A scientist from Australia claims he has found a way that lets people take control of their dreams. His latest research reveals three effective techniques that, when combined, will help people increase their chances of experiencing 'lucid dreams.'
Dr. Denholm Aspy's Lucid Dream Research
Lucid dreams occur when people become aware they are dreaming and are able to control themselves in their dreams.
Dr. Denholm Aspy, a visiting fellow at the University of Adelaide's School of Psychology in Australia, claims he has found a way that will let people increase their chances of experiencing lucid dreams.
In a new study, published in the Journal Dreaming, Dr. Aspy reveals three effective techniques that can help people induce lucid dreams. The techniques were tested by 169 participants, including 47 people who managed to combine all three techniques.
According to the results of the study, the participants who tested all three techniques combined have managed to achieve a "17 percent success rate" over a period of only one week. Additionally, almost 50 percent of those participants who were able to go back to their sleep within 5 minutes managed to experience at least one lucid dream.
The Three Techniques: How To Have A Lucid Dream?
Reality testing: In this first technique, participants observe their surroundings more than a couple of times per day to check whether they are dreaming or not.
Wake back to bed: During the second technique, participants wake up after 5 hours of sleep. After that, they try to stay awake for a short period of time, and then go to sleep again in order to enter the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase of sleep. REM sleep is also known as paradoxical sleep and it is during this phase where people are more likely to be aware of their dreams.
Mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (MILD): This technique involves participants waking up after 5 hours of sleep and making the intention to remember that they are dreaming. They then go back to sleep again and repeat the sentence: "The next time I'm dreaming, I will remember that I'm dreaming."
As of now, Dr. Aspy plans to continue his studies and research into lucid dreaming, in order to further develop the effectiveness of those techniques.
History Of Lucid Dreaming
Lucid dream is a term coined by Dutch author and psychiatrist Frederik van Eeden in his 1913 article, called A Study of Dreams. However, the experience of lucid dreaming predates the actual term.
In ancient times, the phenomenon of lucid dreaming was mentioned in Greek Philosophy and in eastern thought and mysticism such as the Tibetan Buddhist practice of dream yoga and the Hindu practice of yoga nidra.
In eastern mysticism, for instance, it is believed that a person who is capable of cultivating an awareness, similar to that of a dreamer's awareness in his or her dream, may attain a higher perception of reality.
For thousands of years, eastern mystics have strongly believed that dreams contain symbols that carry meanings and realities far removed from man's ordinary perception. It is very interesting to note that eastern mystics also repeat certain words or sentences, called mantras, during their practice of meditation.
