The belief that devices are able to cause lucid dreaming entrance if autonomous techniques fail, even though it is much easier to enter lucid dreaming through strictly individual efforts.

Wasting a large amount of time and effort on various technologies to create a lucid dream state.

Using cueing technologies on a daily basis, even though they aren’t supposed to be used more than twice a week.

Using cueing technologies all night long, when it is much better to use these in conjunction with the deferred method.

Using cueing technologies without affirming a personal intention of appropriate reaction to the signals: this is crucial to cue effectiveness.

Working in pairs during the first hours of nighttime sleep, even though REM sleep occurs infrequently during them, and at that for only short periods of time.

While working in pairs, the helper giving an active practitioner too strong a signal. Signals should be kept discreet to prevent waking the sleeper.

Employing an amateur hypnotist to increase the frequency of dream consciousness.

The use of hypnotic suggestion on a practitioner who is not susceptible to hypnosis.

Using physiological signals on a daily basis and thus causing physical discomfort versus getting enjoyment out of the practice.

The belief that chemical substances are the normal path to dissociative experiences. Acting on this belief is equivalent to drug abuse.

Around the world: It is possible to reach any point of the planet, and it is particularly interesting to revisit places where the practitioner once lived or visited, and visit places that the practitioner has a strong desire to visit. Every sight and beauty of the Earth become accessible, be it the Eiffel Tower or an island in Oceania, the Pyramids of Egypt, or Angel Falls.

Through Outer Space: Although humankind is not going to reach Mars any time soon, any practitioner may stand on its surface and experience its unique landscape through the use of translocation in lucid dreaming. There is nothing more amazing than observing galaxies and nebulae, planets, and stars from the vantage point of deep space. Of all lucid dreaming applications available, this one provides practitioners with the most striking aesthetic experiences.

To different places in time: This makes it possible to visit a childhood, to see what a person will look like in the future; a pregnant woman in lucid dreaming may see what her child will look like. Travel far back in time and witness the construction of the Pyramids at Giza, see Paris in the 17th century, wander among the dinosaurs of the Jurassic period.

Through different worlds: Travel a world that has been described in literature or just invented by the practitioner, developed in the imagination. These could be extraterrestrial civilizations, parallel worlds, or universes from fairy tales and films. Any destination is nearby.

This technique is performed by walking or flying through a wall with the eyes shut and a firm conviction that the required location is behind the wall. The barrier does not necessarily have to be a wall. It can be any non-transparent object through which a practitioner may walk or fly: a screen, a wardrobe, and so on.

The main drawback of this technique is the necessity of appropriate skills for penetrating through solid objects of lucid dreaming. Another necessary condition for applying this technique is the presence of barriers to pass through.

Attempting an applied use of lucid dreaming without reaching a good depth. Deepening must always be performed before applications are attempted.

Being so involved in lucid dreaming applications that “maintaining” techniques are forgotten.

Forgetting to consider how to breathe when traveling through Outer Space or underwater, which may lead to a feeling of asphyxiation.

Concentrating on a certain object while traveling through time instead of concentrating on time travel, which should be the focus since it is the point of performing the application.

Forgetting techniques for “maintaining” when animate objects are encountered, when these techniques must always be kept in mind.

An inability to overcome fear during contact with deceased people. This fear must be overcome once and it will never resurface again.

Limiting desires while practicing lucid dreaming. There is no limit to desire within lucid dreaming.

Limiting the performance of certain actions, although there are no customary norms of behavior in lucid dreaming, unless the practitioner decides upon specific limits.

While looking for information in lucid dreaming, attempting to obtain knowledge which clearly exceeds the scope of the subconscious mind.

Applying the technique of obtaining information from animate objects without knowing how to communicate with them.

Forgetting to check the ability of an object to convey valid knowledge. The probability of bad information is much higher if it is not verified.

Failing to verify information in lucid dreaming before using it in reality.

Forgetting to verify serious information in reality before using it. Verification absolutely must be performed to avoid using bad information in reality.

A single attempt to influence the physiology through lucid dreaming. In the majority of cases, results are gained through repeated effort.

An attempt to cure some disease only using lucid dreaming, whereas it is compulsory to seek medical advice.

Initially believing that lucid dreaming is the exit of the soul from the body, while this is easily refuted in practice.

Concentrating only on unproven applications, despite all the evidence out there that this is most likely a waste of time.

Rostov-on-Don, Russia

My first time entering lucid dreaming. I dreamt that I was hurrying somewhere, and constantly thinking about something. At a certain wonderful moment, I hit upon the idea that I was dreaming, and decided to try to exit (M.R.: wrong action and no deepening). I lay on the ground and began to exit, imagining how I was separating from the body. During the transition, I nearly was thrown out of lucid dreaming due to tension and fear. I was nonetheless successful. I saw myself at a doorway after having crawled through a wall. It was like coming out of a bog. The sensation of separating was very vivid.

I suddenly noticed a person there. He helped me to get completely out (M.R.: no plan of action). He introduced himself, and started telling me some particulars about the world that I had landed in (I don’t recall well what he said, as I was looking around the whole time and couldn’t tear my eyes off my surroundings – I was spellbound). In the end, I became worried about my body, and decided that it was time to return back (M.R.: wrong logic). Returning was like a nightmare. There were voices, sounds, and strange sensations. I had the feeling that time had stood still… I was so happy upon waking up that I couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night.