In the following three simple steps I describe a method of inducing LDs/OBEs that I practice. It proved to be very efficient to me.
1. Go to bed for your nightly sleep. Let's assume you go to bed at 0:00. Sleeping first is obligatory! Without that you will fail. If you lead a secluded life and practice meditation for years, you may have other options - but you don't!
2. Set an alarm to wake you up after about 3 sleep cycles (1 sleep cycle = 70 - 90 minutes). In our example this would be 4:30. If you practice this regularly for a while, you most likely will automatically wake at the defined time before the alarm starts. This is better, because the last sleep cycle will be completed then.
I usually use a multiple alarm that wakes me at 4:30, 6:00 and 7:30 so I can repeat induction in case I fail.
3. No need for relaxation techniques. By sleeping previously you are already relaxed. Get back to your preferred sleeping position and repeat the following sentence in your mind, steady and slowly:
"The next time that I dream I will notice that I'm dreaming and do a reality check."
Only concentrate on repeating this sentence, do not let your mind digress, but don't force it but mean it. It is not only an anchor to preserve awareness but also a "program" for your prospective memory to remind you that you are dreaming. This is a fallback function in case you lose awareness falling asleep.
It is also important not to have any expectations. As long as you wait for anything to happen - for example the vibrations you may have read about - you will fail. When I tell you to only concentrate on repeating the sentence, I do mean that literally. Whatever happens, just wait. You don't need techniques like "rolling out of your body", etc. Just wait and the exit will happen automatically.
That's it. It's as easy as it sounds and works for beginners and advanced oneironauts.
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Prerequisites:
1. Your dream recall should be well trained. A dream diary is the most effective method that I know.
2. Your prospective memory should be well trained. This can be done by setting specific actions to be done at a certain moment in the future, for example doing a reality check whenever you see a red car, etc. The trigger should be something else each day, you can also use several triggers at a time.
3. You should do reality checks regularly during the day. My favorite reality check is holding my nose and trying to breathe. It is discreet and very reliable. When you do the reality check, expect if to produce a positive result - using the breathing check, expect to be able to breathe. If the check fails, do not conclude that you are awake. Conclude that you could be still dreaming instead. The meaning of waking time reality checks is not to check your state but to keep up an awareness of your state and your environment.
Don't think you can just skip those steps. Without developing certain skills, you won't be able to induce lucid dreams reliably. Your general state of mind takes great influence as well. Challenge whatever you believe to be your reality - at best do this all the time. "Am I dreaming?" *reality check* "Hmm, I could still be dreaming." Even with this easy method presented here it takes dedication and discipline to master lucid dreaming.
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Further explanation:
This method combines two major techniques, WILD (Wake Induced Lucid Dreaming) and MILD (Mnemonically Induced Lucid Dreaming). Using WILD you are likely to have out-of-body experiences (I do about half of the time), MILD serves as a fallback in case WILD fails and you lose awareness. The latter produces DILDs (Dream Induced Lucid Dreams) which are usually "stranger" than WILDs, because you become aware during an already ongoing dream. By the combination of the two methods, this technique is very reliable.
By first sleeping you achieve three things:
1. Your body is relaxed.
2. It is easy to let your body fall back to sleep.
3. You can directly slip into REM sleep.
God is dreaming us.