Lucid Dreaming Tips

A dream state in which the dreamer is aware and conscious of the events of the dream is known as a lucid dream. The dreamer also possesses the power to control and manipulate the happenings of the dream. Here are some lucid dreaming tips that may help you achieve this enlightening experience.
Lucid Dreaming Tips
Often when we wake up from our dreams the memory of our dreams is very vivid and distant. The more we try and recall the finer details of our dreams, the further they fade and the hazier they become. After about 15 minutes of attempting to recall what happened in the dream, the memory of the dream is almost entirely gone. Wouldn't it be an uplifting experience to actually remember not just the substance and theme of our dreams, but the entire sequence of events as they pan out. A lucid dream is a kind of dream, the memory of which is crystal clear in your mind, even hours after you have woken up. It is a kind of conscious dreaming state wherein you can actually control and manipulate the events of your dream. Also read about why do people dream and different types of dreams.

Lucid Dreaming Explained
Any dream in which the dreamer is aware that he or she is dreaming is a lucid dream. As a result of this awareness, the dreamer can actually manipulate what happens in the dream, vis a vis regular dreaming where events are seemingly out of our control, and dream interpretations are very difficult. Depending on the person's awareness of the dream and his involvement, lucid dreams can even seem like reality to some people. Once you know how to lucid dream, you can control the happenings of your dreams based on your imagination.

There are primarily three lucid dreaming techniques that determine how the dream state begins. These are a Dream-Initiated Lucid Dream (DILD), a Wake-Initiated Lucid Dream (WILD) and a Mnemonic-Initiated Lucid Dream (MILD). DILD begins as a regular dream, and the dreamer eventually concludes that this was a lucid dream. In WILD, the person will make a transition from a waking state to a dream state without being aware of such a transition. And in MILD the person uses some lucid dreaming techniques to induce a lucid dreaming state upon himself or herself. Understanding the various stages of sleep will also help you to control your lucid dreams better.

Once a person has learned how to have lucid dreams, they can be completely conscious of the actions in the dream, and feel like they are genuinely experiencing the things that are happening to them. For example if a person is dreaming about flying over mountains, there are many lucid dreaming tips that will make the person feel that this is actually happening. The result will be a feeling of exhilaration and excitement that have no equal in reality. Learn more about the psychology of dreams and understanding dreams.

How to Have Lucid Dreams
There are many lucid dreaming tips that you can incorporate in order to have great lucid dreams. Once you have learned these lucid dreaming techniques, you will be able to make your dream experience highly realistic and enjoyable. There are six basic steps that will show you how to lucid dream.
  • Mentally prepare yourself. Analyze your belief systems and decide if you can actually do this. The first amongst many lucid dreaming tips is the acceptance of the fact that you can lucid dream.
  • Recall your dreams. It will heighten your lucid dreaming abilities, if you can accurately recall your dreams. Wake up slowly and go through your dream backwards. Do not get discouraged if you are unable to do so. Keep trying, and sooner or later you'll master this ability.
  • Make a dream journal. If you are beginning to recall your dreams better, start maintaining a dream journal. This is one of the lucid dreaming tips that you will hear very often, as it will help you understand and dissect your dreams much better.
  • Become more conscious in your waking state. Doing so will provide you with greater control when you are in a lucid dream state. Improving your awareness is one of the primary lucid dreaming tips, no matter what the source may be.
  • Link your awareness to your dreams. This is the last step in this process and involves you recognizing your dreams and their nature, and then linking these dreams to your reality. This way you control your dreams. This is the easiest of all the lucid dreaming tips and should help you achieve an enlightening lucid dreaming experience.
The main thing to remember while trying to enhance your dreams and learning how to have lucid dreams is that the dreams serve as a link between your conscious and your sub-conscious mind. If you can control your conscious mind completely, the next logical step is to control the sub-conscious mind. Here are some more lucid dreaming tips and lucid dreaming techniques that may help you.
  • Listen to music as you are falling asleep.
  • Take small but regular naps throughout the course of the day.
  • Pay more attention to your surroundings and external environment.
  • Eating spicy foods also helps in having different and unique dreams.
  • Wake up regularly in the middle of the night for about 5 minutes. This helps you recall your dreams more accurately.
  • Get professional help and lucid dreaming tips.
Even though the art of lucid dreaming has come to the notice of people recently, it has been prevalent for many many centuries. Dreaming and lucid dreaming are just small points on the entire spectrum of cosmic consciousness, and learning how to lucid dream and how to control lucid dreams is merely a small step in the right direction. All such experiences can only be made possible with an open mind and with a belief that it can be done. Let no one control your opinions on such an issue, and be the judge yourself, only after you have experienced it.

By Rahul Thadani
Published: 11/6/2009
 
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