posted on Jan, 23 2008 @ 03:57 PM
I can respond about the "checks" to help lucid dream.
I have lucid dreams quite often, and what triggers my ability to control them is the so-called "checks". For me, every check is different.
For example, if my dream shows that I am single, I immediately "sieze control" over it, because I know that I am married... I am very keenly aware
of the fact that I am married (for 10 years,) so that sets-off my reality sensor.
Another set of checks would be:
Do I have children in the dream? If so, how many and what gender?
Is the dream taking place in the home I currently live in, or in some unknown apartment complex?
What is the weather like? I am in the Caribbean, yet it's snowing?
Is it "real" that I should be talking to a 10 foot tall spider?
I know that some of these checks may not help; as you've stated that sometimes weird circumstances can seem normal in a dream.
I can only add what has worked for me... by being very vigilant in the dreamstate and noticing relationships (current or old) places I've lived (past
or present) or out-of-place situations, I can suddenly realize I'm dreaming and control the dream.
Oh, and as the OP said, I do suddenly grin because I've taken over the dream!
And, I find that once I've realized I'm dreaming, my morals forbid me to cheat on my wife or injure people for no reason, etc. Maybe that's boring,
but it makes me feel that in both realit and the "dreamworld" that I'm an OK guy!