funny you should bring this up
yes I've done retrievals via intention setting before sleep with a specific person in mind and it worked ok, even got verification from a family member I had found the right person. however I practiced the imagination method for 6 months before attempting the lucid dream method and then I just stumbled into the lucid area while sleeping without knowing for sure my intention was stated strongly enough. usually I have to concentrate for two minutes or more on the intention before anything will happen in the dream. sometimes I would work a week or more to make the intention strong enough meaning I'd have to really think about what I was doing, what the need was here, what they retrievee might be thinking, feeling and if I didn't have answers to questions the state of being super curious tends to draw me to the situation to look around
as one person may think a retrieval is needed, then when you actually get to the area you might find out no retrieval is necessary. on the other hand, guides will take you there if you want to find out what's up. motivation appears to be part of your intention. getting movivated was part of my reason for meditating on it as I don't like to be meddlesome
lucid dreaming was my method after I fell into the habit of it so easily and seemed more real than imagination, but yet imagination was what made me lucid dream, so they work hand in hand. now that the heart chakra is opened more however I'm back to the imagination style more and can "feel" situations around the heart and get information about the situation to relay to whomever or to myself. what's a little odd is lucidity has changed to stepping into a movie now as the player; I sense guides and participants all around on the sidelines cheering me on so to speak. I play out my part, make my decisions or not, have an "experience" then wake up in bed and write it down to see if I learned anything about myself, my unlimited self, that is.
always wonder what it will be like to dream no more, will the 2 worlds be one?
will I still have fun?
I think the best approach is always to ask first how may I best be of service here? or where would you have me go? do? say? should I button my lip here, or start yakking? there seems to be some overseer operating we used to call God, and whatever it is, it's very intelligent and knows exactly what to do, when and how and where. Marianne Williamson who is an ACIM teacher said it best: dear Lord she said whatever shall I do? "Pipe down God said, I'll tell you when you get there." ???