I have tried to talk to the Dream Awareness twice, but have only gotten short one-word responses so far. I probably shouldn’t be anthropomorphizing it and should let it do as it will, but I am impatient. I feel this is related to my strong hesitance to verbally discuss dream lucidity in person with others (though I can discuss it through writing). A (public) speaking fear is not something I have ever battled in my life – except with this topic, despite my intense interest in it.
I am very much looking forward to attending the annual IASD conference in June, assuming that it is not canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
I have been debating with myself over whether to email this or ask you publicly, but since nothing is too personal about this question, I thought other dreamers may have similar issues, especially as engaging with the Dream Awareness is the current theme of the Lucid Dream Experience publication.
Thanks, Cecely
(Cecely is not my real name, I prefer to stay anonymous for the time being)
Hi Cecely,
When you look at a large group of experienced lucid dreamers who have expressed a question to the ‘awareness behind the dream’, you see a vast array of results.
Some people report having a fascinating conversation. Some report getting a very clear and meaningful response (verbally or visually, as in the lucid dream changes or objects appear). Some report Zen like or cryptic responses. Some report very short responses. Some gibberish. Some have the interesting case of having the question get caught in their throat — such that they find themselves unable to speak in the lucid dream!
And sometimes, the questions or requests asked seem off-base (so it’s kind of a Garbage In Garbage Out phenomena).
As I write in my books, lucid dreaming is ‘dynamic’ — since we can decide on actions and intend for things to occur — however, our beliefs, expectations, focus, intent/will and X (the larger awareness) help to co-create the response.
For example, if I believe that I can easily fly through the wall, then I can! I believe it is easy, and it becomes easy.
But if I fly up to the wall, and then think “Oh, this will be difficult — the wall looks very solid” — then suddenly, I bounce off the wall. I can not fly through it. My belief and expectation of ‘difficulty’ gets reflected in my experience.