What Is Lucid Dreaming?

Many dreams appear to be disconnected snippets of memories from the day's activities.As the brain processes and stores these memories, they are briefly 'displayed' for those in a deep stage of sleep.The dreamer's eyes dart rapidly as if watching a movie projected on his or her eyelids. For many people, these brief dreams are no more memorable than flipping through the channels on a cable box.One dream image ends and another one starts, but the observer remains detached or helpless to stop them.

A few dreams, however, bring the dreamer directly into the action.People may find themselves back in a school building or a former occupation, for example.Others may find themselves at work with no clothing, or lost in a location far from home. These dreams may feel very real as the dreamer experiences anxiety or fear or confusion.But there is still a sense of disconnection for the dreamer.The events of the dream eventually resolve themselves or the dreamer is awakened before the end.This is the beginning of a lucid dream experience.

In a true lucid dream, the dreamer actively realizes that he or she is indeed asleep and in a dream state.If the dreamer feels capable of flight in a lucid dream, he or she can take off and land at will.The feeling of flight may seem very authentic to the lucid dreamer.Characters in a lucid dream can engage in logical conversations or change their roles.The end of a lucid dream is also under the control of the dreamer- a knight in shining armor may indeed appear, for instance.More commonly, a lucid dreamer finds a way to eliminate the danger or resolve a confusing situation.

Believers in lucid dreaming suggest that the experience is learned over time.Many people have interactive dreams, but few become aware enough to control the circumstances.Lucid dreaming requires a mental recognition process whenever a dream occurs.Experienced lucid dreamers have learned to recognize the signs of a dream state and then allow themselves to become active participants.They suggest that beginners start by paying more attention to the interactive qualities of a longer dream.When the emotions seem real to the dreamer, any dream can become lucid.The critical step is developing a sixth sense about the dream state and then taking an active step toward lucidity while asleep.Sometimes a lucid dream does happen spontaneously, but experienced practitioners suggest that the best lucid dreams occur when the the dreamer is actively involved from the beginning.