Tripping balls or lucid dreaming presents an intriguing and peculiar endeavour. Some propose that one can actively inhibit any chosen reality within a lucid state, essentially materialising their dreams. To attain such states, however, individuals must diligently cultivate their skills during waking hours. An integral facet of this cultivation involves honing the ability to discern the nuances of reality, thereby distinguishing it from the realm of dreams.
With more and more people trying cannabis, psychedelics, and other medicines like MDMA and ketamine, it may be good to go over some "reality checks" that you can use in case you get to a place where you are not sure what is real and what is in your mind at the current moment.
Reality assessment, also called reality testing, is a pivotal avenue toward achieving lucidity. This entails training oneself during waking moments to question and assess the fabric of one's reality periodically. Does it hold to expectations? Does everything appear as anticipated?
However, embedding reality assessment into waking and dream experiences necessitates a more intricate approach than mere fleeting inquiries. The crux of a reality check resides in the genuine and deliberate scrutiny of one's state – whether dream or wakefulness.
Much of this process hinges upon the nature of the inquiry and how answers are contemplated. Yet, enhancing the acquisition of transparency can be facilitated by employing "dream signs" or indicators. These are deliberate points of focus or checkpoints, such as attempting to pass one's fingers through the palm or observing the visage of a clock.
WHAT CONSTITUTES AN EFFECTIVE REALITY CHECK?
For a reality check to yield results, it must involve something feasible only within the realm of dreams but implausible in the waking world. Additionally, the chosen check should possess an element of peculiarity that triggers the realisation of being in a dream state upon its occurrence.
Illustrative instances of reality checks encompass:
Can you effortlessly pass your fingers through your palm?
Can you take flight without constraint?
Does your physical form adhere to the conventional? Do you even possess a tangible form?
Does the surrounding world exhibit intricate details?
Can you breathe unobstructedly with your nose covered and mouth sealed?
Can you accurately decipher the time on a clock?
What transpires when you gaze into a mirror?
It's also plausible to tailor a reality check to align with your disposition, potentially bolstering its efficacy. Whichever avenue you choose, ensure it manifests a distinct outcome in wakefulness.
As previously highlighted, dedication to the reality check's execution is paramount. A cursory contemplation of whether you're soaring through the skies won't suffice. Instead, pause deliberately and immerse yourself in the sensory experience – feel the solidity of your feet planted on the ground and contemplate the tactile sensations. Such mindful engagement vastly heightens the probability of discerning deviations in sensation during dream states.
WHEN IS THE OPTIMAL TIME TO CONDUCT A REALITY CHECK?
Incorporating reality checks into your routine several times per day is quite beneficial. Regular practice reduces the likelihood of performing things within dreams. You won't consciously think to yourself, "Ah, now is the time to conduct a reality check." Instead, repeated practice while awake leads to the incorporation of these checks automatically during dreams.
Consider occasionally questioning your state of being during the day to speed up this process. A suitable strategy entails doing a check every time you cross a threshold, whether at the entrance or exit of a door - regardless of its state. Making this a habit in everyday situations makes the desire to do so in dreams second nature.
HOW TO CONDUCT A REALITY CHECK FOR LUCID DREAMING OR TRIPPING ON PSILOCYBIN
Having grasped the fundamental tenets of reality-checking, let's delve into some illustrative examples with more intricacy. Although these instances can be effortlessly assimilated, the underlying principles remain consistent across all reality checks. Thus, select those that resonate most with you.
TRY TO PENETRATE YOUR PALM WITH YOUR FINGER
This reality-check option holds merit due to its testability in waking life.
Initiate a self-query regarding your dream state, then endeavour to guide one or two fingers through your palm. During wakefulness, sincerely strive to execute this action while cultivating a mindset that entertains the plausibility of success. Immerse yourself in the sensation of resistance when your fingers encounter an impediment.
By honing this approach, you refine your capacity to focus during reality checks within your dreamscapes.
LOOK INTO A MIRROR
An alternate choice involves scrutinising your image in a mirror. Naturally, this approach hinges on the availability of a mirror, both in reality and the dream realm.
Once more, the key lies in genuine concentration. A cursory glance merely leaves your dream self unable to discern its distinctiveness from reality. Pause and attentively observe your features. Do they mirror the norm? Do your eyes manifest the anticipated hue? Does your reflection accurately resemble your expectations?
In the domain of dreams, subtle disparities or even unrecognizability might manifest. The crux, however, lies in your earnest commitment to observe and discern, ultimately uncovering the truth.
READ A CLOCK
In the real world, clock faces are typically straightforward and logical. However, in the realm of dreams, this clarity often fades. Upon closer examination, you might find that dream clocks sport five hands or display numbers that diverge from the conventional (such as 31:72).
Once again, pause and genuinely decipher the clock's features whenever you practice this test while awake. Take note of all the numbers and the positions of the hands. Invest a moment to absorb the information and grasp its coherence.
TOSS A COIN
Employing a coin flip can prove remarkably effective as a reality check. In reality, the coin swiftly ascends and descends, yielding one of two outcomes.
Within dreams, the coin might remain suspended indefinitely, soar unexpectedly high, or descend with any outcome – even materialising as a completely distinct object.
Utilising a coin flip is a robust test due to its demand for heightened focus in waking life. Executing flipping and catching necessitates concentration, automatically fostering greater mindfulness.
HOLD YOUR BREATH
As previously mentioned, an alternative approach involves attempting to hold your breath. This endeavour swiftly becomes uncomfortable during wakefulness. Yet, in dreams, you could maintain breath retention indefinitely.
Breathing is an elemental aspect of our existence, making alterations in our breathing patterns a conspicuous indicator of departing from waking reality – provided we cultivate the skill of recognising such deviations.
Bottom Line
In pursuing lucid dreaming, mastering the art of reality checks is a pivotal gateway to consciously navigating the realm of dreams. Individuals can bridge the gap between waking reality and dream states through deliberate and focused engagement with carefully chosen checks. By infusing each fact check with genuine contemplation, embracing tailored dream signs, and integrating regular practice into daily routines, one can unlock the potential to recognise and harness the malleable nature of dreams. With these tools, lucid dreaming becomes an attainable and intriguing endeavour, inviting individuals to explore and shape their dreamscapes with mindful awareness and creative intent.
LUCID DREAMING, WHAT IS IT, READ ON...
