Many of us think of our dreams as something which is largely beyond our control ¿½ they happen while we are asleep, after all and whether they are pleasant dreams or nightmares, we shrug and assume there is nothing to be done to direct the course of our dreams. However, it is entirely possible to have dream control thorough the technique known as lucid dreaming.
But what is lucid dreaming and how does one do it? What are the benefits of being in the driver¿½s seat for these nocturnal journeys? Keep reading to find out more about the practice of dream control or lucid dreaming.
What Is Dream Control?
Dream control, using lucid dreaming, means that not only are you fully aware that you are dreaming, but that you’re also able to control what happens during the dream. While totally asleep, you realize that what seems to be going on is actually a dream and you are solely in control of the events that play out as well as the final outcome.
Dream control can be a great help to people who suffer from recurring nightmares. The simple, yet powerful technique of lucid dreaming can enable these people to get a full night¿½s sleep.
Common Techniques For Inducing Lucid Dreaming
A newer and very effective method of bringing about lucid dreaming is binaural audio. Binaural audio involves listening to two different frequencies at the same time. The effect of this listening is to tune the listener¿½s brainwaves into the proper frequency to achieve the state needed for lucid dreaming ¿½ REM sleep.
Before the availability of binaural audio on CDs and DVS, the methods of choice for bringing about lucid dreaming were meditation and self-hypnosis; these are effective methods, but it can take a long time for people to master these techniques to the extent necessary to have lucid dreaming experiences at will.
In addition to these approaches to lucid dreaming, many other techniques have been developed over the years by those who are experts in the fields of both science and psychology. But, regardless of the initial method used, the main purpose is basically to train the mind, while asleep, to realize that it is in the midst of a dream.
This training begins while you are still awake. The goal is to remember to perform some kind of cue which will remind us that we are dreaming ¿½ this allows dream control to begin.
This can be as simple as telling yourself that you will be dreaming and that you will do or say a certain thing in the dream; which will tell you that you are dreaming, setting off a state of lucid dreaming.
This method of learning dream control was developed by scientist Dr. Stephen LaBerge and is known as MILD (sort for mnemonic induction of lucid dreams). This technique can let you control the course of events in your dreams ¿½ you are only limited by your imagination!
Another means of achieving lucid dreaming is by keeping a dream diary or journal, using a small notebook and pen kept by your bedside to write down everything you can remember in the minutes after waking up. After doing this for a few nights, you’ll start to notice being able to remember what you’ve written and have a similar dream in which you can then begin to control what happens.
When you know how to use dream control, you can dismiss your nightmares and have incredible experiences which would never be possible in the physical world ¿½ you can go anywhere and do anything that your imagination can conceive!
As with anything else, though there can be too much of a good thing. According to psychologists and other experts, our dreams can be a way that our subconscious minds communicate important messages to us. So while lucid dreaming is indeed an incredible experience, you¿½ll also want to have natural dreams ¿½ so remember to take some time off from lucid dreaming now and again.
