Lucid Dreaming How To - Technique Using Mantras & Memorization
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How to Have Lucid Dreams
There are many different lucid dreaming techniques out there, but the one that I and everyone else has found the most success with is the Mneumonic Induction of Lucid Dream technique. The word mneumonic refers to your prospective memory, which your ability to remember to do things in the future. For example, if you tell yourself to remember to stop by the bank and deposit your pay check on the way home from work, you are utilizing your prospective memory. This technique for lucid dream induction makes use of the same part of your brain, and the more you strengthen that part of your brain, the easier this technique will become.
Mantra Repetition
First off, we must cover the basics of this technique. This technique is based around the idea of repeating the mantra "The next time I am dreaming, I will notice something strange and become aware I am dreaming" on your way to sleep. When this mantra is the very last thought on your mind before descending to sleep and you have a strong prospective memory, you WILL become aware you are dreaming while you are dreaming and be able to proceed to enjoy whatever fantasy you want.
Do this as you are falling asleep at night as well as any time you awaken during the night, while returning to sleep. If you find your thoughts wandering away from this mantra, gently clear your head, refocus yourself and continue repeating it. You'll get better at maintaining focus on this over time.
Dream Recall
Now, what is the point of even having a lucid dream, if you can't ever remember your dreams upon awakening each morning? It's NOT because you 'don't dream'. Everyone dreams several times a night during the rapid eye movement phases, but most people usually don't remember their dreams. You need to train yourself to remember your dreams, and to do this, I recommend keeping a dream journal. Get in the habit of always asking yourself 'what was I just dreaming', first thing upon waking up, before even opening your eyes. Begin by remembering the fragments of the dream and then dwelling on them for a few moments to let your brain recollect this missing sequences. Replay the entire dream in your head, then finally open your eyes and record it. Do this at least every morning, but if you wake up in the middle of the night frequently, it would be beneficial to do it then as well.
Prospective Memory Training
Prospective Memory Training is a technique originally created by Dr. Stephen LaBerge of Stanford University and The Lucidity Institute to develop the ability to use this lucid dreaming technique. It is equally as vital as the previous two steps in mastering the Mneumonic Induction of Lucid Dreams technique.
Below I have listed out 5 targets for each day of the week. Your task is to read and memorize all five targets every day at the beginning of each morning and then remember to perform a reality check, by looking at a digital watch, looking away and looking back at it every time you encounter one of the targets that day.
Do this for three or four weeks in combination with the above two techniques before you start to see results and have lucid dreams.
Monday
The next time I see myself in the mirror.
The next time I see a red car.
The next time I see an animal.
The next time I smell food.
The next time I hear music.
Tuesday
The next time I see a beautiful woman.
The next time I hear a man speaking.
The next time I write something on paper.
The next time I take off my shirt.
The next time I turn on a light.
Wednesday
The next time I feel the wind.
The next time I see a dog.
The next time I feel upset.
The next time I hear my name.
The next time I see my reflection in something other than a mirror.
Thursday
The next time I laugh.
The next time I eat lunch.
The next time I eat dinner.
The next time I push a button.
The next time I use the restroom.
Friday
The next time I take socks off.
The next time I lock a door.
The next time I feel fear.
The next time I hear music.
The next time I lay down in bed.
Do not worry about practicing on weekends, unless you so choose. In the case of practicing on weekends, just repeat Monday's targets on Saturday, Tuesday's on Sunday and so forth.
If You Enjoyed My Article, You Might Also Like...
Exploring The World Of Lucid Dreaming is an amazing book that taught me how to master lucid dreaming. As cheap as it is now days, I recommend you snag a copy.
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Great hub! I myself am a lucid dreamer, and it actually haunts me. Hate, hate, hate it. Once I realize I am dreaming the goal then becomes to wake myself up. I guess I need to find a way to actually enjoy it or harness it. *shrugs*
Anywho...welcome to HubPages
Welcome to Hubpages! You seem to be doing quite well already. This is an interesting hub on dreams. When you used the term 'lucid dreams', it reminded me of the movie 'Vanilla Sky'. I voted this up and useful!
I'm definitely going to try this! Thanks for another fascinating hub.
Hi there. Thanks for the great hub. I'm also a lucid dreamer, and have been practicing for years, but regardless I still read anything about it that I can find.
@PWalker281, the reason for becoming lucid is so that you can control your dreams (I'm assuming everyone uses it for this). Then you can do anything, with a little practice - fly, meet dream characters, create cities, binge on dream food... Anything you want. :)
Hey PWalker. :] Yes, the above poster answered that spot on. The purpose of attaining lucidity is USUALLY for entertainment and unbelievable amounts of joy, however it can also be very therapeutic. I use it to rehearse band gigs and have used it to practice speeches in front of huge, living crowds to over come my anxiety the night before performance. :] Works like magic.
That's something to think about Jared and Hi:). I'll have to give it a try if I ever have another one (not trying to these days).
PWalker281 Level 7 Commenter 10 months ago
This is a fascinating hub. I told you elsewhere that I used to have lucid dreams all the time as a kid. I remember one dream in particular in which I was in the parking lot of the grocery store near my home, next to my father's car. I was really excited because the family was getting ready to go on the two-week vacation we took every summer. Then, all of a sudden, I realize that I'm dreaming and am disappointed not to be going on vacation.
I also used to be able to wake myself up from nightmares by repeating the words, "Wake me up, wake me up!" over and over again until I woke up. Obviously I was lucid in them or I wouldn't try to wake myself up.
Prospective memory is something I use all the time to remember to do stuff, something I need to do a lot as I get older :-). I never knew there was an actual name for it.
So let me ask you, what's the point of becoming lucid in your dreams? What advantage(s) do you gain by doing so?
Another well-written, informative hub. Rated up and useful.