Lucid Dreams

Do you dream?

You may not recall your dreams, but it has been shown we all dream.

People tend to report being an observer, or having an almost pre-scripted role in their dream. However, lucid dreams allow you much more freedom and control.

Lucid dreams are dreams in which you are aware you are dreaming. Once you gain that insight, your imagination is your only limit. The trick is to actually become aware. I have had several lucid dreams. They are accompanied with a true sense of wonder. Something will happen, or you will notice something, which is unusual enough to make you question it. It will then dawn upon you that you are dreaming. You can then, if you choose, take control and have a more active role, or change the dream altogether.

In one of my dreams I levitated off the ground, floated through a wall and made it snow.

There is a theory that when you dream you are actually on the astral plane, another dimension of existence if you like, slightly out of sync with the reality we know as "real". This plane has many distinct characteristics, one of which is that it tends to be very malleable to the will. A lucid dream is said to require a similar level of consciousness as is required for out of the body experiences (o.o.b.e.s), or astral projection.

If you would like to try to have a lucid dream you should make an effort to be more aware of your dream life. Pay it attention. Keep a dream diary. Talk with your friends about your dreams and theirs. Merely by doing this, your dreams will become more vivid and easier to remember.

Once you regularly recall your dreams, you should practice reality checking. Throughout your day, you should regularly stop what you are doing and test reality. Try to push your hand through a wall, or levitate off the floor. Ask (aloud or mentally) "is this a dream?" When you go to bed at night tell yourself you will have a lucid dream. Tell yourself you will become aware you are dreaming, from within a dream. Give yourself this command and believe it. Some people have lucid dreams naturally. Some have to work at it for only a a few days, others weeks or months.

You may have a lot going on in your life which needs your attention more, so perhaps try this experiment another time. You should be well rested. A good practice is to go to bed 30 minutes earlier than usual, so you can give yourself commands and also allow you time to gently drift into sleep, as opposed to passing out when exhausted. Have your room pleasantly cool, and have your dream diary beside your bed. Try not to eat anything heavy, or too late on in the evening.

You should be ready to go. Lucid dreams can be fun, but they can also be a path to self development and evolution. Imagine flying around the world like superman, meeting famous people, or even rehearsing a speech or game strategy. Perhaps you have regular bad dreams or nightmares. You can now be in control!

If you are looking to improve yourself mentally and spiritually, lucid dreams can lead to this and much more.