Introduction
Lucid Dreaming is knowing that you are dreaming while you are doing it. When you know that you are dreaming, you can also alter the dream course. And with practice you can also develop full control over your dream, you will be able to create and change the environment and change your own appearance. It will be you that are in control of the dream scenario. You can do whatever you want to do. Live out your wildest fantasy, or just sit down and chit chat with someone. You should also be open for the possibility to share dreams and travel in time and space when you develop adequate control over your dreams. The word Lucid means that you have a clear and full consciousness. And believe me when I say that Lucid Dreaming can be much more fun than waking reality.
Reality Testing
Reality testing is a common method that people use to determine whether or not they are dreaming. It involves performing an action with results that are difficult to re-create in a dream. By practicing these techniques during waking life, one will eventually dream of performing a reality check—which will usually fail—helping the dreamer realize that they are dreaming. Common reality tests include:
1)Read some text, look away, and read it again, or to look at your watch and remember the time, then look away and look back. Observers have found that, in a dream, the text or time will often have changed.
2)Flipping a light switch or looking into a mirror. Light switches rarely work properly in dreams, and reflections from a mirror often appear to be blurred, distorted or incorrect.
3)Covering your nose and seeing if you can still breathe through it.
4)Pressing the index finger firmly into an area of the body such as the chest or leg. Since matter is usually plastic in the dream state and does not resist change, the finger will usually penetrate the dream body with little resistance and no pain.
5)Observe your hand in a dream, often the hand has incorrect number of fingers.
Pinching oneself — in a dream no pain may be felt, though in many situations, lucid dreamers have observed that they do experience realistic sensation of being pinched
Staying in your Dream
As mentioned, at first you’ll likely find it difficult to remain in your dream upon becoming lucid. If the world around you suddenly starts to fade, or you inexplicably sense that your dream is ending, or you even feel that your dream consciousness is thinning, there is a technique you can try to salvage your dream: dream spinning. Dream spinning is extremely simple and consists of you spinning on the spot like you would have as a child. That may sound very silly, but the technique is extremely reliable. When you stop spinning you’ll likely find that the dream clarity has returned, and perhaps your surroundings will have changed as well. In fact, if you focus on changing the setting into something else while spinning, it is very likely you will find yourself in your desired environment after you stop spinning. Note that since it is likely your dream will completely change upon completion of dream spinning, you may lose lucidity. Thus, it may be wise to also remind yourself that you are dreaming while spinning. Also, verbal commands can be beneficial when trying to prevent your dream from ending. Of course dream spinning and verbal commands are tools for controlling your dreams, which we’ll get into next.
Control
After having several lucid dreams and attaining the ability to remain in them for a while, you’re ready to move on to exerting control within your dreams. Becoming successful at controlling your dreams will take a lot of practice and experience on your part. This section will be rather simple because little additional knowledge is required in controlling dreams; instead, the essential requisites are patience, practice, attitude, and effort.
In the beginning you may be able to exert some control in your dreams, such as changing the scene or situation, or controlling your own actions, but it will likely take you awhile to gain complete control of your dreams. This is due to the fact that it can be difficult to determine how much force to put into trying to change something. Sometimes the changes will occur easily; other times you may get frustrated if what you want to happen doesn’t. It is essential that you don’t allow yourself to become too aggressive or frustrated with your attempts at dream control because if you do you’ll likely wake yourself up.
In order to be successful at changing your dreams you have to believe it is possible. If you’re trying to do something in your dream that you don’t really believe is possible, then chances are you will be unsuccessful. You must convince yourself that you are in control and anything you want is possible. Since too much force will simply cause you to awaken, begin by calmly trying to change aspects of your dream—just think about what you want to change, and try to picture it happening. For instance, you could imagine a bolt of electricity flying out of your hand, or even something much simpler like a giant sundae materializing before you. Keep in mind that you should build up to trying more adventurous things, such as the ever-popular flying. If your attempts don’t work, try changing something else. If still your efforts at dream control are futile, try instead to simply go along with the dream and practice controlling your own actions instead.
As stated on the maintaining lucidity page, dream spinning and verbal commands can aid in dream control. Again, dream spinning will allow you to change your dream setting. If your dream begins to wildly careen out of your control, try spinning and picturing your desired dream as you do so. Verbal commands are generally the best way to exert control in your dreams. If you want something to happen, say it out loud: if you want to be 12 feet tall, just say it. Repeat your desire over and over, and picture it in your head.
Sometimes—and you’ll figure this out as you go along—you have to become a little creative when trying to exert your will in your dream. For instance, are you trying to find someone in your dream but not having any luck? Try picking up the phone and calling him or her…he or she may just appear right in front of you. Actually wishing for someone or something to magically appear right in front of you can be difficult. Instead, either try closing your eyes and envisioning him or her appearing, or tell yourself that he or she will appear as soon as you go around a corner.
Remember that you are in complete control once you become lucid, but again it will take a while to be able to wield this power properly. Don’t allow yourself to become overcome with emotion if you find yourself in a distressing situation: always remember that dream spinning can quickly bail you out of anything. Also, remind yourself constantly that you are in control—if you are able to maintain this attitude, you will likely be able to free yourself from precarious situations and change your dreams completely.