First, let me say that I am completely new to retrievals.  However, I have experimented (with limited success) with lucid dreaming.  I'm not sure if these two can be used in the same way or not.  However, last night, I decided to try lucided dream and see if I could contact a family member.  She was my wife's aunt that passed away last January.  Coincidentally our beloved pet passed away 2 days later.  Mind you, we have several dogs but this was the only one that the aunt really liked as she was very afraid of dogs. 

While dreaming, I saw a slender lady with a big hat on and a basket with flowers.  She was in a beautiful field.  Due to shadows, I could not see her face.  However, while I was gazing at her, our lost dog came running up to me.  It was absolutley wonderful!! 

I'm not sure if this was a real encounter or just a dream.  But, I do know I felt ecstatic!!

Has anyone else used lucid dreaming to accomplish contact?

Tim

I think people has done everything in LDs. But if you want answers on LDs you may find
better answers at LD forums, like http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1379

Most people, which I encounter them in LDs, turn into paper dolls when I try to talk to them...

hrm...

The most lucid dream I have ever had, and it was very real, was of my dog. It was shortly after our last dog had died, and we were very sad. I slept on the couch one night, which is where I slept the night our most recent dog died, while he lay by my side on the floor next to the couch. I "woke up" and saw Zoe walking across the room toward me, and she very slowly got up on the couch with me and laid down, as if to comfort me. It was an amazing feeling, and I still recall the dream exactly as it occurred, and the feeling of joy and grace that I had as I watched her. That's how I know it was real.

I lost my soul mate cat almost two years ago. It was quite sudden as she appeared to be fine up until a few days before she passed. She wanted to die at home, and I never watched anybody die before, and I was worried about her afterwards. So I asked my shamanic group to check on her and I also checked on her.
In my vision, I saw a very large grey cat, and I also saw St. Francis holding my cat in his arms. That was very, very moving.
My friend who responded to my request to check on her also saw a very large grey cat, which felt like my cat's oversoul.
To me, this was one of those verifications that mean so much when we start to wonder if we're making it all up.
And not that long ago, as I was waking up in the morning I very clearly felt my cat licking my chin just like she used to do.
So I didn't see her but I sure felt her. I have seen her, and my other cat, a few times in dreams since they passed, but this one thing, of her licking my chin, was 100% real as if I were awake.