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Lucid Dreaming - An Introduction

Author: Stephen Turner, for www.dreaminglucid.co.uk

What is lucid dreaming?

Lucid dreaming is where the dreamer realises that they are dreaming, as opposed a normal dreaming where the dreamer thinks that what they are experiencing is actually happening in the physical reality of the real world. In most cases the 'lucidity' (awareness of dreaming whilst in the dream) arises part way through a dream. Typically, the dreamer notices something odd or incongruous in the dream which does not accord with what the dreamer knows to be true in the real world. The dreamer then comes to the conclusion that 'this cannot be real' and must be a dream. Examples of such oddities or incongruities are being able to fly, meeting deceased relatives, or revisiting past events and re-living them. It is however possible to 'go lucid' without noticing anything out of the ordinary in the dream; dreamers can just realise that they are dreaming.

What is lucid dreaming like?

Not everyone's experience of lucid dreaming will be the same, and the level of lucidity (sometimes referred to as the quality of lucidity) is highly variable. For example, in a case of low-level lucidity the dreamer may become aware that they are dreaming but may not fully comprehend the implications of this. They may not realise that everything they are experiencing is being generated by their mind: the dreamer may meet people in the dream but still think that these people are real, or that what is happening in the dream can have real world type consequences, like physical harm, pain, or even death. In a case of low level lucidity, the dreamer might realise that they can fly or pass through walls, but may be oblivious to the fact that they are actually asleep in bed! Conversely, in cases of high level lucidity, the dreamer is fully aware that what they are experiencing is a dream, that they are in no danger, and that they are tucked up safely in bed.

During high level lucidity the dreamer is far more likely to be able to exercise some level of control in the dream, for example, by altering the appearance or features of the dream world, or otherwise making things happen. However, being lucid in a dream does not guarantee that the dreamer will have any control. Even in high level lucidity the dreamer will - to a lesser or greater extent - just have to deal with what the subconscious mind produces in the dream. It should also be noted that it is possible to have a high level of control in a dream but to be oblivious to the fact that you are dreaming. However, as a broad generalisation, becoming lucid in a dream is likely to lead to the ability to exercise at least some control over what happens.

In my first lucid dream I found myself in a bar. On going lucid - once I managed to get over my considerable excitement at being lucid - I changed my surroundings to a comfortable lounge and vanished all but one person from the dream. I then started a conversation with my companion, a woman with whom I felt a profound connection. Things were going pretty well for a first date, but then the harmony was interrupted by loud voices just outside the lounge. I spun my head towards the noise and saw that a door into the lounge was open. In an instant a man appeared in the doorway. His timing could not have been worse but I thought quickly and made the door slam in his face. Pretty rude you might think, but hey, whose dream was it anyway? During the rest of my date I was able to exercise control in some areas but ultimately just had to deal with increasingly bizarre events as they unfolded.

Those with some experienced of lucid dreaming have set themselves tasks, which they set about actioning on going lucid. Here the dreamers will typically affect a high level of control. Others prefer to just let the dream develop on its own - just to see what happens; they know they could control things but chose not to. How much control you will be able to exert over your dream will to a great extend depend on your belief, confidence, and experience. Like most things in life, you get better at lucid dreaming with practice and you get better at exercising control when lucid dreaming. However, as I will explain later on this site, there are some things that seem to resist all attempts at control - try turning light switches on and off in a dream and see what happens!

Lucid Dreaming - Why Should I Try It?