For Beginners: What is Lucid Dreaming? Lucid dreaming is the secret art of experiencing a dream as clearly as everyday life…
Have you ever wondered in a dream if you were dreaming? If so, you may have had a lucid dream before. Lucid dreaming is the state in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming. In a lucid dream, you can control the actions in your dream, maintain crystal-clear perception like in everyday life, and explore your surroundings fully consciously. Everything is allowed and possible!
What is Lucid Dreaming?
Lucid dreaming is a phenomenon that has been documented for centuries. It is often associated with meditation, yoga and other spiritual practices. In recent years, interest in lucid dreaming has increased as scientists explore its potential applications for therapy, exercise and personal development.
There is no universally accepted definition of lucid dreaming. A common definition is that a lucid dream is a dream in which the dreamer is aware of their dreams and can direct and control the actions in their dream at will.
How does lucid dreaming work?
The exact functionality of lucid dreams is not yet fully understood. However, they are thought to be due to a combination of factors including:
- Increased alertness during sleep: Lucid dreams are more common in people who are alert during sleep. This can be achieved through techniques such as reality checks, dream diaries and stabilization techniques (see below).
- Decreased or increased REM sleep interruptions: REM sleep is the stage of sleep in which dreams most often occur. Lucid dreams occur more often in people who have fewer or more REM sleep interruptions. This is the 4th sleep phase, which is the most dreamy.
- A healthy critical ability: People with a healthy critical ability tend to analyze their surroundings even in dreams and discover contradictions in the passage of time and space.
Altered brain activity:
Various studies have shown, for example the researcher Dr. Psych. Stephen LaBerge that brain activity in people who practice lucid dreaming is different from brain activity in people who do not lucid dream. Stephen LaBerge managed to prove lucid dreaming with the help of an EEG and experienced lucid dreamers. They were able to send messages to the laboratory within a lucid dream using eye movements and a specific Morse code.
Stages of Lucid Dreaming
There are different levels of lucidity in a dream. This includes:
- Cloudy dream: The normal usual dream. This is often only vaguely remembered and seems illogical.
- Prelucid dream: Such a dream is quite clear and distinct, but you have not yet fully recognized that you are in a dream.
- Lucid dream: The dream is crystal clear, like in everyday life, and you can experience everything as if you were in your everyday life. You can wish for anything and experience anything. One begins to recognize a causal and logical sequence in the dreams.
- High-level lucid dream: Here the dream is even clearer than everyday perception. Absolute clarity. You begin to realize that the dreams represent alternative realities in which you subconsciously live as well. Everyday life is recognized as a dream.
- Toltec dream: Everyday life is not only recognized as a dream, but the possibilities from a dream can often also be used in everyday life.
Other terms for lucid dreaming
Lucid dreaming has several terms that are used interchangeably, such as:
- Waking Dream
- Lucid dreaming
- Conscious dreaming
- Bright or vivid dreams
- Controlled dreaming
- Controllable dreaming
- Comprehensive shift in consciousness
- Extensive consciousness projection
- Conscious exploration of alternative realities
Benefits of Lucid Dreaming
Lucid dreaming can provide a number of benefits including:
- Improved dream recall: Lucid dreamers remember their dreams more often than people who don’t have lucid dreams.
- Control over dream content: Lucid dreamers can control the actions in their dream. This can lead to new and exciting experiences. Everything is possible and everything is allowed.
- Self-awareness: Lucid dreams can improve self-confidence and self-awareness.
- Therapeutic Uses: Lucid dreams are being studied in research to treat sleep disorders, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Performance-oriented applications: Lucid dreams are used for high-performance athletes and students for exams or new records.
- Perception: Perception in a lucid dream is almost identical to perception in everyday life and allows any action in a dream, free of all taboos. This can also be used as catharsis.
Effects and after-effects of frequent lucid dreaming
- Lucid dreaming increases self-awareness and self-confidence
- It provides incredible energy for everyday life
- The dreamer can live out all his wishes without taboos and uncensored
- It activates subliminal paranormal abilities of all kinds
- The dreamer becomes aware that the everyday world exists in a thousand very similar variations
- The dreamer realizes that everyday life can only represent a dream
- The dreamer gains high creativity and knowledge
How can you learn lucid dreaming?
There are various techniques that can help you learn to lucid dream. The most common techniques include:
- Reality Checks: Reality checks are exercises performed while awake to check whether one is dreaming. If you do a reality check and notice that something is wrong, it is very likely that you are dreaming.
- Dream Diaries: Dream diaries are a great way to remember your dreams. This can help identify patterns in one’s dreams and understand how to achieve lucid dreams more easily.
- Stabilization Techniques: Stabilization techniques are used to maintain a lucid dream. For example, you can try moving your fingers or counting to make yourself aware that you are dreaming.
Lucid dreaming is obviously a fascinating phenomenon that offers many benefits. The Matrixblogger is one of the best-known German-language sources with over 20 years of experience in lucid dreaming.
See also:
What is Astral Travel?