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Lucid dreaming is the conscious perception of one's state while Dreaming , resulting in a much clearer ("lucid") experience and usually enabling direct control over the content of the dream. The complete experience from start to finish is called a '''lucid dream'''. Stephen LaBerge , a popular author and experimenter on the subject, has defined it as "dreaming while knowing that you are dreaming." {Link without Title} There are many unanswered questions about lucid dreaming, and about dreaming itself. LaBerge and his associates have called people who purposely explore the possibilities of lucid dreaming '' Oneironauts '' (literally from the Greek meaning "dream explorers"). The topic attracts the attention of a diverse and Eclectic group, namely Psychologists , Self-help authors, New Age groups, Mystics , Occultists , and Artists . This list is by no means exhaustive nor does interest in lucid dreaming apply necessarily to each group. Clear and consistent knowledge about lucid dreaming is difficult to find amongst the many interpretations of the experience, especially considering its highly subjective nature. It may be classified as a Protoscience , pending an increase in Scientific knowledge about the subject. Researchers such as Allan Hobson with his neurophysiological approach to dreaming have helped to push the understanding of lucid dreaming into a less speculative realm. Lucid dreamers regularly describe their dreams as exciting, colourful, and fantastic. Many compare it to a Spiritual Experience and say that it changed their lives or their perception of the world. Some have even reported lucid dreams that take on a Hyperreality , seemingly "more real than real", where all the elements of reality are amplified. Lucid dreams are prodigiously more memorable than other kinds of dreaming, even Nightmares , which may be why they are often prescribed as a means of ridding one's self of troubling dreams. There is a substantial Cottage Industry based around the technique of lucid dreaming, with an array of Induction Device s (usually based around flickering light arrays) commercially available to allegedly allow induction of lucid dreams. Their proponents also sometimes claim that these devices help achieve a higher level of spiritual consciousness, and associate it with other New Age concepts such as Astral Travel or Dream Sharing . Some proponents of the technique claim they can use symbolic methods to research, program, and modify their Nervous System itself. Memory management, creative solution generation, accelerated healing, autoinduced Priapism , and ecstatic envelopment of one's body are among the various claimed techniques. Regardless of these claims' validity, lucid dreaming as a scientifically verified phenomenon is well-established. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH A number of universities (notably Stanford ) conduct continued research into the techniques and effects of lucid dreaming, as do some independent agencies such as LaBerge's The Lucidity Institute . At present, there are no known cases where lucid dreaming has caused damage on either a psychological or physiological level. However, it would be very hard to determine whether some form of lucid dreaming might prevent one from receiving a benefit from normal dreaming. Jungian Psychology seems to indicate that non-lucid (or partly lucid) dreaming is a way to achieve self-understanding. The first book on lucid dreams to recognise their uniqueness and scientific potential was Celia Green 's 1968 study ''Lucid Dreams''. Reviewing the past literature, as well as new data from subjects of her own, Green analysed the main characteristics of such dreams, and concluded that they were a category of experience quite distinct from ordinary dreams. She predicted that they would turn out to be associated with REM Sleep . Green was also the first to link lucid dreams to the phenomenon of False Awakenings . The first scientific proof of lucid dreaming came in the late 1970s from the efforts of a British Parapsychologist Keith Hearne , and a volunteer named Alan Worsley , who used eye movement signals on a Polysomnograph machine to signal the onset of lucidity. Philosopher Norman Malcolm 's 1959 text ''Dreaming'' argued against the possibility of checking the accuracy of dream reports in this way, however this experiment proved that actions agreed upon during waking life could be recalled and performed once lucid in a dream. Similar experiments were duplicated by Stephen LaBerge at Stanford University for his doctoral dissertation some years later. Interestingly, LaBerge had no knowledge of Hearne and Worsley's previous experiments at that time, probably due to the lack of publication of Hearne's work. During the 1980s , further Scientific evidence to confirm the existence of lucid dreaming was produced and lucid dreamers were able to demonstrate to researchers that they were consciously aware of being in a dream state (usually again by using eye movement signals [http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/Articles/si91ld.html ). Additionally, techniques were developed which have been experimentally proven to enhance the likelihood of achieving this state [http://www.asdreams.org/journal/articles/laberge5-3.htm]. One outstanding question on the neurophysiological nature of lucid dreaming concerns the electrical activity in the Frontal Cortex , which is generally reduced during normal sleep {Link without Title} . The behavior of the frontal cortex has not at present been crucially analyzed with respect to lucid dreaming. There are thought to be some insights into the workings of the brain that can be found by lucid dreaming. In particular, in surveying the experiences of lucid dreams, many have noticed that the brain, at least while in dreaming, has the feature whereby it is possible for a single individual thought, memory, definition, belief, etc. to be incorrect while the rest of the mind appears to be working normally. This is contrary to normal experience of brain malfunctions, which are usually more general, such as wholesale memory loss, or broad emotional imbalance. It is helpful to propose a construct of consciousness that is more on a continuum and that certain functions (such as reflective awareness) might be selectively activated. This is a fluid process, moment to moment, in the context of the lucid dream, and it is experienced as discontinuities. EARLIER MENTIONS OF LUCID DREAMING Even though it has only come to the attention of the general public in the last few decades, lucid dreaming is not a modern discovery.
ACHIEVING AND RECOGNIZING LUCID DREAMS Many people report having experienced a lucid dream during their lives, often in childhood. However, even with training, achieving lucid dreams on a regular basis can be difficult and is uncommon. Despite this difficulty, techniques have been developed to achieve a lucid dreaming state intentionally. The most important aspect in lucid dreaming is to ''recognize'' that one is dreaming. Any time that a person recognizes a dream sign, or anything that is out of the ordinary, they should perform a reality test as stated below. Dream recall, the ability to remember one's dreams, is very important to lucid dreamers because it is usually desired that the lucid dreamer be able to remember lucid dreams. Improvement of dream recall is usually the first step people take to learn to have lucid dreams. A common practice used to increase dream recall is to keep a dream journal, or a notebook of dreams. The dream journal should be kept right next to the bed so that dreams can be written down as soon as a person wakes up. This is important because waiting until later in the day to write dreams down will usually cause one to forget most of their content. After waking up, it is often helpful to keep your eyes closed while trying to remember a dream. Ability The ability to experience lucid dreams depends on many factors:
Common techniques Reality testing Reality testing is a common method that people use to determine whether or not they are dreaming. This method involves performing an action with results that are difficult to re-create in a dream. Examples of reality tests include:
Another form of reality testing involves identifying one's Dream Signs , clues that one is dreaming. These can be anything, such as a pink elephant on parade or a talking dog. Dream signs are often categorized as follows:
Though occurrences like these may seem out of place in waking life, they may seem perfectly normal to a dreaming mind and learning to pick up on these dream signs will help in recognizing that one is dreaming. Experienced lucid dreamers will often use more advanced techniques, such as those described below, to induce lucid dreams at will. Mnemonic induction of lucid dreaming (MILD) Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreaming is a common technique used to induce a lucid dream at will by setting an intention, while falling asleep, to remember to recognize that one is dreaming. The MILD technique was developed by Stephen LaBerge, and is described fully in his book ''Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming''. Wake-back-to-bed induction technique (WBTB) Wake-back-to-bed is often the easiest way to induce a lucid dream. The method involves going to sleep tired and waking up five hours later. Then, focusing all thoughts on lucid dreaming, staying awake for an hour and going back to sleep. The odds of having a lucid dream are then much higher. This is because the REM cycles get longer as the night goes on, and this technique takes advantage of the best REM cycle of the night. Also, lucid dreams are usually longer and more vivid at this time. Waking induction of lucid dreaming (WILD) Waking Induction of Lucid Dreaming is one of the most common induction techniques used by lucid dreamers. In this particular technique, a person goes directly from being awake into a lucid dream. The key to this technique is recognizing the , including rapid vibrations. Cycle adjustment technique (CAT) The cycle adjustment technique is an effective way to induce lucid dreaming. It involves adjusting one's sleep cycle to encourage awareness during the latter part of the sleep. First, the person wakes up 90 minutes before normal wake time until their sleep cycle begins to adjust. After this, the normal wake times and early wake times alternate. On the days with the normal wake times, the body is ready to wake up, and this increases alertness, making lucidity more likely. Don Juan's technique This technique is the one endorsed by Carlos Castaneda's guide, Don Juan, in the book ''Journey to Ixtlan''. Before going to sleep one must look at one's hands and say to oneself: "Later, when I am dreaming, I will look at my hands and realise that I am dreaming." While dreaming, one must look at one's hands, then look around and repeat the procedure throughout the dream. and [http://www.insomnium.co.uk/text/luciddreaming.htm OTHER PHENOMENA ASSOCIATED WITH LUCID DREAMING
THINGS TO DO IN A LUCID DREAM
POPULAR CULTURE
BOOKS
SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS
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