Lucid Dreaming

Dream a little Dream....

Have you ever been dreaming and then suddenly become conscious that you were in fact dreaming? Well this is what is considered lucid dreaming, where the dreamer is AWARE that they ARE in the middle of a dream. Prelucid dreaming on the other hand, is when the dreamer recognises that some segment of the dream is only a dream and the remainder is actual reality.

The term 'lucid dreaming' was coined by Frederik van Eeden who used the word "lucid" in the sense of mental clarity. Most people don't even realise they have been dreaming until after they have woken up from their dream, however we have all at one time experienced a lucid dream, although we probably weren't aware we were having one.

Lucid dreams appear to be real and more vivid than normal waking reality with senses of smell, sight, taste and sound becoming increasingly intensified. Often the realisation of a lucid dream is triggered by an occurrence of an unlikely or impossible event in the dream such as flying or meeting aliens. Once a person can recognise that they ARE dreaming, they have the ability to alter the circumstances of their dream. Scientists have discovered that people who are lucid dreamers can literally direct their actions and change the content of a dream, deciding perhaps to star in a Hollywood blockbuster, talk with the Prime Minister or assume the powers of Wonderwoman!

Lucid dreaming has been the subject of many studies in the metaphysical community and has attracted its skeptics, but is by no means a new idea. In Eastern cultures, lucid dreaming has been an element of the spiritual practices of Taoism, Buddhism and Hinduism.

Many people are attracted to lucid dreaming because of the following benefits it provides.

There are four main benefits of lucid dreaming:

Experience adventures of a lifetime: While lucid dreaming, a person can explore strange worlds and fulfill their wildest dreams.

Tap creative inspiration: Lucid dreaming allows a person to go directly to their inner source of creativity to stimulate ideas and solve problems.

Enhance your abilities: Lucid dreamers have used their dreams to develop skills in music, sports, public speaking etc...

Overcome fears: Lucid dreaming enables a person to battle the demons in their dreams, and in doing so, they can reap the enjoyment of the freedom this gives them in their waking life to confront problems or fears they may have.

Transcendence: Lucid dreaming demonstrates the fact that the world we see is a construct of our minds. It forces us to look beyond everyday experience and ask the question, "If this is not real, then what is it?"

So how does a person experience a lucid dream? Do they have to inherit some magical dreaming power?

Well the answer to this question is NO. Everyone can have lucid dreams once they learn and adopt the necessary skills and mind set to knowingly control their dreams. Lucid dream induction techniques help focus intention and prepare a critical mind. The speed with which a person develops the skills necessary for lucid dreaming depends on many factors including a person's ability to recall dreams, how much time a person devotes to practicing mental exercises and so on. Just how much control a person can exercise over their dreams will vary from individual to individual and from dream to dream. Those who can grasp the skills required to control their dreams gain the power to create any world and live out their fantasies - the only thing limiting them is their imagination!

- Annemarie Failla