Controlling Your Dreams (Lucid Dreaming)

Lucid dreamingis a topic that is becoming more and more popular. People are starting to realize their are benefits to this type of dream. Lucid dreaming was first discovered in Fredrik Van Eedens article "A Study of Dreams." To lucid dream, means that you can control your dreams.

Controlling your dreams may not be as difficult as you think. For some, it takes time, and others can do it naturally.

Practice telling yourself before you go to bed that you will remember your dream. Imagine the benefits that come with this. If you can control your dreams, you can program yourself to think a certain way, you can overcome nightmares, you can have some great experiences, and some have actually solved complex problems with dreams. With a lucid dream, you are actually in a meditative state. I am sure we all know the benefits of meditation.

Remembering what you dreamt is one key to lucid dreaming. You need to become more aware of your dreams by keeping a dream journal by your bed side. Write down the dates, and times of your dreams, as well as a record of your dream. If you can not remember the entire dream, write down what you remember. If you just remember you had a dream, and can't recall any of it, then write down just that. It's a start to remembering your dreams. Prep your mind, and tell yourself what you are going to dream about. Don't worry if you don't dream what you want the first night, it will come to you with time. Controlling your dreams is something that is a pleasurable experience.

Studies have been done to indicate foods you eat before bedtime have an impact on dreaming. Subjects that have had dairy, orange juice, or mustard before bedtime have increased the odds of controlling your dreams.

Sleep masks, eye shades, and binaural frequencies have been developed to help you control your dreams. Binaural frequencies invite your brainwaves to speed up or slow down. They are beats with different frequencies, and you can get them on a CD, and online.

Tell yourself what you want to dream at night. Before you go to sleep, put those images in your head. If you want to visit Brazil, then imagine yourself in Brazil before bed time. When you are dreaming, and you realize that you are dreaming, and start controlling your dream. You will get to this point in no time. What are you going to use your lucid dreaming for? Pleasure? Problem solving? To beat nightmares? The possibilities are endless.