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Eduardo J. Snchez INGL 3103 118 Prof. Celia Sanders 7 December 2010 Lucid Dreaming: an Introduction and its Benefits Lucid Dreaming; in simple terms a dream in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming; has been a scientifically proven phenomenon present for quite some time. Curiously enough; many people are completely unaware of what lucid dreaming is. So what is lucid dreaming? The current studies are not exactly set in stone and not all researchers can agree on everything, but a fully lucid dream can be summed up as A dreaming experience where the subject is available to cognition, as well as emotional, attentional and behavioral processing. (Noreika et al. 6) This meaning that besides being conscious, it can also be noted that the dream is behaving like a dream, actions within the dream are appropriate to it; which include dream control; and emotions are also correspondent to the dreaming environment. Lucid dreaming typically happens during the Rapid-eye-movement phase of sleep (REM); where dreams tend to be the most vivid, sometimes even taking on a hyperreal quality. (Noreika et al. 5) Lucid dreams can be dream-induced (DILD), where the dreamer realizes they are dreaming while in the dream; or wake-induced (WILD), where they sleep directly into the lucid dream. (LaBerge and Levitan 1). They can be classified on different levels of lucidity, varying on either the intensity of the dreams, the level of control the dreamer has,

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the attainable waking memory or intelligence he/she has, or all of them, depending on the researcher and types of experiments done. Lucid Dreaming has a history of being a myth, and though since 1913 has the term existed, coined by psychiatrist Frederik van Eeden, and yet recent researchers; Stephen LaBerge and J. Allan Hobson to name some; have been performing studies and providing scientific proof and data that can be used in an objective manner along with the rest of the findings of the scientific world. However, it has apparently been a practice occurring for quite some time before that, and even without any formal studies has the people who experience it been arguing its positive benefits. Today we can safely say that lucid dreaming is a beneficial activity for analytic, therapeutic and self-improvement reasons. One of the benefits of lucid dreaming is the obvious effect it has on mental exercise. In DILDs, an incredible amount of self-awareness is needed to come up with the realization that something cannot happen in the waking world, and so it must be a dream. According to Absoluteastronomy.com, the dreamer must also be careful to allow the illogical events of the dream to continue, but without losing consciousness of how illogical they are. Many people have been documented to use it to solve problems, Frederik van Eeden himself lists a few examples in his first paper on the subject, and the virtual character of the dream can be used to experiment with the outcome of different situations on practically any topic, while keeping consciousness on how the dream character of it affects the waking world. It promotes thinking out of defined parameters, and creative thinkers like artists and engineers can use it to view things from a different angle or come up with a new idea. (LaBerge and Rheingold 125)

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Lucid dreaming is, of course, a subjective experience, although most people report feeling more rested after lucid dreams, for one. Lucid dreams tend to be relaxing and slow, with a general emphasis on people floating or flying, observing with perfect clearness that the feeling of fatigue has vanished. (van Eeden 1) Some people also report strong symbolism in their lucid dreams, things like the way nature behaves or the people that they encounter in their dreams; and some researchers, like Robert Waggoner, suggest this might be a portal into the subconscious of a person, a tool for introspection, and exploration of the inner desires and aspects of someone. Another such similar experience which tends to be reported is how this affects people regarding religion: some people report developing a deeper sense of spirituality and calmness or a realization which makes them analyze the way they view things. One very commonly cited application is the effect it has on nightmares, and subconscious fears. A lucid dreamer can learn to completely control their dream, and as a step in such, be forced to realize that he or she cannot be hurt by what is in the dream. Looking at things with this outlook helps overcome fears or recurrent nightmares in people with sleeping problems because they can simply will away the unwanted monster; or conquer it by simple, maybe even comical means. The resulting effect in the waking world is similar, the person learns to simply overcome the illogical fear; and it is a technique already being used by some therapists, like Milian Colic (AbsoluteAstronomy.org). One aspect that makes this work is that in most beginners having trouble with lucid dreams, one recommendation is to relinquish extreme emotions within the dream, so that one is conscious is not clouded by things like fears or ecstasy, and one can detach oneself from the events enough to realize how unreal it is. Emotional intelligence, a concept that is being studied

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and recommended, is a skill that comes into play here, and may even be considered an evolutionary trait, not to let emotions cloud the reason illogically; resulting in undesirable outcomes. Yet another argument to the benefits of having lucid dreams is how it can be used for self-improvement, not only for the reasons already stated, but because lucid dreaming requires and/or teaches a collective of positive traits. One such example is awareness. As a lucid dreamer, people tend to be more aware of their surroundings, and the events that go on around them, and at the same time get better at documenting these events, resulting in better writing skills, and a more curious outlook on how things work or why they happen. It also helps develop empathy, since the emotions in lucid dreams are scarce and the entire environment follows a general flow or unity according to most lucid dreamers, and one learns to be more attuned and conscious to emotions, be it in the dream or waking world. Creativeness, emotional intelligence, and confronting fears have already been mentioned, but one more aspect that can be developed with the help of lucid dreams is an outgoing personality. There is no reason to fear messing up in a dream, and can just as well curb inhibitions by taking risks associated with things like flying or breaking things in dreams. There is quite a lot of research going on and supporting lucid dreaming as a psychological technique (Hurd 1), as a relaxing and therapeutic experience, or simply as an amusing and entertaining hobby; not to mention the groups of people that without any scientific formality have been exploring the limits of lucid dreaming and sharing their experiences and techniques for hundreds of years now, so it is curious to see how even today it is still not very well known or understood, apparently being a secret practice that many

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people do not know about or understand, and some lucid dreamers that do not even know it is not something out of the ordinary and continue to have lucid dreams as if it is nothing. However, the facts are there, and while it does have its negative aspects, it cannot be argued that lucid dreaming is mostly a positive practice that call all-around be a good tool used by anyone for many different reasons, like sketching out concept designs in a 3D environment, gathering inspiration for a song, story or painting, or simply helping one remember ones own dreams.

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Works Cited

Gackenbach, Jayne, and Stephen LaBerge. Conscious mind, Sleeping brain. 1 ed. New York: Springer, 1988. Print. Hoyle, Ben. Science wakes up to peoples increasing ability to manipulate their own dreams. The Times [London] 18 Oct 2010: 1. Web. 27 Oct 2010 Hurd, Ryan. Dream Studies. Depression and Dreams. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct 2010 Hurd, Ryan. The Science of Lucid Dreams N.p. n.d. Web. 5 December 2010 LaBerge, Stephen and Howard Rheingold. Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming New York: Ballantine Books 1990. Web. 5 December 2010. LaBerge, Stephen and Lynne Levitan Validity Established of Dreamlight Cues for Eliciting Lucid Dreaming Abstract. The Lucidity Institute. Web. 5 December 2010 Lucid dreaming: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article. AbsoluteAstronomy.com. N.p., n.d Web. 27 Oct 2010. Noreika, Valdas. New Perspectives for the study of Lucid Dreaming: From brain stimulation to theories of self-consciousness. Web. 17 November 2010 VanEden, Frederik. A Study of Dreams The Lucidity Institute. Web. 5 December 2010

Snchez Rosario 7 Lucid Dreaming is a Very Beneficial Activity for Analytic, Therapeutic and Self-Improvement Reasons

I. What lucid dreaming is A. A dream in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming. B. A dream experience where the subject is available to cognition, as well as other processing. C. Typically happens during REM sleep D. It has a history of being a myth: a term coined in 1913, being confirmed around the 1980s II. One of the benefits is the obvious effect it has on mental exercise A. Use it to solve problems B. Thinking outside of the defined parameters, creativity III. Therapeutic applications A. Most people report feeling more rested B. Introspection 1. Symbolism in lucid dreams 2. Portal into the subconscious C. Reflection 1. Spirituality 2. Overcoming fears, traumas and nightmares 3. Relinquishing extreme emotions a. Emotions affect lucidity b. Emotional intelligence IV. You can all-around use it to improve yourself A. One such example is awareness B. It helps develop empathy C. An outgoing personality V. Theres quite a lot of research going on. A. Applications being researched B. Groups sharing their experiences C. Lucid dreaming is a mostly positive practice

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Appendix

The following pages document some of my preliminary drafts, outlines, sources, and any work leading up to the completion of this paper.