Very simply put, a dream in which you are conscious that you are dreaming is known as a Lucid Dream. The expression ‘lucid’ in this context means aware or conscious. But the extent of your ‘lucidity’ can vary according to how stable the dream experience itself is, how much you manage to remember about the dream when you wake up, and also how much influence you have in taking control of the dream itself.
Control over your dream is the most important element of Lucid Dreaming. It is an incredible experience to be in the midst of a dream and to know that you are in fact dreaming. You are in control of everything in your dream and can have any experience you choose to have.
Just consider that for a moment. Lucid Dreaming looks, feels and engages all of your other senses as if it were really happening but you know that you are only dreaming and will be totally safe no matter what you do. This is the kind of virtual reality experience which computer experts can only dream of.
Lucid dreaming is an incredible skill that more and more people are mastering. Having a Lucid Dream is something almost everyone experiences very occasionally, but just imagine how exhilarating it would be if you could Lucid Dream whenever you want to!
Lucid Dreaming gives you the opportunity to have any experience that you can think of. You can meet anyone you ever wanted to, visit other planets, have unbridled erotic experiences, speak with the loved ones you have lost; anything you can imagine can happen.
But experiencing regular and controlled Lucid Dreams can actually be fairly complicated to achieve. Certainly until recently people would spend months going through an instruction training and self-conditioning procedure prior to obtain familiarity to their first lucid dream. Often people would manage to have but brief instants of lucidity, whereas others never succeed in it at all.
So are there any simple ways of experiencing a Lucid Dream?
Some people report that certain foods can encourage Lucid Dreaming if consumed shortly before sleeping ” Mustard, Orange Juice and dairy products among them.
Other foods of note are pickles, ice cream, popcorn and fish. Although they are not as effective as the three foods and drinks described above. Some people say that they improve your overall dream recall and “prepare” your brain for future lucidity. The main problem is of course that they are high in fatty acids, salts and sugars which definitely doesn’t assist you in getting a good nights rest!
Can Technology Assist You?
Technological developments have made it easier than ever for people to have Lucid Dreaming experiences. Devices which can assist you in having Lucid Dreams include sleep masks and eyeshades which flash a LED when REM sleep is detected, reminding the dreamer that they are dreaming and lets them take control over their dream!
One of the most exciting developments in Lucid Dreaming comes to us from the world of audio technology. Audio researchers have discovered a process called binaural beats, in which different frequencies are played into each ear.
What this process does is to synchronize the two hemispheres of the brain. And almost instantly, just by listening to these special frequencies, puts the brainwaves into a state known as REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep which is the state needed to achieve a lucid dream.
If you have always wanted to experience Lucid Dreaming for yourself, binaural sound presents the quickest and easiest way to begin.