How to Lucid Dream

Lucid Dreaming Tips: How to Have Lucid Dreams

Do you have times when you wake up and can vividly remember your dream and why you dreamed it? For instance, if you ran into a friend you have not seen in years and then had a dream about going on a picnic with them, you know why you had that dream. Then there are other times when you cannot remember your dream. In most cases, dreams reflect real life, but there are times when they are completely random and can be controlled. This is known as lucid dreaming.  It is when you are fully aware that you are having a dream and can do whatever you want. With lucid dreaming, your imagination is the limit, so anything can happen.

Here are a few tips on how to have lucid dreams:

• Think about lucid dreaming before bedtime: Your chances of having a lucid dream are much higher when you make it the last thing you think about before hitting the hay. This is due to the fact that everything related to dreams is psychological. This means that when you think about lucid dreaming, your brain may become more aware of your surroundings even when you are sleeping.
• Do not wake up: There can be times when your lucid dream is so exciting that you wake up. Doesn’t it just frustrate you when that happens? However, you can usually tell if you are about to wake up from your sleep. If you feel like you are gaining consciousness, calm yourself down and slowly rub your hands. Although there is no known reason why it works, in most cases, it does. Another very strange way to stay asleep is to turn in a circle and fall to the floor.
• Have a consistent sleep routine: This tip is an obvious one. Your melatonin, or body clock, is set by going to bed and waking up at about the same time every day. You have mornings when you wake up 5 minutes before your alarm goes off, right? That is, your melatonin working. However, keep in mind that it cannot work if you do not have a consistent or proper sleep schedule.
• Sleep in complete darkness: According to scientific research, your levels of melatonin are the highest at night while you sleep in complete darkness, around the time that you are dreaming. This helps in promoting vivid dreams and improving dream recall. The ideal situation would be when there is no difference in darkness when you open your eyes as when you close them.  When you sleep with a light on, it decreases the quality of dreams and your internal clock gets messed up as the melatonin level in your body is brought down. Do not let light spoil your dreams.
• Recall what happened throughout the day: This is a great thing to do while you are lying down before falling asleep. Start from the very beginning of your day and try to recall as many details as possible. What was the color of the car that sped past you on your way to work? Who served you at the restaurant? What was the color of his or her eyes? Go through the entire day and recall the events as well as you can. Practicing this each night will encourage you to increase your awareness levels subconsciously. You will be practicing lucid living without much effort in no time.
• Eat lucid foods: Yup, lucid foods exist! There are certain foods that increase melatonin production, therefore making it easier for you to attain lucidity. Did you know that a teaspoon of mustard before going to bed can actually increase your chances of having a lucid dream? Lucid foods include white mustard, black mustard, sunflower seeds, almonds, oats, flax seeds, cherries, rice, poppy seeds, red radishes, tomatoes and of course, banana. Milk, eggs, fish, sweet potatoes, broccoli, lentils, and mushrooms are other lucid-friendly foods that also contain tryptophan. Include these foods in your regular diet will help you have lucid dreams more frequently than you did in the past.

Learning to have lucid dreams is fun, frustrating, daunting, bizarre, intensive and euphoric, yet lucid dreaming is ultimately an experience that is life changing and hugely rewarding.  Like any other skill, learning to have lucid dreams is one that develops over time. There is no magical secret that can be passed from one person to another. However, the tips mentioned above can help immensely in giving you, lucid dreams more frequently.

Examples of Lucid Dreaming

1. Flying: Many lucid dreamers enjoy the sensation of flying or levitating. In a lucid dream, you might become aware that you can control your movements and begin to soar through the sky or explore underwater worlds.
2. Meeting famous people: You might choose to meet your favorite celebrity or historical figure in a lucid dream. You could have a conversation, ask for advice, or simply hang out with them.
3. Rehearsing a skill or event: Lucid dreaming can be used as a mental rehearsal space. Athletes, performers, or public speakers might use lucid dreams to practice their skills, improve their techniques, or prepare for an upcoming event.
4. Overcoming fears: Lucid dreaming can help address phobias and fears by allowing you to face them in a controlled environment. For example, if you have a fear of public speaking, you might use a lucid dream to practice speaking in front of an audience without any real-world consequences.
5. Resolving problems or conflicts: In a lucid dream, you can explore different solutions to problems or conflicts in your life. You might play out various scenarios, have conversations with people involved, or seek guidance from dream characters.
6. Exploring fantasy worlds: Lucid dreaming allows you to create and explore your own imaginative worlds, filled with unique landscapes, creatures, or situations. You might choose to visit a world from your favorite book, movie, or game or create a completely new environment.
7. Enhancing creativity: Some people use lucid dreams to tap into their creative potential, exploring ideas for artistic projects, inventions, or stories.
8. Spiritual exploration: Lucid dreaming can be used for personal growth or spiritual exploration, such as connecting with a higher power, exploring the nature of consciousness, or seeking insights into the nature of reality.

Movies that Feature Lucid Dreaming

Lucid dreaming has been portrayed and explored in various movies, often as a central theme or plot device. Here are some movies that feature or touch upon lucid dreaming:

1. Inception (2010): Directed by Christopher Nolan, Inception is a science fiction film that delves into the world of shared dreaming and dream manipulation. The protagonist, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, leads a team of specialists who extract or plant information in people’s minds through their dreams.
2. Waking Life (2001): Directed by Richard Linklater, Waking Life is an animated film that explores philosophical concepts, including lucid dreaming, through a series of vignettes. The protagonist experiences a series of dream-like encounters, questioning the nature of reality and consciousness.
3. Vanilla Sky (2001): Directed by Cameron Crowe and starring Tom Cruise, this psychological thriller focuses on a man who is disfigured in an accident and chooses to be put into a cryogenic sleep, where he experiences a lucid dream-like state, blurring the lines between reality and dreams.
4. The Science of Sleep (2006): Directed by Michel Gondry, this quirky romantic comedy explores the life of a man who has trouble distinguishing between his dreams and reality. His vivid dreams and imagination often bleed into his waking life, creating confusion and challenges.
5. Paprika (2006): This Japanese animated film, directed by Satoshi Kon, is set in a world where a device allows therapists to enter their patients’ dreams. The story revolves around the theft of the device and the subsequent chaos it causes as the lines between dreams and reality become blurred.
6. Dreamscape (1984): In this science fiction film directed by Joseph Ruben, a young psychic is enlisted in a government project that allows him to enter others’ dreams. He must use his abilities to prevent a nefarious plot that threatens the President’s life.

Lucid dreaming can be beneficial for various reasons, but it may also have some potential drawbacks. Here are some of the positive aspects and potential concerns associated with lucid dreaming:

Benefits of lucid dreaming

1. Personal growth and self-discovery: Lucid dreaming can be a tool for exploring your inner thoughts, emotions, and beliefs, leading to increased self-awareness and personal growth.
2. Problem-solving and creativity: Lucid dreams can be a space for exploring new ideas, testing out creative solutions, or brainstorming, which may translate into improved problem-solving and creative thinking in waking life.
3. Overcoming fears and phobias: Lucid dreaming can help you face your fears in a controlled and safe environment, which may ultimately help you overcome them in real life.
4. Enhancing skills and practicing new abilities: Lucid dreaming can be used as a mental rehearsal space, allowing you to practice and refine skills or explore new abilities, which could potentially improve performance in waking life.
5. Emotional healing and resolution: Lucid dreams can provide a space for resolving emotional conflicts, processing traumatic experiences, or gaining insights into personal relationships.

Potential concerns and drawbacks:

1. Sleep disruption: Frequent attempts to induce lucid dreams or engaging in techniques to prolong them might disrupt your sleep cycle or impact sleep quality, leading to fatigue or sleep disturbances.
2. Blurring the lines between reality and dreams: Some individuals may find that frequent lucid dreaming makes it more challenging to differentiate between their dream experiences and waking life, which could potentially cause confusion or disorientation.
3. Negative experiences: While many lucid dreams are positive, some individuals may encounter frightening or disturbing experiences, particularly if they lack full control over their dreams.
4. Escapism: Excessive focus on lucid dreaming might lead some people to use it as an escape from real-life problems or responsibilities, which could ultimately be detrimental to personal growth and well-being.

In conclusion, lucid dreaming can offer several benefits, but it’s essential to maintain a balanced approach and be aware of potential drawbacks. As with any practice, moderation and self-awareness are key to ensuring that lucid dreaming remains a positive and enriching experience.