Relaxation and Sleep Issues: Lucid Dream Induction Techniques
While we record sounds primarily for relaxation and sleep there are some interesting side effects that you might want to explore. One of them is lucid dreaming. In this entry I will discuss methods on how to lucid dream.
Lucid dreams are dreams in which the dreamer realizes they are dreaming. Being conscious in a dream can be an exhilarating experience and can seem as real as you feel right now while reading this entry. I have had hundreds of lucid dreams in my life and while they might seem quite mystical and spiritual, and might well be both, I find them to be natural. I have never had a bad lucid dream. There are proven methods to reach this elusive state of awareness. The human mind goes from Alpha (relaxed) to Theta (daydreamy) and then off to deep sleep. Dreams occur near the beginning of deep sleep and in transitory brainwave states as we slip in and out of Delta sleep through the night. You remember your waking dreams as the process of waking up naturally is the reverse of going to sleep. R.E.M dreaming can occur near the end of our Delta sleep cycles as we transition back to Theta and Alpha (waking up) . Consequently these waking dreams are fresh in your memory.
In the chart above the ' L' in the green area indicates where one can expect to have a lucid dream experience. They can also occur naturally later in the dream cycle as long as the dreamer is in transition from Theta to Delta or visa-versa. One of the easiest techniques I know of to induce a lucid dream is to ask yourself, every 10 minutes or so before going to bed, "Is this real or am I dreaming?'. This awkward self-examination is called a reality check. Asking it over and over before going to bed might have you asking the same question in a dream. It is when you realize you are in a dream the fun begins... as you suddenly will have, for a few minutes, super powers. I say for a few minutes as rarely in my life does a lucid dream last more then a few minutes. This is simply because our conscious and unconscious minds are precariously balanced during a LD (lucid dream).
I alluded to LD's as a side-effect of our virtually real sound environments. When we visualize we use the same area in our brains as when we are dreaming. If you put on one of our recordings, lets say Thunder Train, (it could be practically any of them) and visualize the train and the people. Visualize looking out the train's windows. All the while tell yourself you will awaken in a dream.
There's a good chance you will... maybe. Planning on having a LD is akin to planning on seeing a shooting star. You know if you look toward the horizon before daybreak you have a good chance to see one... maybe.
One last lucid dream induction technique I will allude to is called the Wake Induced Lucid Dream (or WILD) . This is accomplished by setting your alarm for the middle of the night, briefly waking up, and telling yourself you will awaken in your dream. Why does this work? Because your mind, still in a relaxation mode, will barely come out of the Theta brainwave state if it believes it needs more sleep. Therefore it will be a very short wait between Theta and Delta (deep sleep) brainwave states.
When you have a lucid dream using one of our relaxation recordings tell me about it as I would love to hear your experiences and suggestions for future recordings.
Brad McBride
Dream good dreams!
Comments? email me
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