The main conclusion that an experienced practitioner will come to is that direct techniques are actually easy, and not much more difficult than any other ones. The problems only lies in understanding certain subtleties. As soon as they become clear, results are easy to obtain.

Despite it being constantly emphasized that the free-floating state of mind is of decisive importance, nearly all novices stubbornly look through all the various techniques in search of a silver bullet. However, an advanced practitioner will hardly ever use techniques. He will immediately go for the free-floating state of mind with practically no effort or strain. That’s why the same phrase always comes from the mouths of experienced practitioners: "That’s right, I don’t do anything at all. I simply lie down and wait for lucid dreaming." And it just comes 50-70% of the time. This comes in sharp contrast to some novices who simply waste much time and energy banging their heads against the wall trying to leave their bodies, and as a result only 1-2% of their attempts result in success, which is at best purely incidental.

Let’s take up an example of direct lucid dreaming entrance by the advanced practitioner. lucid dreamingr determines the interesting things he will do in lucid dreaming, lies down at bedtime in an uncomfortable position for sleeping, and simply tries to fall asleep while holding on to the thought that it’d be swell to enter lucid dreaming. That’s all! Three to ten minutes later, and he’s already caught a lapse of consciousness into lucid dreaming. Meanwhile, if he felt that he would fall asleep quickly, he’d use cycles of techniques to keep his conscious mind focused. If, on the other hand, his mind were excessively active, then he would monotonously perform some technique while lying in as comfortable a position as possible for sleep. But in most cases, the quintessence of direct techniques consists in attempting to fall asleep in an uncomfortable position, all the while having the thought of lucid dreaming in the back of one’s mind. Or at least that’s how it’s supposed to be, and that’s just how it often works – for the simple reason that those are the best conditions for having the right kind of prerequisite lapses in consciousness, on the rebound from which lucid dreaming arises. If ten or fifteen minutes go by without result, then lucid dreamingr simply goes to bed or stops with the attempt, as a direct lucid dreaming entrance attempt should be done with enjoyment. If lucid dreamingr is not enjoying himself, then that’s a sign that he’s making mistakes.

Meanwhile, the most important improvement a lucid dreamr can make is in his attitude towards the end goal of an attempt. There’s a reason why he holds on to the thought, "it’d be swell to enter lucid dreaming". That should be in the back of his mind, but not at the center of his attention. The practitioner should be indifferent as to whether or not anything happens. He should let go of control, desire, and the feeling that it’s important – and then everything will work. If he lies down to perform a direct technique with intense desire to enter lucid dreaming right then and there and no matter what, then nothing will happen. There won’t be any lucid dreaming without a cool, indifferent attitude. If there is anxiety or expectation, nothing will happen. An advanced practitioner would not even attempt direct techniques if he felt excessive anxiety or desire regarding lucid dreaming entrance. He only makes attempts when he’s cool and collected, as well as more or less indifferent to the result. Deep down, of course, he’s not indifferent. His desire is deeply held – it is not of the superficial type that physiologically interferes with obtaining results. As soon as the practitioner understands the significance of this principal, the effectiveness of his lucid dreaming entrance attempts will suddenly improve.

The only exception might be using the direct method to enter lucid dreaming in conjunction with the deferred method. In this case, the techniques can take on substantially more importance, and deeply-held intention less importance. This depends on how long one has been awake after sleeping. Such attempts are more similar to the indirect method in terms of effectiveness.

Forgetting to perform deepening techniques when necessary.

Halting deepening techniques before reaching maximum realism in lucid dreaming.

Carrying out unnecessary deepening while at a sufficient depth.

Carrying out main deepening techniques prior to having become completely separated from the body, although at this time only primary deepening should be used.

Continuing deepening techniques when results have already been achieved.

Alternating too quickly between deepening techniques instead of concentrating on each of them for at least 5 to 10 seconds.

Performing the techniques slowly and calmly instead of aggressively.

Observing objects located too far from the eyes during visual sensory amplification instead of the required four to five inches.

When peering, scrutinizing a single detail of an object for too long when it is necessary to quickly switch from one detail to another.

Taking in a whole object when peering while only parts of it should be observed.

Concentrating too long on the details of a single object instead of focusing on different objects in quick succession.

Long palpation of a single object during sensory amplification instead of rapidly switching from one object to another.

Deepening while standing in place when it is important to maintain constant motion.

Falling headfirst with the eyes open, although the eyes must be shut to avoid crashing into the floor.

Falling headfirst without the desire or intention of falling far and quickly.

Forgetting to use translocation techniques after hitting a dead end.

Forgetting to alternate deepening techniques if some of them are not working.

Fear of the hyperrealism of the experience and halting deepening instead of calmly continuing with the technique.

EXERCISES

Questions

After which lucid dreaming entrance techniques is deepening necessary?

Why is lucid dreaming deepening necessary?

Are there cases where lucid dreaming deepening is unnecessary?

What level of reality should be achieved by deepening?

When should deepening begin after entering lucid dreaming?

Does deepening influence the length of a lucid dream experience?

Why is primary deepening necessary?

May one touch one’s head when the performing sensory amplification?

Should a practitioner look at curtains while peering?

Is it effective to apply peering at lucid dreaming objects from a distance of 1 to 1.5 yards?

Can peering be used during palpation?

When should the eyes be closed while falling headfirst?

Would throwing punches like a boxer help a practitioner to deepen?

How calmly should the deepening techniques be performed?

Tasks

Devote the next three successful lucid dreams to perfecting deepening techniques, using all of the methods described in this chapter.

Try judging which technique suits you best from personal experience.

Charles Leadbeater was born in England in 1847 (1854 according to some sources). After dropping out of Oxford due to hard times, Leadbeater became an ordained priest, but then became quite active in the occult. This led to his becoming a member of the Theosophical Society in 1883. Leadbeater became one of its most famous participants.

The combination of a bright mind, scientific knowledge, and interest in the paranormal led him to publish many books on many diverse topics. One of them, Dreams: What They Are and How They Are Caused (1898), was one of the first works to touch upon the phenomenon of lucid dreaming. Leadbeater’s writing is saddled with a ton of esoteric terms and theories. In it, the term astral plane is predominantly used for lucid dreaming. Nevertheless, the book is not without some helpful guidelines concerning techniques.

Charles Leadbeater passed away in 1934.

Thus far, indirect techniques used for lucid dreaming entrance and techniques for separation in lucid dreaming have been covered. Conscious awakening and the best times to practice it have also been examined. Now, a specific algorithm of action for indirect techniques will be presented. Following this algorithm promises quick and practical results.

It ought to be clearly understood that the more natural and sound sleep preceding an attempt is, the better the effect from awakening and the higher the odds of success. What is needed is to fall soundly asleep and sleep sound thereafter, after which a sound awakening can be put to good use. Cycles of indirect techniques can occasionally be successfully used during fitful sleep, but in most cases this is a pure waste of time and energy. When sleeping poorly, it’s better to do no techniques at all and await sound sleep, as opposed to spending all your time trying to snatch lucid dreaming from the jaws of a wearisome and hardly salvageable situation.

Algorithm of Action upon Awakening:

Australia

I had an awakening and immediately attempted to roll out. That didn’t work, so I tried brain strain, but still nothing… So I phantom wiggled, not sure which part of my body, just something – anything, as I was determined to separate.

It worked, and I felt myself moving upward and forward and then I seemed to get a little stuck, and so I thought, “Oh, I am just going to stand up – they say that works when you are stuck.” I immediately stood up, my legs from the knees down went through my bed. It was very pleasant to be free of my body. The whole movement of separation had a slight, effervescent tingling sensation (as you see on Star Trek when they are translocating, i.e. “Beam me up Scotty.”)

I moved to the side of my bed, but I hadn’t opened my eyes yet as I was a teeny bit anxious (excited) about what I would see when I did. I naturally started touching everything within reach: the wall, the bed, and the stool at the end of my bed. I then opened my eyes.

I immediately felt and saw a small dark shadow at my feet. I knew it was Tsar, my Mother’s Blue Russian cat. Although he does not live with me at the moment, I knew it was him. As I moved away from room, I caught a glimpse of my body lying in my bed: my mouth was slightly open and I could hear myself softly snoring. I had no desire to look directly at my body.

I was thrilled to be out. I stepped into my living room (M.R.: no plan of action). To my left was a lamb and a sheep and several brownish-black geese. I was delighted to see them there in my living room. I felt Tsar at my feet again.

My attention was drawn to what was outside through the window. There I saw colorful, twirling carnival rides. The colors were not brilliant as I had hoped they might be, however when I looked directly at one it twirled faster. There were a multitude of birds in the sky, passing overhead. It was quite surreal. I got the same feeling as I got when watching the scene when birds flew by in the movie Jurassic Park.

Back in my living room, the animals had gone but I noticed wet, sloppy bird droppings on the carpet (naughty geese!). I looked at my hand it was not normal. Half was natural flesh, and the other half was like moulded, skin tone plastic, as in the mask the Phantom of the Opera wears. I was not at all perturbed at its appearance. I just thought, “oh, that’s interesting.” My next thought was, “I am going poke my finger through my hand.” I did, and then quickly removed it, thinking to myself, “eewww! It works.” Again, I was not perturbed.

I moved into the kitchen. It was as if burglars had been there. There was broken glassware and crockery all over the bench. I am presuming it was those naughty geese again. Anyway, I turned to the refridgerator and saw a broken mirror on the floor and wondered where it had come from. The refridgerator door was ajar, I opened it further and discovered that the vegetable crisper drawer had a mirrored front and it had been smashed. I opened the freezer door to see about 8 cups of ice cream (the commercial kind, something like Cornetto). Their lids had been peeled off and sticky ice cream had run and dripped everywhere. Was it those birds again?

I turned back into the living room to see more runny bird droppings than there were before. Puzzled, I wondered how I was going to clean up this mess.

I then heard people outside and looked down through the window. (I live upstairs.)

There were half a dozen people dressed in dark blue workman’s clothes down there talking. One of them was a woman who shot me an unpleasant look and said something that I couldn’t hear. I felt threatened. A little nervous, I waited for them to pass underneath my apartment, but they didn’t appear on the other side of the building. Phew! (In reality, my apartment is suspended between two buildings, cars and pedestrians pass under.)

Standing on the threshold of the living room and kitchen, I decided to fly and see how that felt. I zoomed around the ceiling a couple of times.

Now standing in the living room, contemplating what I should do next, I felt a little bored. I figured I might as well go back to my body (M.R.: wrong logic). I moved to my bed and crawled into my body. I felt a little disheveled and crumpled in there, but as soon as I felt smooth and comfortable I opened my eyes.