Thread: Lucid dreams vs. psychedelic trips

I'm from the United States, so I speak of US laws against drugs. I don't know where other countries stand on it.

Most are pretty similar unfortunately. Although I get the impression US laws are particularly harsh, is that true?

It sure seems like it! Almost everything with potential for abuse is highly controlled. And psychedelics that are completely harmless, like shrooms, are outlawed and have high penalties for offense.

However, in California, Cannabis is quickly becoming legalized. It is soon to be completely legal to recreationally use marijuana in the state of California, and to cultivate your own plants. Many other states are legalizing cannabis for medicinal use.

Originally Posted by Reverie Phantom

It sure seems like it! Almost everything with potential for abuse is highly controlled. And psychedelics that are completely harmless, like shrooms, are outlawed and have high penalties for offense.

However, in California, Cannabis is quickly becoming legalized. It is soon to be completely legal to recreationally use marijuana in the state of California, and to cultivate your own plants. Many other states are legalizing cannabis for medicinal use.

Are you serious? Recreational use huh? We need to go on a road trip there


But anyways, I can't really compare lucid dreaming to a drug induced trip. They are completely different. Both extremely exciting, but one you can control and one you can't.

I'd have to say psychedelic trips hold more meaning and excitement to me if I had to choose. Trips give me more "knowledge" of myself and "reality". And lucid dreams is just one big amusement park. Although, I have had lucid dreams where I didn't know what was would happen next. Kind of like a dream, but with lucid consciousness.

I just can't decide haha.

Originally Posted by Taosaur

Hmmm...well, I'll have to go against the grain here and say that I've had much more compelling, memorable and moving experiences on a variety of psychedelic trips than in any lucid dream, and neither can compare to waking visions experienced with no aids other than nature, poetry, and/or sustained meditation practice. I've also had some pretty intense experiences with nothing but cannabis, booze and dancing. Of all these, lucid dreams may be the least amazing, but they're also the one I'd want to / could stand to do the most often. I won't be taking psychedelics or even dancing 2-3 times per week, but I'm a happy boy when my lucids are coming that frequently.

This is exactly what I was thinking.

had to put my first post here. only really had a few psychadelic trips but lots of lucid dreams. id have to be annoying and say that the best parts of the trips were the bits that were like dreams, while the best dreams have often involved psychadelic type experiences, and even taking dream versions of things like salvia. almost like they meet in the middle somewhere. hello all

I gotta disagree with everyone here. I've only had a few LDs, none of them too out of the ordinary so maybe I'm not experienced enough to answer, but I say tripping is MUCH better. Shrooms have given me insights about myself, the world, people, relationships, sex, the mind in general, etc. I feel like I can delve into my own mind with psychedelics, whereas LDing for me as been simply recreational. As I've said, I'm not an experienced lucid dreamer, so I really don't know. I can't see any lucid dream comparing to 5 grams of some strong mushies, however. We'll see.

Originally Posted by Urban Ninja

Shrooms have given me insights about myself, the world, people, relationships, sex, the mind in general, etc.

same.

Originally Posted by Urban Ninja

I gotta disagree with everyone here. I've only had a few LDs, none of them too out of the ordinary so maybe I'm not experienced enough to answer, but I say tripping is MUCH better. Shrooms have given me insights about myself, the world, people, relationships, sex, the mind in general, etc. I feel like I can delve into my own mind with psychedelics, whereas LDing for me as been simply recreational. As I've said, I'm not an experienced lucid dreamer, so I really don't know. I can't see any lucid dream comparing to 5 grams of some strong mushies, however. We'll see.

Exactly. Lucid Dreaming for me has always seemed to be just a playground for my mind, still fun though, I'm not saying I don't enjoy it. But tripping seems to be more of exploring your own mind and seeing the world as it really is. As well as learning new things about yourself ect.

As someone already said, it's comparing apples and oranges. But if I had to choose, I'd pick tripping 100%. Especially because you can trip with a close friend, and become closer with them and build a stronger bond between each other. And it's just fun haha.

Hmmm...well, I'll have to go against the grain here and say that I've had much more compelling, memorable and moving experiences on a variety of psychedelic trips than in any lucid dream, and neither can compare to waking visions experienced with no aids other than nature, poetry, and/or sustained meditation practice. I've also had some pretty intense experiences with nothing but cannabis, booze and dancing. Of all these, lucid dreams may be the least amazing, but they're also the one I'd want to / could stand to do the most often. I won't be taking psychedelics or even dancing 2-3 times per week, but I'm a happy boy when my lucids are coming that frequently.

I appreciate your differentiating view. I have definitely had some incredible and intense experiences with psychedelics and cannabis. Plus one thing that I enjoy about taking psychedelics more than lucid dreams is that you can share your experience with other people. I have felt true connections with some of my closest friends while tripping mushrooms, almost like our souls were connected or something.

Originally Posted by Taosaur

Hmmm...well, I'll have to go against the grain here and say that I've had much more compelling, memorable and moving experiences on a variety of psychedelic trips than in any lucid dream

But he didn't ask what was more compelling, memorable, or moving. He asked what was more exciting. So I'm assuming that is how you define exciting? I'm just wondering, because how the initial question was phrased definitely affected my answer.

Originally Posted by Aquanina

But he didn't ask what was more compelling, memorable, or moving. He asked what was more exciting. So I'm assuming that is how you define exciting? I'm just wondering, because how the initial question was phrased definitely affected my answer.

I guess I read the question as something like, "What elicits the highest state of arousal?" and for me more depth to an experience does translate to a higher state of arousal--I was seeing it as a quantitative, not a qualitative difference, though on reflection I suppose some of those experiences I would say were deep, but not fun, whereas others were both deep and fun. Still, even in terms of pure fun/stimulation, the ranking holds:

1. Samadhi
2. Dancing (psychedelic or otherwise)
3. Psychedelic trip (dancing or otherwise)
4. Lucid dreaming

Originally Posted by Reverie Phantom

I'm from the United States, so I speak of US laws against drugs. I don't know where other countries stand on it.

Yeah, but for the moment, at least, lucid dreaming is still lega... *arrrghhhhhh*!!!!!!!!