Lucid Dreaming

The degree to which we can learn about our subconscious is hard to assess, but different forms and practices of dreaming can provide some insight. A particular method that can assist us in unearthing deeper realms is lucid dreaming. For the purpose of this article, lucid dreaming is defined as knowing you are dreaming while in a dream state. This can mean being able to direct and control your dreams so that you can fly for example, but this is not an element of all lucid dreams. Here are some tips to train yourself to activate lucidity in your dreams, and a look at why people are drawn to this practice.

Step one: Keep a dream journal. When you wake up, write feelings, sensations, moods, and any details that come to mind.

Step two: Set the intention to lucid dream.

Step zero. Develop a consistent daytime mindfulness meditation practice to be in the present moment.This skill of awareness can then be used at nighttime to enter states of lucidity.

Clues in your dreamscape such as strangely functioning clocks and recurring themes can spark the question, “Am I dreaming?”. To increase your chance of lucid dreaming, set your alarm a few hours earlier than usual. This is when your REM activity (dream time!) is highest, which is the best time to reach the semi conscious state that makes lucid dreaming possible.

What’s the hype with lucid dreaming? Some people do it just to have fun, and might fly, perform awesome tricks, or indulge in hedonistic desires. If we can accept that much of the human experience eludes us, lucid dreaming can act as a metaphor for waking up to the collective dream we are all living within. As well, if we can train ourselves to change physical details in our dreams which aren’t real, can we do the same for the intangible, such as emotions, moods and feelings? Wow. Mind warp.

So is the current moment a dream? Whatever the answer, the truth is your mind is creating the reality you experience, it is just much less obvious in a waking state. So dive into your dreams, observe the contents of your unconscious, and train yourself to be aware of the variations in your waking and sleeping realities. There is a world of possibility under the surface, so why not use the time in which you are sleeping to learn more about your psyche?

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