Like Harvey, I don't really consider lucid dreaming to be *real* dreaming--or perhaps more like it's cheating or even spoiling the experience. Heh, imagine watching a movie that you *would* really enjoy, except that throughout the movie you keep chanting, "this isn't real, this is all made up, I'm sitting in this chair looking at a screen" in a way that actively prevents any immersive experience.
It's not a perfect analogy, but it's the best way I can explain what I used to experiment with (lucid dreaming) and why I schooled myself to stop it long ago. I disliked the experience and didn't want myself to get in the way of any experience or message; therefore, I then learned to discount myself being in them. To fully experience things outside your own narrow perspective, I contend you must *be* someone/somewhere else, or at least have that critical suspension of disbelief that would otherwise close off your mind to the possibilities; I'm aware this might be an advanced form of dream awareness that I could only reach through specific training like lucidity, but for a long time this has been my preferred mode for learning, for being the analyst rather than the direct conduit and/or recipient. I'm sometimes aware of my observer role, but I have worked diligently to not let that interfere with the experience. Although if I'm present and feel the *need* to be present in that dream-moment, then I pay even more attention to that aspect, and consider it more of a direct message or vision meant for me to apply. As I have said before, context is so very important, especially in these situations. (If someone were to tell me they had a lucid dream, I would immediately move to questioning them about their perceived *role* in that dream--what did they feel their business was being there, and how did that tint the dream happenings?)
