If you are unaware of what it is: Lucid dreaming is defined as dreaming while knowing that you are dreaming. The term was coined by Frederik van Eeden using the word "lucid" in the sense of mental clarity. Lucidity usually begins in the middle of dreams when the dreamer realizes that the experiences that are occurring are not that of the physical reality, but rather the creation of a dream. While the basic definition of lucid dreaming is merely the ability to be aware that one is dreaming, this definition can be broken down into two types of lucid dreaming. These two types are "high level lucidity" and "low level lucidity." A lucid dreamer that is dreaming with a high level of lucidity knows that everything being experienced is the creation of the mind. This dreamer is aware that he or she is actually in bed and asleep and can suffer no physical damage as a result of the dream. Dreaming at the lower level of lucidity, the dreamer is not fully aware that his or her environment is a sole creation of the mind. This would then allow for the dreamer to do activities such as flying, or participating in what is most interesting to him or her at the time. However, the dreamer may still see physical threats and other dream characters as being completely real. While dreaming at this lower level, the dreamer is usually unaware that his or her physical body is actually asleep and in bed. Being able to control a dream and being lucid in a dream do not always go hand in hand. You can have great control over a dream without the full knowledge that you are dreaming. It is also possible for to be completely aware that you are dreaming with very little control of the dream it self. However, a higher level lucid dreamer has the choice to be the participant or creator of the dream.
Oh right cool, I'm a fairly high level of lucid dreaming, I wouldn't say there are any real disadvantages. The only one being you need to do reality checks other wise you can end up thinking you are in a dream when you are not. Whatever lucid dreaming techniques you use always choose a few reality checks to do regularly. Keep doing reality checks until you are convinced that you aren't dreaming, look around you and think of what would be different if it was a dream. If you do this it will make it more likely that you will do a reality check in a dream. Apart from doing reality checks throughout the day, you also need to do a reality check immediately after you wake up. This helps you become lucid in false awakenings, when you begin to act out the following day in a dream. I think the beauty of it is that in lucid dreams is you can have any imaginable experience without consequences.
I agree.Being creative in a lucid dream has no comparison And also it helps one probe the limits of reality.. hey kick-out-the-jams, do you think that the nature of reality and that of dreams could be essentially similar?
haha yeh.... knowing me i'd find myself flat out in the front garden after a roof off! ....thanx, i'll give it a go.
szeretlek8 it depends on what you mean but I wouldn't say so.. because in a lucid dream everything that is happening is controlled by your mind.. so for example if you decide to run at a wall you could go through it because the world you are in is in your head, so if you persuade yourself you can do it, you will. However in real life however much you persuade yourself you can run through a wall you will still simply hit into it and feel pain.. because it is not a world created in your mind it is a physical and 'REAL' reality.
yeh its mad if we are dreaming which the mystics seems to agree be so,,, does anyone know how to become invisible and dissapear through walls.
I'm not so much into trying to induce lucid dreaming anymore (they now occur every so often without any conscious effort on my part) but when I was, I experimented with a variety of actions. My first impulse was to fly (is this not anyone's first impulse? ), which I had many exhilirating experiences doing, but I subsequently learned how to fire projectiles from my body, compose music spontaneously (although sadly I was never able to remember it upon waking), and have in-depth conversations with dream characters (I actually spoke to "god" on one occasion. For some reason my subconscious protrayed him as the classic, old-testament, booming voice from the sky version. Quite disappointing actually ). Edit: Just remembered a theory I used to have about lucid dreaming that I thought was interesting. Due to the fact that lucid dreaming disrupts the stream of subconscious images, themes, and emotions that act as a sort of purging mechanism for our psyches, it seems to me that having frequent lucid dreams could actually be detrimental. Repressed fears and desires that were previously being addressed or processed out through conventional, unconscious dreaming would no longer have an outlet. Any thoughts? Travis
kick-out-the-jams, but what if your "real" world acts like that simply because you're not awakened ?As a parallel..when you're in a dream and you're not aware of it, all sort of things act in your detriment and are more or less out of your control, like you described the "physical world".Plus..come on,if we're talking about the mind...nowadays you have plenty of scientific observations that are simply bewildering..mind creating your reality and so on.. Just that the tools of awakening are a bit different.. I didn't ask because I was unsure..in fact,it's my opinion..i just wanted to read yours too: )
i had a lucid dream once where i met god (Shiva) and we just meditated together. i was raised catholic but the brainwashing didnt take and now i think 100% eastern. Its weird i met him cause im a Buddhist, he was just sitting there starring outside of the dream into the void.
I had my first high level lucid dream when I was really young... maybe around 5ish? I was suffering from nightmares and taught myself how to control them to the point where I knew I was dreaming and could wake myself up by performing a particular action in the dream. I've had many that just stayed at low level though... some were almost exactly as the example described (being able to make myself fly but still feeling I was in danger). I had more lucid dreams as a kid, although I still have them occasionally as an adult. Some high level (usually when I nap or early morning), some low level.
I've only been completely lucid about three times, one of which I got so exited I woke up shortly after becoming lucid. I mostly have low level lucid dreams though, like I realize I'm dreaming, but don't have control over my dream.
I lucid dream sometimes, often automatically without any effort on my part. I was really into it when I was 17 - 18. I tried all the techniques and learned how to induce it. I have and still do lucid dream on the low and high levels. My main problem now is that usually right after I become highly lucid I wake up. I still like lucid dreaming now, but I've gotten kind of bored with it. I don't think I've explored all the possibilities, not by a long shot. But I'm kind of out of ideas. I LOVE dreaming though. I've experimented with taking B6 and B12. They make your dreams very vivid. Hmm, I haven't done that in awhile. Maybe I'll take some tonight. That combined with sleep deprivation should induce some pretty strange dreams.
B12, eh? I've done stuff with nutmeg, but B12 is so much more appealing lawlz! Gotten bored? You say you've gotten bored of a universe with infinite possibilities? If your bored then your boring. Watch the movie Waking Life. Well worth it. It'll give you some ideas.
Are you making fun of me? I'm not boring! And b12 really does help give you vivid dreams. I didn't say it made you trip or anything like that. I've gotten bored with my limitations, yes. I don't know what to look for or what to try in my lucid dreams. If I try to think about it too extensively while I'm dreaming I just wake up. Sure I'll check out that movie. From what I hear it's really good.
I noticed psychedelics can have effects on my dreams. After a strong trip I usually get more vivid dreams for a few nights. Sometimes I get lucid dreams, but they only last for a few minutes before I wake up.
There's nothing to be afraid of. When you know that you are dreaming you will understand that nothing can hurt you in the dream.
