Lucid Dreaming: A How To

Have you ever wanted to lucid dream? This article will teach you all about how!

How to lucid dream

These techniques are here to train your mind to notice your own consciousness.

1. Reality Testing

Reality testing is a form of 'brain training'. This may be related to the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which plays a role in both reality testing and lucid dreaming.

For reality testing, follow these steps several times a day:

• Ask yourself, "Am I dreaming?"

• Check your environment to verify whether or not you're dreaming.

• Notice your interactions with your surroundings.

Here are some reality checks people use to lucid dream:

• Mirrors. Check your reflection to see if it looks normal.

• Solid objects. Push your hand against a wall or table and see if it goes through.

• Hands. Look at your hands. Do they look normal?

• Time. Einstein once said "Time is irrelevant." That IS in fact the case in dreams! If you're dreaming, the time on a clock will constantly change. But if you're awake, the time will barely change.

• Breathing. Pinch your nose. If you can still breathe through your nose, you are dreaming.

NOTE: It is recommended that one should do this multiple times a day. This will train your mind to repeat the reality checks even when you are dreaming, which can trigger lucid dreaming.

2. Wake Back to Bed (WBTB)

Wake back to bed (WBTB) involves entering REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep while you're still conscious.

There are many ways of using WBTB, but I recommend this technique:

1. Set an alarm for five hours after your bedtime.

2. Go to sleep as per usual.

3. When the alarm goes off, stay up for 30 minutes. Enjoy a quiet activity like reading.

4. Fall back asleep.

When you go back to sleep, you are more likely to lucid dream. While you're awake, choose an activity that requires full alertness, but DO NOT use any devices. Devices give off blue light which works like caffeine for the eyes, which will prevent you from falling back asleep.

3. Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD)

In 1980, Stephen LaBerge created a technique called Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD). It was one of the first methods that used scientific research to encourage lucid dreams.

How to use the MILD technique:

1. As you fall asleep, think of a dream you had recently.

2. Identify a 'dreamsign,' or something that's abnormal or strange in the dream, such as the ability to fly.

3. Think about returning to that dream. Keep in mind that the dreamsign only happens when you dream.

4. Tell yourself, "The next time I dream, I want to remember that I'm dreaming." Repeat that mantra in your head.

You can also use the MILD technique after you wake up from a dream. That way, the dream will be fresher in your mind.

How to wake up from a lucid dream

Lets say you finally managed to lucid dream. Congratulations! However, as you continue to go further into the dream, you have absolutely no idea how to wake up. You're stuck in Dreamland.

Here are a few ways you can wake up:

• Call out for help. Yelling in your dream tells your brain it's time to wake up. Or, if you managed to speak out loud, you might wake yourself up.

• Blink. Repeatedly blinking may help your mind get ready to wake up. Squinting works, too.

• Fall asleep in your dream. If you're aware that you are dreaming, go to sleep in your dream so you can wake up in real life.

• Read. Try to read a sign or book in your dream. This could activate parts of your brain that aren't used in REM sleep.

In conclusion, lucid dreaming can be a thrilling nighttime practice if you learned to do it. Have fun dreaming!