The vast majority of people think of dreams as something mysterious which is not within our power to control. Whether we have nightmares or very pleasant dreams, not everyone is aware that it is in fact possible to stop these dreams from being purely random. Through the method called lucid dreaming, dream control is something that anyone can have.
But what is lucid dreaming and how does one do it? What are the benefits of being in the drivers seat for these nocturnal journeys? Keep reading to find out more about the practice of dream control.
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 nights sleep.
Common Methods of 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 listeners brainwaves into the proper frequency to achieve the state needed for lucid dreaming, REM sleep.
Prior to the advent of binaural audio technology, now available on CDs and DVDS, meditation and self hypnosis were used to bring about dream control. While these methods are indeed effective, it can take a considerable amount of time to become expert at these techniques.
Besides these methods, there are many other techniques which have been employed by experts in the field. Regardless of how one trains their mind to start using dream control, the idea in every case is to let the dreamer come to the awareness that they are dreaming and start to take control of their dreams.
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; this allows dream control to begin.
It's often a simple matter of telling yourself, just before going to sleep, that you will be dreaming soon and in that dream you will remember to do or say something specific, and when that happens, you will instantly realize that it is a dream.
This particular method to dream control is referred to as MILD, or mnemonic induction of lucid dreams, which was discovered by scientist Dr. Stephen LaBerge. With this approach, your brain is then in complete control as to what occurs in the dream, meaning that nothing could or would come of harm to you as it's simply all in the mind and you are only limited by your own 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.
You can beat back those nightmares, go anywhere, do anything and talk to anyone you want in these dreams. There are no limits except for your imagination to your dreams once you have mastered the techniques of dream control.
As with anything else, though there can be too much of a good thing. According to psychologists and other experts, dreaming is a way for our subconscious minds communicate important messages to us. So while lucid dreaming is indeed an incredible experience, you'll also want to have natural dreams; so remember to take some time off from lucid dreaming now and again.