the things that have literally given me life, as I seem to have awakened not only in my dreams but in this waking life too, allowing me to appreciate life more. Lucid dreaming brought me closer to my true self/inner self/God, (whatever you want to call it), has opened my mind to things as well as allowing me to experience so many things I would have never thought possible.

But I guess now my main reason would be for exploration of everything...

Originally Posted by Rodrodrod

When I first started I was in a transition phase of my life where I was suffering from depression, so I guess at the time escapism may have been a motivation. But Lucid dream has been so much more than that. Lucid dreams have been one of the things that have literally given me life, as I seem to have awakened not only in my dreams but in this waking life too, allowing me to appreciate life more. Lucid dreaming brought me closer to my true self/inner self/God, (whatever you want to call it), has opened my mind to things as well as allowing me to experience so many things I would have never thought possible.

But I guess now my main reason would be for exploration of everything...

Very valid points of motivation

Glad to hear what LDing has done for you, and what you seek to gain in the future.

And as always, thanks for sharing

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!