PLEASURE IMPROVES PERFORMANCE
I came up with the following techniques for inducing lucid dreams because the more conventional techniques weren’t working for me. The idea behind these techniques is that you will be more likely to induce a lucid dream if you are having fun while trying.
You can make your lucid dream techniques more fun if you:
CONNECT IT TO AN ENJOYABLE ACTIVITY
Example:
- Get a copy of the book Dreamside,by Graham Joyce. This is a rather good science fiction/fantasy book about lucid dreaming. After reading a few paragraphs, put the book down and spend 30 seconds pondering the question, 'Am I dreaming?' Other books that involve lucid dreaming are White Light,
by Rudy Rucker, Wake Up Dead,
- Perform reality checks while watching a surreal movie. This one is a lot like the last technique. Whenever you notice something that is unlikely to happen in waking life, ask yourself if you are dreaming.
FIND A WAY TO GIVE YOURSELF FEEDBACK
Example:
- How many times in a row can you successfully do a reality check? Here is one way to make reality checks more interesting. Here's how it works: when I wake up in the morning, I realize that in about 10 minutes I will be in the shower putting shampoo on my hair. I set the goal of remembering to do a reality check the moment my hand touches my hair. Or I will look at the shampoo in my hand and ask myself if I am dreaming. Immediately after I do this, I pick a new reality check around something I will be doing 5 or 10 minutes from now, such as leaving the bathroom. Every time I come to a reality check, I set another check in the near future. If The challenge comes in seeing how many reality checks I can successfully do in a row. Set a daily and all time record to try to beat.
- How many reality checks can you do in one hour? This is another way to get some feedback on how well you're doing with your reality checks. You will need a stopwatch. The challenge is that every time you do a reality check, you must wait three minutes before you do another reality check. Three minutes is long enough for your mind to wander to the point that you're no longer thinking about reality checks. This exercise gives you a good idea of how good you are at returning to a state of waking lucidity.
INCORPORATE FANTASY INTO YOUR TECHNIQUE
Example:
- Have a lucid daydream. Write down the lucid dream you've always dreamed of having. If you did become fully lucid and had long term control of your lucidity, what would you do? Write out at least a full page of what the dream would be like. I find a good starting point for this lucid daydream is some point in a nonlucid dream I've recently had. This exercise can bring some consolation for those struggling to have lucid dreams. At least you can have a lucid daydream!
- As you are going to sleep think about the lucid dream you've always dreamed of having. Experience some of the pleasure you will get when you soar to new worlds, go on adventures, seek spiritual or psychological insight, etc. Try to conjure up some of the descriptive details.
TURN IT INTO A GAME
Example:
- At the end of each day, write down the 'Top 10 Most Surreal Moments of the Day.' If you're anything like me, it will at first be hard to come up with 10 surreal moments in one day. This is part of the exercise. Keep working at it until you can remember 10 surreal moments from a 'typical' day.
These examples are just to get you started. The possibilities are endless. Can you see ways to add pleasure to the following popular lucid dreaming techniques?
POPULAR LUCIDITY TECHNIQUES
Reality Checks
Check to see if right now you are dreaming. Ways to perform a reality check:
- When you jump into the air, do you float back to the ground?
- Do light switches work?
- Does your watch/clock give you a reasonable time?
- Can you float into the air or fly?
- Does your reflection in a mirror look normal?
- Do words in a book, sign, etc., change upon second glance?
Dream Signs
Make a list of themes or elements that repeatedly show up in your
dreams, like meeting people from your childhood, or flying. Meditate on
the intention of waking up the next time you encounter one of these
dream signs.
Wake-Back-To-Bed
Awaken an hour or two before you normally do, remain awake for a while, then go back to sleep.
Autosuggestion
While in a relaxed state, allow yourself to genuinely believe you will become lucid the next time you are dreaming.
Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams MILD
As you are falling asleep, stay focused on the intention of remembering that you are dreaming.
Wake-Initiation of Lucid Dreams (WILD)
Focus on remaining conscious while going to sleep, and maintaining this consciousness until you are in a dream.
Visually Incubated Lucid Dreams (VILD):
Incubating a lucid dream by repeatedly visualizing a dream in which you perform a reality check. More Information
MORE INFORMATION
These four web pages offer very comprehensive information about how to lucid dream:
Lucid Dreaming: Induction Techniques - Wikibooks (My favorite)
Lucid Dreaming Frequently Asked Questions Answered by The Lucidity Institute
Lucid Dreaming FAQ Lucid Dreaming and Lucid dreams how to trigger a lucid dream
Vision: A Guide to Lucid Dreaming
