Lucid dreaming: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Are you dreaming.gif ‎|thumbnail|right|An accurate representation of how text may appear within a dream.]]

A '''lucid dream''' is any [[dream]] in which one is aware that they are dreaming. This is a well-established phenomenon~~<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucid_dream</ref>~~ that can occur during normal sleep. Various techniques can be learned to consistently [[Induction technique|induce lucid dreams]] at will. These techniques can be utilized as a powerful method of consciousness exploration, making lucid dreaming an important field of [[psychonautics]]. This article serves as a descriptive and comprehensive breakdown, analysis, and instructional guide regarding dreams and the behavior of their general content, their inherent limitations, and the skill sets necessary to consciously utilize them as powerful methods of self-exploration.

A '''lucid dream''' is any [[dream]] in which one is aware that they are dreaming. This is a well-established phenomenon that can occur during normal sleep. Various techniques can be learned to consistently [[Induction technique|induce lucid dreams]] at will. These techniques can be utilized as a powerful method of consciousness exploration, making lucid dreaming an important field of [[psychonautics]]. This article serves as a descriptive and comprehensive breakdown, analysis, and instructional guide regarding dreams and the behavior of their general content, their inherent limitations, and the skill sets necessary to consciously utilize them as powerful methods of self-exploration.

==Techniques==

Despite powerful senses of delirium and plot acceptance, there are moments within dreams in which a person becomes aware of the fact that they are dreaming, allowing one to control the dream and its circumstances. These are known as lucid dreams: any dream in which, for an uninterrupted and prolonged amount of time, one is consciously aware that they are dreaming.

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*'''Keeping a dream journal''' - Writing out any and all details within a daily dream log will drastically improve one's ability to recall their dreams. Preferably, this should be done immediately after waking up if possible, as it will quickly change one's memory into one which is attentive to its own dreams. The writing style should be in the first person and in the present tense to further improve one's ability to recall the specific plot as it is written down. If there was no dream the previous night, simply write down "I did not dream last night," then continue to use the journal as usual the next day.

*'''Use memory signifiers''' - If one is prone to waking up in the middle of the night, knowing that a dream will likely be forgotten the moment one falls back to sleep, simply arrange a random object in such a way that it is clearly out of place, making it easily noticed in the morning. Examples of this would be turning a drinking glass upside down or putting an object on one's computer keyboard. This will act as a powerful memory trigger when it is seen the next day, allowing one to write the dream down in their dream journal.

*'''Stop smoking [[cannabis]] before sleep''' - It is common knowledge among cannabis users that marijuana suppresses one's ability to dream; this phenomenon has been backed up by a study which indicated that smoking marijuana will inhibit REM activity during sleep, therefore suppressing dreams.<ref>Marijuana, Sleep and Dreams | ~~http~~://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-teenage-mind/200906/marijuana-sleep-and-dreams</ref> Once a person stops smoking marijuana before bed, however, REM activity undergoes a rebound effect and dreams will temporarily become much more vivid than usual.

*'''Stop smoking [[cannabis]] before sleep''' - It is common knowledge among cannabis users that marijuana suppresses one's ability to dream; this phenomenon has been backed up by a study which indicated that smoking marijuana will inhibit REM activity during sleep, therefore suppressing dreams.<ref>{{Citation | title=Marijuana, Sleep, and Dreams | publisher=Psychology Today | url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-teenage-mind/200906/marijuana-sleep-and-dreams}}</ref> Once a person stops smoking marijuana before bed, however, REM activity undergoes a rebound effect and dreams will temporarily become much more vivid than usual.

===Reality checks===

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 [[File:Are you dreaming.gif ‎|thumbnail|right|An accurate representation of how text may appear within a dream.]]
-A '''lucid dream''' is any [[dream]] in which one is aware that they are dreaming. This is a well-established phenomenon<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucid_dream</ref> that can occur during normal sleep. Various techniques can be learned to consistently [[Induction technique|induce lucid dreams]] at will. These techniques can be utilized as a powerful method of consciousness exploration, making lucid dreaming an important field of [[psychonautics]]. This article serves as a descriptive and comprehensive breakdown, analysis, and instructional guide regarding dreams and the behavior of their general content, their inherent limitations, and the skill sets necessary to consciously utilize them as powerful methods of self-exploration.
+A '''lucid dream''' is any [[dream]] in which one is aware that they are dreaming. This is a well-established phenomenon that can occur during normal sleep. Various techniques can be learned to consistently [[Induction technique|induce lucid dreams]] at will. These techniques can be utilized as a powerful method of consciousness exploration, making lucid dreaming an important field of [[psychonautics]]. This article serves as a descriptive and comprehensive breakdown, analysis, and instructional guide regarding dreams and the behavior of their general content, their inherent limitations, and the skill sets necessary to consciously utilize them as powerful methods of self-exploration.
 ==Techniques==
 Despite powerful senses of delirium and plot acceptance, there are moments within dreams in which a person becomes aware of the fact that they are dreaming, allowing one to control the dream and its circumstances. These are known as lucid dreams: any dream in which, for an uninterrupted and prolonged amount of time, one is consciously aware that they are dreaming.
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 *'''Keeping a dream journal''' - Writing out any and all details within a daily dream log will drastically improve one's ability to recall their dreams. Preferably, this should be done immediately after waking up if possible, as it will quickly change one's memory into one which is attentive to its own dreams. The writing style should be in the first person and in the present tense to further improve one's ability to recall the specific plot as it is written down. If there was no dream the previous night, simply write down "I did not dream last night," then continue to use the journal as usual the next day.
 *'''Use memory signifiers''' - If one is prone to waking up in the middle of the night, knowing that a dream will likely be forgotten the moment one falls back to sleep, simply arrange a random object in such a way that it is clearly out of place, making it easily noticed in the morning. Examples of this would be turning a drinking glass upside down or putting an object on one's computer keyboard. This will act as a powerful memory trigger when it is seen the next day, allowing one to write the dream down in their dream journal.
-*'''Stop smoking [[cannabis]] before sleep''' - It is common knowledge among cannabis users that marijuana suppresses one's ability to dream; this phenomenon has been backed up by a study which indicated that smoking marijuana will inhibit REM activity during sleep, therefore suppressing dreams.<ref>Marijuana, Sleep and Dreams | http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-teenage-mind/200906/marijuana-sleep-and-dreams</ref>  Once a person stops smoking marijuana before bed, however, REM activity undergoes a rebound effect and dreams will temporarily become much more vivid than usual.
+*'''Stop smoking [[cannabis]] before sleep''' - It is common knowledge among cannabis users that marijuana suppresses one's ability to dream; this phenomenon has been backed up by a study which indicated that smoking marijuana will inhibit REM activity during sleep, therefore suppressing dreams.<ref>{{Citation | title=Marijuana, Sleep, and Dreams | publisher=Psychology Today | url=https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-teenage-mind/200906/marijuana-sleep-and-dreams}}</ref>  Once a person stops smoking marijuana before bed, however, REM activity undergoes a rebound effect and dreams will temporarily become much more vivid than usual.
 ===Reality checks===