> > > > > > > You guys can't read normally in dreams? Hum.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I've found it odd since I first heard that. I never have any trouble reading or anything like that in my dreams. At least I'm not the only one.
> > > > >
> > > > > I didn't say I had trouble reading in dreams; I don't. What I said is that the text itself, or whatever letters are in whatever I'm reading, doesn't stay consistent. Any text of sufficient length seems to "change" from moment to moment. Very short messages, like a red "Exit here" sign does stay consistent though. But are you two able to read or write entire book pages without seeing them mutate in the way I've described?
> > > >
> > > > Yes.
> > >
> > > Me, too.
> > >
> > > We must just not be in our right brains. :-}

Fascinating. I mean it. Does the material that you read/write appear in "clear text", i.e. is it perfectly understandable? Can you remember it when you wake up?

I can read long passages of approx. 200-300 words but it is nonsensical, though in the dream it appears to make sense. For ex., I came across a parchment in a grove, and the idea got into my head that it was a sequel to the Lord of the Rings. So I concentrated on memorizing it. The first sentence read, "The cannon of the lost sounds penetrate to very reason." That doesn't mean anything, but it *sounded* real swell to me, so I continued reading. When I got to the end, I did what I usually do when reading something significant, which is to go back and reread the beginning. I was then shocked to find the opening sentence had now mutated to a rather teutonic "Entillzer stauf went waining..."


> > > > > Another thing I'm curious about is whether you can run very fast -- a normal sprint, that is -- down a street or through a field in a dream. Do you notice any distortion to yourself or to the environment or to time when you do this?
> > > >
> > > > No, my running is always undeterred in dreams. I have no trouble running at all (well, no more that I do ordinarily anyway).
> > >
> > > I used to run like I was underwater, but not anymore. Thankfully-- I get chased a lot, too.
> >
> > I almost never run, but when I do it's perfectly normal.

I can run normally if I moderately "jog". But if it's a sprint, for whatever reason, after a very short distance it's the same effect as Famous and Chris have described -- I feel like I'm running underwater very slowly or like I'm wearing cement boots. It probably has to do with lack of motion-detection feedback from the semicircular canals (in your inner ears) as you sleep, so the brain forces you to slow down to match the stationary "reality" of your body prone in bed.

BTW, um... is it that frequent for women to get chased around in dreams by unknown assailants? Just curious.


> Comment on the reading, I have always been able to read fine in my dreams

And I've always been able to fly just fine in mine, too. :-)

Wolfspirit