LUCID DREAMING ñ PART 1


The value of lucid dreaming is immeasurable. When individuals begin to have the 
experience of lucid dreaming, the truth of who they really are and their 
personal reality expands. Have you ever been asleep and then suddenly become 
aware that you were dreaming? In lucid dreaming, the dreamer is aware that he or 
she is dreaming during the dream.
 
Most of us have experienced some degree of lucidity. When the dreamer realizes 
that some segment of the dream is only a dream, it is called "prelucid 
dreaming". A fully lucid dream is one which the dreamer definitely recognizes 
that he is dreaming. These dreams tend to seem more real and more vivid then 
normal waking reality. Also, the sense of sound, sight, taste and smell seems 
intensified.

Though lucid dreaming has received much attention from the metaphysical 
community in recent years, it is not a new idea by any means. In Eastern 
cultures, lucid dreaming has always been an esoteric element of the spiritual 
practices of Taoism, Buddhism and Hinduism. The Tibetan Buddhists have expanded 
the practice of lucid dreaming into an art form. Tibetan Buddhists believe that 
dreaming is a way to connect more deeply with one's soul. They feel that each 
time we dream, we are experiencing the condition of our soul essence.
 
Lucidity is invaluable. When individuals begin to have the experience of lucid 
dreaming, they begin to feel more expansive as one does when taking in a lovely, 
deep breath of air and this feeling moves into other aspects in their life. 
Personal limitations do not exist and there is a sense of being more in control 
of personal destiny. Intuition and imagination during waking hours are 
noticeably increased.
 
One of the goals of lucid dreaming is to transport your waking consciousness 
into your dreams and your dreaming consciousness back into your waking life 
without feeling a break. The purpose for this continuity in consciousness is 
that it allows the dreamer to recognize that the world of the waking self is a 
self-created dream as well. If you are working with a lucid dream, an excellent 
affirmation to keep in mind is "All that I see I can dream. All that I can see, 
and I am aware of all my dreams".
 
Lucid dreaming can be regarded as a spiritual evolutionary process, a step 
towards remembering who you are and what your true destiny is. An Arabic mystic 
said, "A person must control his thoughts in a dream. The training of this 
alertness will produce great benefits for the individual. Everyone should apply 
himself to the attainment of this ability."

Cultivate the skill of lucid dreaming much as you would any other ability. Just 
as the ability to type, swim or paint can be developed and fire tuned with 
practice, so can the ability to lucid dream. It takes a certain amount of 
discipline at first, but it becomes easier and in time, even effortless.

LUCID DREAMING TECHNIQUES
First things first ñ Keep a dream journal. You must if you truly wish to attain 
lucidity. Then, as you are going to sleep, say "Tonight I am aware and conscious 
that I am dreaming". Recall your dreams and as you remember a dream during the 
night, while you are drifting back to sleep, say, "During my next dream, I 
remember that I am dreaming". Sometimes repeating the phrase "I am dreaming" as 
you fall asleep will contribute to having lucid dreams. Having made a conscious 
choice to experience lucid dreams, be vigilant and consistent and over a period 
of weeks, it will begin to happen for you.
 
APPLICATIONS
Once you are adept in recognizing that you are dreaming while in that state, 
begin to alter the circumstances of your dream. Deliberately choose some action 
you can take. Start with something simple. The Mexican mystic, Don Juan, told 
Carlos Castaneda to try to look at his hands while he was dreaming. Other simple 
dream actions could be picking a flower or opening your arms to the heavens in 
delight or hugging a tree. Become the hero or heroine of your dreams. You don't 
necessarily need to force your visualization, but simply be in your dream with 
awareness.
 
Stanford University psychologist, Stephen LaBerge, a proponent of lucid 
dreaming, has developed sensors which detect the eye movement that accompany 
vivid dreams. A pulsing red light is activated to be used as a signal to remind 
the dreamer that he is actually dreaming.
 
Though mainstream sleep and dream researchers may be skeptical of this 
controversial technique, it demonstrates once again the interest being generated 
for a deeper understanding of our dreaming selves.
 
TECHNIQUES
Closely related to the dream journal techniques, using these standards can help 
you to better recall dreams, thereby influencing your awareness when in the 
dream state.
 
Look for patterns and recurring themes in your dreams. If you don't "get it" the 
first time, your brain often sends you the same dream message again. Many people 
experience recurring dreams, or even recurring nightmares. That's just your 
brain trying to get your attention and convey an important message to you.
 
View each character in the dream as an aspect of yourself. For example, if there 
is a devil in the dream, see what happens if you view that character as "the 
devilish destructive part of myself".  Even if the character is someone you know 
"in real life", try using this technique. Instead of your mother, maybe the 
character represents the motherly part of you or a part of you that is like your 
actual mother.

Explain your dream in the simplest terms possible. Pretend that you are 
explaining it to a Martian who needs you to define almost every word. So for 
example, if your dream involved a car, imagine that a Martian doesn't understand 
what a "car" is. You must explain that a car is a device you use for 
transportation to get from one place to another, to move forward. You may be 
surprised by the meaning that are revealed.
 
Use dream interpretation dictionaries. These books contain general "definitions" 
of dream symbols. They are based on simple psychology, but are not always 
reliable because dreams are so personal. Take what they say with a grain of 
salt.
 
Try role playing various dream characters. Some people find it helpful to 
imagine that they have returned to the dream and then they engage dream 
characters in imaginary conversations. So If you dreamed about a mysterious 
shadowed figure, you might question the figure, asking, "Who are you"Ö."Why do 
you hide yourself from me?"Ö. "Why have you come to me?"
 
Share your dreams with others and get their input. Do not accept a friend's 
interpretation unless it feels right to you, giving you an "aha" feeling of 
recognition.