Techniques for Inducing and Manipulating Lucid Dreams

Abstract

In research conducted over several years and with over 200 subjects we have developed various techniques for inducing and manipulating lucid dreams. Lucidity can be achieved in the following ways: by practice in developing a critical-reflective frame of mind concerning one's state of consciousness, by intention and autosuggestion, and by methods involving apparatus. It is also possible to employ a variety of methods to retain lucidity while falling asleep and then to induce hypnagogic lucid dreams. In these methods one concentrates on visual phenomena, one's body, or one's own thinking ego. Intentional and suggestive acts while falling asleep not only help in inducing lucid dreams but also in manipulating their content. Various techniques of manipulation enable a lucid dreamer to influence while dreaming the events of the dream (within certain limits). The dreamer's desires, emotional state, looks, verbal utterances, and certain actions are all of importance. In addition, the dreamer can call upon the aid of other dream figures in manipulating lucid dreams.