I remember in the early eighties reading an article in Omni (I know, not exactly an unimpeachable source of scientific knowledge) about so-called “lucid dreaming,” or realizing you’re dreaming without waking up and taking control of your dream to fly, etc.
My question is, are there any ways to set out to accomplish this state? I’ve experienced it on one occasion and it was really neat – just by thinking about it, I could fly like superman and all kinds of other stuff. I even remembered a technique from the article about how to stabilize yourself if you start to wake up (you make your dream body spin like a top until you’re stable again). Unfortunately, my phone rang before I could really get the full effect, and I’ve never been able to recapture it.
So how about it? Any advice to offer, or anecdotes to share?
I’ve actually been working on it lately. One of the main things to do is to learn to remember your dreams. Cuz if you do have a lucid dream and you don’t remember it then what good is it. I’ve heard the b-6 helps and to an extent it does. I’ve also been taking valarian root, hops, and passion flower before I go to bed to aid in my dreaming but I’m still working on a combination that will do better. If anyone else has any ideas please share.
Everytime I realized that what was happening to me was a dream, i would wake even if I didn’t want to. I think I’m too literal minded to manage the concentration needed for such a thing - the same way when I stare at the dot in the middle of the 3D box, I cannot make the whole box disappear before I blink…
Joey, maybe adding some LSD to your mix would help. Just kidding.
I have read similar articles and have been told that it can be done.
Not long after I read the article, I had a dream and in the dream I realized that I was in fact dreaming. I told my dream characters that I knew I was dreaming and that I now could control them, they laughed at me and taunted me for thinking I could control them.
I have often wondered what that must mean about my psyche, if my dreams taunt me. Oh well, I do not think that it has happened since.
I’ve lucid reamed quite a few times, and so have a several people I’ve talked to. I talking about this in a psychology class I took, and we watched a video of a sleep clinic’s techniques in studying lucid dreams. Maybe you could rig up something similar:
What they did was to tell their patients before they went to sleep that there would be a flashing light that would go off when they reached REM sleep. Eventually the patients learned to recognize that a flashing light in their dreams meant that they were sleeping. After seeing the flashing light, the sleepers would take control of their dreams since they could now recognize that they were asleep. It was really neat.
Another study taught people with depression to lucid dream as a means of treating the depression: when the people could control situations in their dreams (or this was the theory) they would feel more in-control awake. An interesting idea, anyway.
“It says, I choo-choo-choose you. And it’s got a picture of a train.”
I don’t even think I could pay a friend to sit there and flash a light in my eyes when they started moving.
Does anybody know of any books that discuss HOW to dream (including lucid dreams) instead of just what dreams mean. At the moment I’m more interested in getting to the lucid stage (and remembering it) then what it actually means.
A search of Barnes and Noble online turned up a kit and a couple books in print on “lucid dreaming” – and a bunch of out of print titles still available for sale.
A search at Amazon found several books and a tape . . .including the Amazon auction site.
A google search turned up 6577 references to “lucid dreaming.”
We are here to fight Ignorance wherever we find it – but this is not the Knowledge Kareoke, either.
It’s like that old saying about “give a man a fish” (and he has food for a day) vs. “teach a man to fish” (and he can feed himself for always).
We want everybody that comes here to be able to fish for themselves. . . and that’s really not asking a lot.
To carry that analogy further, we’ll show you where to get a pole . . . what bait works well . . . where the fish are biting . . . but it’s not our responsibility to put that fish on the hook for you.
Yes, we can point the way, but there are some simple and basic things you should be able to do for yourself, like use a search engine.
If you have enough stuff going on to get here and ask questions, how much harder is it to go look for yourself?
That’s not being rude, in fact, it’s rude to expect US to do your legwork for you.
Weak attempt at butt-covering Jenny…the member didn’t ask to be deluged with references to every book in print that deals with lucid dreaming…in fact, he asked specifically for a book that instructs on “HOW” to have a lucid dream…there’s a difference there, one that your smart-alecky search results didn’t take into acount…but then, you WERE in a hurry to belittle, so I guess you just didn’t have time to interpret his question thoroughly…
Gee, whatever you do Jenny, don’t ever be seen admitting guilt right?..is that staright out of the SDMB moderator’s guide?
I guess I just don’t agree with you TubaDiva. Most of the posts are things that could easily be looked up but I think asking for personal input is always valid.
I record my dreams and also tell myself each night that I will lucid dream (like an affirmation) and I do it fairly often. It’s a lot of fun and I think sometimes it’s a way to work out problems.
Well, for anyone who’s interested in getting one of those flashy little REM things to induce lucid dreaming, I found a site where you can buy one for the low, low price of only $275. http://www.lucidity.com
With all the books, tapes, lectures, conferences, and workshops, it kinda looks like one of those self-help, suck-your-life-away organizations. I didn’t really do research on their credentials, but if your really hurtin for some lucid dreaming, it’s an option.
Hell, for 275.00 I’ll come over and poke you when you start to REM! Uh, maybe I should put in shake for poke? Naw, no one will get the wrong idea here…
I’ve had a few of those dreams. They are super cool. The best way to wake up is to try to manipulate it too much, like trying to fly or conjuring up a bunch of naked girls (or guys if that’s what you like). THe way to enjoy it to the fullest is to go along with the plot of the dream.
I’ve had a few of those dreams. They are super cool. The best way to wake up is to try to manipulate it too much, like trying to fly or conjuring up a bunch of naked girls (or guys if that’s what you like). THe way to enjoy it to the fullest is to go along with the plot of the dream.
I’ve had a few of those dreams. They are super cool. The best way to wake up is to try to manipulate it too much, like trying to fly or conjuring up a bunch of naked girls (or guys if that’s what you like). THe way to enjoy it to the fullest is to go along with the plot of the dream.
I’ve had a few of those dreams. They are super cool. The best way to wake up is to try to manipulate it too much, like trying to fly or conjuring up a bunch of naked girls (or guys if that’s what you like). THe way to enjoy it to the fullest is to go along with the plot of the dream.
Cooldude you are like, stuttering! Or you really, REALLY want to make your point! Just teasing you!
One other thing and I don’t know how wise this is: Drink a big glass of water before bed. Sometimes this wakes me just enough to start the dreaming. You’ll find once you start doing it (lucid dreaming) it gets easier. Just don’t pee the bed.
I’ve found that getting plenty of sleep really helps me to control my dreams. Of course, when I don’t get enough sleep I don’t dream much at all.
I kinda picked up on lucid dreaming from that horror movie (the one with Freddie in it, I think). I had been doing it since I was a kid, but started paying more attention after seeing the movie. It’s easy for me. No special diets or riruals.
Two related questions;
I see normal colors in my dreams, and most people I ask say they do too. But I often hear this asked.
And, I sleep nude and am usually nude in my dreams. It doesn’t seem embarassing, just awkward sometimes, as if I were wearing jeans to a four star restaurant. I’ve never asked anyone if this is true for them. So, is anyone else nekkid in their dreams?
Does the fact that I live in Berkeley, CA have anything to do with it? I haven’t smoked a joint in over four years.
Peace,
mangeorge
Work like you don’t need the money…
Love like you’ve never been hurt…
Dance like nobody’s watching! …(Paraphrased)
I haven’t smoked a joint in over four years. 