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Robert, I had my first active lucid dream last night. In this dream I actually realized my intention to become aware of being in a dream state. In this lucid dream I started off by testing to see what I was capable of doing. Two of the activities that I engaged in were changing the setting of my dream from my grandmother’s yard to a landscape from Sweden, and flying.

What was interesting about this experience is that when I awoke, I felt this limitation to what I could do. When I changed the setting of my grandmother’s yard into a landscape from Sweden, it then reverted back if I didn’t hold my focus on that specific change at all times. When I flew, I could only fly for a short period of time, then I’d fall back to the ground. I would try to fly again, but I would fall again after a short period. Not too long after that, the dream continued, but my awareness of it dissipated. I no longer was aware I was in a dream and lost my lucidity. I’m not sure what to make of this and I hope you could provide me with some insight. Thank you Robert.

Hi Alfredo,

Congratulations on your first actively induced lucid dream! It’s great that you were able to stabilize the lucid dream, and then think of some experiments to perform.

So I have a few comments:
1) Lucid dreaming involves your beliefs, expectations, focus, etc.—since they all get reflected in the dream experience. If you believe it is easy to fly, or in a lucid dream there is no gravity, then you will probably fly very well. But if you have doubts or uncertainties, they will get reflected in the lucid dream. Therefore, experienced lucid dreamers realize that they are manipulating their mind (beliefs, expectation, etc) and not so much an objective place;

2) If you focus on Sweden, then focus on something else, don’t be surprised that things revert to the original (your focus weakened). It takes time to learn how to influence things successfully; and

3) In early lucid dreams, it helps to remind yourself every 30 seconds, “This is a lucid dream.” In that way, you do not get entranced by the dream action and return to regular dreaming! Maintaining your lucid awareness seems one of the most important early lessons in lucidity.