A Guide to Recognizing and Controlling Your Dreams

You're in a forest running for your life. It's dark and damp. Everywhere you look you see trees, black, tall, and forbidding. The howls of some monstrous pursuer are getting louder. The creature is gaining on you. You turn to look the thing in the eyes and as you, you trip over a stump. You're now falling.

You keep waiting to hit the muddy ground, but you don't feel anything. You're too busy looking into two yellow orbs. The mutant is slowly coming closer, teasing, and stalking you with his golden eyes. The cat and mouse game is almost over. He stands over you and as he lunges, you let out a piercing scream. You're having a nightmare, and in it you are about to die.

Wouldn't it be great if you could throw a wrench in the creature's plan? Wouldn't it be nice if you could control your dreams and slay the evil dragon? Well, you can! With a little bit of knowledge and some discipline, you can learn to face your dream demons.

The phenomenon of being aware of you dream state while still dreaming is called lucid dreaming. Episodes of lucid dreaming have been noted as far back as the fifth century; however it is only in the past one hundred years that this phenomenon has been scientifically recognized. Studies show that children have lucid dreams more often than adults; however lucid dreaming is a conditioned skill. Once you learn the signs of dreams and the techniques of how to induce them, you can train yourself to control your dreams.

The first step is dream recall. How will you know you've had a lucid dream if you never remember your dreams to begin with? Keep a dream journal next you bed. Write down as many details of your dreams as you can. It is imperative to do it as soon as possible so you will forget less. Remembering your dreams is easier if you replay them before opening your eyes. There is a link between dream recall and muscle movement, so try not to move while replaying your dreams. As time goes by, you will need to write down your dreams less and less.

Reality testing can be used to determine if one is having a dream. There are several common dream events that can trigger dream awareness:

Reading text or checking a watch-Generally when one turns away and then looks again, the text or time has changed.

Jumping-Often time, one will begin to float after jumping.

The ability to move through walls or objects.

Distorting your body pulling a finger-Often the fingers will stretch.

Other triggers can be odd mirror reflections, breathing while one's nose and mouth is plugged, and the lack of change when you flip a light switch.

Try memorizing the common dream signs, and you might recognize your dreams. Actions such as flying and teleportation are some common dream signs. Also look for fictional characters and places. This is also where your dream recall can come in handy. If you have recurring themes within your dreams, they can be helpful dream signs as well.

In addition to dream signs and reality testing it has proven helpful to focus on recognizing your dreams before you fall asleep. This will help the body stay alert enough to find dream signs when asleep.

The cycle adjustment technique can also be very helpful. Condition your body to wake ninety minutes earlier than usual. Once your body has become used to this new wake time begin sleeping until your regular time every other day. Because your body is used to waking earlier, your brain will be more alert, even while asleep.

With the practice of these techniques, lucid dreaming can become more than something you've read about in an article. It can become your key to a new ind of world, a world where you get to slay the dragon.