You have heard about lucid dreaming and think it is something you would like to do. That is a good starting point but exactly how do you begin and what are the steps to being a successful lucid dreamer?

You need to know why it is that you want to be a lucid dreamer. Are there benefits to be gained through lucid dreaming? There are, but to understand them we should first start by examining normal sleep.

Sleep itself is not so interesting; you get ready for bed, lie down and close your eyes. Then you may have uncontrolled dreams or not and several hours later you awaken.

The human body has a built in requirement for sleep. It rests the body so that we are prepared to continue our lives. Without it, there is strong evidence for insanity. That is all well and good but there is nothing saying we cannot control certain aspects of sleep is there?

Instead of being helplessly caught up in whatever dreams your subconscious mind decides to hand you, how about you controlling the action? A lucid dreamer can do this.It is a new and fun world, a lot like being inside your own video game where you can fly or wish for something and have it.

How can a person achieve this? How do you learn to be a lucid dreamer? DILD refers to a dream initiated lucid dream. You need to realize you are dreaming. In other words, if you are dreaming and know it, you are having a lucid dream.

WILD refers to a wake initiated lucid dream. You slip into a dream before you are fully asleep. Instead of going to sleep before you dream you simply enter into the dream with your mind still conscious.

What are the steps to begin having these lucid dream experiences?

Dream Recall

A simple place to start when you would like to lucid dream is in dream recall. This is where you can remember and perhaps recite your dream in part or in whole. You are very likely to have the same dream more than once in your life and being able to remember them will alert you the next time you have that particular dream.

Keeping a dream journal is the best way to learn this skill. A dream journal is for writing down anything which you can remember about your dreams for future reference. You should do this immediately after waking up; the longer you wait, the harder it will be to recall.

Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD)

Developed by renowned lucid dream researcher Dr. Stephen LaBerge, this technique works by telling yourself to recognize a certain object or situation when you see it in your dreams. When you see this object, it triggers the realization that you are in a dreaming, allowing you to begin lucid dreaming.

Wake Back to Bed or WBTB

This technique is fairly simple. You set your alarm for just a few hours after you go to bed. When you wake, don't just go back to sleep. Instead, stay awake for about an hour, then return to sleep.

Dr, LaBerge says that his method has a 60% rate of success. Why is this? Basically, you wake in the middle of an REM cycle, so when you return to sleep, you will have a better chance of lucid dreaming.

Cycle Adjustment Technique

Wake-initiation of Lucid Dreams (WILD)

Wake Initiation of Lucid Dreams or WILD

Let's get back to this method which is described above. To achieve lucid dreaming, the technique is to try to keep mentally aware even as your body relaxes into a sleep state.Think of it this way ? you are getting ready to watch a movie; your closed eyelids are like the black screen before the movie begins and you are waiting for the trailers to roll.

There are any number of ways to keep your mind alert, count, controlled breathing techniques or concentrated relaxation are all great ways to keep the mind alert. It is a bit like hypnotizing your self. This works best if you are not exhausted, try it during an afternoon nap.

There are also technological innovations which can help to induce lucid dreaming, among them strobe lights and dreaming masks.

With self-hypnosis and a conscious preparedness before you go to sleep anyone can practice lucid dreaming.

These sounds naturally change your brainwaves and cause you to go into REM sleep quickly and easily. You will also still be aware so it will be a lucid dream.

Put all or many of these techniques together and you are ready to begin your journey into the wonderful world of lucid dreaming. It is a simple process that anyone can do.

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