We tend to operate under the assumption that our dreams are something entirely out of our hands. We think of them as a mysterious happening which we do not fully understand, much less have the ability to control. However, these nightly journeys made by our subconscious are something which we can indeed take control of. Thanks to a technique known as lucid dreaming, dream control is an ability which is well within our reach.
But just what is lucid dreaming anyway? How can you learn to use dream control? Most importantly, what are the benefits of using dream control? Let?s take a closer look at lucid dreaming and what dream control can accomplish in your life.
What Is Dream Control?
Dream control, or lucid dreaming is when you are completely aware that you are dreaming while you are doing so ? and in control of the events which take place within your dream. Even while your body is sound asleep, your mind knows that you are dreaming and you are in the director?s chair for the proceedings.
People, that suffer from bad dreams on a regular basis, can benefit from this greatly, to get control over their sleep and finally have a peaceful night’s sleep.
Common Techniques For Inducing Lucid Dreaming
Using binaural audio is a great way for reaching the lucid dream stage, through this you listen separate frequencies (in unison) for the purpose of getting the brain waves synchronized, which allows you to relax, and the stage where lucid dreaming is able to occur known as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
Before it was possible to find CD and DVDs of binaural audio, the primary methods used to induce lucid dreaming were self-hypnosis and meditation. While these both work very well, it takes time to develop these abilities far enough to reliably gain dream control.
Other than self hypnosis and meditation, there are many other methods which have been developed over the years to help people have lucid dreaming experiences and begin using dream control. In every methods, the idea is to enable the dreamer to realize that they are dreaming, so they can then begin dictating the events of their dreams.
This training begins while you are still awake. The goal is to remember to perform some kind of cue which will remind us that we are dreaming ? this allows dream control to begin.
This often comes down to you just saying to yourself, just prior to sleeping, that in a few minutes you will be dreaming, and that in the dream you will state something or do an action, and as this occurs, instantly you recognize you are dreaming.
This form of dream control training is called MILD (mnemonic induction of lucid dreams) and was developed by the scientist Dr. Stephen LaBerge. This mnemonic technique allows you to start using dream control to decide how your dreams will play out. Once you are lucid dreaming, there are no limits except for your own imagination!
There is another way of reaching lucid dreaming and it involves making a dream journal or diary, do this by keeping a pen or pencil and a notebook of some kind by your bed so that you can jot down any information that you are able to recall in the moments right after you wake up. By doing this for several nights, you will begin to see that you are able to recall the facts you have jotted down and dream something similar but this time you will start to exert control over the events.
Chase away the bad guys in nightmares, travel to whatever location you desire, go to your imagined hideaways, talk to famous people if you want, and basically be unshackled by worldly concerns. Through controlling your dreams, you can accomplish this, it gives you the ability to be in control of your nightly dream world and all that happens there.
Experts warn though, that the one danger to lucid dreaming, is doing it too often can have adverse effects. The central reason being that dreaming naturally often informs us of critical things we would otherwise not know. Go ahead and have fun with lucid dreaming. It truly is an interesting experience, but always also let yourself have some times when you just dream regularly!
Tags: conscious dreaming, dream control, lucid dream, lucid dreamer, lucid dreaming, lucid dreams