We tend to operate under the assumption that our dreams are something entirely out of our hands. We think of them as a mysterious happening which we do not fully understand, much less have the ability to control. However, these nightly journeys made by our subconscious are something which we can indeed take control of. Thanks to a technique known as lucid dreaming, dream control is an ability which is well within our reach.

What does "lucid dreaming" mean? How does it work and what are the benefits of lucid dreaming, if any? Is it possible to achieve and make nightly journeys into our world of dreams. Our private world of adventure, fantasy and whatever else our imagination can invent. For answers to the questions about the subject of dream control, keep reading.

Exactly What is Dream Control?

Dream control, (through the use of lucid dreaming), is your becoming aware of the fact you are in a dream state, and that you can actually control the happenings in your dream. As you are sound asleep, you recognize that the events you think are going on are actually dreams, and that you can control how the events transpire to even the ending.

People who have recurring nightmares can find relief by using lucid dreaming ? this simple, but very powerful technique can help them to stop their nightmares and get the rest they need.

Common Ways of Inducing Lucid Dreaming

Using binaural audio is a great way for reaching the lucid dream stage, through this you listen separate frequencies (in unison) for the purpose of getting the brain waves synchronized, which allows you to relax, and the stage where lucid dreaming is able to occur known as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

Self-hypnosis and meditation were the methods used to induce lucid dreaming before binaural audio recordings became available on DVD and CD formats. Self hypnosis and meditation both work to achieve lucid dreaming, but they can take a while to master, making them not necessarily the best choice if you?d like to start lucid dreaming sooner rather than later.

Other than self hypnosis and meditation, there are many other methods which have been developed over the years to help people have lucid dreaming experiences and begin using dream control. In every methods, the idea is to enable the dreamer to realize that they are dreaming, so they can then begin dictating the events of their dreams.

This all starts while we are fully conscious, you have to have a key to use, as far as what to say or do, while you are dreaming, and that signals your brain that you are dreaming, and then permits you to control the rest of the dream.

This can be done by just telling yourself before you fall asleep that you will do something specific or say something in particular to tell yourself that you are dreaming. When you know that you are in a dream, you can begin reshaping the events.

This form of dream control training is called MILD (mnemonic induction of lucid dreams) and was developed by the scientist Dr. Stephen LaBerge. This mnemonic technique allows you to start using dream control to decide how your dreams will play out. Once you are lucid dreaming, there are no limits except for your own imagination!

There is another way of reaching lucid dreaming and it involves making a dream journal or diary, do this by keeping a pen or pencil and a notebook of some kind by your bed so that you can jot down any information that you are able to recall in the moments right after you wake up. By doing this for several nights, you will begin to see that you are able to recall the facts you have jotted down and dream something similar but this time you will start to exert control over the events.

With dream control you can go anywhere, do anything and see anyone that you can imagine. There are no limits to what you can do when you are lucid dreaming.

However, keep in mind that you can have too much of a good thing, even dream control. Experts in the field have said that our dreams can be a way of our subconscious minds trying to tell us something important. It?s important to give yourself a few nights off from lucid dreaming now and then, as amazing of an experience as discovering dream control can be.