So, are we lucid or dreaming?
The first question to address while talking about lucid dreaming is the obvious: what exactly is it?
“Lucid dreaming is the art of becoming conscious within your dreams,” explains Charlie Morley, an expert and teacher of lucid dreaming techniques.
Lucid dreaming occurs in the REM cycle of sleep. At this stage of sleep, there is a lot of brain activity and eye-movement increases, along with heart rates and blood pressure. Additionally, the muscles in the body become close to being paralyzed.
A how-to on Lucid Dreaming
The first step in learning to have lucid dreams is to begin a dream journal. Recording and tracking dreams as a crucial component of lucid dreaming as it helps recall previous dreams and details.
The second step is to introduce ourselves to “reality checks”. These are simple tasks that we can do to remind ourselves that we are dreaming, or, to ‘check’ if we are dreaming. Counting fingers or checking the time are examples of two simple reality checks, and while the outcome of these checks will be predictable in real life, in a lucid dream, the outcome may change dramatically. For example, the time may move by a few hours in a single second. Reality checks need to be performed while in a non-dream state to form a habit and recognize a pattern.
The third step is Mnemonically Induced Lucid Dreaming, also known as MILD. This is where you tell yourself you will have a lucid dream and imagine lucid dreaming to reinforce the intention to lucid dream.
The fourth step, optional, is Wake-Induced Lucid Dreaming, also known as WILD. This where your mind falls asleep and the body stays awake. This is challenging and can be a scary process as sleep paralysis and nightmares may occur.
While lucid dreaming can be an exciting experience, it is important to understand that individuals who are unable to separate a dream from reality should not experiment with lucid dreaming as this can be dangerous.
People use lucid dreaming to beat addictions, expand in their creativity and life experiences, manipulate the content of nightmares, and change the course and outcome of a dream all without moving an inch from their bed!
Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-superhuman-mind/201212/lucid-dreaming-and-self-realization
https://www.fastcompany.com/3042659/how-lucid-dreaming-can-improve-your-waking-life
