colonel_moo
05-30-2006, 01:36 PM
well, i saw a thread like this on PBN, and it inspired me to start trying to have lucid dreams. for anyone that doesnt know, a lucid dream is when you figure out that you are dreaming, and can thus control your dream and do anything you want. most of you have probably experienced this when you were real young, or at least have figured out that you are dreaming, but not necesarily been able to control it. do any of you guys actually try to figure out when you are dreaming?
here is a excerpt from the wikipedia article about lucid dreaming:
Common techniques
[edit]
Reality testing
Reality testing is a common method that people use to determine whether or not they are dreaming. This method involves performing an action with results that are difficult to re-create in a dream. Examples of reality tests include:
* To read some text, look away, and read it again, or to look at your watch and remember the time, then look away and look back. Observers have found that, in a dream, the text or time will often have changed.
* Flipping a light switch or looking into a mirror. Light switches rarely work in dreams, and reflections from a mirror often appear to be blurred or distorted.
* Covering your nose and seeing if you can still breathe.
* Pressing the index finger firmly into an area of the body such as the chest or leg. Since “matter” is usually plastic in the dream state and does not resist change, the finger will usually penetrate the dream body with little resistance and no pain.
* Experiencing no pain.
Another form of reality testing involves identifying one's dream signs, clues that one is dreaming. These can be anything, such as a pink elephant on parade or a talking dog. Dream signs are often categorized as follows:
* Action — The dreamer, another dream character, or a thing does something unusual or impossible in waking life, such as photos in a magazine or newspaper becoming 3-dimensional with full movement.
* Context — The place or situation in the dream is strange.
* Form — The dreamer, another character, or a thing changes shape, or is oddly formed or transforms; this may include the presence of unusual clothing or hair, or a third person view of the dreamer.
* Awareness — A peculiar thought, a strong emotion, an unusual sensation, or altered perceptions. In some cases when moving one's head from side to side, one may notice a strange stuttering or 'strobing' of the image.
Though occurrences like these may seem out of place in waking life, they may seem perfectly normal to a dreaming mind and learning to pick up on these dream signs will help in recognizing that one is dreaming.
Experienced lucid dreamers will often use more advanced techniques, such as those described below, to induce lucid dreams at will.
[edit]
Mnemonic induction of lucid dreaming (MILD)
Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreaming is a common technique used to induce a lucid dream at will by setting an intention, while falling asleep, to remember to recognize that one is dreaming, or to remember to look for dream signs. Because it is easy to master (almost everyone sets intentions frequently), it is ideal for those who have never practiced lucid dreaming induction techniques before.
The MILD technique was developed by Stephen LaBerge, and is described fully in his book Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming.
[edit]
Wake-back-to-bed induction technique (WBTB)
Wake-back-to-bed is often the easiest way to induce a lucid dream. The method involves going to sleep tired and waking up five hours later. Then, focusing all thoughts on lucid dreaming, staying awake for an hour and going back to sleep. The odds of having a lucid dream are then much higher. This is because the REM cycles get longer as the night goes on, and this technique takes advantage of the best REM cycle of the night. Also, lucid dreams are usually longer and more vivid at this time.
[edit]
Waking induction of lucid dreaming (WILD)
Waking Induction of Lucid Dreaming is one of the most common induction techniques used by lucid dreamers. In this particular technique, a person goes directly from being awake into a lucid dream. The key to this technique is recognizing the hypnagogic stage, which is within the border of being awake and being asleep. If a person is successful in staying aware while this stage occurs, they will eventually enter the dream state while being fully aware that it is a dream. Because one does not have to recognize a cue in order to induce a lucid dream using this technique, it tends to be more reliable than other techniques. Proponents recommend three steps to induce lucid dreaming: relax, stay aware, and enter your dream. There are key times at which this technique is best used; while success at night after being awake for a long time is very difficult, it is relatively easy after being awake for 15 or so minutes and in the afternoon during a nap. Users of this technique often count, envision themselves climbing or descending stairs, chanting to themselves, or any various form of concentration to keep their mind awake, while still being calm enough to let their body sleep. During the actual transition into the dreamstate, one is likely to experience sleep paralysis, including rapid vibrations.
[edit]
Cycle adjustment technique (CAT)
The cycle adjustment technique is an effective way to induce lucid dreaming. It involves adjusting one's sleep cycle to encourage awareness during the latter part of the sleep. First, the person wakes up 90 minutes before normal wake time until their sleep cycle begins to adjust. After this, the normal wake times and early wake times alternate. On the days with the normal wake times, the body is ready to wake up, and this increases alertness, making lucidity more likely. The cycle adjustment technique was developed by Daniel Love. [9]
[edit]
Don Juan's technique
This technique is the one endorsed by Carlos Castaneda's guide, Don Juan, in the book Journey to Ixtlan. Before going to sleep one must look at one's hands and say to oneself: "Later, when I am dreaming, I will look at my hands and realise that I am dreaming." While dreaming, one must look at one's hands, then look around and repeat the procedure throughout the dream.
the full article can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucid_dreaming
the one i use is the reality check where you cover your nose to see if you can still breathe. the only problem is you have to make a habit of doing it even when you are sure you are in reality.
last night i infact was able to figure out i was dreaming (through reality check), but i got too excited and woke up :rolleyes:
i really hope i can achieve a good one sometime, cause it really seems like it would be fun. anybody else ever try this or have any success stories?
here is a excerpt from the wikipedia article about lucid dreaming:
Common techniques
[edit]
Reality testing
Reality testing is a common method that people use to determine whether or not they are dreaming. This method involves performing an action with results that are difficult to re-create in a dream. Examples of reality tests include:
* To read some text, look away, and read it again, or to look at your watch and remember the time, then look away and look back. Observers have found that, in a dream, the text or time will often have changed.
* Flipping a light switch or looking into a mirror. Light switches rarely work in dreams, and reflections from a mirror often appear to be blurred or distorted.
* Covering your nose and seeing if you can still breathe.
* Pressing the index finger firmly into an area of the body such as the chest or leg. Since “matter” is usually plastic in the dream state and does not resist change, the finger will usually penetrate the dream body with little resistance and no pain.
* Experiencing no pain.
Another form of reality testing involves identifying one's dream signs, clues that one is dreaming. These can be anything, such as a pink elephant on parade or a talking dog. Dream signs are often categorized as follows:
* Action — The dreamer, another dream character, or a thing does something unusual or impossible in waking life, such as photos in a magazine or newspaper becoming 3-dimensional with full movement.
* Context — The place or situation in the dream is strange.
* Form — The dreamer, another character, or a thing changes shape, or is oddly formed or transforms; this may include the presence of unusual clothing or hair, or a third person view of the dreamer.
* Awareness — A peculiar thought, a strong emotion, an unusual sensation, or altered perceptions. In some cases when moving one's head from side to side, one may notice a strange stuttering or 'strobing' of the image.
Though occurrences like these may seem out of place in waking life, they may seem perfectly normal to a dreaming mind and learning to pick up on these dream signs will help in recognizing that one is dreaming.
Experienced lucid dreamers will often use more advanced techniques, such as those described below, to induce lucid dreams at will.
[edit]
Mnemonic induction of lucid dreaming (MILD)
Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreaming is a common technique used to induce a lucid dream at will by setting an intention, while falling asleep, to remember to recognize that one is dreaming, or to remember to look for dream signs. Because it is easy to master (almost everyone sets intentions frequently), it is ideal for those who have never practiced lucid dreaming induction techniques before.
The MILD technique was developed by Stephen LaBerge, and is described fully in his book Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming.
[edit]
Wake-back-to-bed induction technique (WBTB)
Wake-back-to-bed is often the easiest way to induce a lucid dream. The method involves going to sleep tired and waking up five hours later. Then, focusing all thoughts on lucid dreaming, staying awake for an hour and going back to sleep. The odds of having a lucid dream are then much higher. This is because the REM cycles get longer as the night goes on, and this technique takes advantage of the best REM cycle of the night. Also, lucid dreams are usually longer and more vivid at this time.
[edit]
Waking induction of lucid dreaming (WILD)
Waking Induction of Lucid Dreaming is one of the most common induction techniques used by lucid dreamers. In this particular technique, a person goes directly from being awake into a lucid dream. The key to this technique is recognizing the hypnagogic stage, which is within the border of being awake and being asleep. If a person is successful in staying aware while this stage occurs, they will eventually enter the dream state while being fully aware that it is a dream. Because one does not have to recognize a cue in order to induce a lucid dream using this technique, it tends to be more reliable than other techniques. Proponents recommend three steps to induce lucid dreaming: relax, stay aware, and enter your dream. There are key times at which this technique is best used; while success at night after being awake for a long time is very difficult, it is relatively easy after being awake for 15 or so minutes and in the afternoon during a nap. Users of this technique often count, envision themselves climbing or descending stairs, chanting to themselves, or any various form of concentration to keep their mind awake, while still being calm enough to let their body sleep. During the actual transition into the dreamstate, one is likely to experience sleep paralysis, including rapid vibrations.
[edit]
Cycle adjustment technique (CAT)
The cycle adjustment technique is an effective way to induce lucid dreaming. It involves adjusting one's sleep cycle to encourage awareness during the latter part of the sleep. First, the person wakes up 90 minutes before normal wake time until their sleep cycle begins to adjust. After this, the normal wake times and early wake times alternate. On the days with the normal wake times, the body is ready to wake up, and this increases alertness, making lucidity more likely. The cycle adjustment technique was developed by Daniel Love. [9]
[edit]
Don Juan's technique
This technique is the one endorsed by Carlos Castaneda's guide, Don Juan, in the book Journey to Ixtlan. Before going to sleep one must look at one's hands and say to oneself: "Later, when I am dreaming, I will look at my hands and realise that I am dreaming." While dreaming, one must look at one's hands, then look around and repeat the procedure throughout the dream.
the full article can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucid_dreaming
the one i use is the reality check where you cover your nose to see if you can still breathe. the only problem is you have to make a habit of doing it even when you are sure you are in reality.
last night i infact was able to figure out i was dreaming (through reality check), but i got too excited and woke up :rolleyes:
i really hope i can achieve a good one sometime, cause it really seems like it would be fun. anybody else ever try this or have any success stories?