You are remembering dreams. At least some of the time. OK. Now you are ready for the second step in learning how to lucid dream – reality checks. Remember the scene in Inception when Dom is talking to Ariadne and she doesn’t know it is a dream? We never question our state of consciousness because 99.99% of the time we live in consensual reality. We have no discernment that there are other realities. Yet there are. Stephen LeBarge describes dreaming as “perceiving without constraint” whereas normal perception is “dreaming with constraint.” He is talking about sensory input. As you have experienced for yourself at some point in your life, dreams feel as real as real life when you are in them. It is amazing and unexplained how the mind can create reality so “real” without the help of sensory input. Thus, it is quite easy to see why we are duped each time a dream happens, even when incredible events occur that defy logic.
A reality check is a step you take while awake. Right now, while reading this, pause and ask yourself this question: am I dreaming? Then ponder your answer, how do I really know? You must test reality. For me, I prefer trying to float. I just tried to float, but did not, so I must be in consensual reality right now truly writing my blog. However, tonight if I dream of this same occurrence, when I try to float, something unusual will happen. This will trigger lucidity. Another friend likes to pinch his nose and try to breathe through it. In a dream, you will continue to breathe. Try anything you like. The key is to do is about 5 to 7 times a day and to really question reality. It won’t work if it is a automatic or rote action.
After a few days of reality checks, expect to find yourself doing a reality check in a dream. This should be your first trigger for a lucid dream. Let me know how make out with this.