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The other night, I had a dream of when I was in gym class at school. The odd thing was, I could jump really high like there was low gravity. I even remember having a basketball and jumping from one end of the court to the other and getting a slam-dunk. Then I remember I was up against a wall, and I was jumping to see how high I could go.. I touched the ceiling. Then a school-aid person came in and asked for me to be removed. They thought I was a demon of some kind. And then all of a sudden I saw this thing pop up out of the floor, and a huge light beam came out of it. I think it was a gate to hell or something. Anyways, when I woke up I was all freaked out and was wondering wtf happened. (I've always been in tune with finding out what my dreams meant) I did some research and came across this:
This feature is part of an experiment being sponsored by omni to help scientists refine certain dream techniques now being studied in the lab. The full experiment appeared in OMNI Magazine. The exercises presented here are for those who might want to attempt a little lucid dreaming on their own.
Most people don't realize they've been dreaming until after they've awakened and the dream has come to an end. Some people, however, are conscious that they're dreaming. These people -- called LUCID dreamers -- can literally direct the content of a dream, scientists have discovered, deciding perhaps to talk physics with Einstein, woo and marry a movie star, or assume the powers of Superman. For those who have acquired the knack of lucidity, the benefits can be enormous: Lucid dreaming gives one the chance to experience unique and compelling adventures rarely surpassed elsewhere in life. These experiences can enhance self-confidence and promote personal growth and self-development. By facing fears and learning to make the best of the worst situation imaginable, lucid dreamers can overcome nightmares. Because recent scientific studies have demonstrated a strong connection between dreams and the biological functioning of the body, lucid dreams might facilitate physical as well as mental health. And finally, because lucid dreaming allows us to tap the power of the unconscious, it may also be useful for creative problem solving.
After nearly a decade of piloting these daring nocturnal flights, two psychologists -- Stephen LaBerge of Stanford University and author of Lucid Dreaming [Ballantine], and Jayne Gackenbach of the University of Northern Iowa -- have begun to develop a series of techniques aimed at helping ordinary dreamers "turn" lucid and lucid dreamers gain greater control over the woolly behemoth of night. These special techniques, still under development, have never before been presented in a public forum. To direct your own nightly dream-time show, please attempt exercises one, two, three and four as outlined below. LaBerge and Gackenback suggest that you do the tasks as often as possible over a 2-week period. Some people may succeed in having a lucid dream the first night they use the techniques; others, the researchers note, may need to practice for several weeks before getting results.
EXERCISE ONE
A number of techniques facilitate lucid dreaming. One of the simplest is asking yourself many times during the day whether you are dreaming. Each time you ask the question, you should look for evidence proving you are not dreaming. The most reliable test: Read something, look away for a moment, and then read it again. If it reads the same way twice, it is unlikely that you are dreaming. After you have proved to yourself that you are not presently dreaming, visualize yourself doing whatever it is you'd like. Also, tell yourself that you want to recognize a nighttime dream the next time it occurs. The mechanism at work here is simple; it's much the same as picking up milk at the grocery store after reminding yourself to do so an hour before.
At night people usually realize they are dreaming when they experience unusual or bizarre occurrences. For instance, if you find yourself flying without visible means of support, you should realize that this happens only in dreams and that you must therefore be dreaming. If you awaken from a dream in the middle of the night, it is very helpful to return to the dream immediately, in your imagination. Now envision yourself recognizing the dream as such. Tell yourself, "The next time I am dreaming, I want to remember to recognize that I am dreaming." If your intention is strong and clear enough, you may find yourself in a lucid dream when you return to sleep.
This feature is part of an experiment being sponsored by omni to help scientists refine certain dream techniques now being studied in the lab. The full experiment appeared in OMNI Magazine. The exercises presented here are for those who might want to attempt a little lucid dreaming on their own.
Most people don't realize they've been dreaming until after they've awakened and the dream has come to an end. Some people, however, are conscious that they're dreaming. These people -- called LUCID dreamers -- can literally direct the content of a dream, scientists have discovered, deciding perhaps to talk physics with Einstein, woo and marry a movie star, or assume the powers of Superman. For those who have acquired the knack of lucidity, the benefits can be enormous: Lucid dreaming gives one the chance to experience unique and compelling adventures rarely surpassed elsewhere in life. These experiences can enhance self-confidence and promote personal growth and self-development. By facing fears and learning to make the best of the worst situation imaginable, lucid dreamers can overcome nightmares. Because recent scientific studies have demonstrated a strong connection between dreams and the biological functioning of the body, lucid dreams might facilitate physical as well as mental health. And finally, because lucid dreaming allows us to tap the power of the unconscious, it may also be useful for creative problem solving.
After nearly a decade of piloting these daring nocturnal flights, two psychologists -- Stephen LaBerge of Stanford University and author of Lucid Dreaming [Ballantine], and Jayne Gackenbach of the University of Northern Iowa -- have begun to develop a series of techniques aimed at helping ordinary dreamers "turn" lucid and lucid dreamers gain greater control over the woolly behemoth of night. These special techniques, still under development, have never before been presented in a public forum. To direct your own nightly dream-time show, please attempt exercises one, two, three and four as outlined below. LaBerge and Gackenback suggest that you do the tasks as often as possible over a 2-week period. Some people may succeed in having a lucid dream the first night they use the techniques; others, the researchers note, may need to practice for several weeks before getting results.
EXERCISE ONE
A number of techniques facilitate lucid dreaming. One of the simplest is asking yourself many times during the day whether you are dreaming. Each time you ask the question, you should look for evidence proving you are not dreaming. The most reliable test: Read something, look away for a moment, and then read it again. If it reads the same way twice, it is unlikely that you are dreaming. After you have proved to yourself that you are not presently dreaming, visualize yourself doing whatever it is you'd like. Also, tell yourself that you want to recognize a nighttime dream the next time it occurs. The mechanism at work here is simple; it's much the same as picking up milk at the grocery store after reminding yourself to do so an hour before.
At night people usually realize they are dreaming when they experience unusual or bizarre occurrences. For instance, if you find yourself flying without visible means of support, you should realize that this happens only in dreams and that you must therefore be dreaming. If you awaken from a dream in the middle of the night, it is very helpful to return to the dream immediately, in your imagination. Now envision yourself recognizing the dream as such. Tell yourself, "The next time I am dreaming, I want to remember to recognize that I am dreaming." If your intention is strong and clear enough, you may find yourself in a lucid dream when you return to sleep.
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