“When you go to sleep, where do you really go?”
― Brian Lovestar
Have you ever had vivid dreams? Do you remember them? Have you ever experienced a dream where you know that you are dreaming?
Most of us forget what we have dreamt of as soon as we wake up. Others might remember pieces of moments that may have occurred.
Then there are fleeting moments in our dream where we know that we are dreaming. It is a brief period called lucid dreaming.
What Are Lucid Dreams?
In literal terms, lucid dreams mean ‘clear dreams’ but it is more than that. It is the realization that you are currently within a dream.
The moment this happens you can do two things; either you can wake up and go back to sleep again or you can carry on with the dream. Doing the latter gives you the ability to have some control of your dream.
For instance,
Imagine that you gain consciousness and find your ‘dream-self’ on the beach. When you do that you will most likely have awakened senses. That means that you will be able to feel the sun kissing your skin, taste the salty breeze messing your hair, and touch the grainy sand under your feet.
In your lucidness, you can make your ‘dream-self’ go swimming or scuba diving. You even have the ability to change the surroundings or make magical things happen like flying or encountering magical creatures.
Most people wish to have access to their lucid dreams because they want to be able to experience their dream world. A place where anything they wish can happen. Although this is the main aim, it isn’t easily achieved because lucid dreams have a tendency to be more bizarre than normal dreams.
There is no set pattern to when they will occur. Yet, psychologists believe that lucid dreams are highly beneficial for our mind.
Here are some benefits:
- Artistic minds get a boost in creativity
- You get to unlock the hidden realms of your subconscious
- You become more alert and attuned to your senses when you wake up
- Improves your sleep cycle and helps you to sleep more peacefully
Can We Consciously Enter Our Lucid Dreams?
Here are two dream awareness techniques that can trigger a lucid dream:
Dream Journals
Keep a record of what you dream regularly. This includes the surrounding, sensation, and emotions that were experienced during the dream. Try to recognize the recurring patterns or events in your dreams. When you familiarize yourself to these things, you will find it easier to become aware that you are in a dream.
Dream Check
Do you know how you give yourself a reality check when something surreal happens?
Do the same things in your dream. Chances are you won’t feel yourself pinching or burn your hand when you are inside your dream.
In conclusion, we admit that there is no fool-proof way to trigger a lucid dream. However, you can still improve your chances of lucid dreaming by using these strategies.
This topic has left us wondering:
What would you do if you could control your dreams?
Where would you go?
