Stabilization Fundamentals

[Mzzkc]

[johnb]

This is a topic of great interest to me, since I have a lot of trouble with LD stability. Recently, Moonbeam pointed out to me that LD stability means two things:

1) Not waking up too soon.
2) Not losing lucidity.

Maybe that's where the idea of balancing attention that you mentioned comes in. Having an LD is like balancing on top of a narrow wall: if you fall on one side of the wall you wake up whereas if you fall on the other side you end up in a non-lucid dream. The problem (I think) is that LDs are inherently unstable, because being aware that you're dreaming tends to wake you up, while trying to moderate the awareness that you're dreaming can make the awareness go away completely.

One thing I've found that can help with stability is just to consciously think about the problem on a regular basis. Before going to sleep I repeat to myself that when I become lucid I will take various steps to maintain stability. Also, when I do RCs during the day I practice dream-stability exercises. For example, I'll rub my hands together or touch various objects and think about what they feel like.

Moonbeam mentioned that--besides inducing lucidity--the proper use of supplements can maintain stability in the sense of reducing the likelihood that you'll lose lucidity. She also pointed out that taking supplements earlier in the sleep cycle will cause you to have LDs earlier, which will make it less likely that you'll wake up prematurely. I hope she'll post some of her theories on stability here.

[Serenity]

I've always enjoyed your tutorials, Mzzkc! They're always extremely well thought-out, and well-wrote!

You reminded me of some techniques that I'd used once, in a particularly difficult lucid I was in, that I had to keep "saving" (using the sensory methods). I've definitely forgotten a lot of them, though (forgetting they exist), so it was great to revisit this information. Thanks!

[Relyt]

This is a cool post! Finally something new for me to try  I've never tried your "Flame technique" so I'm not certain that what I have in mind is what you mean, but the ideas you propose to be behind dream stability seem to make sense. I've always thought that focusing "inward" or too much on the "waking body" versus the "dream body" was what caused dream stability issues and you have helped me to sharpen my definition of this idea. Thanks! 

Yes I know this is an old post, but I lurk around the old posts because I find useful ideas like this one when I do, most of the time.

[Sunshine]

(content removed by user request)