Lucid Dreaming, perfect for furs :)

[Baconstrip]

So I'm not sure how familiar people are with the term... but Lucid Dreaming is the act of becoming self aware in your dream that you ARE dreaming and can then manipulate the world around  you as you see fit.    I personally have always had very interesting dreams, and I used to become lucid during those dreams quite a bit.  It has died down as I got a bit older, but I am now attempting to regain as much control as I can.   Currently I have maybe one lucid ever 2 months, but with practice that can increase!

Now, being extremely new to the world of furry, I have never had a lucid dream and became an animal, but I tell you, it is definitely possible to become your fursona and do anything you want within the dream.  It just takes an exceptionally long time to practice and get it right (for most people at least).  Some people have more of an affinity than others as well, but I dont doubt with dedication everyone can learn to become lucid.   Lucid dreaming really does seem like the PERFECT tool for a furry to actually become his\her fantasy.

Anyway a quick google search of lucid dreaming should provide you with good sites to learn from '>. A movie I would also recommend would be Waking Life.. which deals with lucid dreaming and philosophy.

I dunno, it just seems like the absolute perfect tool for a furry!   I hope it intrigues someone enough to give it the time to have results.. it truly works!

I also apologize if there has been a thread like this in the past...  I did a search and didn't really find anything '>

OH! PS: I hope this is also posted in the right forum!

[Dark Nation]

I don't fall into the stage of 'Deep sleep' where you start to dream, the only dreams I have are more like daydreams, made up in my head as i'm falling asleep, so i guess they would be almost lucid dreams

[Gwyndolium]

I had my interest in lucid dreaming a year ago and relearned the ability. But it's not true you can fully control your dream.... Well yes you do but you can't do all the things you want because your mind is very limited in lucid state. Because if you become to minded you'll awake.

I did alot of lucid dreaming but most dreams you know you dream and you do the first thing that comes to your mind. Like for example:
I noticed when I was dreaming and turned some dogs into husky's and hugged them. End of dream..
I have tried furry alot but it never happened to be that it came into my mind so I gave up..

Also I noticed that lucid dreaming is quite draining your energy and it wasn't that nice on school the other days.
So the only thing I use lucid dreaming for is to avoid nightmares. Yes I don't have nightmares anymore because if something bad happens I know I dream and can skip it immediatly or just wake up as I please. For the rest I do try sometimes but I guess I'm not the best gifted dreamer in the world..

[Mianame]

My sister and I ghave been able to lucid dream ever since we were little, even before we knew what it was.

I'll say that my talents for it are a little less, but I haven't had a nightmare in close to nine years simply because I'm able to wake myself up the moment they start. I can change and morph in my dreams and I've turned into a feline once or twice, but it is extremely difficult.

For my sister it isn't so hard and I don't think she's had many side effects. She's one of those rare people that never has a normal dream; she always lucid dreams, 24/7. Morphing for her is simple along with summoning things like horses or flying. So I'd say she's the perfect example of practice makes perfect.

The only bad part about dreaming is how little you remember when you have to get up and go right after waking up.

[Baconstrip]

Well becoming lucid is DEFINITELY going to be different for everyone.  I personally have not had the success of people I have read about... but I  certainly think that anything is possible when in the world of dreams. I do think with enough practice and understanding you could pretty much do whatever you want.  Currently, when I become lucid.... I wake up pretty quickly due to being excited.  Hopefully that will change for me someday '>

When I was younger I also often had times where I would become lucid and was able to step out of the dream and wake myself up.

[Baconstrip]

And yes,  the rememberance of your dreams is definitely a big problem with lucid dreaming.  Thats why most lucid dreamers recommend keeping a dream journal and writing down what you experienced the second you wake up.  Also positively affirming in your mind that you WILL remember your dreams helps build that memory too!  I have been pretty lazy about doing it... but it does help.  I remember a large amount of most of my dreams RIGHT when I wake.

[Bear Paw]

Its not an easy state to get to nor to maintain I found. Though the results are more than a little pleasing. It can be a very intresting experiance. Would like to find out if you could (for want of  a better word) stabalise it so as to get more out of it.

[Rooster]

I'm an insomiac, I'm lucky if I get 5 hours a night anyways.

[Mianame]

It's probably more likely that you have sleep apnea Rooster. That's a case where people have trouble reaching the final stages of sleep causing one to barely get rest, be woken up often, or feel tired all the time. I highly recommend seeing a doctor if you have trouble sleeping. In fact, I recommend that to anyone. I work with my mother every now and then when she does sleep studies and there are major dangers from missing even a few hours of sleep.

So enough preaching from me; back on subject. I've tried convincing myself before I go to bed that I will remember my dreams, but that seems to make me forget them even more. The journal things works great, however. When I actually get up off my lazy butt and use it, that is.

[DrDeraphis]

Lucid dreaming is difficult to do! I think that the hardest thing about lucid dreaming (next to actually doing it) is to remember to keep a dream journal after you wake up all groggy in the morning.

I think that I might have to start working on it again. I've been getting a strange series of numbers and places rattling off in my mind (1960s varients are the most prominent). Also, Isn't it possible to get to the root of your problems (mental illness, addictions, and insecurities) through your lucid dreams?

[Baconstrip]

Quote (DrDeraphis @ Oct. 30 2006, 3:09 pm)

Lucid dreaming is difficult to do! I think that the hardest thing about lucid dreaming (next to actually doing it) is to remember to keep a dream journal after you wake up all groggy in the morning. I think that I might have to start working on it again. I've been getting a strange series of numbers and places rattling off in my mind (1960s varients are the most prominent). Also, Isn't it possible to get to the root of your problems (mental illness, addictions, and insecurities) through your lucid dreams?

I'd imagine that it is certainly possible to explore your problems and come to self realizations about them.  I'd guess its similar to how deep meditation can help you explore your problems..

[Mianame]

All depends on your belief system Dr. There are those that thnk that the mind is doing nothing but playing random thoughts to keep itself working while your body rests.

I presonally believe that dreams do have a strong root in the subconscious, often times bringing up problems that are bothering you without you even knowing it. It's even possible, in my opinion, to dredge up memories from a past life.

But there are many cases where people say that there dreams have predicted past, present, and future problems in their lives, even sometimes helping them get over denial, fears, addiction, and even phobias.

[FreppleTheFox]

yeah i used to lucid dream several times a few years ago. Not on purpose, it just happened.

I was like bugs bunny in one dream, it was weird i was like controlling him.. but only lasted 5 mins or something. strange!

[Freecat]

I had a really strange but pleasant dream a few years ago and upon waking I found I could remember every detail, even the way things smelled. Over time the more I thought about it the more I had the same dream. After a few months of this I noticed many little details of the dream were changing and realized it was me changing them. Then I really started to have fun with it. Doing things like jumping from a tree limb way up in the air and landing on the ground as lightly as a feather would or walking through solid objects. The only part of the dream that I couldn’t control was my direct interaction with the other creatures in it. They played their own roles and could not be controlled for some reason. Maybe some of us play together in our dreams :~).
 That dream doesn’t happen as often now, maybe about once a month. I do find that I’m having many more vivid dreams than before and remember them very clearly. I can’t control events in them as well as I could in the original dream but I’m working on it. =^_^=

[Dark Nation]

Quote (Rooster @ Oct. 30 2006, 11:36 am)

I'm an insomiac, I'm lucky if I get 5 hours a night anyways.

Lucky if you get 5 hours?  Dude, that must make you the most well-rested insomniac on earth.  The rest of us have to get by on 1-2 hours a night MAYBE

[Baconstrip]

Quote (Mikey @ Oct. 30 2006, 10:22 pm)

Quote (Rooster @ Oct. 30 2006, 11:36 am) I'm an insomiac, I'm lucky if I get 5 hours a night anyways. Lucky if you get 5 hours?  Dude, that must make you the most well-rested insomniac on earth.  The rest of us have to get by on 1-2 hours a night MAYBE

I consider 5 hours of sleep a quality night of rest!

[Gwyndolium]

I definiatly need 7 hours of sleep a night else I'll crash after a week  

And about problems.. You can solve them if you made your own problems. You make your own fears for example and can make hem go away in your dreams if you do it correctly. And about memories it's true. If you lost something and recall it in a lucid dream most of the times you'll find in your dreams where it is in real. And of course dreams are very useful as inspiration as well.. That's why I normally just let the normal dreams go and learn from them instead of doing all yourself.

[LupineMagnum]

I always have lucid dreams, I have all my life. I don't think if this is a side effect of ADHD or whether it's because I sleep like a log (on an army cadet camp, I slept through 2 hours of gunfire).

Now, being an 18 year old male, these dreams usually encompass a single thing. Of course I have had other, more random dreams, but alot I have are about yiffing a certain blue vixen (no futher explaination required)

I am yet to have any transformation dreams or whatever, I am aware I am dreaming when it happens, but I have no control over what I dream about. Is there anyone out there who can actually control the content of their dreams?

[Mianame]

I can, to an extent. I had this one girl, Latia, appear in my dreams frequently who would try to run away from me. But I could stop her in mid-run and pull her back. In the first dream I saw her in, I was in a kitchen with black and white tiled flooring, but I didn't like the decor and I wanted to be outside. So I thought on that long enough to make one wall disappear and made the floor fade into grass and the rest of the area open up into wilderness.

That was the one and only time I did it. Now that Latia person always felt like something more than a dream person; maybe an entity visiting while resting, but wither way I know I always had more power when she was around, so something aobut her caused it. I could never just normaly do these things.

[Gwyndolium]

It's possible but it's way harder than people think. You really have to concentrate on the fact it's your dream and they have no power whatsoever so it will do what you want.. Like a sort of bruce almighty feature only harder.
That way I couldn't make a jump.. I just thought why not appearing at the opposite side..

But it's really hard to control all..

[Ginny]

I've heard of lucid dreaming, but I've only ever had one, and that one was...wow.  Just...I'll never forget it ^^
Anyway, do you think you could PM me instructions and such...?  I don't have the freedom to google it ((parental controls of comppy ><)).  Anyway, I agree, that next to the transformation files, this does seem to be a great tool for furries.  Thanks very much for posting!!

[Cobalt]

My old roomie in Michigan had a friend that could do that. I'd love to learn how to do it myself.

[Rooster]

Quote (Mianame @ Oct. 30 2006, 7:31 pm)

It's probably more likely that you have sleep apnea Rooster. That's a case where people have trouble reaching the final stages of sleep causing one to barely get rest, be woken up often, or feel tired all the time. I highly recommend seeing a doctor if you have trouble sleeping. In fact, I recommend that to anyone. I work with my mother every now and then when she does sleep studies and there are major dangers from missing even a few hours of sleep.

Oh, it's ok. I know what causes it, though this isn't the place to talk about it.

I just accept it and try to just get rested by chilling out to music instead. Seems to do the trick. I've been an insomniac since I was 18. I'm 21, and pretty healthy.

[Niiku]

i become lucid in my dreams quite often, mostly by mistake actually XD i'll realise that i'm willing something to happen (usually a transformation) and i stop, then i start again, and take control of the dream after that. it's quite fun, and rather rewarding too, especially on the few times i've gotten myself to complete the transformation into a dragon, or my fursona, or whatever before i woke up. :3 much more real feeling (and probably a heck of a lot safer) than i'd imagine that silly transformation file to be.

[Gyp]

My experiences with lucid dreaming are not quite like that...

I recently did a project for a psychology class in which I kept a dream journal for three weeks, writing down every detail from every dream I could remember and then, the next night, telling myself that I would remember my dreams the next morning. I have always had good dream recollection and many lucid dreams, but this project helped me compile some statistics.

I have approximately 1.5 dreams a night. Once, during those three weeks, I had up to seven distinct dreams on a single night. Also, 24% of my dreams are lucid.

Unfortunately, when my dreams are lucid that doesn't mean that I can do whatever I want to do. I cannot control the actions of the people around me; only my own. And I can only control my environment itself to a certain extent. For example, I can launch my house into space or add snowmobiles to a mountain, but I can't just decide to abandon one dream in favor of an entirely different location. Also, there are varying degrees of lucidity. Sometimes I am aware that I am dreaming and yet cannot control anything; other times I can consciously control everything I do and yet am not really aware that I am dreaming at all.

I have not become my fursona in a lucid dream... it's never made sense to be a furry, before, in the context of them. I have, however, become an alien, or a superhero, or any number of things... (Unfortunately, the one thing I can NEVER do in my dreams is fly. Never had a flying dream; not once.) If I were to somehow transform into my fursona, however, I doubt the experience would be satisfying. My dreams never make sense and always have "what the heck" elements, if you will. If I want everything to be perfect, I'll just stick with my imagination...