Wide Asleep
An old friend used to always be on about lucid dreaming, or "dreaming while knowing that you are dreaming." This friend had a recurring dream and had gotten to the point of being able to control many factors and move about in the dream world with some level of confidence. It sounded fun and interesting; I was always jealous, because I rarely remember my dreams, and I've never gotten dream-awareness—until this weekend.
Well, not quite, but I did have something close to a lucid dream:
I was on a road trip with many friends. We were staying at a massive hotel/casino/apartment-complex thing, which abutted a small regional airport (simple prop jobs and the like).
At some point, wandering around the massive complex and the adjoining airfields, I became separated from the group. I later met up with some others, who were also separated. As we walked back towards the hotel, we passed a giant buffalo, standing out-of-place in the middle of a parking lot. The buffalo gave chase, and we took off running, with me freaking out quite loudly.
As we ran, someone in the group assured me with a firm tone: "Stanley, do not let yourself get chased by the buffalo. Do not let yourself get chased by the buffalo."
I thought about it and then just sort of willed it. Whizbang! The buffalo disappeared, and I slowed to a calm walk. The group didn't really talk about what had just happened.
Okay, so yeah, not exactly a lucid dream, but close. There was certainly some level of control, and it gives me hope for further lucid dreaming. That said, I'm told it leaves you very, very tired. And boy howdy, if I haven't been dragging ass all day long.
Well, not quite, but I did have something close to a lucid dream:
I was on a road trip with many friends. We were staying at a massive hotel/casino/apartment-complex thing, which abutted a small regional airport (simple prop jobs and the like).
At some point, wandering around the massive complex and the adjoining airfields, I became separated from the group. I later met up with some others, who were also separated. As we walked back towards the hotel, we passed a giant buffalo, standing out-of-place in the middle of a parking lot. The buffalo gave chase, and we took off running, with me freaking out quite loudly.
As we ran, someone in the group assured me with a firm tone: "Stanley, do not let yourself get chased by the buffalo. Do not let yourself get chased by the buffalo."
I thought about it and then just sort of willed it. Whizbang! The buffalo disappeared, and I slowed to a calm walk. The group didn't really talk about what had just happened.
Okay, so yeah, not exactly a lucid dream, but close. There was certainly some level of control, and it gives me hope for further lucid dreaming. That said, I'm told it leaves you very, very tired. And boy howdy, if I haven't been dragging ass all day long.
posted by Stanley at 19:49
5 Comments:
"Do not let yourself get chased by the buffalo" -- words to live by.
You guys were all clothed? Too bad -- lucid dreams can be nice venues for public nakedness.
If you find yourself continuing to experience lucid dreaming an any kind of regular basis, the next step is to try and consciously affect the course of the dream-reality. It can be done! I have done it once or twice, though only a little bit and mostly for juvenile purposes like taking off dream-characters' clothing.
Lucid dreaming rocks consciousness! I've had a handful of them, but only when, while falling asleep, I consciously determined that I would remember my dreams. I focused my attention on that one thought, which makes falling asleep quite a tiring activity, as opposed to just flopping on a pillow with your hands down your pants.*
*Not that I do that.
Not that I do that.
Well, right, because as you've disclosed previously, you sleep in the buff. There are no pants down which to thrust one's hands.
TMK, on the other hand, waits for the dream's onset before disrobing everyone.
Competing strategies, sure, but equally valid, it seems to me.
hummmm....i recently had a dream that involved you with group of people, a pool, a dare, a knife, venturing through a field and a casino. no buffali though....from the dream i would assume that you have the power to do something that you dont believe is possible. it is possible however, if only you exercise your will. or, it could be a message that things dont have to be the way that they are/seem. and that a change in your perspective could change the reality of the situation.
that will be 25 cents please....
I wholeheartedly endorse "buffali" as the new plural of buffalo.
As for your armchair dream analysis, I've put two bits in the mail for you. Thanks.
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