What's your totem?

[The Salty Vulcan]

Ok. So I watched Inception for the first time last night and, as you might expect, my mind was blown away. I honestly love the concept and the "science" behind it.

Projections acting as the mind's defences. External and biological stimuli affecting the landscape of the dream. The idea of being able to impersonate or "forge" the identity of a projection. I found it facinating! But, the most intriguing aspect I found was the idea of The Totem.

To explain to the uniniated, the Totem basically acts as an individuals tie to reality. Essentially, it serves to test whether or not and individual is still within the dream or is in reality by observing how they behave. Take Cobb's spinning top: when in the dream, it continuously spins without ever falling.

Now these totems are meant to be personal and (I suppose) are small. So I ask you guys, what would your totem be?

I'm gonna go with this

In the dream, no matter how many times I spin it, the cardinal would still be in the cage.

 

[kingcom]

The big problem is that if you have a field the person is an expert in, and they go up against a concept they are not familiar with, the architech is absolutely totally screwed. They aren't going to be able to replicate it accurately (without understanding the science behind it).

For me, take a USB I use a lot. Its kinda dodgy and doesnt work very well, hangs loosesly off the computer. Try designing that architect.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Ok. So I watched Inception for the first time last night and, as you might expect, my mind was blown away. I honestly love the concept and the "science" behind it.

Projections acting as the mind's defences. Externaland biological stimuli affecting the landscape of the dream. The idea of being able to impersonate or "forge" the identity of a projection. I found it facinating! But, the most intriguing aspect I found was the idea of The Totem.

To explain to the uniniated, the Totem basically acts as an individuals tie to reality. Essentially, it serves to test whether or not and individual is still within the dream or is in reality by observing how they behave. Take Cobb's spinning top: when in the dream, it continuously spins without ever falling.

Now these totems are meant to be personal and (i suppose) are small. So I ask you guys, what would your totem be?

I'm gonna go with this

In the dream, no matter how many times I spin it, the cardinal would still be in the cage.

THATS THE ONE!!! from Sleepy Hollow! Great movie...

 

[NinjaRabies]

A "coin" (general round, flat piece of metal) with a special print. Lands only on one side when in a dream.

 

[DrEmo]

Digital watch. Look at it, remember the time, look away, look back. If the time has changed, you're dreaming.

Real reality check technique for frequent lucid dreamers.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

Spoiler: snip

Ok. So I watched Inception for the first time last night and, as you might expect, my mind was blown away. I honestly love the concept and the "science" behind it.

Projections acting as the mind's defences. Externaland biological stimuli affecting the landscape of the dream. The idea of being able to impersonate or "forge" the identity of a projection. I found it facinating! But, the most intriguing aspect I found was the idea of The Totem.

To explain to the uniniated, the Totem basically acts as an individuals tie to reality. Essentially, it serves to test whether or not and individual is still within the dream or is in reality by observing how they behave. Take Cobb's spinning top: when in the dream, it continuously spins without ever falling.

Now these totems are meant to be personal and (i suppose) are small. So I ask you guys, what would your totem be?

I'm gonna go with this

In the dream, no matter how many times I spin it, the cardinal would still be in the cage.

THATS THE ONE!!! from Sleepy Hollow! Great movie...

Absolutely correct my friend! That it is indeed. I also think it's a rather nice metaphor. To being's trapped.

Digital watch. Look at it, remember the time, look away, look back. If the time has changed, you're dreaming.

Real reality check technique for frequent lucid dreamers.

Wow! Really? That does make the most sense and considering how time dilates within dreams probably the best option yet.

 

[RatRace123]

I haven't given it much thought, I've never experienced a lucid dream, but if I want to, I suppose I should have a totem.
Hmm, I'll have to find one.

 

[Merkavar]

my totem is a han solo pizza hut toy. its one of those slide puzzle where you can only slide one piece at a time etc etc

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

my totem is a han solo pizza hut toy. its one of those slide puzzle where you can only slide one piece at a time etc etc

Cool! I think I had one! But, how would you be able to tell whether your in the dream or not?

 

[Rpground]

(gonna just shoot blindly into the dark here)

A Forge,always burning,ever hot,never cooling...

if i made any sense too you,spot on! mind telling me what the hell i just said...??

 

[duktapeman90]

My wallet. If there's money in it, I'm dreaming.

 

[Hader]

The watch thing, except I would have a sundial.

Hehe, don't know if it would work, but why not try

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Mine is a coin with an Angel on one side, and a Devil on the other. I'll toss it in a dream and it'll land on its edge.

Spoiler: That is to say, lands like this

 

[blue spartan 11]

my totem is a han solo pizza hut toy. its one of those slide puzzle where you can only slide one piece at a time etc etc

Cool! I think I had one! But, how would you be able to tell whether your in the dream or not?

He actually finishes it?

Captcha found my answer funny: put on your thinking cap

OT: My Ipod. Plays "Dream of Mirrors" when dreaming.

 

[Chibz]

A d5 rigged to always land in a way that isn't a valid number-roll.

 

[ultrachicken]

When I'm dreaming and I look at something written, look away, and then look back, the sentence that was written changes. So my totem would be a mechanical pencil, so that I could do that test.

 

[Merkavar]

my totem is a han solo pizza hut toy. its one of those slide puzzle where you can only slide one piece at a time etc etc

Cool! I think I had one! But, how would you be able to tell whether your in the dream or not?

good point. i guess i could be in a dream right now.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

When I'm dreaming and I look at something written, look away, and then look back, the sentence that was written changes. So my totem would be a mechanical pencil, so that I could do that test.

An interesting variation. Would it always be the same sentence though? Like "Don't think of elephants?"

 

[ultrachicken]

When I'm dreaming and I look at something written, look away, and then look back, the sentence that was written changes. So my totem would be a mechanical pencil, so that I could do that test.

An interesting variation. Would it always be the same sentence though? Like "Don't think of elephants?"

I've found that it doesn't really matter, as the sentences usually turn out to be gibberish. For example, "XBCQ234=XCY.!"

 

[The_Chief]

My wrestling medal. it says my weight class on it. if the weight class changes, i know im dreaming.