Lucid Dreaming: A Beginners Guide 333 Comments

Written by Tim Ferriss Topics: Mental Performance

John Smith making another title look like childs play (no audio)

From 1994-1995 I had the great pleasure of training with wrestling legend John Smith, 2-time gold medalist and 4-time world champion (domestic freestyle record of 80-0; international freestyle record of 100-5).

He was famous for his low leg attacks that made even Olympic finals look like textbook demonstrations.

The problem was, of course, that I was in New Hampshire at boarding school and had never met John Smith. I only trained with him 45-60 minutes per night while I was lucid dreaming. I went on to have my best career season, which culminated with a more than 20-0 record before the national championships

Ive since used lucid dreaming to:

- Accelerate skill acquisition (example: yabusame) - Reactivate forgotten languages in less time - Cultivate zen-like present-state awareness and decrease needless stress Lucid Dreaming 101

I applied to Stanford University because I wanted to refine my clinical understanding of lucid dreaming: the ability to become conscious during dreams and affect their content.

This isnt new-age nonsense, either. Its been tested in the strictest of lab settings.

Dr. Stephen LaBerge of Stanford was considered the worlds foremost researchers in the science and practice of lucid dreaming, and he had pioneered proving its existence. How? It turns out that eye movement, unlike the rest of the skeletal muscular system, is not inhibited by REM sleep. Subjects could memorize horizontal eye patterns (e.g. left-left-right-right-leftright-left) and repeat the patterns upon becoming lucid, which researchers could observe, all while recording brain activity with an EEG to confirm that the subjects where, in fact, in a dream state. Tibetan monks have been practicing lucid dreaming for thousands of years, but it was considered fringe speculation until it was captured in a controlled environment.

There are now dozens of studies that explore the incredibly cool world of lucid dreaming and hint at applications (search lucid dreaming here on PubMed).

I recently had dinner with former PayPal employee Mark Goldenson, who was a researcher in both Stephen LaBerges lab and Phil Zimbardos psychophysiology lab at Stanford, and the conversation convinced me that sharing the basics was worth a post.

For those interested in experiencing lucid dreaming, here are a few simple training methods, including:

Step 1) Develop dream recall -

Have you ever thought that you didnt dream on given nights, or perhaps not at all? If I were to track your REM sleep, as I have mine on even dreamless nights, you quickly realize that this isnt the case. Undeveloped recall is to blame.

Put a pad of paper next to your bed and record your dream immediately upon waking. Immediately means immediately. If you get dressed first, or even stare at the ceiling for a minute, dream recollection will be nil. Expect that you might not get more than a few lines for the first week or so, but also expect to get to multi-page recall ability within 2-3 weeks. This alone will make you look forward to going to bed.

Step 2) Identify dream cues and/or do reality checks -

Some people, like Mark, can use their dream log to identify common dream elements that recur from night to night. Water seems to be particularly common. These elements are then used for reality checks: asking yourself if youre dreaming when you see these cues during waking hours, and then testing.

Testing entails doing something like trying to fly (not recommended) or looking at your environment for clear indications of dream state. The latter is my preference, and I typically skip the dream log and default to a few simple tests at set action (every time I check the time or walk through a door, for example).

Since working memory can only hold around 7 +/- 2 bits of information, and you are constantly creating your dreamscape in real-time, there are a few things that change if you look away and then look back at them:

a. Text (e.g., written signs) b. Digital clocks/watches. Fascinatingly, analog clocks appear to keep accurate dream time, which, in my case, also corresponds to real time passing. c. Complex patterns

For the last category, I like to look at wall brickwork or floor patterns, look away, and look back to see if their orientation (e.g. horizontal vs. vertical) or tile/block size has changed, asking am I dreaming? If there are changes,

guess what? You are either on some strong hallucinogens or you are dreaming. If youre dreaming and answer in the affirmative, it is at this point that you will become lucid.

Step 3) Induce lucidity

MILD

There are a number of techniques that help induce lucidity. One such technique tested by LaBerge, referred to as Mnemonic-Induction of Lucid Dreaming (MILD), involved in my case waking up in the middle of the night, setting the intention to lucid dream for 10-15 minutes, then going back to bed. I have found this to work best when I wake 5 hours or so after going to sleep (not just to bed). Here is a longer description from LaBerges FAQ.

I have also found duration of sleep to be an important variable. It will often be easiest for novices to achieve lucidity if they sleep to excess more than 9 hours (think Saturday or Sunday mornings) and then use the snooze button to wake every 10-15 minutes for another hour. This juxtaposition of waking and sleep blurs the lines and seems to make the lucid state easier to achieve.

Ancillary Drugs

Three drugs, in my experience, also seems to assist with induction: huperzine-A (200-400 mcg), melatonin (3 mg), and nicotine (standard patch). I dont suggest combining them.

Huperzine-A is an acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitor, tested in Chinese clinical trials for treating Alzheimers, and will increase the half-life of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the synapse. This is my preferred tool if Im using chemical assistance. Melatonin is involved with setting circadian rhythm and its release is controlled by the pineal gland and suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). Dreams on melatonin tend to be more colorful and more

chaotic, as is also the case with nicotine. Nicotine is my last choice, as it is addictive and can cause total insomnia if you dont time it properly. If you happen to be quitting smoking and will be using the patch regardless, be sure to put it on immediately prior to bed so the blood nicotine levels (and stimulant effects) peak well after youve fallen asleep. Mistime it and youll be one grumpy bastard the next morning.

Step 4) Extend lucidity duration

This is where things get a little strange, or even cooler.

The first few times you achieve lucidity, you will likely be so excited that you will wake yourself up. Two effective techniques for extending lucidity are spinning (a la a piroutte in place) and looking at your hands. Both techniques, I believe, originated with Carlos Castaneda, but LaBerge was the first to test them and quantify the effectiveness of spinning vs. hand rubbing:

the odds in favor of continuing the lucid dream were about 22 to 1 after spinning, 13 to 1 after hand rubbing (another technique designed to prevent awakening), and 1 to 2 after going with the flow (a control task). That makes the relative odds favoring spinning over going with the flow 48 to 1, and for rubbing over going with the flow, 27 to 1.

Source: Lucidity Institute

Step 5) Once youve flown all over and had sex with every hottie you can think of

Try to explore memory and performance. Indulge in the flying and sex binge, as all newbies do no reason to rush that phase, of course but then expand your carnal horizons in other directions.

Have fun and sweet dreams

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Posted on September 21st, 2009 Related & Recommended Posts

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Reality Tests - A Common Lucid Dreaming Technique

Reality testing is one of the most common and effective ways of inducing lucid dreams. Also known as the reality checking, reflection technique, or critical state testing, the idea is to determine whether or not you are dreaming by performing a few tests described below. If you can successfully perform a reality check while you are dreaming, becoming lucid will be second nature to you.

How to Perform a Reality Test (aka Reality Check)

There are a variety of ways to perform a reality test but theyre all pretty common in that they challenge the possibilities of reality. For example, one of the most common techniques is to look at a digital clock or text book, look

away, and then look at it again. If youre dreaming, the words and numbers will probably have changed drastically helping you become lucid.

One of the strange inconsistencies in the dream world is the inability to maintain numbers and words in digital clocks and books. Though this makes the dream world slightly less realistic, it also makes becoming lucid easier. Imagine if the dream world were perfectly realistic you would have a much harder time realizing that youre dreaming because reality tests wouldnt be possible. And if the dream world were perfectly realistic, you would never be able to enjoy the sensations and benefits of lucid dreaming. In short its the inconsistencies that make the dream world more easily accessible and enjoyable.

Here are a couple of reality tests you can perform, organized by theme youre most likely dreaming if something unrealistic happens.

Example Reality Tests

Changed Appearance

Look at your hands are there extra, missing, or disfigured fingers?

Look at a mirror do you look normal?

Touch your hair does it suddenly seem longer or shorter than it should?

Superpowers

Try to fly or levitate jump off the ground see how long you remain off the floor

Try teleporting close your eyes, imagine yourself somewhere else, and open

Try breathing with both your nose and mouth closed can you still breath?

Telekinetic Abilities

Try turning off lights with your mind close and open your eyes to see the results

If youre outdoors in daylight, try making the sun set with your mind

Close your eyes and imagine a sandwich appearing in front of you open your eyes

Tips for Performing Reality Tests

Go ahead and try some of the above tests and see which ones work out best for you. Some people may have dreams that are more realistic than others, so different tests will work for different people. The best thing to do is to experiment with as many different reality tests as you can, and stick with the one that works best for you. I listed tests that youll be able to do, regardless of where you are, but you can also come up with your own tests, as those can be the most effective.

Sometimes youll have to do more than one test to be sure youre dreaming. Its always a good idea to be absolutely sure youre dreaming before you go wild and act like there arent any consequences :). A good way to do this is to combine two or more tests. A common combination is to look at a mirror to test your appearance, and touch the mirror afterwards. Mirrors also dont hold up well in the dream world, so if youre dreaming your hand should go right through it.

If you have a bad experience with one of the tests, you should obviously stay away. Looking into a mirror can sometimes cause people to look so disfigured to the point that they wake up frightened. If this happens, just choose another test to perform as waking up will make it harder to become lucid. When You Should Perform A Reality Check

Now that you know how to perform a reality check, the following sections will help you find out when you should perform one.

Perform a Reality Test Whenever You Encounter A Dream Sign

You should obviously question whether or not you are awake whenever you encounter a dream sign because its one of the easiest ways to induce a lucid dream. Most people accidentally become lucid in a dream when they realize something is too bizarre or unlikely to occur in real life. Instead of waiting for a dream sign to become strange to the point of you gaining lucidity, you can quickly question whether or not you are dreaming by using a reality check on a more subtle dream sign maximizing your chances of becoming lucid.

Another way to think about this is instead of waiting for a dream sign that may or may not become more obvious, you can become more doubtful and test whether or not you are dreaming. This way youll take a more active role in becoming lucid, rather than depending on the chance that your dream will be odd enough to make you realize youre dreaming.

If you read my example dream journal entry earlier, it makes much more sense. In the beginning of the dream, I was playing poker with my friends James and Isabella. There was a boulder in the room that I hadnt questioned. If I had performed a reality test when I saw the boulder, I wouldve likely realized I was dreaming earlier. It was chance that had James pick up the boulder like a small rock and hurl it at the roaches. Though the dream ended with me waking up from the boulders impact, I could have become lucid if I were more active in questioning strange objects in my living room.

Perform Reality Tests Throughout the Normal Course of Your Day

Now why should you perform reality tests throughout the course of the day? The answer is that your daily habits will generally be reflected in your dreams. Most people dont question whether or not they are awake throughout the day, and so this mindset is carried over to the dream world, where the same people will find reasons to rationalize and explain strange or impossible events making it much harder to become lucid.

If you make it a habit of performing reality tests throughout the day, youll find your dream self doing the same thing. For example, I perform a reality test every time I leave or enter my apartment. In a dream if I happen to leave or enter my apartment, Ill perform a reality test out of habit and realize Im dreaming, becoming lucid in the process. This will increase your chances of having lucid dreams because you wont need to depend only on encountering dream signs, but rather a combination of dream signs and the events you perform reality tests on.

Example Times to Perform a Reality Check Throughout the Day

When you check your e-mail

After you make a phone call

When you have a meal

When something stops working properly (aka device failure)

When you encounter one of your dream signs

When you leave or enter a building

When you see a house pet

When the clock reaches each hour

Other Tips for When to Perform Reality Tests

You dont have to perform a reality check for all of those times, but aim for about 15-20 checks every day. A good tip is to choose a variety of times, not only when youre at home or work. This way, youll have more chances of becoming lucid in a variety of dream scenarios. Ideally, the checks should be distributed throughout the day, and not clustered in one part of the day.

When I was beginning to perform reality checks, I found that I was only performing them whenever I was at home because I happened to choose events centered on being home. This meant that if I had a dream that took place outside of the house, then I would have less chance of becoming lucid because I was more used to performing reality checks indoors. This made the reality testing technique less effective because I was excluding performing a check whenever I was outside the house. After I started to perform checks in a variety of indoor and outdoor situations, I noticed having more lucid dreams by realizing I was dreaming.

Looking at it another way, you can also center when you perform reality checks during times you dream about frequently. This is basically like finding your dream signs. For example, I have many dreams about relaxing with my friends. I could then schedule most of my reality checks around socializing. I could perform a check whenever I saw my best friend or whenever Im at our common meeting place. Go over your dream journal and find a common theme that you can schedule your reality tests on it can certainly help you become lucid more often. Heres a quick review on Reality Tests:

Reality tests are common in that they all challenge the possibilities of reality

Inconsistencies in the dream world make it easier and more enjoyable to have lucid dreams

Everyone is different - experiment with different reality tests to find what works best for you

Combine different reality tests to make sure youre dreaming before indulging

Simply perform a different reality test if you have a bad experience with one

Perform a test when you encounter any of the dream signs you found in your dream journal

Also perform a test throughout the day to increase your chances of becoming lucid

Aim for 15-20 reality checks throughout each day, in a variety of scenarios, not just when youre working or at home

Find common themes in your dream journal and schedule your reality tests on them

In general, youll have an easier time becoming lucid if you dont take reality for granted - question it often!

Using Lucid Dreaming To Pick Lottery Numbers Lucid Dreaming to Pick Lottery Numbers Dreams, interpreting your bad dreams, learn what they mean! Find out now FREE! There are many ways to pick winning lottery numbers, but one of the most interesting is through the practice of lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming is the fine art of putting yourself

in a state that is halfway between being asleep and awake while trying to visualize events to the extent that you can manifest them to happen in real life.

In order to achieve the state of lucid dreaming, which is a phrase that literally means that you are aware of your dreams, you need to put your brain into a bit of an alpha state. You need to be unconscious enough to be aware of your subconscious mind, but conscious enough to not fall asleep, as it is key for you to be remembering what you are visualizing.

The principle is the same as using positive affirmations, except in this case it is more like you are running a movie through your mind. People use this technique of visualizing what they want just before they go to sleep to manifest just about anything from love to money to winning lottery numbers.

In the case of lucid dreaming, all you have to do is deep breathing exercises or you can also listen to a favorite meditation tape. Once you find yourself in a pleasantly sleepy, yet aware state, you can then begin your visualization. Make sure you are lying flat on your back, that you are breathing deeply, that your legs are not crossed, that your hands are at your sides.

Need help interpreting your dream? Receive FREE, amazing guidance and insight. >>CLICK HERE<< TO BEGIN!

One of the easiest ways to visualize the winning numbers is to visualize hand writing a number on a chalkboard. See the hand pick up the chalk and then write a number on the board. Once you have done that, remember the number that was recorded. Use an imaginary chalkboard eraser to then eliminate that number by wiping it off the board. You then wait to see what the next number is that will be written on the chalk board. Some people keep a pen and pad of paper by the bed to write down the numbers as they occur.

A similar visualization involves imagining sitting in a movie theater and then watching the drapes for the screen pull apart to reveal a movie about to start. When the movie starts, you will picture a series of numbers being flashed one after the other on the screen, unfolding to you as if it was a narrative. You can see these numbers on placards being held up by a character in the movie, or you can have the numbers spoken to you by a character in the movie. The character that you should imagine should be akin to talking to your higher self. In other words, this works the best if you picture yourself talking from the screen and coming up with the winning numbers.

Yet another technique is to imagine that you are walking along a beach. In this visualization, you are going to picture finding as many rocks as you need numbers to play on a ticket in the sand. As you pick up each rock, you will see a number written underneath. Be sure to record or remember that number and play it in the next lottery.

Psychic Readings, Dream Interpretations, Try it FREE, 24/7 Powerful Advice on Love, Money, Etc. Click Here or Call 888-760-6444

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Page: 1 2 By pamela, Saturday, December 12, 2009 01:54:55 AM A long time ago I remember a woman who won the lottery in NY. She had children and was on welfare. Everyday after work she came home and gave thanks for winning. She had a shrine set up and this is where she would go to pray. Not begging, mind you, thanking for this supply of money. It was about a year later that she won one of the largest ever at that time. She then paid back all the welfare money that she had used and bought a fur coat and a

ride in a limo. After that she went to a financial adviser. Hope she is still doing good. This showed me something. You can't get what you want if you feel you need it. Because then you will always need it. You get what you want by giving thanks for it. I think that the lucid dream is a good way to relax the mind and let your higher-self come in to help. The conscious mind keeps us from believing that we can have or achieve what we want. So when you get into that state of mind you are more able to cut out the mind chatter that gets in the way. I live my life on the principles that you can have anything you want. When I was a young girl I wanted a horse. Now I was told all the time that we could not afford an animal that took so much money just to take care of it, let alone the cost to buy one. That did not stop me from dreaming of one, going to visit people that had one, and every chance I got I was reading about the care of them, bought pictures of them,on and on. Then one day when my father was on a desert ride with a bunch of men from all over the USA. He met a man who approached my father with a proposition.He said that he would like to keep a horse out here so that he didn't have to trailer one all the way from the east coast. And that he would pay my father to go but one and that he would pay for the boarding and food. This in exchange for letting him use the horse every year that he came out to go on this desert ride. Well I got my horse and my father built a corral and I got to ride his everyday. What a great memory I have. Don't ever give up on what you really want. Stay happy, appreciate everything, focus on what you want, give the universe time to bring it to you. By Vertrell, Friday, April 17, 2009 03:55:25 PM well i like the exercise and i will try it. but i feel like this page was for me especially the last comment that was posted with the 337 number that was not played the reason i say this is because the 337 is my extention to my phone # at work. so i am playing this tonite. By Becky, Monday, April 13, 2009 02:52:36 PM I tried this a few days ago...I had the same numbers come to me 2 nights in a row. I used them and NONE of them came up! All 4x I tried this not ONE number was on the drawing! Do you need to be a psychic to use them, too?! By Erudina, Sunday, April 12, 2009 06:51:25 PM I would love to be possitive, but how many people would be doing this and winning money here and there! Many people have tried possitive atraction, dreams and they die trying and believing one day it will work for them. Has it worked for any of you guys, I'd love to know By Darlene, Thursday, April 02, 2009 01:05:21 PM

CAN MY LOVED FROM THE 0THER SIDE BRING ME NUMBERS TO PLAY IN THE LOTTO. WILL THERE BE A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME TO PLAY THESE NUMBERS. WILL NUMBERS FROM YOUR HOROSCOPE WORKS NATURELY ALSO. By Renetta, Tuesday, March 31, 2009 01:45:24 PM I just had a dream last night.Now I've got to go get that lottery ticket! I hope this work's!! By Aleksi, Sunday, March 29, 2009 12:46:24 PM i love these exercises!!! By alisa, Sunday, March 29, 2009 04:53:47 AM if i could hit the lottery i would roll up to this guys job (that im trying to get with) in the escalade and say "C'mon Baby we are are going to the Bahamas!!!" Im gonna hit it one day i just might try this lucid dream thing! By Debra, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 08:16:54 PM Hmmmmmmm I just wish i could remeber my dreams ! I havebt had a dream in along time : ( Love & lite , Deb By Nancy, Tuesday, March 24, 2009 01:55:17 PM I will try the beach and rocks to see if this helps me. God only knows how badly I need the money! Thanks for teaching me a new technique to use!

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