Dragon Dreaming: Lucid Dreaming

Lucid Dreaming
Lucidity usually begins in the midst of a dream when the dreamer realizes that the experience is not occurring in physical reality, but is a dream. Often this realization is triggered by the dreamer noticing some impossible or unlikely occurrence in the dream, such as flying or meeting the deceased. Sometimes people become lucid without noticing any particular clue in the dream; they just suddenly realize they are in a dream. A minority of lucid dreams (according to the research of LaBerge and colleagues, about 10 percent) are the result of returning to REM (dreaming) sleep directly from an awakening with unbroken reflective consciousness.

The basic definition of lucid dreaming requires nothing more than becoming aware that you are dreaming. However, the quality of lucidity can vary greatly. When lucidity is at a high level, you are aware that everything experienced in the dream is occurring in your mind, that there is no real danger, and that you are asleep in bed and will awaken shortly. With low-level lucidity you may be aware to a certain extent that you are dreaming, perhaps enough to fly or alter what you are doing, but not enough to realize that the people are dream representations, or that you can suffer no physical damage, or that you are actually in bed.

People often ask, “Why should I want to have lucid dreams? What are they good for?” If you consider that once you know you are dreaming, you are restricted only by your ability to imagine and conceive, not by laws of physics or society, then the answer to what lucid dreaming is good for is either extremely simple (anything!) or extraordinarily complex (everything!). It is easier to provide a sample of what some people have done with lucid dreaming than to give a definitive answer of its potential uses.

Adventure and Fantasy

Often, the first thing that attracts people to lucid dreaming is the potential for wild adventure and fantasy fulfillment. Flying is a favorite lucid dream delight, as is sex. Many people have said that their first lucid dream was the most wonderful experience of their lives.

A large part of the extraordinary pleasure of lucid dreaming comes from the exhilarating feeling of utter freedom that accompanies the realization that you are in a dream and there will be no social or physical consequences of your actions.

One might think that this is a rather intellectual concept, but an ecstatic “rush” frequently arises with the first realization that one is dreaming.

There also other attractions to the pursuit of lucid dreaming such as: Overcoming Nightmares, Rehearsal, Creativity and Problem Solving, Healing, and Transcendence.

Lucid Dreaming Methodology

The following method for remembering and recording dreams is recommended: Position an alarm-clock near enough to turn off with eyes still closed. It should be set to go off about an hour before the usual time for getting up. Keep a Dream Journal – a pad and pen next to the bed. Record what food and drink were consumed before retiring, and any significant event which occurred during the preceding day.

On retiring for the night, use the power of suggestion. State firmly that you will be able to recall a dream on awakening.

When the alarm sounds, keep your eyes closed as the moment you open them, dreams have an annoying habit of evaporating. While maintaining your original position while dreaming, recall as much of it as possible – go over it several times. This way, more and more of the dream will be brought to mind. When you are satisfied that as much as possible of the dream has been recollected, write it down in detail, including the date and time.

Then try distracting your mind for a few minutes – perhaps with a crossword puzzle. Finally, form the habit of going back to sleep until your usual getting up time.

At first glance, this procedure may seem rather strange. If, however, you wish to induce a Lucid Dream, at a later date, it is important to learn to waken, memorize a dream and then go back to sleep. Should the idea of lucid dreaming hold no attraction, follow the same procedure, but instead, set the alarm for your usual time.

If this routine is followed, you will be surprised how soon you will develop a capacity for remembering dreams surprisingly quickly.

See related blog posts:
Journaling Your Dreams Part 1 – Beginning
Journaling Dreams Part 2 – Tips
Journaling Your Dreams Part 3 – Questions
Dragon Dreaming: Symbology
Dragon Dreaming: Learning About Dreaming

References: An abundance of references on lucid dreaming can be found on the internet perhaps you would like to start here http://www.dreamviews.com/tutorials.php.