How to discover dreamsigns

Once you have recalled a sufficient amount of dreams, it is time to write them all down in order to identify dreamsigns. Lesson 2 is all about dreamsigns. Dreamsigns are actions, forms, contexts or inner feelings in dreams that should have told you that you were dreaming in the dream. Obviously, if you recognize one while dreaming you most likely become lucid, which we address soon enough.

Discover dreamsigns column

After completing step 3 in the Lucidipedia Matrix ("Feeling excited"), we proceed to step 4 "Write & analyze", the first step of the "Discovering dreamsigns" column. Again I have cropped this column at the left side of this page. Step 4 is aimed to transfer your voice recordings or notes to your dream journal at Lucidipedia and to write down your recalled dream accounts in full length. By use of those recalled dreams you do an analysis for dreamsigns. After completion, the remaining time you have left before you go to bed is spend on motivation (step 5) and planning your lucid dream (step 6).

Inspire yourself with multimedia that remind you of the excitement to dream lucid. Eventually pick one of the most vivid dreams you have recalled this morning, copy-paste it into a text editor (if you journal your dreams digitally) and re-write the ending in such a way that you see yourself recognizing a dreamsign and executing your planned lucid dream that you wanted to have. Really rehearse this re-written dream by visualizing yourself recognizing a particular dreamsign, becoming lucid and doing the things you have planned to do. Script this planned lucid dream as specific and vividly as possible. Example:

"...suddenly I realized the talking bear was actually part of a dream; I'd become lucid! A burst of excitement rushed through my body. I shouted 'This is a dream!' and really enjoyed shouting this out loud. No time to waste, I immediately reminded myself to be Superman, take-off and fly to the moon... etc."

Step 4. Write & analyze.

Journaling dreams is fairly easy and much fun to do. The main thing is to take the task seriously. Many lucid dreamers give up on dream journaling because it demands time on their part. Unfortunately, they lose their appreciation for non-lucid dreams and solely focus on lucid dreams. Of course ordinary dreams are essential if you want to have lucid ones, so these people eventually fail to have lucid dreams and blame the techniques instead of their own lack of discipline and understanding. I am still amazed by the way some unsuccessful lucid dreamers depressively talk about non-lucid dreams as if it were garbage that doesn't contribute to lucid dreaming at all. I quickly get more frustrated when I hear they "just want to have lucid dreams".

Lucid dreams are "enriched" ordinary non-lucid dreams. So in short, you'll need them! Moreover, your job is to actually recognize ordinary dreams to become lucid by definition. Not wanting to pay attention to ordinary dreams is cutting yourself in the finger. Take dream journaling seriously and your dreams will take your efforts seriously. To become an expert lucid dreamer, an expert in recognizing ordinary dreams, you must become intimately familiar with them and thus be a disciplined dream journaler. Lucid dreamers are non-lucid dream "recognizers".

Step 6. Plan lucid dream

The last thing you do before you go to bed and start the "Recognize dreams" column, is planning your lucid dream. This is done in such a way that you pick your most vividly recalled dream you have recalled this morning and re-write the ending so it fluently flows into your planned lucid dream. Copy-paste the vivid dream to a text editor and delete the ending and really continue writing as if you were re-dreaming that same dream again. Only this time you'll recognize a particular dreamsign, turn lucid and decide to do whatever you have planned to do in that lucid dream. Be as specific as possible: colors, people that are with you, the way you feel, the way you consider what to do, etc, etc. Be as complete as possible and keep writing until you feel you have successfully written down all the things you have wanted to do in your lucid dream. This exercise greatly empowers your intent to attain lucidity.

Let's continue and learn how to recognize dreamsigns.