Lucid Dreams

Lucid dreaming is where you, ‘the dreamer’, are aware and conscious of the fact that you are dreaming whilst being in a dream. Many people have had at least one lucid dream experience at some time in their life.  It is a fascinating state, as you have full consciousness, yet you are somehow in a different reality. This really challenges our notions of what ‘reality’ is, since lucid dreams become just as ‘lifelike’ as the waking world.

The next Lucid Dreaming workshop will be facilitated by Charlie Morley and will take place on Sunday 10th October. Cost is £60. To book a place simply email debbie@theacademyofdreams.com

Charlie’s workshop will include an overview of the history, science and practice of lucid dreaming from both the Western psychological and Tibetan Buddhist traditions, although the main emphasis is on learning “how to lucid dream” through a variety of scientifically proven techniques. Lucid Dreaming can be of both spiritual and psychological benefit to those who practice it as part of their spiritual path and these workshops will explore the techniques and practice of lucid dreaming from both the Western and the Tibetan Buddhist traditions within this context of spiritual growth.

There are enormous benefits from having lucid dreams such as:

  • You can practise and improve on skills from the waking world, such as public speaking
  • You can become a creative explorer; visit a museum in your dream and wonder at the works of art; compose a melody or a song and bring both back to the waking world! This is a true source of inspiration
  • You can heal old conflicts; meet up with a former partner/your parents. Have that conversation that you wish you’d had before. You can even visit deceased loved ones and say the things that you had no time to say or were too scared to tell them
  • Just explore! The dream world is a fascinating world to investigate. Travel wherever you want; meet whoever you like
  • Healing. Many people report that if they have an illness in the waking world, then they can visit the lucid dream and seek the help of a ‘lucid doctor’ or shaman. Or even try to heal themselves. Then this healing work has a direct effect on the body in the waking world
  • Find the meaning of life! Ask your dream what the truth is; who God is; what the purpose of life is. I even killed myself in a dream to find out about life beyond and received a two minute flash of expanded vision and consciousness.

Charlie also runs a montly Lucid Dreaming Forum held on the first Sunday evening of each month from 6-8pm. This group meets regularly to discuss tips, techniques and learnings about lucid dreaming. Cost: £10

Waking Life
I always include in my Lucid Dreaming Workshops a short clip from ‘Waking Life’.  This is  a great film about a student who explores the meaning of life from several different persectives, such as psychology, biology, theology etc. The student also approaches a dreamer who informs him of how to do a ’state test’ to ascertain whether he is waking or dreaming.  He does the state test and finds that he is in fact  . . . dreaming!

 


Below is an abstract from one of my lucid dreams, taken from my personal dream diary in April 2000.

I am ‘home’ in an apartment in a foreign country. I want to look in a mirror, but the apartment is somewhat dark. I try turning on the light switch, but it appears to be out of order. I try two more light switches and both fail to function. It crosses my mind that electric light switches often fail to work in dreams, and that I should do a ‘reality test’ to test whether I am dreaming. One well-known reality test is the ‘reading test’, because apparently, experiments have shown that the same piece of writing reads differently the second time in a dream. There is a notice board in my bedroom, so I decide to do the reading test. As I prepare to do the test, I am thinking: ‘if this is a dream, it will be amazing because the scenery is just like real life’.


I read a notice on the board and then read it again. It reads differently the second time, but then changes to become the same as the first reading. I read it a third time to be sure. It is different. I am lucid! I am filled with elation as I try to recall my lucid dreaming agenda. I remember that I have decided to follow what the dream offers. I exit from the bedroom and then have a thought: ‘Why don’t I go back into the bedroom and maybe I will see myself sleeping in the bed? And perhaps this second Debbie will be the real physical Debbie asleep in the waking world.’


I open the bedroom door and enter. There I am on the bed! But who is looking at the Debbie on the bed? And who is able to witness the Debbie opening the door and the Debbie in the bed? And who is the Debbie in the waking world? There appear to be four Debbies and I become confused and disorientated.’


Lucid Dream Resources
If you want to teach yourself how to dream lucidly, why not read The Academy of Dreams ‘Your Guide to Lucid Dreaming’ ebook. This provides you with the tips and techniques you need to teach yourself to have lucid dreams, how to maintain lucidity once achieved and what you can do when in your lucid dream.

The Academy of Dreams also recommends visiting Rebecca Turner’s website at: www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com. Rebecca is a proficient lucid dreamer and her website introduces you to a host of related information, including binaural beats, sleep research and paranormal activity.