In a lucid dream, you, as the dreamer, are aware in the dream that you are dreaming.
You literally ‘wake-up’ within the dream as though you are experiencing normal waking life except that it is the dream state.
You know you are dreaming!
What does it feel like to Lucid Dream?
Within a lucid dream, you may notice that colours appear richer and deeper
Your feelings may also have more depth
You may feel freer and lighter
You understand that you can creativity change dream events or surroundings to suit what it is you want to experience
There is a sense of adventure and possibility present
Lucid dreaming may also have the potential to work with and help to dissolve nightmares or phobias (example below):
“[L]et’s say you’re being attacked by someone in a nightmare. You could try to talk to the attacker. You could ask them, ‘Why are you appearing in my dreams?’ or ‘What do you need to resolve this conflict with me?’”– Dr. Denholm Aspy
These dreams often feel magical in nature.
They engage and intrigue us.
How to Evoke a Lucid Dream
Reality Testing
To verify whether or not you are dreaming, periodically ask yourself during the day: “Am I dreaming?” Then try to pass your hand through something solid. If you are not dreaming, clearly your hand will not move through a solid object.
But this question, “Am I dreaming” and the hand test can transfer into your dream life and that will become that spark that wakes you up within the dream. Your hand will pass through an object with ease.
Waking Back to Bed
A little more difficult, this requires waking up 5 or 6 hours after going to bed and then remaining awake for 10 to 15 minutes before going back to sleep. This is meant to induce REM sleep which is when a person experiences the dream state.
Obviously, this method is not for everyone especially if you are heavily committed during your waking life to your job or family where a good night’s sleep is paramount.
Mnemonic Induction
With mnemonic induction, a person repeats to themselves immediately before going to bed a sentence that is meant to intentionally invoke waking up within a dream.
You could use a phrase such as, “Tonight, I will know that I am dreaming” or, “Tonight, I will wake up within my dream”.
By repeatedly doing this practise before falling asleep, it’s as though you are giving yourself cues and/or permission to wake up within a dream.
Probably one of the most important aspects around a person’s dreamlife is tied into journaling about their dreams…
Perhaps not every single dream, as we are busy creatures, but certainly a dream each week, if at all possible.
This process sends a message to ourselves that dreams are important.
If you are one of those people who simply cannot recall their dreams,
then go to Waking Dreams to explore another method for loosening up that ability.
