What if you could control your dreams?
Here, experts explain exactly what lucid dreams are, plus their favorite techniques to cultivate them.
Throughout the film, they traverse shared dreamscapes, carefully towing the line between reality and subconsciousness.
What are lucid dreams?
Lucid dreams are vivid dreams in which you become aware of the fact that youre dreaming.
They are the most astonishing, extraordinary way to enter the dream world.
dream analyst and author ofDream on It: Unlock Your Dreams, Change Your Life
Rather than the dream happeningtoyou, it would be more accurate to say you co-create a lucid dream.
What causes a lucid dream?
When we sleep, we move throughfour different sleep stages.
If youre able to lucid dream, it is one hell of a superpower, says Loewenberg.
you might confront demons from the past.
you’ve got the option to even challenge phobias, [like] spiders or flying in planes.
And when it comes to improving your waking life, Cheung says that lucid dreaming can skyrocket your self-confidence.
Dream work is the foundation of manifesting, explains Cheung.
If you might dream it, you might do it.
dream analyst and author ofDream on It: Unlock Your Dreams, Change Your Life
Remember that you are the one in control and that you get to dictate what happens next.
Its important to remember lucid dreams usually dont last long, adds Loewenberg.
While nightmares are never fun, achieving consciousness while in the middle of one can help you getoutof it.
When youre in a nightmare, fear can trigger awareness, explains Loewenberg.
Remember, in a lucid dream, you could take control and do anything.
As with riding a bicycle or learning how to play the trombone, practice makes perfect.
Set a second alarm to wake you up at your normal time.
Stay awake for 20 minutes
When the first alarm goes off, stay awake for 20 to 30 minutes.
What is The Missionary Sex Position?
This raises the odds tremendously that youll be able to remain conscious.
Once the time is up, allow yourself to drift back to sleep.
Put yourself there, play it out in your mind, advises Loewenberg.
Thatll raise the odds of your dream beginning that way.
Ask yourself: In the real world, can alligators speak English?
In the real world, would Iforget to dress myself before going to school?
These questions can help you verify whether or not what youre experiencing is real.
Alternatively, try doing something in your dream that you knowfor a factis not possible in the real world.
you might try flying, singing with colors, or teleporting to a different scene.
Write down the moment you realized you were dreaming.
Reflect on the events leading up to that moment of realization.
Did you notice something specific was off?
Were you able to fly?
Did Pedro Pascal propose to you?
Record what prompted you to realize it was a lucid dream.
Writing down your dreamseven the non-lucid onescan help you uncover messages from your subconscious.
What did you learn about yourself?
Did you get any answers to your questions?
How did it feel to control your dream?
If you are blessed with a lucid dream, celebrate it.
Isnt that exciting?!
Other lucid dreaming techniques to try
1.
Paying attention to these signs of reality can help you more easily identify a dream as its happening.
Stare at that plant.
Youve got to fall in love with your dreams.
Frequently asked questions about lucid dreams
Are lucid dreams good or bad?
Do lucid dreams have meaning?
Just like normal dreams, lucid dreams can reveal your deepest inner thoughts and feelings.
How rare is a lucid dream?
), 23 percent seems quite rare, indeed.
Dont let their rarity dissuade you from learning how to lucid dream, though.
What pop in of person has lucid dreams?
Whileanyonecan learn to lucid dream, certain types of people are more likely to have them naturally.
Creative people who are in tune with their thoughts and emotions tend to experience lucid dreams more than others.
People who are more right-brained are far more likely to lucid dream than left-brained people, says Loewenberg.
They lean into their creativity and theyre more prone to do deeper introspection.
People who meditate, too, are shown to have more lucid dreams.
Baird, Benjamin et al.
Increased lucid dream frequency in long-term meditators but not following MBSR training.
Psychology of consciousness (Washington, D.C.) vol.
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