Lucid dreaming

[Storyteller.]

Lucid dreaming
By Maria (Gidig)

Certainly you can remember a dream you’ve had at least once in all the years you’ve been sleeping. Perhaps it was something realistic, such as going swimming with a friend or doing your homework. Perhaps it was something crazy like buying a mansion in another dimension where Antarctica is the hottest place on Earth. Dreams are a natural part of sleeping and people over the age of ten have about four to six dreams per night.

Lucid dreams are something that many people experience while sleeping. Lucid dreaming, simply put, is when you are aware that you are dreaming.

Why have lucid dreams?
When you experience a lucid dream your only boundary is your mind. Physical obstacles are no longer an issue. In your mind, if you want to fly, you can. If you want to walk through walls you can.

Adventure! Who doesn’t like a bit of adventure? Flying is a favorite in the world of lucid dreams. Along with a sense of adventure comes a feeling of freedom to do whatever your heart desires! This is an amazing time to fulfil your wildest fantasies and dreams. Most people experience a sort of energetic ‘rush’ when they first are aware that they’re dreaming, which helps to jump start their adventure.

Nightmares. Lucid dreaming in a nightmare is almost like "nightmare therapy." When you suddenly realize that you’re in a dream you also become aware that nothing can hurt you since, in reality, you’re safe in bed. This gives you the power to fight those monsters chasing you or to do other things you would not normally do. All the power now lies in your hands.

Rehearsing.When you have a lucid dream, you may be practicing for a hard part of life that’s soon to come. This could be a huge football game you need to get ready for or an important presentation you’ll be putting on in front of hundreds of people. The way your brain works while you’re rehearsing in sleep is the same as it will work when you’re awake, so it helps your brain remember what to do, how it feels, and that you’re going to be okay. Therefore, it can help conquer stage fright, or any other upcoming event you may be worried about.

Puzzle solving. In life you may face many puzzling situations. While having a lucid dream, you may find the solution to that algebra problem you couldn't do this morning. Your mind is extremely creative when you’re dreaming, so you may also think of a new craft project to work on. While dreams can be absolutely crazy, this can give you ideas to use when awake!

Healing. Your mind is a huge part of your body. You can use lucid dreams to help your body physically heal, overcome a phobia, social anxiety, or grief. You can even boost self-confidence and body image! Some people have also had luck in using lucid dreaming to help alleviate physical pain.

It’s all imagination. When you have a lucid dream, it reminds you that the world you live in is limited to the confines of your mind. It helps you look past everyday life and to decide what is real or not.

How do I have a lucid dream?
Lucid dreaming is something that most people have to acquire. Though a lucky few can experience a lucid dream with ease, many people have sporadic lucid dreams here and there but are unable to choose to have one. A big part of having a lucid dream is being able to recall a dream.

You need to have motivation and be willing to put effort into having a lucid dream. After a while, though, lucid dreaming will be easier than you think.

First you must remember your dreams so that you will see patterns between the difference when you are dreaming and when you’re awake. This will help you recognize a dream more easily and may work better if you keep a dream journal by your bed, then write down the dream you were having immediately upon waking.

You will need to learn to pick out when something is odd or out of place, like suddenly being able to fly or seeing multiple visible dimensions. When your mind can figure out when something isn’t realistic, you can then assess the situation and decide if it is real or if you are simply dreaming.

Your mind is a powerful tool and you may be able to decide when you go to sleep that you’re going to have a lucid dream. Figure out what kind of dream it’s going to be, when you’re going to realize it’s a dream, and what will happen in the dream.

Most of all, though, have fun with your lucid dreaming! Use this as an opportunity to try new things or do things that are simply impossible in the real world. Just remember there is a difference between sleeping and not, and make sure you’re dreaming before you try anything that may harm you.