Experiencing Dream Control
We tend to operate under the assumption that our dreams are something entirely out of our hands. We think of them as a mysterious happening which we do not fully understand, much less have the ability to control. However, these nightly journeys made by our subconscious are something which we can indeed take control of. Thanks to a technique known as lucid dreaming, dream control is an ability which is well within our reach.
But what is lucid dreaming and how does one do it? What are the benefits of being in the driver�s seat for these nocturnal journeys? Keep reading to find out more about the practice of dream control or lucid dreaming.
What Is Dream Control?
Dream control, or lucid dreaming is when you are completely aware that you are dreaming while you are doing so � and in control of the events which take place within your dream. Even while your body is sound asleep, your mind knows that you are dreaming and you are in the director�s chair for the proceedings.
Those who suffer from nightmares, especially recurring ones can get relief from these bad dreams by using dream control. Once they have learned this simple but powerful skill, these people can finally get the good night�s rest they so badly need.
Common Ways of Inducing Lucid Dreaming
One of the most effective ways of inducing lucid dreaming is also one of the newest � binaural audio. This is a technology which involves listening to two different frequencies at the same time. This listening produces deep relaxation and allows your brainwaves to synchronize, leading to the REM sleep state necessary for lucid dreaming to occur.
Before it was possible to find CD and DVDs of binaural audio, the primary methods used to induce lucid dreaming were self-hypnosis and meditation. While these both work very well, it takes time to develop these abilities far enough to reliably gain dream control.
Other than self hypnosis and meditation, there are many other methods which have been developed over the years to help people have lucid dreaming experiences and begin using dream control. In every methods, the idea is to enable the dreamer to realize that they are dreaming, so they can then begin dictating the events of their dreams.
To accomplish this, it takes us being completely awake it start, with the secret being the ability to remember to either say something or do an action in the dream, which will bring on the appropriate realization in your mind and permit you to control the next events happening.
This can be done by just telling yourself before you fall asleep that you will do something specific or say something in particular to tell yourself that you are dreaming. When you know that you are in a dream, you can begin reshaping the events.
This form of dream control is called mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (or MILD for short), a technique developed by researcher Dr. Stephen LaBerge. Once reminded, you are then in control of your dream. You can then decide what happens in your dream, with your imagination being the only limiting factor.
Starting a dream journal can also help prepare you for lucid dreaming. Keep this by your bedside and as soon as you wake from a dream, write down everything you can remember from it. Once you have been doing this for a while, you�ll begin to start lucid dreaming � remembering is the first step to dream control.
You can beat back those nightmares, go anywhere, do anything and talk to anyone you want in these dreams. There are no limits except for your imagination to your dreams once you have mastered the techniques of dream control.
Experts warn though, that the one danger to lucid dreaming, is doing it too often can have adverse effects. The central reason being that dreaming naturally often informs us of critical things we would otherwise not know. Go ahead and have fun with lucid dreaming. It truly is an interesting experience, but always also let yourself have some times when you just dream regularly!