What are Lucid Dreams?

Have you ever had a dream where you were actually aware that you were dreaming? Or were you able to control certain parts of some particular dream? If yes, you have experienced what we know as ‘lucid dreaming’.
A lucid dream is where the dreamer is aware that s/he is dreaming. Due to this realization, the dreamer may get some amount of control over her/his dreams. It is that state where your consciousness linger between the sleep state and the wakefulness. You’re not really awake but you’re not unconscious either.
Now, lucid dreaming is not very common, if you’ve ever had one, that’s amazing. Well, let me know how you felt about it, will you? According to a study carried out in 2010, roughly 50% of the population admits to having experienced a lucid dream at least once in their lifetime, where 21% admits having recurrent lucid dreaming.
People have describe their willingness to control certain aspects of the dream while being aware of the virtual reality of that dream state.

What causes lucid dreams?

Lucid dreams are usually linked to sleep disturbances like narcolepsy and sleep apnea. But for those who have nothing related to sleep disturbances, it is important to understand that lucid dreams, always take place when in the REM (rapid eye movement). For those who read my article on the sleep cycle, know that when it comes to the REM stage, the brain waves mimic the beta waves, which are produced when awake.
This may be the reason for our brain breaking that barrier between the state of being asleep and awake.

What does Lucid dreams feel like?

Imagine being able to control some parts of your life, but in your own head! You may journey wherever in an instant, challenge the rules of nature, modify your identity. The world is yours in essence. You like it.
Your senses are enhanced in a lucid dream. Sight, sound, smell, taste and touch are all intense. However, it depends on your creative ability, you may experience beautiful and unexpected details like wind ruffling through your jacket, the sensation of ground beneath your feet, or raindrops falling on your skin.
There may also be increased emotional sensations. You kind of, are aware of your actions, your emotions.

How to Lucid dream?

If you haven’t had the taste of lucid dreaming, don’t worry. Recently, studies have found that we can induce lucid dreams by incorporating certain habits or actions into our waking life. It is a learnable skill and you can experience the wonders of lucid dreams.

Keep a dream Journal

Keeping journal is a popular practice, not only if you seek to enhance your creative skills, but also to identify the dream signs and later use them in order to bring into awareness whether you’re dreaming. So whenever, you remember a dream, write it down on your dream journal as soon as you can. Also, read it often, your brain gets familiar with your dream patterns, and so, next you dream, you can look for those signs.

Reality Check

Incorporate one simple habit in your life, getting aware of your surroundings and your actions. Ask yourself often ‘Am I dreaming?’
In your waking and dreaming states, your level of metacognition is identical. So, if you are awake, increased metacognition could lead to a more increased metacognition in dreams as well.

Set your alarms

So, whenever you’re going to sleep, set an alarm 5 hours ahead. When awake, carry out some activity which requires certain amount of attention, for about 20–30 minutes. When you fall back asleep with an attentive mind, you’ll be more likely to be attentive in your dreams. Which will make lucid dream possible for you.

Lucid dreaming, beside fascinating, can be a source for you to re-connect with yourself. According to Sigmund Freud, dreams are the way our sub conscious communicates with us. So get to know the essence of your dreams, not only the happier, joyful parts, but the dark ones too. This practice of lucid dreaming has been prevalent in earlier communities for spiritual growth. So begin your psychological and spiritual well being journey too, use them as a tool to find your answers.