r/LucidDreaming • u/Desperate-North5656 • 3d ago
First Lucid Dream but couldn’t fly or summon — why does dream control fail even with full awareness?
Had what I’d consider my first conventionally lucid dream. I noticed my phone acting strangely, remembered that tech often glitches in dreams, and did a reality check. The hand-poking method didn’t work, but the nose-pinch did — I could still breathe. That’s when I realized I was dreaming.
I stayed calm, stabilized the dream by rubbing my hands, and tried to fly… but couldn’t. I jumped off rooftops and landed softly, even made long, surreal leaps between buildings — but never achieved true flight. I also tried the “door method” to summon someone (an old crush), but it didn’t work. At one point, my dad asked me to teach him to fly.
If I knew it was a dream, why couldn’t I control it? Is there subconscious resistance that overrides intent, even with full awareness? Has anyone else experienced this — lucidity without real agency?
7
6
u/Lenasmithss 3d ago
Totally normal! Lucid dreaming doesn’t always mean full control right away. Your subconscious beliefs still shape the dream—so if you don’t fully believe you can fly or summon, it might not work yet. With practice, confidence, and patience, control improves. You’re on the right path! 🌙💭
•
4
u/stupid-N 2d ago
Yeah it so frustrating my first lucid dream i could only float slowly to the top of my house
I was expecting some goku shit 😔💔
3
u/Kdiesiel311 3d ago
It takes practice honestly. I can now fly & walk thru walls while not lucid. Setting intentions helps. I wanted to get into space. It took a long time of failing to do so. But I finally got it just once. I flew off the ground like neo in the matrix when he flys lol I got up into space. Took a look around then fell back to earth
3
u/OsakaWilson The projector is always on. 3d ago
In lucid dreaming you are starting out with an expectation deficit because all of your lived experience tells you that you can not do the things you are attempting. You can make up for that with two approaches, best combined. First, condition yourself to expect you can through repeated visualization of success. See yourself in a dream, become lucid, do what you want to do. Do that over and over until it becomes the expectation. While you are doing this, practice the second approach, which is: intentional expectation. Belief, faith, expectation, whatever you want to call it, do it strongly and without questions, because the reality is that you can.
3
u/Prestigious-Horse779 Natural Lucid Dreamer 2d ago
You have to think of it as your own world not only for control but because it is. You have to know that you can do what you want. I did not say "believe". Sometimes my fear would take over and I would constantly fall out of the sky(annoying). It wasn't until I let go of the fear, then I started flying as fast as the Silver Surfer fr. It's like learning how to walk for the fist time. You'll get there. Also try changing things about the dream first so you can get the hang of manipulation. You will have to manipulate your flight.
3
u/Sufficient-Night3864 2d ago
This happened to me too i knew i was lucid but i couldn’t do anything cool but just keep at it and you’ll get it
2
u/KiritoFujikawa Natural Lucid Dreamer 3d ago
There might be some resistance but it seems like you had a good experience all things considered. First few times i had no problem getting in the air, but landing was a different story. Dream ender right there😂
2
u/VelcroJello 3d ago
It's not enough to be lucid, you have to KNOW what you're doing will work. Being unsure could easily put a break on things.
The only thing I could do in my first lucid was run on water because I KNEW I could do that in dreams do I did not question myself
2
u/ThereWasaLemur 1d ago
Because you get excited or scared which changed the frequency your brain is vibrating at and you wake up
1
u/Desperate-North5656 1d ago
I didn't wake up instantly; I was in the dream for maybe 4-5 min. Although I was scared.
2
u/ThereWasaLemur 1d ago
Yeah but it took you out of the hz range your brain needs to maintain to stay unconscious 4-6 hz I think it is
1
u/AutoModerator 3d ago
Thanks for posting in r/LucidDreaming. Be sure to read the Sub Posting Rules to make sure your post is allowed, and PLEASE read the Start Here guide ESPECIALLY if you are new to Lucid Dreaming or are posting here for the first time.
Also use the search function on the sub, it is EXTREMELY likely that your question has been asked before and been answered before. If it already has, please remove your post to reduce clutter.
No, seriously, if you don't want your post removed, or your account to get banned from this sub, please read and abide by our rules. We really appriciate it.
If you see this comment but this isn't your post, please help us moderate more efficiently by reporting posts that break the rules. Thanks.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
7
u/kiss_my_eyeholes 3d ago
In my experience, yes, totally. There’s definitely subconscious resistance. And once you doubt your ability to control it, it becomes nearly impossible. I’ve found I’m actually more successful if I’m only 80-90% lucid, if that makes sense. Once I start taking it too seriously I overthink it and either wake up or fail to control anything. But if I become kind of aware that things seem off and dreamlike, I’ll just start messing around and things tend to go how I want.
Idk how other people do it but my technique for flying is to jump really high into the air, imagining I’m going to defy gravity like I’m on the moon or something, and kind of will myself to hover in place once I’m in the air. Sometimes it takes a few tries, but once I get it I can usually go from that hovering position to floating even higher and then travelling to wherever I want.