Thread: Lucid Dreaming Fundamentals -- With Q & A

You mentioned that device called PEST. I decided to try something and wanted to post the experience here to see you're opinion on the exercise:

- Alarm every 10minutes 78 rings a day. Basically whenever it rings I try to stop whatever I'm doing and look around. But it's hard. For example when I go from home to work, I use that mnemonic video I posted and let's say, each picture is related to an alarm's ring. For example 8:30 alarm is a tree with orange light, 8:40 is a tv serie character laughing, etc etc. So while I try to practice being aware, I also recall these "simbols" and try to expand my memory of what my surroundings were like.
I get now: it's freaking hard. It's easy to focus for let's say for 5 alarms (not being surprised when they come), but can tell you that I reach the 20th already "huh? oh right the alarm! erm, focus!" I do have a mindset problem, that relates to the awareness you made:

If we prioritize the questioning of whether we are dreaming or not, by making rc's, asking ourselves what we did in the last hour, where does that leave space for being aware of our surroundings? Do we go for details? Or is the big picture that we need to focus on? Also (this might sound confusing) sometimes I read one of your replies and get "my" idea of being aware, but then it slips away! Not to mention sometimes I'm having such big discussions about a subject that I wonder later how could I focus on my task and in awareness at same time. Would we be talking about expanding your perception as well?

It's really painfully, but so far haven't skipped a day without hearing those 78 alarms xD

Originally Posted by zoth00

You mentioned that device called PEST. I decided to try something and wanted to post the experience here to see you're opinion on the exercise:

- Alarm every 10minutes 78 rings a day. Basically whenever it rings I try to stop whatever I'm doing and look around. But it's hard. For example when I go from home to work, I use that mnemonic video I posted and let's say, each picture is related to an alarm's ring. For example 8:30 alarm is a tree with orange light, 8:40 is a tv series character laughing, etc etc. So while I try to practice being aware, I also recall these "symbols" and try to expand my memory of what my surroundings were like.
I get now: it's freaking hard. It's easy to focus for let's say for 5 alarms (not being surprised when they come), but can tell you that I reach the 20th already "huh? oh right the alarm! erm, focus!"

It's really painfully, but so far haven't skipped a day without hearing those 78 alarms xD

Right you are, it can be freakin' hard at that! Your alarm plan sounds like a good one, but can I offer a couple of suggestions?

*First, every ten minutes might be too frequent -- you run the "snooze alarm" risk here, where you hit the "snooze" button on your bedside clock and then sit there for ten minutes doing nothing but anticipating the next alarm. That's fine with an alarm clock, but it might not be something you want to do 78 times per day! You might be either consumed (in a ad way) by the routine or, worse, simply convert your RC/memory exercise into a rote routine that sure you'll religiously repeat, but in the process you might let go of the meaning behind it all.

* I've found that random times between alarms works very nicely, usually with gaps that range from 20 minutes to one hour. Being random, you won't come to expect when the next reminder is coming, and you might react in a better way...especially after many days of doing it. This is what that P.E.S.T. did, and why I believe it was the most valuable of LaBerge's toys (and it cost the least; go figure). Though the P.E.S.T. is long gone, the guy who originally built it for LaBerge still sells a version here; I'm in no way endorsing this particular product, but it might be worth a look just to see what the basic functions should be. I think I've also seen watches that do the same thing... the more random and less intrusive the better.

* In addition to varying the time, you might also change up the routine as well, just to make that focus work better for you. For instance, maybe spend one day asking yourself if this is a dream; another day carefully regarding where you are standing, why, and if doing so is having an effect on the world, or it on you; and maybe another day asking yourself what exactly you were doing fifteen minutes ago.

* Finally, you should be careful not to make things too complex. Your mnemonic exercise is likely helpful on a lot of levels, especially in waking life, but I think in the end just the conscious act of remembering is all you need to master to get that "switch" to turn on in your dreams. So, if you find this particular routine cumbersome and want to stop, doing so likely won't hurt your LD'ing memory development (as long as you're sure to still "just remember" during RC's, of course!).

I do have a mindset problem, that relates to the awareness you made:

If we prioritize the questioning of whether we are dreaming or not, by making rc's, asking ourselves what we did in the last hour, where does that leave space for being aware of our surroundings? Do we go for details? Or is the big picture that we need to focus on? Also (this might sound confusing) sometimes I read one of your replies and get "my" idea of being aware, but then it slips away! Not to mention sometimes I'm having such big discussions about a subject that I wonder later how could I focus on my task and in awareness at same time. Would we be talking about expanding your perception as well?

Excellent questions all!

* Regarding prioritizing RC's, I sort of already said it above but I'll repeat here that I think that if you reduce the frequency a bit between alarms -- and try for randomness -- you ought to find more time to consider that much bigger question of awareness. Keep in mind also that the very act of doing a RC helps you build your awareness, and you can add to this by setting your "attitude" toward awareness whenever that alarm goes off. Yeah, that made sense. In other words, do whatever you planned for each RC, but at the same time try to wordlessly -- even emotionally -- remind yourself that your are here, the world is here, and you both effect each other. That second RC exercise I suggested would do this verbally, of course, but even when using that RC it still would help to literally set your mood to wondering about your state. This is tough to describe but it is important, so if I failed to be understood, ask again!

* I'm not a big fan of details, so my answer here might be biased. That said, don't get too caught up in details; examining your surroundings could involve little more than touching a doorway, or sniffing the air, or wondering what that kid is screaming about out on the sidewalk. You don't need to absorb everything, or much of anything: It's the act of absorbing that matters, not what is absorbed. You're trying here to develop a constant sense of your own presence in the room, and this can be a very global condition. Also, if you get caught up on details you run into the whole "not seeing the forest for the trees thing," and that might be very burdensome.

*So yes, in my opinion it is definitely the big picture we should be focused on. Period.

*Yup that last question is confusing, but here: I'm not sure if your loss of your idea of awareness by reading my replies is a good thing or not. If it is not, then stop reading! Just kidding... the fact that you had an idea of awareness to let slip away in the first place puts you way ahead in this game, so try not to be disturbed. Also, don't be disturbed because that idea -- or perhaps a better one -- will come back; they always do, whether we like it or not.

*This will sound very odd, but try not to think too much about all this stuff -- especially while you're doing it. Sure, intellectual conversations full of complexity and new ideas are fun and often deeply educational. But all those words, terms, and high-end thoughts only become so many obstacles to be avoided when you are actively seeking self-awareness or trying to remember. Keep things simple, always.

*And yes, being able to hold onto your self-awareness while simultaneously doing a RC and perhaps a memory exercise will no doubt expand your perception. Mastering all this will likely improve your perception skills dramatically. For me that's a by-product of the whole deal, but I could see how it would be appealing!

I hope all this helps. Thanks again for the excellent questions, and your interest. I think you're setting yourself a nice mental base camp for the lucid mountains you'll surely be scaling!