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, a lot of us think of our dreams as ’sound and thunder’, so to speak � and believe that they are something which we cannot exert any kind of control over. In fact, this is not the case at all. Through the method called lucid dreaming, dream control is something that anyone can have.
What does this term ‘lucid dreaming‘ really mean and in what way does it happen, and what are the benefits to this? Are people really able to obtain control, and make their nightly travels in the dreaming arena into an ongoing, never ending adventure? Stay tuned to this article for your answers of these often asked questions on the topic of controlling dreams.
What does Dream Control Mean?
Dream control, which is the ability granted to us by the technique of lucid dreaming is having the knowledge that you are dreaming even while in the middle of a dream. While you are sound asleep, your mind can be aware of the fact that you are dreaming, letting you be in control of the events which transpire in your dreams.
People who suffer from nightmares frequently can find relief with dream control. Once they learn to use this powerful technique, they can banish their nightmares and get the restful sleep they need.
Common Ways of Bringing About Lucid Dreaming
A very successful way to reach lucid dreaming uses binaural audio, with this you listen to 2 different types of frequencies simultaneously, for the purpose of altering the brain waves, to bring on a relaxed stage, and also the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, which is where the lucid dreaming occurs.
Before the availability of binaural audio on CDs and DVS, the methods of choice for bringing about lucid dreaming were meditation and self-hypnosis; these are effective methods, but it can take a long time for people to master these techniques to the extent necessary to have lucid dreaming experiences at will.
There have been other approaches to lucid dreaming developed by experts over the years, they worked in the fields of psychology and science to do this. Aside from the way you get there, the end result is the same, training your mind as it is asleep, to know when it is dreaming.
This training will begin, of course while you are wide awake. You need to set a cue for yourself � an action which you will perform or a certain thing which you will say that will be your reminder that you are dreaming so that you can begin using dream control.
You may be able to do this by simply telling yourself as you are falling asleep that in your dream, you will do or say something � and then you will know that you are dreaming. Once you know that you are dreaming, lucid dreaming has begun.
Known as MILD (mnemonic induction of lucid dreaming) this technique was developed by Dr. Stephen LaBerge and it has allowed many thousands of people to begin lucid dreaming and using dream control to rid themselves of recurring nightmares and achieve a feeling of empowerment.
A dream diary can also help you to get started with lucid dreaming. Immediately after you wake up, write down each and every detail that you remember from your dreams. After doing this for a while, you�ll train your mind to remember your dreams; this is the first step to dream control and soon you�ll start having lucid dreams!
When you know how to use dream control, you can dismiss your nightmares and have incredible experiences which would never be possible in the physical world � you can go anywhere and do anything that your imagination can conceive!
As with anything else, though there can be too much of a good thing. According to psychologists and other experts, our dreams can be a way that 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.