2. Lucid Dreaming techniques
2.1. How can I have a Lucid Dream?
Dreams are mostly a reflection of your thoughts throughout your day. Therefore, thinking of Dreams during the day, asking yourself if you are Dreaming and wanting to have Lucid Dreams when you are awake might be helpful. The wishes might reflect themselves in your dreams. Remaining conscious until you start dreaming is one way. And seeing cues in your dream that reminds you that it is a dream is also helpful. There are also drugs and herbs that cause you to be more consciously aware, and therefore also increase the possibility for a Lucid Dream.
2.2. Does Reality Testing (RT) work?
Yes. Reality testing is simply asking yourself if you are dreaming. Finding that out isn't always easy in a dream. But usually is it quite obvious if you are dreaming or not. You may find yourself on an unfamiliar place or doing/seeing something that will not likely happen in reality. But sometimes can you find yourself in your bed, and everything looks as it is suppose to be. You can try to read something, look away, and see if the same text is there the second time you read it. You can try changing colors on something or try to fly. If you have a digital clock you can try looking at it, looking away and looking at it again. If something unusual is happening are you probably dreaming. But every reality test may fail; if that happens, don't try jumping out the window or something else that might harm you. Reality tests should be done every hour throughout the day, or more frequently. And especially before going to sleep and if you wake up in the middle of the night. Waking up after 5-6 hours, do some reality tests and go to sleep again may help.
2.3. How does the Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD) technique work?
It works by setting your intention to remember to recognize you are dreaming. Stephen LaBerge from the Lucidity Institute developed it while he was trying to increase his Lucid Dreams frequency. A good approach is waking up after 5-6 hours, remember a dream and tell yourself: "Next time I'm dreaming, I will remember I'm dreaming." You need to really mean it. Concentrate on this thought only, if you find yourself thinking on something else, just let the thought go and return to your intention. Also try to imagine that you are back in the dream, but this time you recognize that you are dreaming. Look for unusual things that suggest you are dreaming and tell yourself: "I must be dreaming!" Do this with all the unusual things you see from the dream you remember. Continue with this until you fall asleep.
2.4. How does the Wake-Initiated Lucid Dream (WILD) technique work?
It works by remaining conscious until you start dreaming. The Lucidity Institute also first presented this technique, but it is not easy if you don't have a clue what to do. But it is quite easy and effective if you do it right. Again, you need to sleep 5-6 hours before trying this. This is because you don't dream much the first 5 hours, it is mostly non-REM sleep. You enter REM a lot faster after 5-6 hours with sleep, and you don't go down to stage 3 and 4 as you do when you first go to bed. The problem is remaining conscious until your dream start.Many strange things may happen when you remain conscious until the REM-period starts. The first thing you see may be Hypnagogic Imagery. It is a pattern, like the one you see when you press your fingers against your closed eyelids. Remember that this is hypnotic, and getting too involved with them will induce unconsciousness. Just let it flow, don't get too involved and don't suppress them either. The next thing you may experience is Hypnagogic Sounds. It may be as real as the sounds you hear in waking reality, but they are nothing to be afraid of. It is a good indicator that the REM-period is right around the corner. Just don't let these sounds scare you. If you start to experience Abstract Thoughts, the logical part of your brain is falling asleep and you are not far from losing consciousness. You might be lying in bed thinking about a friend and the hypnagogic imagery starts and you see your friend's face. You have also worked a stressful day so you start to remember stocking the shelves at work. Soon you are thinking that you are putting cans of food on the shelves with pictures of your friend on them. All this might seems perfectly normal. But it's not logical. What you need to do is try thinking logical, do some math or start over again. Tactile Sensations can feel like you are paralyzed and high-voltage painless electricity is jolting through your body. You may experience these vibrations and find yourself leaving your body or having a Lucid Dream. But remember that all this is nothing to fear, it happens every night, whether you are consciously aware of it or not. Now that you know what you might experience when trying to consciously enter the REM-period there is another problem we need to conquer. And that is losing consciousness, a very common problem that is rather easy to overcome. A good solution is Caffeine and Theobromine. Caffeine is found in Coffee, Tea, Coke, Chocolate and Pills. Theobromine is found in Chocolate. The problem is finding out how much Caffeine works for you. A lot of experimenting has to be conducted. A good place to start is with 0.5 liter Coke, a cup of Coffee or Tea, half a pill or a chocolate bar. If you take too much you will not start to dream at all, if you take too little you may lose consciousness. But drinking 0.5 liter Coke is not very wise, it has a very disturbing side effect. You should also stay up for about 30-60 minutes after waking up after 5-6 hours with sleep. This because it takes about 45 minutes before the Caffeine reaches its full effect. You might experience a DILD if you go to sleep right after some caffeine intake. Another way for keeping the mind active and to bring on the hypnagogic images is to imagine doing something that involves imagery, audible and tactile sensations. Like driving a car, imagine the car and the road, hear the engine-/radio and feel the steering wheel. Remain focused on what you are doing and avoid thinking about anything else than driving that car. Or you might include smell and taste, by imagine a good meal. This works best in combination with NILD, it takes far more time when done as you go to sleep for the first time. But done with NILD can you find yourself in a dream in as little as 5-10 minutes. Or you can try lying on a 30 degree incline mattress (can be done by stuffing pillows under it). And keep the room as dark as possible. Close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing, the slower the better. Breath with your stomach, making an "Ahhh" sound at the end of the exhalation, that will help your mind to stay awake while your body fall asleep. With time may you notice mild vibrations and that your body becomes paralyzed. At that point will you notice that you no longer have any problem concentrating, everything becomes clear. In this state stop concentrating on your breathing and just be aware of your surroundings. If you begin to loose consciousness, start paying attention to any light in your vision or any internal sound. Some time later will you begin to experience the second vibrations. It will quickly rush throughout your body, sometimes accompanied by various sounds and then end. This is your astral body being released. Dream images will start to form. You can go with these images and enter a Lucid Dream, or you might just sit up and walk away from your physical body.
2.5. How does the Nap Induced Lucid Dream (NILD) technique work?
It works by staying up for an hour or two after waking up before going to bed again. This has proven to be a very effective technique, maybe the most effective around. Sleep for about 5-6 hours, then stay awake for about 1-2 hours and go back to sleep. Maybe doing some MILD a few minutes before falling asleep. Or try staying conscious (WILD) until the dream starts. This will in many cases cause you to have Lucid Dreams. Also a good way to have vivid dreams, or will at least make dream recall easier. Staying awake for 90 minutes seems to work better than 60 minutes, though 60 minutes seems to be effective enough in most cases. And sleeping for 6 hours seems to be better than 5 hours, though it might be harder to fall asleep again. The time spent awake should be used thinking or reading about dream related issues. Like reading about lucid dreaming or related newsgroups.
2.6. Do Lucid Dreaming induction devices work?
Yes. Your senses never rest. So what your senses pick up are usually incorporated into your dream, unless it wakes you up. You dream most vividly in the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage. A device can detect these eye movements and give you cues. Cues mostly used are flashing lights and sound. The problem with these cues is that they don't tell you that you are dreaming. They usually appear in the dream as something else, like car lights. You have to train yourself to recognize these cues as dream signs that are trying to tell you that you are dreaming. But these devices are good at causing false awakening, you will think that the device woke you up and try to get to sleep again. But you should do a reality test if this happen, because false awakening is quite normal. Once your reality test fails, you can continue doing whatever you want in the dream. An even more effective approach are verbal cues. Like hearing "This is a Dream" or "You are dreaming" in your dream is a good cue to make you do a reality test. The only problem is that such a solution is very expensive if you want to buy a device like this. Therefore have we plans for making software and schematic drawings for a device that anyone with two hands and a few components can build. You will also need a computer with a soundcard close to your bed. The device may also be used for trance induction, by using binaural beats with matching flashes. (Anyone that want to join the project, feel free to do so). I also have plans for wireless devices, a wireless EEG machine can detect if you are dreaming or not. I will then use a wireless version of the Neurophone to give you a verbal cue. A Neurophone is a device that uses your nervous system to send sound/music to your brain. No ears are needed, in fact, deaf people may hear with this device. (The wireless Neurophone can also be used for trance induction by sending the desired frequency through your nervous system). If you are a deep sleeper that don't see cues, then try getting some caffeine into your system before going to bed or after 5-6 hours. If you are a light sleeper, so that the cues wake you up, then cut every use of caffeine and chocolate containing products. And try to increase your uptake of the amino acid Tryptophan. If you don't want to build your own device, or don't have the patience to wait until we finish the project. Then you can buy a device from The Lucidity Institute at www.lucidity.com, but remember that there is a DOS program called DreamWeaver that also explains how you can create goggles. The Lucidity Institute will maybe publish a system for the NovaDreamer called LISA (Lucidity Induction System for Audio). It is a computer interface that will make it possible for the NovaDreamer to play verbal cues.
2.7. Can Drugs and Herbs induce lucidity?
Yes. For more information about this check out my Dreaming FAQ. You will find most herbs, vitamins, amino acids, minerals and drugs that help you dream more and recall your dreams better. They might even cause you to have a Lucid Dream. To summarize; herbs like Valerian, Mugwort, Mullein, Kava Kava, Dittany of Crete, St. Johns Wort, Calea Zacatechichi, Salvia Divinorum, Scutellaria Indica, Licorice Root, Vervain, Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Datura, Bee Pollen, Catnip, Hops, Scullcap, Mimosa, Lavender, Damiana, Withania Somnifera, Passionflower, Chamomile, Cardamom, Gotu Kola, Ginkgo Biloba, Ibogaine, Verbena, Rose, Cinnamon, Marigold, Nutmeg, Peppermint, Holly, Yarrow and Anise may help you dream more, recall more or even have a Lucid Dream. Make sure you know more about these herbs before you use them: some are to be used in pillows, some are to be smoked, some are to be used in tea, etc. Many B-vitamins may help you have more vivid dreams and even Lucid Dreams. Sedative drugs like Melatonin may help, and drugs like caffeine may help you with WILD and also make it easier to recall dreams. And finally, we have psychedelic drugs like DXM that may induce Lucid Dreams. Some of the drugs and herbs can be addictive, and be poisonous if taken in too large doses. For a more detailed explanation you should check out my Dreaming FAQ.
2.8. How can I prevent premature awakening?
A common problem for beginners is remaining in the dream after becoming Lucid. They become so excited once they realize that they are dreaming that they wake up right away. There are many reasons for being excited, but it will only work against your goal. You need to suppress that feeling. If your dream show signs of ending, maybe loss of detail or your dream just go black, then spinning may help bringing the dream back. Before you feel your physical body you should spin your dream body. That is going round and round. Also remind yourself that the next scene will be a dream. To ensure that it is a dream should you do a RT. Just moving, running or jumping can prolong your Lucid Dream, you might also want to try spinning out in the gravity-free universe. When you open your eyes you may be surprised to find yourself in the most beautiful environment with stars, galaxies and planets. Another technique is saying out loud: "Clarity now!". Just stating out loud your desire and intention may do incredible things to your dream. You might want to try other commands like: "Increase lucidity now!", "Create visuals now!" and "Stay calm!". Theta training may make it easier for you to stay in the Dream, it will also make it easier to induce WILD and recall Dreams.
2.9. How can I change Lucid Dream scenery?
This can be done in many ways, but the most common technique is spinning. If you want something to appear, then expecting it around the corner or behind you is quite effective. You can find a big TV and a remote, and start changing the channels to a scene you like, then just jump in the TV. If you want a special scene can you expect that to appear when you change the channels. You might also try finding a bridge, were you see a lot of scenes flowing by. If you find you like, just jump. You might try asking a dream character where you might find what you are seeking. You can try finding a door and imagine a person/place on the other side. And you can give slow morphing a try. You can also try closing your eyes and imagine the scene forming around you. But the key is to expect things to happen.