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From Supernatural Existence
ladelcali We are planning more and more paranormal investigations. We want to start following a scientific process for the investigations, that way they are more credible.
Most events will be posted on the main site, as well as callin-related information. Wiki events will be posted here (more information on that soon).
SE Investigation 01: Lucid Dreaming
Begins 03/03/2007
Participate whenever you'd like. There is no deadline, but post as soon as possible.
NOTE: Feel free to participate in any part of this investigation you want. If you feel uncomfortable or not ready for a certain phenomena (like slowing dream time down), feel free to opt out of that part of the investigation.
If you want to participate in this investigation, simply reply stating so (I'm in, or I'll participate; anything like that). Feel free to post your replies, and updates as well. Anything you want to share is welcome.
Contents |
[edit] What are Lucid Dreams?
In this segment, you will read about how dreams work, sleep cycles and stages, and what our investigation is all about. To summarize it completely, we want to discover the secrets of lucid dreaming. Are the talked about phenomena like prophetic dreams real? Or are they just rare occurrences and coincidences? Why do we forget our dreams, and why do some feel so real and vivid? Find it all here!
What is Lucid Dreaming?
Lucid Dreaming is dreaming while being aware you are dreaming. In other words you are conscious and aware within a dream. No matter how long or short the dream was, no matter how much or how little "in control" you were, if at some point during the dream you thought "This is a Dream!" then it was a lucid dream. Best of all, lucid dreaming is learnable!
When you become lucid in a dream, possibilities are endless. You can do what you wish. You can fly to space, breathe underwater, and walk through mirrors. It is not recommended to use lucid dreaming as a way to escape reality. It may become unhealthy, and some people (usually those who suffer in life a lot) tend to use this as an "escaping" method. But if you want to lucid dream to learn, research, and just to try it out for the experience, then it is healthy :)
Instead of using lucid dreaming as a way to escape real life, it is best to use it for experience in real life. You can practice public speaking in lucid dreams, and maybe even other things like sports.
Lucid Dreaming can come easily for some, maybe even naturally. For a majority of people, however, you need to have some sort of intent to do this. But just because you realize you are in a dream, it does not mean you will be in full control. "[b]Lucidity Level[/b]" may vary. In some lucid dreams, you may have very high control, while in others you may accept some things as natural. You may find nothing strange about people flying, for example.
The ultimate goal of this investigation is to be able to control your lucid dreams, and use this control to perform the investigations of the following phenomena (more may be added):
Shared Dreaming - Being able to have the same dream as another person.
Precognitive Dreaming - Being able to have lucid prophetic dreams.
Slowing Time in Dreams - YOU DO NOT ACTUALLY SLOW TIME. Have you ever had a dream that felt lasted longer than you were asleep? We are planning to attempt to test this out in a lucid dream.
Training Within Dreams - We will investigate if practicing for real life situations within a dream is truly effective.
Obviously, the phenomena is very debatable, and some may not even work, but trying it out will be a fascinating experience.
What exactly are Dreams and how do they work?
There are many answers to this question. Some are scientific while others are spiritual. My intent is not to answer this question because everyone has their own beliefs, but rather to explain how dreams work and why.
Actual sleep consists of sleep cycles. A sleep cycle consists of 5 sleep stages.
Sleep starts with 4 stages of Slow-Wave Sleep (SWS) also called NREM (Non-REM). Then it does not go directly to the 5th stage. In fact, the stages reverse (Stage 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 5). After that, REM occurs (the state of sleep where dreams occur often).
Sleep Cycles tend to last anywhere from an hour and a half to 2 hours. If you sleep 6-10 hours a night you have 3-5 sleep cycles a night. Within each sleep cycle is a REM state of sleep meaning you dream. This means you have 3-5 dreams a night! Most people say they only remember 1 dream, or they do not dream at all, but this is NOT true. After the REM state, the mind essentially hides or "erases" the previous dream memories in order to be prepared for the next dream. This is also why dreams feel vivid when you wake up during a REM state. :sleepy5:
By improving dream recall, you can remember more and more every night. THIS IS CRUCIAL for lucid dreaming. You can have all the lucid dreams you want every night, but if you do not have good dream recall, they would all feel like a normal dream if you even remembered them. And this actually leads us to our next section...
[edit] How Do You Prepare For Lucid Dreaming?
Dream Recall
The first step to Lucid Dreaming is Dream Recall. In order for you to even remember if you have had a lucid dream, you would need to be able to remember your dreams in general before attempting to lucid dream. Dream Recall methods vary, but there are many easy ways to do it. The most common and highly recommended (in my opinion) is keeping a Dream Journal. Keep a book that you plan to use solely for recording dreams right next to your bed. A pen as well. It would be much better if the book and the pen were items unique and not the same type as those you commonly use. This way, your mind would know that the book and pen are only for dream recording, giving it a purpose to recall dreams. This will help improve dream recall in itself!
Every night have your dream journal ready. As soon as you wake up, stay conscious. Do NOT drift back to sleep, no matter how tired you are (this is where the most effort is actually required). Do not move either. Just stay lying down in the same way you were when you awoke. If you remember your dream as soon as you wake up, quickly run through every part of it in your head, then write it in your Dream Journal. If you do not remember there are other ways to attempt recall. Right before you go to sleep, you can focus and tell yourself "I will awake from my dreams and completely remember them." If you do this, try not to let your thoughts wander too much, and keep telling this to yourself as you fall asleep.
After you wake up and while you are lying down do not try to recall the dream if you cannot remember it. Let the memories come to you, but do not fall asleep. If this does not work, try moving around lying in other ways on the bed. This sometimes works because you may have been lying down one way while dreaming (and then moved), thus triggering dream memories if you lie down that same way as soon as you wake. This has worked for me. I would not be able to recall any of my dreams, but a simple turn and the dream memories would vividly come back to me.
Dream Journals are not the only way to record your dreams. You can have audio recorders, or whatever works best for you. As long as you are able to record as much detail of the dream as possible. Some people even have two dream journals. The first they would write on as soon as they wake. The second would be a "good draft." This is easier as you can just take rough notes with random details in the first journal, then later when you wake up at a "normal" time, you could simply rewrite it in the good draft. Remember to record ANYTHING you recall. Feelings, emotions, dream fragments and memories. Try to be very specific and detailed. Always date your records, and if you can give a time when you write it (like 2:45 AM) do so. The more information you record, the more you'll improve in recalling dreams.
Dream Signs
After you have recorded many dreams, you may be able to look for recurring dream signs. This helps trigger lucid dreaming. These are just signs that occur the most often in your dreams. These signs may include an unstable point of view (it may be first person, third person, first person again, etc.), malfunctioning devices, teeth falling out, slow running, the inability to scream, being late, and even exams! If you notice anything recurring in your dream, then it is one of your dream signs.
After you start noticing dream signs, it would be a good idea to make a list of them for Reality Checks...
Reality Checks
Reality Checks is self explanatory. You check to see whether you are in reality, or in a dream. It is very effective, but in order for it to work, you need to perform Reality Checks a lot in real life (usually about 21 times a day).
Some Reality Checks include:
-Reading something, looking away, then reading it again to see if the text has changed. -Look at a clock, look away, then look at it again to see if a change has occurred. -Hold your nose and attempt breathing through your fingers. If you can breathe you're dreaming. -Look at your hands. If you have more or less fingers, or if they look strange, you're probably dreaming. -Try to operate a device (flip on a light, or try to use another device). If they work in strange ways, or do not work at all, you are probably dreaming. -Attempt to put your finger through a mirror. If it works, you are dreaming.
When you know your dream signs you can begin practicing to lucid dream. Whenever you encounter one of your dream signs in reality, perform several reality checks. Get your mind accustomed to reality checks. That way, when you encounter one of these signs in a dream, you will perform a reality check and realise you are dreaming. Try to be focused whenever you are performing reality checks, and know why you are performing them. Distraction occurs very easily in dreams.
You can make your own recurring signs, but this is more difficult in my opinion. Whenever you see a certain letter, or hear an alarm clock or something, you can perform a reality check. The overall goal is to try and perform over 21 reality checks a day. The more dream signs you have, the better.
Make Reality Checks a habit, especially after waking. As soon as you wake, perform several reality checks. When you start to have lucid dreams, you may have false awakenings which will trick you into thinking you woke up. But you are still in a dream! So if you make it a habit to reality check whenever you wake up, you'll do it when you wake up in a dream and realise you have had a false awakening! They occur because many people fear waking up too early once they become lucid. The idea is in your mind, and your mind creates dreams based on your thoughts.
[edit] How Do You Lucid Dream?
There are two common techniques that are very popular and very effective. Lucid Dreaming techniques are not limited to the two, but these are highly recommended. More will be listed soon.
You can perform these techniques right before you go to sleep or you can wake early (setting your alarm about 5-7 hours after you fall asleep). It is more effective when you use the alarm clock technique as it clears your mind of anything you did throughout the previous day. It is important for you to be relaxed and not thinking about anything else than your ultimate goal and it's process.
Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD)
If you plan to use the MILD technique, then the entire dream recall segment will greatly help in preparation. There are two ways to perform this technique. Either way, you must be relaxed and not frustrated when you attempt this. Frustration will only prolong success. If you do not succeed in the first attempts, you are simply getting your way closer to success.
Before you fall asleep remember your goal. You will fall asleep, realise you're dreaming and remember it when you wake. You can make your own phrase similar to: I am going to have a dream. I am now in a dream. I know that I am dreaming. Keep telling this to yourself, and stay focused and relaxed. Imagine that you are becoming lucid in a dream, and stay focused. If this works, you will realise you are dreaming during your dream.
Wake-Initiated Lucid Dreams (WILD)
WILD is my personal favorite of the two techniques. You are more aware of what is going on and you never know what to expect in terms of symptoms of it's success. Unlike MILD, you stay conscious as you enter the dream. You do not lose consciousness. Essentially, you enter a dream while being awake. This also means you will witness your body going through sleep paralysis, hypnogogic imagery, and other symptoms. This is the major obstacle of WILD; staying focused on your intent through these symptoms. But at the least, it seems to be a favorite of lucid dreamers, and if done correctly, you can lucid dream whenever you WILD.
Some people believe WILD is astral travel, or astral travel is WILD. Others believe that WILD and astral travel are two different things, but the process is similar (because the symptoms are similar, but the end result is different). I personally believe WILD and astral travel are different things. If you feel uncomfortable with WILD, do keep in mind many people try it every night to lucid dream. You can always search more on WILD. Also keep in mind, your body goes through the symptoms every night, but you are unconscious. WILD is keeping your mind aware and conscious while your body falls asleep.
When you attempt WILD you can use an alarm clock to wake you 5-7 hours after falling asleep, or you can attempt it right before you fall asleep. With WILD though, your mind has to be entirely clear. It is difficult to fall into the state of sleep paralysis while staying conscious. You need to be relaxed, and you CANNOT move at all while you are attempting it. A movement will basically make you have to start all over. Before you attempt to WILD, be sure your environment is a good one. The environment must be one where you can focus in. For example, as little noise as possible, with as little interruptions as possible. A place where you can be in for hours without being awoken or interrupted at all.
After this you can attempt WILD, with or without an alarm (the alarm clock technique is highly recommended). Be sure to lie down comfortably, because any disturbances or minor annoyances will increase as you attempt to WILD. As soon as you lie down, tell yourself you will not move at all while you attempt to WILD. Do some relaxation exercises and breathing exercises. You can count your breathing and say something like: Breathe In, Breathe Out - 1, Breathe In, Breathe Out, 2, etc. When you grow relaxed, you'll find it very easy to not move. At first it may be difficult, but your arms and legs may begin to feel locked in place. This does not mean Sleep Paralysis has occurred yet, it just means your body is relaxing. You can begin another relaxation exercise. The one I recommend is where you begin to focus on you dream. Breathe In - 1, Breathe Out - I'm dreaming, Breathe In - 2, Breathe Out - I'm dreaming, etc. Stay focused on this and do not let your mind wander too much, but do not grow too aware. Being too aware may ruin the state of relaxation, and you might start to think of other things (making yourself lose focus on your breathing).
At some point in your counting (maybe as fast as 50 to a bit as late as 400), you may begin to feel symptoms. Maybe a falling sensation, slight vibrations, or minor twitching. Your arms and legs might even feel denser. You may begin to see light patterns or hypnogogic imagery; you may hear sounds or voices! You should be prepared for anything! Keep one thing in mind- THIS IS COMPLETELY NORMAL! You go through this everytime you fall asleep, but you are usually unconscious and unaware of it.
This is also the tricky part. You must not focus on the symptoms. Becoming scared will cause you to fail. Also, becoming intrigued with the imagery, sounds, or other symptoms may cause you to lose focus and fail. Keep focusing on your counting and breathing. As the symptoms grow and get stronger, if you feel any, it may become more difficult to stay focused. During the final stages of these signs/symptoms, these sensations will begin to fade. When they do, be careful. You may fall asleep and have a non-lucid dream or you may wake up.
At this point if you are still conscious, one of several things may occur:
-You may find yourself in a different environment- your dream world! This means you have succeeded and can go on with your lucid dream! Be careful though. You don't want to get too excited. If you do, you'll wake up (and when this happens, it may be unusually early during the night- you basically made yourself wake up).
-You may see blackness. You might think you are back in your bed, but open your eyes slowly. In fact, it may be that your eyes are closed in your dream. So opening them would let you see your dream environment.
-You may even have a false awakening. This is all too common for lucid dreamers, because many fear waking up too early. The thought may cause for you to have a false awakening in your dream! You may wake up in bed in your dream, but you are actually still dreaming! This may happen after the signs and symptoms fade out so be sure to perform reality checks as soon as you find yourself "waking."
If you find that you are having a lucid dream, then you did it! You have just had a successful WILD! The more often you try WILD, the easier it'll become (especially with the symptoms and signs; if they frighten you at first, you will become accustomed to them).
Wake-Back-To-Bed Method (WBTB)
The Wake-Back-To-Bed Method can be combined with WILD, MILD, and almost any other Lucid Dreaming Technique. This is the "alarm-clock" method. Set your alarm 4-7 hours from after you usually fall asleep. When you wake, get up and do something related to lucid dreaming. Read all about Lucid Dreaming online, go through forums with Lucid Dreaming experiences, etc. Do this for 15 minutes to 1 hour.
Doing this for 30-60 minutes is very effective. Your mind will be thinking about the subject of lucid dreaming. It will also help you get motivated and ready to lucid dream. When you are confident and feel ready to lucid dream, and when it is the only thing on your mind, go back to bed.
Then attempt either MILD, WILD, or just fall asleep. The good thing about falling asleep doing nothing is that either way, your mind will be filled with the subject of Lucid Dreaming. But attempting WILD or MILD will be much more effective.
I find that I tend to turn off my alarm clock whenever it wakes me, and sometimes I don't even remember doing it! That's because I turn off my alarm clock so much, it's become a nightly habit whenever it wakes me! To overcome this, or if you feel that you will just fall back asleep after turning off your alarm, set it somewhere far in the room. A place where it would still be loud enough to wake you, but you'd have to get up to turn it off. I understand you may feel very groggy and not even want to lucid dream at the point. But if you are really trying, you may get upset that you fell back asleep when you wake up later. Also look at it this way- you are getting up early to attempt to go to sleep again (but this time, obviously to Lucid Dream).
If you can go to bed earlier, try that. That way, you won't feel so groggy when the alarm clock wakes you.
[edit] Supernatural Existence Investigation Procedure
1.) Select a technique you are most comfortable with. WILD, MILD, or if you'd like to try another technique, feel free to request for more information. In my opinion, other techniques are tougher and should be combined with WILD or MILD. Be sure that the technique is one you are willing to try every night and one you will not be afraid of. Especially if you choose WILD (remember, none of what you encounter is real and it cannot do any physical damage).
2.) Post the technique you choose to use here. That way we can make a comparison of WILD vs. MILD and success rate.
3.) Have a Dream Journal ready. Whether it is online, in a notebook of some sort, or in a voice recorder- anything you can use to log your dreams with as much detail as possible. Whenever you wake attempt dream recall. Record any memory you have of the dreams, any emotion you are feeling. If you remember a dream try to record as much as possible. Any detail that will help you in recognizing your dream signs (especially if you are doing MILD; for WILD, this will help you in remembering your dreams more often, mainly non-lucid dreams).
So everyone participating should keep some sort of dream journal. Try to write something for everynight. If you remember one single image of the dream, record that down. Anything you can recall- any bit of detail. If you are at a total loss and cannot remember anything, try some other dream recall techniques. If non work, then maybe it will come back to you later. If you woke up in the middle of the night, just go back to sleep.
4.) If you are doing WILD with the alarm clock, record whatever you recall in your journal and then attempt WILD. If you are too sleepy, try some math problems and try to get your mind a bit more aware. You may consider combining WILD w/ alarm clock with the WBTB method. That way, your mind will be focused on nothing but lucid dreaming. If you are too sleepy, it'll help you grow excited and motivated as well. Maybe log on and do some reading on lucid dreaming on other websites (list available at the end of this post) for 10-60 minutes. When you feel a bit more conscious and ready, try WILD. Remember the techniques and go for it! Do not be scared!
If you are doing WILD without the alarm clock, just try the technique (it is crucial to get relaxed first, and try to think of nothing that has occurred during the day). Do not be frightened if you experience anything.
For all participants attempting WILD - do the relaxation exercise and focus on your breathing:
Breathe In - 1, Breathe Out - I'm dreaming, Breathe In - 2, Breathe Out - I'm dreaming, etc.
It may take a while, but do not focus on anything but the breathing. Do not worry about wanting to lucid dream, but do not fall unconscious either. Do not have any fear, because that will distract you as well.
If you are doing MILD with the alarm clock, record whatever you recall in your dream journal. Try to stay focused on your intent and believe what you tell yourself. You may consider combining MILD w/ alarm clock with the WBTB method. That way, your mind will be focused on nothing but lucid dreaming. Keep staying focused on your intent until you fall asleep.
If you are doing MILD without the alarm clock, just stay focused on your intent. Say the words in your mind and believe them. Know what you want to do in your dream, and keep focusing on this until you fall asleep.
For all participants attempting MILD - Stay focused on the words:
I am going to have a dream. I am now in a dream. I know that I am dreaming.
Know what you mean when you say them. Do not focus on anything else. Then start focusing on what you plan to do once you become lucid. Make these thoughts a cycle. The words, then what you're going to do when you become lucid. Keep thinking this until you fall asleep.
5.) Whenever you can manage to login to this website, post a daily update. Post what you have recalled, and any success you may have had in your lucid dream. Share as much as you are comfortable with sharing! Also, post what technique you've used, and whether or not you used WBTB and an alarm clock.
6.) When enough people can lucid dream easily, we will begin attempting to perform the lucid dreaming phenomena.
A new procedure will be setup for the phenomena. For now, our intent is to lucid dream! Good Luck to everyone! Feel free to participate. Latecomers are welcome! If you have no idea what the procedure means, nor what the terms and acronyms mean, it is all in the post. Just hit (F5 for IE), (Ctrl + f for Firefox) or (Apple + F for Apple comps.) and find it. Or just do a search in the search box.
[edit] Lucid Dreaming Websites and Links
If you want to learn more about Lucid Dreaming, here are some sites you may want to check out. They are very informative and people share experiences of their own as well!
http://brain.web-us.com/lucid/luciddreamingFAQ.htm
Feel free to post your replies, and updates as well. Anything you want to share is welcome.
