Will Development - Discipline is the Key!

Here are some "useless tasks" that will help you create the will power needed to have a lucid dream

1. write 100 times "I am a lucid dreamer."
2. move 100 paper clips from one box to another while saying with each clip, "I now have the ability to have lucid dreams." (great before bedtime)
3. stand on a chair for 5 minutes, with no TV, radio or conversations and repeat for the entire 5 minutes, "I have lucid dreams every night."
4. say "Hello" to five people you normally wouldn't greet, and in your mind, after you have said hello, repeat, "I am an oneironaut!"

"I Remember" Game - Scorecard Chart (reason for exercise - to reduce "automatic" or "inattentive" states of mind)

1. find a friend or group of friends to play with who you will see you several times a day.
2. for the next five days, anytime one of you friends playing the game with you hands you something, the recipient must say "I remember" or "I am dreaming."
3. the transaction must be hand to hand. If the situation makes it socially awkward to say anything, just wink or nod.
4. if the recipient doesn't say "I remember" or "I am dreaming," the giver must remind the recipient of the oversight, then mark one box on the forgetful recipient's scorecard with the giver's initials (date too). Your goal is to get as few initials on your scorecard as possible.
5. after 5 days, the winner is the one with the least amount of initials on his or her card. Agree on a prize for the winner, like a dinner, massage or item wanted, and celebrate!

Concentration Meditation I: the reason for this exercise is to reduce the tendency to let your attention wander to outer interruptions, which is necessary for recognizing when you are dreaming.

1. relax
2. do deep breathing, slowly
3. on in-breath and out-breath think of "one", visualize "1", say in mind "1" on next breath, go to "2", etc.
4. reject distractions, thoughts... just acknowledge "that's a thought" and let it pass, don't fight thoughts
5. continue for 20 minutes or work up to 20 minutes

Concentration Meditation II

1. sit facing a burning candle 3 to 4 feet in front of you
2. look steadily at flame until eyes get tired
3. close eyes and picture flame before you
4. reject all thoughts that draw your attention from the flame

Concentration Meditation III: the reason for this exercise is to create the ability to manipulate vivid mental images.

1. same as candle meditation, but using whatever object you like, plant, rock, tree, flower, coffee cup; something small, simple and stationary
2. create mental image of object in your inner vision, feel it rather than see it, smell it, taste it, hear it; it is floating in space in front of you open your eyes, look at object again; now, turn your body away from actual object, yet still see it in front of you when you close your eyes
3. now see the object as if it is actually inside your body, try different areas, but throat area is the goal
4. move object outside yourself and back inside yourself several times until it becomes easy
5. try different objects each day for 7 days in a row