I was wandering about the World Wide Web a few months ago and saw an interesting step-by-step guide on how to have something called a lucid dream. The guide that I saw was very simplistic and made it sound like something anyone could do, however after months of practice I've found that is not the case.
A lucid dream is a dream in which you are mentally conscious of the dream state you are in and are able to control your dreams. For some of you, this may happen naturally in some of your dreams as it did when I was younger. However as it seems I've lost that ability and in an attempt to gain it back I have been researching lucid dreaming.
There are two ways to induce lucid dreaming. The first, and most time consuming is called Mnemonic Induced Lucid Dreaming (MILD). To put it simply, you have to train yourself over months, and develop of habit of constantly asking yourself if you're in a dream or not. However, the way I'm going to be exploring is called Wake Induced Lucid Dreaming (WILD). In this method you go from your conscious state directly into a lucid dream. The goal is to keep your mind awake while your body goes to sleep. Don't be fooled, it is not easy.
It's recommended you begin the process after already having been asleep for a few hours (yes, you would have to wake yourself up) or during an afternoon nap when you're the most relaxed and tired. The key of this step is mental relaxation. You're to try not to think of anything at all, if any thoughts pop up you are to "observe them in passing" and send them on their way. It is tricky, but for those of you who practice meditation, it should be a cakewalk.
About 10-30 minutes in you may experience something called Hypnagogic Imagery. It's basically colors and patterns that you will see behind your eyelids, you may also experience some strange sounds that sound dreamers have reported to be frightening. However in my personal experience, it's one of the coolest things I've done. At this point you'll probably also be experiencing numbness, as if you've melted into the mattress, it's amazing.
A bit longer in and you may experience sleep paralysis. This is a natural thing and your body does it every night while you're sleeping. However, some dreamers find it frightening to have this happen while you?re awake, you just have to remind yourself there's no danger, it's all natural.
When you enter the lucid dream it will most likely be in the same surrounding as the area in which you fell asleep. With practice you'll be able to switch dream scenes with no difficulty. You'll also be able to control your dreams and be fully conscious aware that you are dreaming. It's a very liberating experience. You can experience your wildest dreams. Literally.
Sweet Dreams,
Nargles
Author's Note: Sources: http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/how-to-have-lucid-dreams.html
http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/wake-induced-lucid-dreams.html
