I had a very odd experience during a nap today. In my dream, I did the light switch reality check for some reason. The light didn't turn off and I became lucid.
The strange thing is, light switches in my dreams usually do work like in real life. And knowing this, I never even considered doing the light switch test when I read about it some years ago.
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I'm currently doing the MILD prerequisite practice which is detailed in Laberge's book. In any case, i found out that i keep thinking about the goal of the day so by the time it does happen i wouldn't be really using my prospective memory..
For example, let's say i set my intention to RC when i see a red car. I keep thinking about the red car and by the time i see one, i wouldn't have to use my prospective memory to RC.
Am i just thinking too hard about this, or is there something more? It's like the "cant stop thinking about something i want to forget" case.
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Is all day awareness really such a bad technique for providing someone with consistent lucids? Because I find it really easy for me to maintain my awareness of my senses with this method. I find being aware extremely easy and the concept of ADA comes really easy to me were as its confusing for others. But in my case, self awareness is confusing for me where as its easy for others.
So what I'm asking is. If I consistently practiced ADA wouldn't I still get the same results as someone who consistently practiced self awareness? I just like ADA more because its easier for me.
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I'm not sure where to post this. Or if you even want to use it. But... I wrote it. So... here you go!
The Prospective Memory Course:
A Multisensory Approach
by: ThreeRainbows
5/29/16
I. What is Prospective Memory?
Prospective memory, quite simply, is the ability to remember to remember. For example, if we need to take a pill at 5:00 PM, we use our prospective memory to remember to take this pill at the correct time. It is future-oriented, where as typical memory is past-oriented. In lucid dreaming, we use prospective memory to remember that we are dreaming, or to remember our RC triggers. However, in a society that relies on phones for alarms, GPSs for directions, and computers for everything else, we have very little "need" to do any of this remembering ourselves anymore. It is unfortunate, because this skill is pivotal for the success of lucid dreaming.
II. Purpose: Why does the lucid dreamer want to build prospective memory, and why should there be a course devoted to this topic?
Building prospective memory empowers the lucid dreamer on many levels. Useful for the beginner and advanced dreamer alike, developing this ability sets a foundation that directly increases the liklihood of DILDs (often the first stepping stone for the new lucid dreamer), as well as MILDs (a more advanced technique). Prospective memory affects our ability to have a DILD by aiding us in the performance of successful reality checks, both inside and outside the dream-state. By questioning our reality in real life through the use of prospective memory-based RCs, we are more likely to do the same in a dream - thus increasing our chances of a DILD. It also improves the success rate of the MILD by enhancing our ability to remember to remember. This will allow us to remember the MILD mantra we can use while falling asleep: "I will remember that I am dreaming," during the dream-state - causing lucidity.
Furthermore, building prospective memory allows us to increase our effectiveness at achieving lucid dreams by increasing our all day awareness. When we perform a list of well designed reality checks, we engage all of our senses. We may trigger a reality check visually (everytime we "see" something), aurally (when we "hear" something), kinestetically (everytime we "do" something), etc. This increases our chances of becoming lucid by giving us more opportunities to trigger in-dream RCs than usual (we will have practice at RCing in response to a sight, a sound, a feeling, etc., where as the typical reality check often focuses only on seeing a trigger). We can even create RCs that appeal to our most proficient way of learning (visually, aurally, etc.), thus helping our personal ability to remember. Additionally, our RCs do not have to be limited to the traditional "5 senses." We can push our reality checks to include emotional or mental pre-requisites, or just about anything that enters our field of perception.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, prospective memory is essential for building what Stephen Laberge and Howard Rheingold call, in their book Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming, a "critical-reflective attitude" (1990). This is the questioning mindset that allows for genuine and meaningful RCs, and it is this skill that truly affects our ability to lucid dream regularly. By specially planning RCs to include unusual, but not completely uncommon, criteria, we fight against our natural inclination to think we are always awake, and push our boundaries of what we consider to be "awake-only" material.
A course on developing our prospective memory can help in our pursuit of lucidity, and much moreso than without such a resource. Performing typical reality checks may get us only so far; guidance can help us to learn what makes reality checks effective, how to design them uniquely for ourselves, and offer us an organized approach to building up our skill. This way, it is not so much of a one-time course, but a sustainable, routine-based method of incorporating reality checks, and the critical-reflective mindset, into our daily lives.
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How does one train themselves into remembering to stay still when they wake? Ofcourse when i wake i instantly here my alarm and roll over to see what the time is ect....is maybe using mantra the way? Thanx =)
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Over the last couple of decades we have become used to the possibility of launching a satellite into orbit no longer being the exclusive preserve of superpowers. Since the first CubeSats were launched over a decade ago a myriad others have followed, and scarcely a week passes without news of another interesting project in this area.
OzQube-1 is just such a satellite, designed for imaging of the Southern Hemisphere, and it’s the brainchild of Australian [Stuart McAndrew]. He’s posted significant details of its design: it’s a PocketQube, at 50mm cubed, an eighth the volume of a CubeSat, and its main instrument is a 2 megapixel camera with a 25mm lens. Images will be transmitted to earth as slow-scan digital video via the 433MHz amateur band, the dipole antenna being made from a springy tape measure which will unfurl upon launch. Attitude control is passive, coming from a magnet aligned to ensure the camera will be pointing Earthwards as it passes over the Southern Hemisphere. The project has a little way to go yet, but working prototypes have been completed and it has a Gofundme campaign under way to help raise the money for a launch.
There are plenty of Cubesat and other small satellite builds to be found on the web, here at Hackaday we’ve covered a significant number of them. Many of them are the fruits of well-funded university departments or other entities with deep pockets, but this one comes from a lone builder from Western Australia. We like that, and we wish OzQube-1 every success!
If you have owned Android phones, there’s a reasonable chance that as the kind of person who reads Hackaday you will at some time have rooted one of them, and even applied a new community ROM to it. When you booted the phone into its new environment it’s not impossible you would have been surprised to find your phone now sported an FM radio. How had the ROM seemingly delivered a hardware upgrade?
It’s something your cellphone carrier would probably prefer not to talk about, a significant number of phones have the required hardware to receive FM radio, but lack the software to enable it. The carriers would prefer you to pay for their data to stream your entertainment rather than listen to it for free through a broadcaster. If you are someone capable of upgrading a ROM you can fix that, but every other phone owner is left holding a device they own, but seemingly don’t own.
Across North America there is a group campaigning to do something about this situation. Free Radio On My Phone and their Canadian sister organization are lobbying the phone companies and manufacturers to make the FM radio available, and in the USA at least they have scored some successes.
We have covered numerous attempts to use the DMCA to restrict people’s access to the hardware they own, but this story is a little different. There is no question of intellectual property being involved here, it is simply that the carriers would rather their customers didn’t even know that they had bought an FM radio along with their phone. If this bothers you, thanks to Free Radio On My Phone you can now join with others and find a voice on the matter.
It’s interesting to note that many FM radio chips also support a wider bandwidth than the North American and European 88 to 108MHz or thereabouts. In parts of Asia the broadcast band extends significantly lower than this, and the chipset manufacturers make products to support these frequencies. This opens up the interesting possibility that given a suitable app a cellphone could be used to receive other services on these frequencies. Probably more of a bonus for European radio amateurs with their 70MHz allocation than for North American residents.
Via CBC News. Cellphone image: By Rob Brown [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
I know the common reason behind why W.I.L.D can be irritating as it causes you to miss quality sleep time and ofcourse getting used to egnoring the itches and saliva build up ect but has anyone got used to being able to do ot quiet well? Its too strong of a word to say mastered i suppose but im curious as i know alot aboit W.I.L.D which i may start practising alot more new my recall is better =)
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Prepping as a family has its challenges, but it can also be a lot of fun, especially when you make it into a game. One of the most important parts of prepping a family is ensuring they have wilderness and outdoor survival skills. No matter how old the members of your family are, there are wilderness survival skills they can learn. What better way to do this than by playing wilderness games?
There are a variety of outdoor and wilderness games that can make learning these skills fun and engaging for kids of all ages. From getting kids comfortable with being in nature, increasing their awareness of what is around them, and helping them learn how to accomplish a variety of tasks, the games that follow can accomplish these objectives. But first, a word on how to present these games to your kids.
Talking to Your Kids
No one knows your kids better than you, which means you are the one who knows the best way to talk with your kids about survival. Maybe your children are older and/or able to handle the truth of why you are prepping. Maybe they are younger or more sensitive and cannot understand or would be stressed if they knew the whole story. Either way, it is important to discuss different aspects of prepping with them. You can tell them the why of it if you think they can handle it or you can just present it as something to learn just for the fun of it.
You should talk to your kids, if they are able to process the why, before you start playing these games, so they have some context when playing. This will help them better absorb what they learn. You can also talk to everyone after you have played the game to find out what they learned, what stood out for them, what they might have struggled with, and if they have any questions.
At the very least, giving everyone who is playing some background is helpful. Potential world disaster scenarios aside, every child, no matter how sensitive, should understand that emergencies happen and that the family has an emergency plan. Kids should also know what to do if they ever get lost or if they are concerned about a stranger that has approached them. If you spend time camping and in the wilderness, then they should know basic survival skills.
Safety First
Even though these are games, parents must not let their enthusiasm get the better of them. Take things slowly and teach kids one skill at a time. If you overload them, they won’t absorb it as well as they should. It is also important to ensure that the game suits the age of the players and that an adult is supervising the game at all times.
Be sure that kids understand their responsibilities, as well. This means following the rules and staying within the boundaries set by the adults in charge. Kids must also be taught to respect the environment and any equipment or tools they are using.
Games
That said, it’s time to learn some great wilderness games to play with your family. The following games are listed with the appropriate age range when applicable. Please remember that the age ranges given are just suggestions and you will need to judge the appropriateness of any of these games for your children based on their age, developmental abilities, and maturity level. Choose the ones you think are most applicable to your family, your situation, and the skills you need to learn.
Track Those Tracks (any age)
Whether you are in the city or outside of it, there are bound to be animal tracks around. Determine which are the most common tracks in your area or where you are camping or hiking and create a sheet that shows a variety of tracks and to what animal they belong. Give one sheet to each player. This is also a great game for adults to participate in to test their track-identification skills.
Choose your area and see who can identify the most tracks within a given period of time. If you have lots of participants, then people can pair up, perhaps an older child or adult with a younger child. This is a great way to learn the various animal tracks, which will help kids learn to track animals when hunting or know which dangerous animals might be in the area.
This is a great game in which anyone, young or old, can participate. Create a sheet of a variety of wild edible plants in your city or the area in which you are camping or hiking. Ensure the plant pictures and names are on the sheet and have everyone find as many of the plants as possible.
This is a fantastic way to help family members learn to identify wild edible plants they can eat in emergency situations. However, for the sake of safety, be sure everyone understands that they should never eat a plant if they are uncertain if it is safe, as there are poisonous plants that look similar to edible plants. Children who are unsure about a plant should always ask an adult before eating it.
Shelter Challenge
Before playing this game, teach the kids about the different types of shelters that can be built in the wild, such as lean-tos and teepees. Kids should understand that outdoor survival depends on finding or making shelter that will help keep them warm and dry. This game can have a couple of variations. With the first, you can have everyone, either individually or in teams, locate the best natural shelters they can find. This can be hollow trees or logs, natural overhangs made from tree branches, caves, or other applicable shelters.
The second variation is to divide people into teams and have a challenge in which you see who can build a lean-to or other type of shelter the fastest. You can do this near your campsite or find a spot along a hiking trail. Wherever you are, make use of material you find there. You can also choose to provide each team with some basic items they might have in their survival or bugout bag, such as rope, duct tape, or a tarp.
Fire Prep Challenge (ages 6 and up for gathering materials; ages 10 and up for building a fire)
Do your family members know how to start a fire? Even older children can learn. And young children can learn what materials are required to make a fire. This challenge will see individuals or teams in a wilderness setting gather the materials they think they would need to successfully start a fire. Before starting the challenge, talk about the different materials that can be used to get a fire started, such as materials that would make good tinder and kindling, and what wood is best for the fire.
This game has a few variations, including:
Have participants gather materials that would make good tinder or kindling or wood. You can use just one of these categories and see how many materials they can find that would qualify or you can have each person/team find the materials for one category. The adult supervising the game can then test out the materials to see which ones work and which ones don’t.
Have participants gather all material they would need to successfully build a fire. Each person/team will have to determine what would work best.
For older kids and adults, you can take the previous challenge further and have them arrange the tinder, kindling, and wood properly and actually try it out to see who can get the best fire going based on the materials they collected and how well they built the foundation for the fire.
Have the person/team gather materials and build the fire as in the previous challenge and then try different ways to start the fire without a lighter or matches.
This is a hide-and-seek game that will teach kids how to move with stealth. This is a useful skill to learn in case the time ever comes when they have to stay hidden from potentially dangerous people. The game is played as follows:
The seeker will set boundaries for the playing area and designate six locations that are bases.
The seeker will remain at the sixth and final base and the players will all hide.
For each turn at moving toward one of the bases, the seeker will call out how they will count and what number they will count to. They might choose to count to 10 quickly or five slowly.
When the seeker counts, the players move toward their next base. If any player is visible to the seeker when the counting for that turn is finished, that player is out.
The first player to make it to the final base without being seen wins.
The final game is one that will help kids develop their navigational skills. If you are camping, have a cottage, or are just hiking for the day and have a base area set up, you can play this game. Stay together as a group, or if you have more than one adult who can navigate, split up. Then play as follows:
Each group will have a map of the area and a compass.
Take the group to a random location (different locations equidistant from the base if you have more than one group).
Have the group find their way back to camp or whatever base or location you have chosen. If you have more than one group, then the first group that makes it back to base wins.
You can start with an easy location that is close to the base and work up to longer distances and more complicated terrain. This will ensure kids learn how to find their way anywhere, whether or not they are familiar with the area.
Bugging Out
You can call this game whatever you think is the most appropriate for your kids. It could be called Going on a Road Trip or anything else you can think of, but essentially, it is a bugout drill. Create an imaginary scenario (appropriate to the age and sensitivity level of your younger family members) and give everyone 15 minutes to pack the essentials and be ready to go. This will give your family practice at getting ready to bug out and you will see where you need to work on your preps. After you are ready to go, you can follow through with a nice drive or day trip with your supplies, choosing to see how you would get by with them for the day or choosing to do something fun and unrelated to prepping.
Geocaching is a great activity that teaches navigation. Geocaching is essentially a scavenger hunt where people hide items and other people find them using GPS navigation. But you can do this with your family with an added twist. You can do away with the GPS and use a map, compass, and written communication or symbols to find the hidden items. After all, when disaster strikes, there won’t necessarily be cell service and GPS to rely on. Kids and adults alike have to learn to rely of old fashioned methods of navigation.
You can hide items in various areas around your home or neighborhood or around the area where you are camping and get your family members to team up and find them. Provide them with a description of where the items are and a map and compass and let them find the items. In a real life survival situation, you might have to rely on leaving caches for other family members to find, so this is a great way to practice.
The above games are fun to play and kids and adults of all ages will love them. They will teach the kids and adults in your family skills that will serve them well in any emergency situation, no matter where they are or where they need to go. You can adapt any of them to be done in an urban setting and they can also be great games to play when disaster strikes or the collapse of society happens. When there is no longer internet to keep kids occupied, these games will ensure they are entertained and educated in important post-collapse life skills.
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Maybe its new but maybe not.....
Sometimes in a lucid dream i have wondered or worse woke myself up because i dont know where my real body is sleeping which gave me the idea.
If everytime i go to sleep i constantly remind myself that 'right now im in bed going to sleep in my house' maybe it will click when im dreaming? Like maybe i keep telling myself this then im dreaming that im on holiday then the thought before i fell asleep kicks in...hang on a minuit im actually in bed sleeping.
Thoughts? Thanx =)
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Iv gone thought my dreams the past 2 months looking for signs and what type of dreams im having.The main thing i realise which is common for most people is that i never question anything....is this a lack of awareness? Iv always thought my awareness isnt too bad?
The typical type of dreams where i never ask why are we here? Or this isnt right? Or why is our house looking different?
Obviously if i learn to always ask in my normal dreams all the time then ill have a better chance of becoming lucid....i guess im asking....is there a less boring approach to this rather than constantly asking myself where am i or how did i get here?.....im willing to do it if it works but any other suggestions? Or certain awareness exercises? Thanx =)
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Crystal radios are old news, but great fun. What would happen if a PhD designed a crystal set? By PhD we mean Pizza Hut Deliveryperson and [John Greenlee] (who may not actually be a PhD of either kind; we don’t know) gives us a good idea with his crystal radio in a pizza box.
Pizza boxes aren’t the only food-related material in this radio. [John] makes a tuning capacitor out of cake rounds. Coincidentally, he decorates the tuning capacitor to look like a pizza.
The schematic itself is unremarkable–just a common crystal set. But the construction of the chassis and the capacitor make it an interesting project. If you know a young person that has any interest in radio, a crystal receiver is a rite of passage you shouldn’t deny them and this one is certainly a novelty. The picture of a pizza takes it even one step further than this YouTube build, which is nonetheless a good resource.
The instructions are well done, although some of the parts may be slightly hard to find. Germanium diodes and high-Z earphones are not as plentiful as they used to be, although you can still find them if you look.
People say things like ' in nearly every dream i see a ball' or something but i feel my dreams are that random that if i pick a dream sign ill only see it once maybe a month as non of them are that re occuring.
What is the best way to practise becoming lucid with dream signs is it just mantras and RCing? Ima haveto dive into my dream recordings and really try and find something but its gonna be hard!
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So, something really interesting and weird has been happening for a while now and I'd really like to know what this is:
When I'm going to sleep, I have the sound of rain playing on my iPod as ambient background noise. After about 5 minutes or so, I will notice that I can no longer hear the sound of the rain. It's just quiet. But, it seems like once I notice the lack of sound, I "wake myself up" and start hearing the sound of the rain again.
1. Is this the beginning of a WILD?
2. What can I do to keep my consciousness in this silence without "waking myself" back up?
Thanks in advance!
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I've decided to recently go back to lucid dreaming and since few days i've been keeping dream journal again
I picked activity of starting conversation with someone for a time when i would perform reality check, since in 99% of my dreams i talk with DCs atleast once
But there was problem with reality check, i needed one that was ultra fast since you know it's hard to reality check aswell as keep conversation going without looking as if you weren't listening to what people were saying :tongue:
I had tons of ideas for reality checks but eventually i think i've grabbed a good one
Not long ago, about a year i've started wearing glasses, i wear everywhere yet during whole year's dreams i've seen them only once inside dream
So i though it might be possible to turn that lack of glasses into reality check
Here's my plan:
- Someone starts talking to me or i start talking to someone
- Ask myself question 'am i wearing glasses'
- Check if i wear them
- If i don't then perform secondary reality check breathing through closed nose and decide whether im dreaming or not
- If i wear them then answer to question with i'm not
- Continue conversation or either enjoy lucid dreaming adventure ;-)
I'd love to hear your opinion about my idea guys, since well... my lucid dreaming skills kinda rusted from all that inactivity hehe.
- Thanks <3
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I’m just wondering…if you relied mostly on “techniques” to become lucid (like dream signs, triggers etc. as a way of becoming self-aware in the dream state), would you ever get to the stage that you don’t need them anymore, but become lucid easily based on sheer experience of having LD’s?
For example, if someone had become lucid a lot from consistently occurring dream signs, and didn’t resort to any other “technique” - could they ever abandon the technique and find it easy to continue to LD simply from the experienced they’ve amassed of being lucid in dreams so much? Or would they still always need their technique?
As an aside: I understand that LD'ing is about mindset (not technique), but often techniques can and do contribute to the mindset, which was another reason I was curious if you could eventually leave them behind, in light of general experience and skill.
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There are 10 items listed. You can choose which item you think would make the best gift for the coming Father’s Day or you can pick up other items in the Make Summer Perfect with GearBest.
How to enter: write a comment below with the item (number) you want.
One winner will be picked up on May 31. The prize will be the item win most votes (under $60).
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I've seen this question posted a lot lately and figured it'd be best to put it into poll form so people could easily see.
It took me about 3 weeks, which is what I'd expect to be average, but I may be wrong! Feel free to post specifics and any tips or tricks that worked for you! :)
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As far as i know, memory is considered one of the lucid dreaming fundamentals. However there isn't a lot of info that explains it properly in the case of becoming lucid. With that in mind, i have been thinking about how much does memory assist in lucidity.
So, suppose that someone has been negatively affecting their memory strength through some sort of activity, would this hugely damage the ability to lucid dream? From my observations that seems to be true to some extents, but the question lies:
If someone had a good amount of self-awareness in a dream but a weakened memory, would that by-logic make lucidity harder to attain? In my search for why my lucid dreaming ability has gone weaker, i have noticed that i have also weakened my memory along the way. Coincidence or not, there has to be a reason for that. Even though self-awareness is lucidity, what role would memory take in that matter is something that i've yet to know for sure..
I could have answered my questions without knowing, but the fact is that i'm not perfectly sure right now.
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I finally had a lucid dream today after a month of not having them.I was walking the dogs *in waking life* and i had a thought.Alot of my time i spend at work and alot of lucid dreams have started with me bieng at work.
So before i slept like 20mins ago i tried a W.I.L.D which i came close * got to the hypnotic stage* but lost it somehow so i decided to roll over and go to sleep.Before i slept i imagined myself becoming lucid whilst at work and did this about 3 times.
I then luckily had a dream where i was at work and something just clicked and off i went....i woke up after about 10mins into the lucid as my dog barked =/
I suppose my question is why did i become lucid? Was it an intention that i made to become lucid next time i dream that im at work? Or did my W.I.L.D attempt before i slept had something to do with it. BTW 90% of my lucids are D.I.L.D's. Thanx for reading about my rant =)
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Hello, everybody! So, this is my first post here, and I have religiously kept a Dream Journal for two weeks now. Here are my results:
1. 27 dreams, or 12 on week 1 and 15 on week
2. 3 lucid dreams, with the last one being a successful stabilization, where I clutched tightly into the walls and floor.
3. Reality check: counting fingers.
4. Two days of no recall.
Based on these results, does this surprise you? Am I making progress? Any tips? I haven't intentionally done WB2B, but meditated on a few nights. Thanks!
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First off there is no such thing as perfection, but there is the best available property for your needs.
Finding the best Bug Out Location (BOL) depends on your requirements and personality – yes personality. Some people thrive on their own just with their immediate family while others need the support system of like-minded people.
Why do you need a BOL?
There are various scenarios from the possibility of natural disasters to post-apocalyptic chaos that prompt people to find secret locations where they can exist off the grid (OTG). When there’s a natural disaster that covers quite a large area – like a hurricane, the necessity arises of moving elsewhere where you have food, water and a place to stay until things are back to normal. If you are thinking of terrorist attacks or some other kind of meltdown in the system when cities are just not going to be able to cope, then you may be in your BOL for an extended period of time. Maybe your BOL is just your place to get comfortable with nature over weekend and holidays – so you are going to need to make it more “livable” rather than an emergency escape.
Best or cheapest land?
Let’s face it the cheapest land is the land no one else wants. If you can see potential that others can’t see then go for it but you have to consider a number of factors. Often farmland that has been abandoned goes cheap – the result of too many chemicals or bad farming practices. Nature however has a way of restoring itself, look at how wildlife has re-established itself in the Chernobyl area – but OK we are not thinking that extreme!
People who buy impoverished farmland and let it return to a wooded state – with some judicious help by planting indigenous trees and shrubs will soon have wildlife re-establishing itself within a few years.
The best land has the amenities you want – water, decent soil, seclusion, safety – but the price will be higher.
How often will you use your BOL?
If only to be used in the event of an emergency then a BOL with no accommodation but enough supplies to last a couple of months and tents stashed underground in rot proof containers may be all you need. If you are thinking of it as a weekend retreat then you can consider making it more permanent. Of course a permanent construction is easier to find – but what are you really hiding from – the riotous hordes will be in the cities searching for food and supplies – not in the mountains. And the chances are they won’t have the tracking skills to find your place if you have hidden it carefully. If it is not going to be visited often then perhaps the option of a trailer instead of a permanent place may be an idea – But when I say trailer I mean one like this, light and easy to tow behind a vehicle that can pop up with everything you need and even a tent on top!
What do you need to establish?
You BOL should be carefully chosen to provide you with water, food, and shelter and be reasonably accessible year round. Yes, it may be great to have a cabin in the mountains but how do you get there in winter? How do you stash enough fuel to keep warm? You will need water, shelter, food and medical supplies – more or less in that order unless you have chosen Alaska where shelter will be first priority, followed by fire to melt the ice so you can at least get something to drink!
To keep your family going in the woods if you are cut off from supplies, you will need to have a well, spring, or rainwater tanks on your property. Properties next to a lake or river are easy to find, unless it is near a very small stream. The best may be to rely on rainwater tanks –it is an expense to get them in there in the first place, but entirely doable if you can get a vehicle to the site – check access roads – they should not be too accessible but on the other hand not totally impassable.
In rural Missouri, Arkansas and SE Kansas there are lots of suitable places with wooded streams. If you look at NE Arizona, NE Nevada, NE North Dakota and NW Minnesota you can find cheap land but you will need to check the climate, the availability of water and possibility of growing food or hunting for food. Having a patch of desert without any water doesn’t help. I got excited a few minutes ago about a piece of land in the Sierra Blanco area of Texas I saw advertised online – $20 000 for 20 acres – until I saw the pictures – flat, arid, stony with a bunch of cactus. Unless you built underground any shelter would be seen from miles away.
New Mexico is a possibility as there is quite pleasant weather down that way and buying rural property there is reasonable.
Consider your neighbors
Yes, you are going off grid but humans are a co-operative species and we depend on each other for survival – in your tribe you want like-minded people. So if you are considering buying a large property together make sure you camp out with these people and put yourself into situations where you have to depend on each other – you will soon work out who you want in your tribe. If purchasing on your own in a new location make sure you can get help from neighbors if necessary.
When you buy a property near a small village check out the townsfolk first – go to the local hang outs and have a drink – tongues get loose and you will soon hear about undesirables in the area – you don’t want to make the mistake of buying into an area where illegal activities are going on – criminals also favor out of the way places where no one is likely to come snooping around!
What do you want to spend?
Generally people are spending around $1000 per acre but there are some bargains around at around $500. Of course if you want everything already there – underground storage, rainwater harvesting, vegetable garden established and fruit trees plus a livable structure you will pay more.
The problem with a lot of rural properties is that although the price per square acre is relatively low the properties are huge so you could end up paying quite a lot. This is where it may be better for a few families with similar ideas to buy the land together and then each establish their own BOL on the property – independent of each other.
Bear in mind that you are going to pay more for flat land, as it is easier to build on and to farm. If you buy something cheaper that is virtually on the side of a cliff you will be able to control access better but it also may also make escape more difficult. Rocky land is cheaper and may provide hidey-holes if you need them or the opportunity to construct something between the rocks that blends in.
Do your homework thoroughly
Study the prices paid for properties sold recently in the area you are thinking of buying so you are not over-paying for land.
Check how far the property is from your current home. How far are you prepared to travel to reach it? In worst-case scenarios where the roads are blown up or blocked you may not be able to get there with a vehicle. Have mountain bikes ready as transport or off-road motorbikes (remember they need fuel so fuel should have been stashed at your BOL and the tank should always be kept full in case of emergency). Check your route from your current home to the BOL – if a bridge is unserviceable can you cross somewhere else safely – will you need a blow up raft to get across? Can you access the property in summer and winter? If it is too difficult to access it is not worth buying.
Find out about climate conditions over the past 50 years – old timers in the town will be able to give you the details of floods, hurricanes, mud-slides and so on or you can do an internet search on the natural disasters that have befallen the area you are planning to buy into. Constructing your home or positioning your camp will also need to take cognizance of the possibility of wildfire, flooding, prevailing winds as well as access to water.
A BOL will need trees for various reasons – they provide shade, firewood and cover from overhead – so try to build your shelter under the tree canopy to minimize detection form the air. A property that has fruit or nut trees already established on it is a bonus and one that has suitable materials for making fires adds to that bonus.
Check the various access points to the land – no one wants to be trapped without a “backdoor” – foxes normally have around 3 to 4 exits from their dens.
Test the soil and identify the grasses growing on the land. The soil needs to be reasonably loamy if you want to grow vegetables and the grass should provide suitable grazing for the animals you plan to keep. Of course if you are looking for something simply to escape to for a short period of time then you don’t have to consider the soil.
What wildlife is already living on your land?
If you are keen on hunting and there are lots of deer and rabbits on your property you probably will be able to get something to eat, but their relatives are going to eat whatever crops you plant, unless you can fence the vegetable garden properly. If you have lots of flowering plants you will be able to keep bees and enjoy the honey – but so do bears. Are there bears in the area?
If you are think of an area like Nevada, Texas or Arizona is the land you are looking at full of snakes and venomous insects? If so you will need to know how to deal with a bite correctly. Otherwise choose a location with more amenable reptiles.
How to go about finding properties for sale
The wider your network the more likely you are to find a suitable property. Register for sites where properties are put up for auction, check EBay (but be aware that putting in a winning bid doesn’t guarantee a sale), get estate agents in the areas you have pin-pointed doing their homework. Try land4less.us for cheap properties. As with anything do check out whether properties are legit and never buy anything unseen. You will also need to check whether you have the mining rights, laws pertaining to construction, restrictions with regard to hunting and so forth.
Put the word out among locals in the nearby village or town – they are bound to get news first and if you offer an incentive you could pick up a bargain before the real estate agents get in on the act.
Lastly don’t forget friends and family – for each person you know they know at least 100 others – it works exponentially. Let your dentist, doctor, barber, even the pizza delivery guy know you want a property in a certain area – you don’t have to tell them why – and you will be surprised at what may come up. The pizza delivery guy may have a granny in Arkansas whose friend’s daughter’s boyfriend has some land…
The ideas outlined above probably aren’t going to appeal to survivalists who want their location to be totally secret because hundreds of people are going to know the general area of where to find you. You have to make up your mind about how far off the system you are planning to go. But if you are buying or renting the property records will be kept and you can be tracked down.
Of course you can do something crazy like hide out in a state park but the park rangers are likely to take dim view of your presence, and taking off for a foreign country and hiding out in one of their national parks could have equally serious consequences. Having said that certain South American countries are welcoming of immigrants – Puerto Rico and Colombia for instance are relatively easy to get into if you really want to go that far.
Multiple locations
You never know where things are going to go wrong so it is advisable to have multiple locations for BOL’s, but that is expensive – so again a cooperative approach may be best. Buy into a number of larger tracts of land with other preppers – so you have at least 2 to 3 options. This enables you to keep an eye on each others land and buildings during routine visits, to develop and share resources, pool labor for bigger projects and to work together in defending yourselves.
If you want to meet up with other similar minded people check out this website: Landbuddy. They have an interactive map so you can see where other preppers are looking at land and can meet up and work out deals on parcels of land that may be too big or expensive for one person to buy. And before you buy here are more tips on BOL’s
Here are a few suggestions of places to get you started in your search for a reasonably priced property:
Ever since I have been trying to lucid dream I have had the experience of characters in my dream trying to stop me or obstruct me in some manner while trying to stabilise a dream or do a reality check.
First ever pre-lucid, I was aware and tried to do a RC and hands came out from behind me and began to cover my sight and hold my hands still from doing a finger count.
Another time I did a finger count and wanted to start practicing stabilisation techniques and then a zombie horde appeared right in front of me.
These are just 2 of many times this has happened. Just wanted to know what you guys thought about this?
Furthermore, I have successfully done RC's and become aware that I am in a dream but can never make the next stop of reaching completely lucidity and having complete clarity/vividness. Any tips?
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I've FILDed before, but it was kinda lucky. Today I was having a non-lucid then I woke up, waited couple seconds (I was paying attention on my body's vibration as I drift away). The more I felt my body drifting away, the more my heart rate was increasing.
Probably I couldnt fall asleep becouse I got too alert (because of my heart frequency). How not to pay attention on your body falling asleep? Do you have any tips for me?
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Most preppers create their bug out vehicle by adding supplies and gear to whatever vehicle they already own. Some preppers are able to purchase a used vehicle or perhaps make some modifications to their existing vehicle in their buddy’s garage.
But what if money were no object? What if you could purchase the bug out vehicle of your dreams? Below are some of the ones we’ve pulled together, not as a best of the best list but just to help you dream a little bit. These are your hardcore bug out vehicles, the ones you’d consider if money were no object. Most of these are going to draw attention so make sure you’re ready to defend against anyone trying to overtake you.
Military Surplus M35
But out with your family, duck dynasty style, with the military surplus, M35, is a two-and-a-half ton-truck also referred to as a “deuce and a half” seen in this video:
Originally intended as a truck for medical transport during combat, it can be bobbed and renovated into the perfect bug out vehicle. It’s a multi-fuel vehicle with a 55-gallon tank, six-wheel drive and manual transmission that can get up to 13 mpg which means you can run for up to 650 miles on one tank of fuel. A bobbed truck is also lighter and shorter which increases the manufacturer’s top speed of 55 mph to 75mph.
6-wheel Drive Expedition RV
With over 200 square foot of cargo space available plus a root top tent accessible by roof hatch, 50-gallon fuel tanks, and Caterpillar turbo charged multi-fuel engine, this expand van has room for whatever you need to get into it, including an ATV. It will hold up to 22 people if need be or any equipment you need to carry.
Creek Stewart’s Modified 1985 CUCV (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle)
Creek Stewart is a well-known survivalist. His personal BOV debuted in his first season of his show, Fat Guys in the Woods.
His BOV is a diesel engine and has a black-out switch that cuts all vehicle lights in an instant so you be in instant stealth mode. He’s added a cab and carries 30 gallons of extra fuel, all his tools and gear and six spare tires! He has modified it to include an extra battery and solar charger, off-road lights, a fire extinguisher, an off the roof shelter canopy, and a 12,000-pound winch.
1987 Mercedes Expedition Truck
Custom built 1987 Mercedes Expedition truck is as reliable as they come. There are 6 bolts to disconnect the living unit from the truck. It has a 550-liter diesel tank, spare tires, front and rear winches. It comes with its own hot water heater, refrigerator, propane stove, shower, composting toilet, and massive amounts of storage for all your gear.
Earthcruiser Overland RV Expedition Vehicle
Bug out in style with this Earthcruiser Expedition RV.
It uses yachting industry engineering to keep the vehicle compact and lightweight but still luxurious. With its own power system controlled with a command panel, you can make a quick getaway when needed, going from camping mode to on the go within sixty seconds without having to leave the vehicle. It has an onboard water purifier to clean whatever water source you can access.
UNICAT Survival Home on Wheels
If you aren’t worried about looks and are focused more on function survival, then this UNICAT Survival home on wheels might be just the ticket.
Able to be fully self-contained in the wilderness for up to two months, it carries 110 gallons of water and its own desalination system that operates from the rooftop solar panel. The price tag starts at $700K so it’s definitely not a vehicle for the average prepper.
The Intimidator
This truck is truly unstoppable with bullet proof armor and 5-point racing harness seating for up to five people.
It has a 220- gallon tank, which can take you 2200 miles without stopping and level 4 armor windows. It comes with a lockable roof hatch in case you do need to take a shot while on the move. It carries its own solar powered battery charger and has a 14-foot bed with plenty of room for all your bug out supplies. Cummins 8.3-liter diesel engine with the radiator protected behind a bullet proof grille. They may hear or see you coming but they won’t be able to do anything about it.
Judge Dredd inspired Land Rover
How about this fortress on wheels inspired by the Judge Dredd movie starring Sly Stallone and designed by Land Rover to survive the meanest streets in the 23rd century where the world is in anarchy and chaos.
Survivor Truck
Here’s an extreme truck, the personal vehicle of Jim Delozier, owner of the Survivor Truck company. His company can custom build just about any type of vehicle modification you want. He uses his truck as a rescue vehicle. It has a complete Exo cage and is outfitted with Rhino lining, has anywhere from 6-8 cameras at any given time watching all angles. It also has a generator, a winch, vehicle tent on the roof, and a battery powered system, rollaway toolbox, and a refrigerator. He plans to swap in a multi-fuel diesel engine.
2003 Cargo Van turned camper
For the more realistic prepper who has time and skill to do some modifications, you might want to try something similar to this 2003 Cargo Van turned camper
Okay so for most of us, these hardcore bug out vehicles are out of reach. We have to be a little more realistic when it comes to our choice of bug out vehicle. So what is really important when you are trying to choose your bug out vehicle and how can you make sure that your vehicle is going to get you and your family out safely?
There are seven criteria you want to consider when choosing your practical bug out vehicle:
Reliability
One of the most important issues is reliability of your vehicle. When you need to bug out, you must be able to count on your vehicle to start up quickly and to operate reliably. The primary purpose of your bug out vehicle is to get you to your bug out location and beyond if necessary. Learn how to make basic repairs yourself. Make sure that replacement parts are easy to get and won’t be overly expensive. Stock up on parts that are apt to wear out or break when the vehicle is pushed to its maximum speed or driven over rough terrain.
Traveling Range
When choosing your vehicle, you want to get the most miles of range on one tank of gas as you can get. You won’t want to stop every 300 miles or so to refuel. And fuel won’t be readily available unless you’ve stocked up. Get a diesel or multi-fuel vehicle if you can get it. Horsepower is also important.
When you bug out, your vehicle should be setup to get you as far away as possible before having to refuel. If the tank is small, you should plan and practice how to refuel as quickly as possible. To be really prepared, modify the fuel tank so you can refuel from inside the vehicle from your fuel stock. The best vehicle should also have the horsepower to outrun most anyone who might be following you.
Off Road Capability
Definitely try to get AWD or 4-wheel drive in your vehicle if possible. Suspension shocks and brakes if you can get them. Minimally you want a vehicle that doesn’t sit low to the ground so that you can drive over smaller debris without causing damage to the underside of your vehicle. Make sure it will be able to handle at least most of the terrain in your area so you won’t be forced to stick to the paved roads.
Safety and Security
Whatever vehicle you get, the first thing to do is to replace all the windows with plexi-glass which is stronger and more shatter resistant than glass. You will also want to install a bumper guard to protect the lights and radiator. Depending on how the vehicle rides and the terrain in your area, you may want to swap out regular seat belts for five-point racing harnesses at least for any children that may be on the trip.
Ramming Ability
In a natural disaster or post-SHTF scenario you are going to come up against roads blocked by debris, fallen trees, or even abandoned cars. Having a bug out vehicle that you know can ram or push things out of the way so you can keep moving forward is a huge plus.
Carry Capacity
The final thing you want to look at when deciding on a bug out vehicle is carrying capacity. This means both number of passengers that you can take with you as well as how much cargo space or storage space you have. If your favorite vehicle hits the mark for reliability and traveling range but doesn’t have much cargo space, consider modifications that will allow you to bolt or buckle gear securely to the top and sides.
Off-Grid Capability
This category is not a necessity for a bug out vehicle but it would be a plus if you had a vehicle that included some off-grid capabilities. Obviously most vehicles now do include some power outlets to recharge your phone or laptop. But it would be great to have a vehicle that is equipped with or modified to include solar panels so you can re-charge the vehicle battery if needed or run a small refrigerator.
Also make sure you think about bathroom needs not just when parked but while on the move too. If you have to go and you’re being followed, there won’t be time to pull off in the woods for a pit stop. The other thing to think about is water. Modify your vehicle so it includes some type of high capacity water storage. Even 5 gallon jugs strapped to the inside walls of the vehicle is better than nothing. Having large amount of water stored in your vehicle means that you have more options as to where you can camp for the night.
EMP Resistance
There is some debate over what the effects of an EMP would actually be but it is certain that if there is damage, it will be to electronic components and systems for vehicles with running engines at the time of the EMP. Cars and trucks that are turned off during an EMP are not expected to experience any effects.
Electronic components were not integrated into cars until the late 1960’s. Electronic components were abundant in cars from 1986 and on. Modern vehicles (roughly 1990’s and newer) have required EMI/EMC (electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility) standards designed to reduce vulnerability.
Once you’ve chosen a vehicle based on the other criteria above, it’s important to know which parts of your vehicle have electronic components. Research the compliance of the electronic parts with EMI/EMC standards, including grounding, shielding, hardening, and immunity. Be prepared to replace these parts if needed.
This article showcased some hardcore prepping vehicles with some great survival features. Regardless of the bug out vehicle you choose, make sure you’ve thought about the seven categories and have planned for as many scenarios as you can think of. It will be great if your trip from home to BOL is uneventful but chances are you will run up against one or more unplanned obstacles, so just be ready.
Tell us how your bug out vehicle measures up in these 7 areas below in the comments.
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I have a regularly occurring dream sign of my boss in work. I always reality check when I see her and on way into work, yet I've never actually RC'd in a dream or become lucid after seeing her. I've a close friend describe something similar, a woman who is v regularly in his dreams, he always RC's when seeing her but never RC's when shes in his dreams. Most of my lucids come from WILD attempts but I'd love to increase lucids n DILD's would be good. Anyone else have a similar experience or ideas on how to make better use of such reoccuring dream sign? perhaps more visualization and intent before bed, intent to meet her in dream and ask why she is there and who is she in dream...or try less habituation of RC when I meet her, try and fly or check light switches or somethin equally odd and freak her out...
Tnks
P
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I dont mean like WILD and DEILD ect but rather techniques such as ADA....meditation....mantras....and maybe MILD? I know everyones different but i would be interested to see what comes up most =)
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Since starting to attempt WILDs, twice now i've crashed but was able to recognize i was dreaming. The first time i had a blanket in my car that triggered the memory of having had it in bed with me moments before and that didn't make sense and i knew i was dreaming. Then last night i found myself in a bathtub, then i realized i was standing in the tub yet the walls of it were at eye level and the water was up to my chest. my first reasoning was that it must be my parent's tub because mine wasn't that deep, then it hit me that no one i ever heard of had a tub that deep into the floor and knew it was a dream. Both times the very second i realized i was dreaming the dream vanished. It didn't collapse, or i wasn't jolted out of it, it just blew away like it was made of the thinnest possible stuff. Back in 2007 i had a series of spontaneous lds. Upon realizing i was dreaming i took off and flew. There were 3 of these. All ended soon afterward and very abruptly. It was the excitement and intensity of the experience that jolted me awake. So i know what that feels like. These latest attempts are definitely not the result of the emotion of the experience. Both occurrences were very late in the morning after about 8 hours of sleep. I was able to crash easily enough, but could it have been i was in too wakeful a state once reason kicked in to continue in it? Another thought, i'm a fairly analytical person. Is it possible that my reasoning mind will simply not allow such things to continue? just threw that last one in, i highly doubt it would be that,but? All the same, I am at a loss to understand why it could be so suddenly delicate at the moment of lucidity without emotional shock. Any ideas or suggestions out there?
Before someone refers me to the dream stabilization tutorial, i have consulted it and also done a search. None of this quite matches. As i said this is not an emotional response and there was literally no time to do anything. Fleeting would be the best descriptor.
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It used to be everywhere, but now you’d be hard pressed to find a modern movie showcasing a quicksand rescue attempt. The fascination with the threat of quicksand in movies peaked in the 70’s, but it’s still out there in the wild waiting to suck you in. More or less.
Quicksand is a legitimate concern when exploring the wild, especially when on your own. The quicksand itself probably won’t kill you, but you do risk exposure to the elements if unable to free yourself.
Before we look at how to escape from quicksand, we’ll try to understand what it exactly is and some environments you might find it in.
Quicksand can occur in any environment with the right conditions. Water is an essential part of the formula. Quicksand is basically soil that has become oversaturated with water, which negates the normal friction that occurs between soil particles. So the sand particles cannot hold on to each other, resulting in a soupy mixture of liquified soil.
On the open coastline you’ll find the occasional quicksand pocket on the shore near the ocean. Small pools will sometimes form as the tide moves in and out, fed by underground springs or runoff water. As the sand becomes saturated quicksand forms.
On an open sandy beach, free of foliage or grass, these tide pools should be fairly easy to spot and avoid. Telltale signs are bubbling, murky sand at the bottom of a tide pool with clear water above. Wandering through tide pools, you will usually encounter some form of liquid sand. If you want to avoid the quicksand on the beach, avoid the tide pools.
The rising ocean tide is your biggest threat if caught in quicksand on the beach, and drowning is a real possibility. Here’s a short clip of quicksand on a beach:
Riverbanks
Quicksand is pretty common on the banks of rivers as well as near river deltas that form as streams run into larger bodies of water. Look for saturated ground near the edge of a river when near, though the ground will sometimes appear fairly firm. The two videos below detail just how deceptive quicksand can be.
What can appear and feel to be solid ground can quickly turn to dirt soup if activated. In one of the videos linked above the guy is sitting on what appears to be solid ground, then with a few quick stomps he turns it into quicksand and starts sinking.
This type of quicksand is the most dangerous, as it gives no outward appearance of its true nature. If walking in a group, this type of quicksand won’t take hold until the second or third person walks across.
It is also fairly common to find quicksand beneath the surface of the water, away from the bank. Precautions should be taken when trying to cross rivers; especially silty and muddy waters where you cannot see the bottom. Sometimes it may be better to swim than wade across, but each situation should be evaluated on an individual basis.
Marshes and Swamps
Where the ocean meets freshwater bays and marshlands is another common spot for quicksand. The marshlands are great areas for fishing, shellfishing, and hunting fowl. The abundance of water plants and grasses can also hamper the ability to detect potential quicksand threats. Great care should be taken when exploring marshes and beaches at low tide to avoid potential quicksand and sinkholes.
Interesting video below of a bay in the UK with quicksand potential.
Swamplands also breed quicksand due to their standing water coupled with underwater springs.
The visibility and ability to detect potential quicksand is even lower in the swamps due to the abundance of foliage, grasses, fallen trees and limbs, and standing water.
Swamps are heavily saturated areas fed by runoff, underground springs, rivers, and streams.
Long tracts of standing water going through a forest, with no trail or clues to solid ground should set off internal warnings about quicksand danger.
Additionally, swamps in the U.S. are home to several varieties of poisonous snakes, alligators, crocodiles, and even the occasional python. Being stuck in quicksand here is the least ideal, as swamps don’t get many visitors.
Near Underground Springs
Most year around ponds or lakes that you will come across are fed by one or more underwater springs in addition to any runoff or streams that flow into them. Underwater springs feeding upwards through already saturated soil can create quicksand along the banks, or in the water itself.
Underwater springs can be found anywhere, even in the desert.
In a floods and other natural disasters, quicksand can form near broken water lines that function in the same way as natural springs to disrupt the soil.
Pretty interesting underwater video of quicksand bubbling up through freshwater springs.
Prevention
As always the best remedy is prevention. Through all the places you might find quicksand, water is the common element. If you find yourself nearing waterways, or heavily saturated ground keep the possibility of quicksand on your radar.
When testing unknown waters, it is best to remove your backpack and other cumbersome items. The last thing you want is to have all your gear soaked, and if you do encounter quicksand or find yourself taken by the current, it will all weigh you down and may have to be abandoned.
It also doesn’t hurt to have some sort of walking stick handy when you’re out exploring, especially when dealing with a river or stream. You want to have a sturdy hardwood stick or pole that is at least shoulder height that you can use to steady yourself near riverbanks or lakes.
A good idea for navigating potential quicksand areas, is to just use your walking stick as a probe for the area ahead of you as you walk. If your probe gives a little too easily, or you see the soupy ripples of quicksand, use your walking stick to navigate firm passage around the area in question.
It is best to use your probe to survey an area at least wide enough to walk, and keep your steps within that area as there can be sharp variations between firm ground and quicksand. Keep your weight balanced and not leaning forward so that you don’t go swimming in after your pole if it does find quicksand.
If you do slip in, hold your walking stick horizontally to try to catch the edges of the quicksand pit for leverage rather than trying to push it vertically for traction. When you come across quicksand, mark its boundary clearly with an obstacle for yourself on your return trip or for others in the future.
Escaping
If you find yourself stepping in quicksand, consider trying to sit or fall backwards toward solid ground if possible. The sooner you react, the less chance you have of being really stuck. If you do find yourself sinking quickly, unable to turn back :
Relax, don’t fight it. The more you struggle, the deeper you dig yourself.
As soon as you realize you’ve hit quicksand, you must fight the urge to panic.
Instead, take an immediate survey of your surrounding area and begin to plan your extraction.
Alert any persons in your group to stay back, and try to determine the boundary of the quicksand. Try to quickly assess any immediate dangers ( tide coming in, fast moving river, poisonous snakes)
Use slow, deliberate movements
If you are stuck below your knees in quicksand, chances are you can get yourself back to solid ground with a little effort and less mess. Try to slowly pull one leg free towards safety, with the least amount of unnecessary motion possible. If you can get one leg free, chances are you can get the other one too.
If you find yourself sinking very quickly and going past your knees, make sure your arms are up, and prepare to try to float and do some “mud-swimming”.
Disperse your weight
The reason you sink so quickly in quicksand, is all of your weight is balanced onto your two feet. If you can lay back and try to allow yourself to float before you sink too deeply in, you will have less work to do. The deeper you sink, the denser the quicksand and the more suction is created as your feet sink into the muck.
Quicksand is denser than water, so you can float in it. The thickness and viscosity of quicksand varies widely however, with some more perilous than others. You will need your legs free, and the longer you wait to try disperse your weight, the deeper you will sink.
Video of a guy attempting to escape quicksand near a river:
Grab On
Any tree roots, branches, firmly rooted grasses, or other items within reach can be used as leverage. If you are with a group, use a rope or tree branch to pull person out, not your hands. You want to have the rescuer safely away from the quicksand’s edge. If there’s nothing within reach, you’ve got to do it yourself.
Swim and then Crawl
Once you get your legs free and your body horizontal, slowly make your way towards the edge of the pit. You will have to use a sort of army crawl, slow swimming breast stroke motion to escape. Keep in mind that the more frantic your motions, the more soupy the quicksand becomes.
Good videos of Bear Grylls explaining and escaping quicksand.
Summary
Quicksand is not at the top of my list of concerns in the wild, but knowing what to look for and how to escape are good things to have in the emergency reference section of the brain. This kind of information could be the determining factor between just having some muddy clothes and a serious situation.
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Iv been meditating twice a day for 10 mins for the past 5 days now and was wondering how long till i start having more lucid dreams? I know its dofferent for everyone.....i meditate 2 times where i focus on my breathing 2 times a day doing mantra meditation and once on the night doing full body meditation.
So far my dreams are more vivid and im remembering them alot more whoch iv heard is due to meditation and iv been having strange things in my dreams happen but no lucidity so far....i think once iv been doing it maybe a month i will hopefully start feeling changes in myself and lucidity.....maybe iv answered my own question which i do alot on here lol but i do like to read anyone elses input wether its opinions or personal experiences =)
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Alot of people favour meditation to help alot in inducing lucidity...im assuming due to the fact that you gain awareness maybe...but theres 2 questions id love to have an answer for as iv been doing 2 meditations a day for 10 minuits each for the past week.
The first question is - how does meditation make you more likely to have lucid dreams....
And the second question is.....the way i meditate is in 2 different ways number 1 is bidy scanning where i set my focus on everypart of my body and how its feeling and number 2 is where i keep my mind clear and just focus on my breath....would you say what im doing is the right way?
Thankyou =)
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After a particularly long dry stretch in March and April (not entirely unexpected considering it coincided with a particularly intense international business trip with the usual accompanying dose of jet-lag), I've decided that I need to refocus my efforts on lucid dreaming, and getting lucid a lot more in particular. Dream recall has remained pretty good, but average DJ entry detail has shrunk considerably. In my first year I could spend 1-2 hours a day transcribing the DJ voice recorder notes from the night. Now, I almost never record during the night, preferring instead to maintain a mental running list of dreams across wakings. I think that is a good workout for memory and recall, but it requires a lot of mental energy during the night, and time that could probably be more profitably spent on maintaining/resetting intent to get lucid, and doing other night-work things like WBTB and WILD attempts, and SSILD. It also results in much lost DJ detail, and less time during the day spent thinking about dreaming.
After a couple days of highly focused and consistent day work and intention, I've had now several long nights of VPAL (vivid, present, alternate-life) dreams. Last night in particular had 7-10 wakings, each time with a new set of dreams to recall and review. Several were incredibly VPAL level. Day work and recall has always been strong for me, but night work admittedly has been fairly weak. Night work yields results, and so I must put much more energy there. That requires being well-rested and getting to bed on time, another historical weak point for me.
So. My plan includes re-reading the classics (LaBerge's ETWOLD, Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep) and re-arranging my practice to follow their recommendations. I've already started ETWOLD, and (re-)discovered great nuggets of LD wisdom right from the start. LaBerge is really big on goal setting and tracking, and that's something I've always been pretty weak on. The last time I set a solid goal in February, I had 6 LDs in 10 days and got multiple TOTMs, a pretty inspiring result.
I think part of the issue with not achieving as much lucidity as I'd like (other than the obvious focus and motivation factors) is that I've become so familiar with the dream state over these almost 3 years of LD practice, that it's not surprising to me any more to wake up with the memories from 3-10+ dreams every night. Also, my dreams have become increasingly mundane and un-dream-like: while 2 years ago I would often have "wild and wacky, bizarre" dreams at least as a part of every night, in the last year or 1.5 years my dreams mostly consist of having believable adventures or just hanging out with people in mostly waking-like situations. Oh the dream signs are still there, to be sure, but they're increasingly more and more subtle. It will take a very highly honed reflection ability to get that "lucid spark" going again consistently.
In terms of my Unified Theory, Attention and Recall are pretty high, but Reflection seems to be lagging a bit. So I plan to re-instate the Tholey/LaBerge "intention/reflection" moments throughout the day, like I did at the start of my practice. I'll bring back daily prospective memory targets, and also paying a lot more attention to things like focus/intent.
Focusing on dreaming before bedtime has yielded excellent results, so I'll leave time in the evenings to stop work and get off the computer, and read LD materials and think about dreaming and set intent and expectation for the night.
I'll update my status here in this thread, sort of a repeat of my "2015: year of..." thread for 2016, except almost half of 2016 has passed already.
I will have lucid dreams tonight, or very soon!
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We all know prepping isn’t easy. Heck, with increasing grocery prices and uncertainty in the economy, is extremely difficult for most of us to afford to live in the here and now. Trying to purchase extra food, water, and supplies can stretch some people’s budgets so thin it can be difficult to manage. If you think there is just no way you can adequately prep, take some time to consider ways in which you can cut back on the things on which you currently spend your hard-earned money.
I can guarantee that most of you have areas in your life in which you can cut back enough to lower your expenses. However, in order to do this, you need to take a long, hard look at your lifestyle, you need to be ready to redefine what you consider necessities, and you need to be ready to give some things up (or at least cut back on them) to free up some cash flow. Chances are, if you’re a prepper, you have already taken at least a cursory look at how you live, but this might require you to go deeper and make a commitment to change.
What You Really Need
As a prepper, you have already determined what you really need to survive. That’s the whole point of being a prepper, to stock up on the absolute necessities of life so that when times get bad you can still survive. Preppers are stocking up on the basics for survival, not the latest fashions in clothes, a year’s worth of lattes, or the nicest sports car out there. So, when it comes to what you really need in everyday life, take a page out of your prepper book. Am I saying give up everything? Of course not. We do still have to live a little, but we also have to put things into perspective. Here is what we actually need for physical survival in our current world:
Food
Water
Shelter
Clothing
Items for personal hygiene
Anything that is required to earn an income (such as internet and a laptop, if you work from home as a freelancer)
A vehicle if you live in rural area (although I have known people who didn’t have one and still managed just fine)
Having said that, human beings have other needs that go beyond the physical. Ever heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? We have the physiological needs (the ones I mentioned in the list above) first and foremost, but when those are met, we also have the need to feel safe, that we are loved and belong, and that we can achieve goals, be respected by others, and find self-fulfillment. There is spending involved in many of these endeavors, but there are still ways to cut back. Let’s take a look.
Suggestions for Ways to Cut Back
Home
There are so many ways you can save money just by changing the way you do things at home. We spend a lot of money on living a lifestyle that few of us can truly afford and none of us really need. From the size of your home to what you do in it you can cut back in so many ways.
Move into a smaller home: Many people live in homes that are far bigger (and more expensive) than they need
Get rid of cable or satellite TV: If you need to have something to watch, streaming sites like Netflix are much cheaper
Cut back your phone and internet services to basic (unless you need them for business)
Don’t carry both a landline and a cell phone
Don’t get data on your cell phone, instead stick with talk and text
Wash in cold water and line-dry your clothing
Be aware of hidden costs in everything you pay, including credit and bills, and negotiate lower fees where possible
Pay off your debts (that interest is killing you!)
Make sure your house is well-insulated and energy efficient
Food
Food is expensive, especially if you are trying to eat healthy. Despite this, there are still ways you can cut down on the amount of money you spend on food, such as with the following suggestions:
Cook from scratch (it’s far less expensive than prepackaged food)
Cook large quantities of food at a time and freeze or can the extra
Grow a garden
Learn how to hunt and forage for food
Buy in bulk or when things are on sale
Don’t buy prepared food, such as pre-cut fruit and vegetables
Buy whole chickens and cut them up, it’s cheaper than buying chicken parts
Buy less expensive brands when you can do so without compromising on quality
Cut out or back on junk food, you don’t need it and it’s sucking up your money
Stop buying bottled water and get a water filtration system (it might seem costly up front, but it will save you loads of money in the long-run)
Set up a system to collect and purify rainwater
Instead of wasting food that will soon go bad, make a meal out of food that needs to be used up each week
Shop from the bottom shelves because grocery store makes sure the pricier products are at eye-level
Use coupons!
Entertainment/Lifestyle
This might be where most people can cut back the most. The types of things we do for fun, the frequency with which we do it, and the extravagance we take. We can often have a good time with less or while staying closer to home. Should we stop going out and having fun? Of course not! We should still enjoy the things in life before the apocalypse comes, but we need to be smarter about it. Here are suggestions of how to cut back on expenses with our entertainment and lifestyle choices:
Get rid of your gym membership and start working out in ways that are free: Running, walking, biking, hiking, and resistance exercises can all be done for free at home or out in nature
Cut back on Starbucks (or your money hole of choice): Yes, Starbucks is wonderful (I’ve bought my weight in chai lattes I’m sure), but you can get their products in grocery stores for a fraction of the cost; you don’t have to cut it out, but cut it back
Use your car less often and walk, bike, or use public transportation
Set a limit on how much you are allowed to spend each day
Do more things together as a family at home, such as playing board games, learning a hobby together, or watching a movie
If you see something you want, walk away, and if you still want it two days or a week later, then go back and get it; chances are the desire you felt for it will have passed by then
Stay home on your vacation or do something local, such as camping or visiting local attractions
Set a monthly entertainment/shopping budget and stick to it: This might be $50 or $100 a month and you’ll need to choose whether you’ll spend that on a movie, going out to dinner with friends, or a new pair of shoes
We need clothing and shoes, but buying them on sale or at thrift shops saves lots of money
Don’t pay for a brand name just for the sake of the name when you can just as good quality for less when you buy non-brand name items (this goes for anything you buy)
One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure: If you see something someone is throwing out that you can use, take it and use it
Get used furniture and fix it up
Keep your vehicle tuned up and your filters changed regularly, which will increase your gas mileage
Make use of craigslist when you need items you can buy used
Don’t use your credit cards, if you have them; instead save up for what you want or need
When it comes to gift-giving, think carefully about whether you need to buy something and about the possibility of giving something hand-made, used, or consumable
Final Words of Advice
These are all ways in which you can cut your spending and save money. It might seem like a little here and a little there, but it all adds up to hundreds of dollars a year. If you can do these things and set money aside at the same time, then you will really be ahead of the game. Even if you can only put away a dollar a day, by the end of the year, that’s $365 in the bank.
If you aren’t sure where you are overspending or where you can cut back, print out your bank account statements from the past two or three months and go through them. You can see where you money is going and can have a clearer picture of where you think too much is being spent on certain items or on certain categories of expenses, such as food or clothes. You can list out the following categories and track your expenses for each, averaging them on a per-month basis:
Mortgage or Rent
Utilities
Groceries
Clothing
Car payments
Telephone/Cell phone
Cable/Satellite
Internet
School expenses
Vehicle operation and maintenance (fuel, repairs)
Insurance
Credit card and other debt payments
Extracurricular activities for all members of the family
Recreational spending (includes eating out and entertainment activities)
Gifts
Miscellaneous (everything else!)
Ultimately, you need to be smart and do without or with less. The key is to find the balance where you feel less stressed about money, but not totally deprived of the good things in life. Then you can take at least some of that extra money and invest it in your preps and you will be ready for whatever disaster or hard times come down the pike. You will be happy and content now and be happier and more content than most people when times get tough.
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