Lucid Dreaming FAQ
Lucid Dreaming FAQ
The
Lucidity Institute Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
About Lucid Dreaming
Version
2.3, July 16, 2004
The Lucidity Institute
(contact
us)
This FAQ is a brief introduction to lucid dreaming--what it is, how to do it, and what can be done with it. There are several excellent sources of information on lucid dreaming, the most reliable and extensive of which is the Lucidity Institute website (http://www.lucidity.com). Other sources are listed below. Suggestions for additions to or modifications of this FAQ should be directed to suggestions.
If you would like to receive occasional updates on lucid dreaming research, events, and news via email, please join the Lucidity Institute Mailing List.
CONTENTS (Topics marked with "*" have been modified since the previous version.)
1.1 What is lucid dreaming?
1.2 Is lucid dreaming the same as dream control?
1.3* How are lucid dreams related to out-of-body experiences (OBEs)?
2.1 Why have lucid dreams?
2.1.1 Adventure and fantasy
2.1.2 Overcoming nightmares
2.1.3 Rehearsal
2.1.4* Creativity and problem solving
2.1.5 Healing
2.1.6 Transcendence
2.2 Can lucid dreaming be dangerous?
3.1 Can everyone learn to have lucid dreams?
3.2 How do I learn to have lucid dreams?
3.2.1 Dream recall
3.2.2 Reality testing
3.2.3 Dreamsigns
3.2.4 Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD)
3.2.5 Napping
3.3 How quickly can I learn lucid dreaming?
3.4 What technology is available to assist lucid dreaming training?
3.4.1* NovaDreamer
3.5 How well do lucid dream induction devices work?
3.6 Are there any drugs or nutritional supplements that stimulate lucid dreams?
3.7 How can I prevent waking up as soon as I become lucid?
4.1 What are the best resources for learning more about lucid dreaming?
4.2* Where can I find lucid dreaming workshops?
4.3* What is the Lucidity Institute?
4.4 What qualifies the Lucidity Institute to write this FAQ?
4.5 What is the Lucidity Institute membership society?
4.6* What are the Lucidity Institute's current research projects?
4.7 How can I get involved with lucid dreaming research?
4.8 Why does the Lucidity Institute charge money for lucid dream training?
4.9 How can I contact the Lucidity Institute?
1.1 WHAT IS LUCID DREAMING?
Lucid dreaming means dreaming while knowing that you are dreaming. The term was coined by Frederik van Eeden who used the word "lucid" in the sense of mental clarity. Lucidity usually begins in the midst of a dream when the dreamer realizes that the experience is not occurring in physical reality, but is a dream. Often this realization is triggered by the dreamer noticing some impossible or unlikely occurrence in the dream, such as flying or meeting the deceased. Sometimes people become lucid without noticing any particular clue in the dream; they just suddenly realize they are in a dream. A minority of lucid dreams (according to the research of LaBerge and colleagues, about 10 percent) are the result of returning to REM (dreaming) sleep directly from an awakening with unbroken reflective consciousness.
The basic definition of lucid dreaming requires nothing more than becoming aware that you are dreaming. However, the quality of lucidity can vary greatly. When lucidity is at a high level, you are aware that everything experienced in the dream is occurring in your mind, that there is no real danger, and that you are asleep in bed and will awaken shortly. With low-level lucidity you may be aware to a certain extent that you are dreaming, perhaps enough to fly or alter what you are doing, but not enough to realize that the people are dream representations, or that you can suffer no physical damage, or that you are actually in bed.
1.2 IS LUCID DREAMING THE SAME AS DREAM CONTROL?
Lucidity is not synonymous with dream control. It is possible to be lucid and have little control over dream content, and conversely, to have a great deal of control without being explicitly aware that you are dreaming. However, becoming lucid in a dream is likely to increase the extent to which you can deliberately influence the course of events. Once lucid, dreamers usually choose to do something permitted only by the extraordinary freedom of the dream state, such as flying.
You always have the choice of how much control you want to exert. For example, you could continue with whatever you were doing when you became lucid, with the added knowledge that you are dreaming. Or you could try to change everything--the dream scene, yourself, other dream characters. It is not always possible to perform "magic" in dreams, like changing one object into another or transforming scenes. A dreamer's ability to succeed at this seems to depend a lot on the dreamer's confidence. As Henry Ford said, "Believe you can, believe you can't; either way, you're right." On the other hand, it appears there are some constraints on dream control that may be independent of belief. See "Testing the Limits of Dream Control: The Light and Mirror Experiment" for more on this.
1.3 HOW ARE LUCID DREAMS RELATED TO OUT-OF-BODY
EXPERIENCES (OBEs)?
A mysterious and highly controversial phenomenon sometimes occurs in which people experience the compelling sensation that they have somehow "left their bodies." The "out-of-body experience" or "OBE", as this fascinating phenomenon is usually termed, takes a variety of forms. In the most typical, you are lying in bed, apparently awake, when suddenly you experience a range of primarily somatic sensations, often including vibrations, heaviness, and paralysis. Then you experience the vivid sensation of separating from your "physical body" in what feels like a second body, often floating above the bed.
It is important to note the distinction between the phenomenal reality of the OBE and the various interpretations of the experience. What is really happening when you feel yourself "leaving your body"? According to one school of thought, what is actually happening is just what it feels like: you are moving in a second body out of and away from your physical body--in physical space. But this "explanation" doesn't hold up very well under examination. After all, the body we ordinarily feel ourselves to be (or if you like, to inhabit) is a phenomenal or mental body rather than a physical body. The space we see around us is not physical space as "common sense" tells us, but as modern psychology makes clear, a phenomenal or mental space. In general, our consciousness is a mental model of the world.
OBE enthusiasts promote lucid dreaming as a "stepping stone" to the OBE. Conversely, many lucid dreamers have had the experience of feeling themselves "leave the body" at the onset of a lucid dream. From a laboratory study, we have concluded that OBEs can occur in the same physiological state as lucid dreams. Wake-initiated lucid dreams (WILDs) were three times more likely to be labeled "OBEs" than dream initiated lucid dreams. If you believe yourself to have been awake, then you are more likely to take the experience at face value and believe yourself to have literally left your physical body in some sort of mental or "astral" body floating around in the "real" physical world. If, on the other hand, you think of the experience as a dream, then you are likely to identify the OBE body as a dream body image and the environment of the experience as a dream world. The validity of the latter interpretation is supported by observations and research on these phenomena.
2.1 WHY HAVE LUCID DREAMS?
Upon hearing about lucid dreaming for the first time, people often ask, "Why should I want to have lucid dreams? What are they good for?" If you consider that once you know you are dreaming, you are restricted only by your ability to imagine and conceive, not by laws of physics or society, then the answer to what lucid dreaming is good for is either extremely simple (anything!) or extraordinarily complex (everything!). It is easier to provide a sample of what some people have done with lucid dreaming than to give a definitive answer of its potential uses.
2.1.1 Adventure and Fantasy
Often, the first thing that attracts people to lucid dreaming is the potential for wild adventure and fantasy fulfillment. Flying is a favorite lucid dream delight, as is sex. Many people have said that their first lucid dream was the most wonderful experience of their lives. A large part of the extraordinary pleasure of lucid dreaming comes from the exhilarating feeling of utter freedom that accompanies the realization that you are in a dream and there will be no social or physical consequences of your actions. One might think that this is a rather intellectual concept, but an ecstatic "rush" frequently arises with the first realization that one is dreaming.
2.1.2 Overcoming Nightmares
Unfortunately for many people, instead of providing an outlet for unlimited fantasy and delight, dreams can be dreaded episodes of limitless terror. As is discussed in the books Lucid Dreaming (LaBerge, 1985) and Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming (EWLD) (LaBerge & Rheingold, 1990), lucid dreaming may well be the basis of the most effective therapy for nightmares. If you know you are dreaming, it is a simple logical step to realizing that nothing in your current experience, however unpleasant, can cause you physical harm. There is no need to run from or fight with dream monsters. In fact, it is often pointless to try, because the horror pursuing you was conceived in your own mind, and as long as you continue to fear it, it can pursue you wherever you dream yourself to be. The only way to really "escape" is to end your fear. (For a discussion of reasons for recurrent nightmares, see Overcoming Nightmares from EWLD.) The fear you feel in a nightmare is completely real; it is the danger that is not.
Unreasonable fear can be defused by facing up to the source, or going through with the frightening activity, so that you observe that no harm comes to you. In a nightmare, this act of courage can take any form that involves facing the "threat" rather than avoiding it. For example, one young man dreamt of being pursued by a lion. When he had no place left to run, he realized he was dreaming and called to the lion to "come and get him." The challenge turned into a playful wrestling match, and the lion became a sexy woman (NightLight 1.4, 1989, p. 13). Monsters often transform into benign creatures, friends, or empty shells when courageously confronted in lucid dreams. This is an extremely empowering experience. It teaches you in a very visceral manner that you can conquer fear and thereby become stronger.
2.1.3 Rehearsal
Lucid dreaming is an extraordinarily vivid form of mental imagery, so realistic that the trick is to realize it is a mental construct. It is no surprise, therefore, that many people use lucid dreaming to rehearse for success in waking life. Examples of such applications include public speaking, difficult confrontations, artistic performance and athletic prowess. Because the activity of the brain during a dreamed activity is the same as during the real event, neuronal patterns of activation required for a skill (like a ski jump or pirouette) can be established in the dream state in preparation for performance in the waking world. See EWLD for examples.
2.1.4 Creativity and Problem Solving
The creative potential of dreams is legendary. The brain is highly active in REM sleep and unconstrained by sensory input, which together may contribute to the novel combinations of events and objects we experience as dream bizarreness. This same novelty allows thought to take on forms that are rare in waking life, manifesting as enhanced creativity, or defective thinking depending on one's point of view (As Roland Fisher put it, "One man's creativity is another's brain damage."). The claim of enhanced creativity of the dream state is supported by LI research: One study found word associations immediately after awakening from a dream to be 29% more likely to be uncommon compared to word associations later in the day (NightLight, 6.4, 1994). Another study comparing a variety of kinds of experience including daydreams, memories of actual events, and dreams, found that dreams were judged as being significantly more creative than both daydreams and memories (NL, 4.1, 1992). In any case, many lucid dreamers report using dreams for problem solving and artistic inspiration; see EWLD for a variety of examples.
2.1.5 Healing
The effects of visual imagery on the body are well-established. Just as skill practice in a dream can enhance waking performance, healing dream imagery may improve physical health. Medical patients have often used soothing and positive imagery to alleviate pain, and the dream world offers the most vivid form of imagery. Thus, some people have use lucid dreams in overcoming phobias, working with grief, decreasing social and sexual anxieties, achieving greater self-confidence and by directing the body image in the dream to facilitate physical healing. The applications, which are described in greater detail in EWLD, deserve clinical study, as they may be the greatest boon that lucid dreaming has to offer. Other potential healing applications of lucid dreaming include: practice of physical skills by stroke and spinal cord injury patients to encourage recovery of neuromuscular function, enjoyment of sexual satisfaction by people with lower body sensory loss (fully satisfying dream sex requires only mental stimulation!), more rapid recovery from injury or disease through the use of lucid dream imagery, and an increased sense of freedom for anyone who feels limited by disability or circumstance.
2.1.6 Transcendence
The experience of being in a lucid dream clearly demonstrates the astonishing fact that the world we see is a construct of our minds. This concept, so elusive when sought in waking life, is the cornerstone of spiritual teachings. It forces us to look beyond everyday experience and ask, "If this is not real, what is?" Lucid dreaming, by so baldly baring a truth that many spend lives seeking, often triggers spiritual questioning in people who try it for far more mundane purposes. Not only does lucid dreaming lead to questioning the nature of reality, but for many it also has been a source of transcendent experience. Exalted and ecstatic states are common in lucid dreams. EWLD presents several cases of individuals achieving states of union with the Highest, great peace and a new sense of their roles in life.
2.2 CAN LUCID DREAMING BE DANGEROUS?
The overwhelming majority of lucid dreams are positive, rewarding experiences. Moreover, lucidity in unpleasant dreams or nightmares can transform habitual fear into conscious courage. The simple state of lucidity is frequently enough to elevate the mood of a dreamer in a nightmare. In a study of the effect of lucid dreams on mood, college students reported that realizing they were dreaming in a nightmare helped them feel better about 60 percent of the time. Lucidity was seven times more likely to make nightmares better than worse.
A parallel concern is that dying in a dream can cause death in reality. If this were true, how would we know? Anyone who died from a dream could not tell us about its content. Many people, after awakening alive, report having died in their dreams with no ill effect. Dreams of death can actually be insightful experiences about life, rebirth, and transcendence.
Some people believe that dreams are messages from the unconscious mind and should not be consciously altered. Modern research on dreaming, discussed further in chapter 5 of EWLD, suggests that dreams are not messages, but models of the world. While awake, sensory and perceptual information governs our model. While dreaming, our bodies are paralyzed and our brain builds a world model based on a secondary source; namely, our assumptions, motivations, and expectations. These biases are difficult to identify while awake, so a world based entirely on such biases, the world of dreams, can help us to recognize them. Thus, dreams are not messages, but are more like clues into the inner workings of our minds. The conscious and critical awareness that accompanies lucid dreams allows dreamers to thoughtfully interpret their dreams while they happen.
Finally, some people worry that lucid dreams are so exciting and pleasurable that they will become addicted and "sleep their life away." There is a biological obstacle to living in lucid dreams: we have a limited amount of REM sleep. More importantly, lucid dreams can be inspirations for how to act and improve in reality. Your behavior strongly influences your experience in both worlds. Lucid dreams can be signposts for how you can make your waking reality more exciting and enjoyable.
3.1 CAN EVERYONE LEARN TO HAVE LUCID DREAMS?
Lucid dreaming is a skill you can develop, like learning a new language. A few individuals may have an innate talent for achieving lucidity, yet even they can benefit from instruction and practice in making the most of their lucid dreams. Many more people experience lucidity as a rare spontaneous event, but need training to enjoy lucid dreams at will. The best predictor of success with lucid dreaming is the ability to remember dreams. This, too, is a skill you can develop. With specific techniques, you can increase the quantity and quality of your dream recall, which will in turn greatly increase your ability to have lucid dreams.
3.2 HOW DO I LEARN TO HAVE LUCID DREAMS?
The two essentials to learning lucid dreaming are motivation and effort. Although most people report occasional spontaneous lucid dreams, they rarely occur without our intending it. Lucid dream induction techniques help focus intention and prepare a critical mind. They range from millennium-old Tibetan exercises to modern methods developed by dream researchers. Try the following techniques and feel free to use personal variants. Experiment, observe, and persevere - lucid dreaming is easier than you may think.
3.2.1 Dream Recall
The most important prerequisite for learning lucid dreaming is excellent dream recall. There are two likely reasons for this. First, when you remember your dreams well, you can become familiar with their features and patterns. This helps you to recognize them as dreams while they are still happening. Second, it is possible that with poor dream recall, you may actually have lucid dreams that you do not remember!
The procedure for improving your dream recall is fully detailed in EWLD and A Course in Lucid Dreaming in addition to many other books on dreams. A brief discussion of the methods involved is available on the Lucidity Institute web site. The core exercise is writing down everything you recall about your dreams in a dream journal immediately after waking from the dream, no matter how fragmentary your recall. Record what you recall immediately upon waking from the dream; if you wait until morning you are likely to forget most, if not all, of the dream. In A Course in Lucid Dreaming we advise that people build their dream recall to at least one dream recalled per night before proceeding with lucid dream induction techniques.
3.2.2 Reality Testing
This is a good technique for beginners. Assign yourself several times a day to perform the following exercise. Also do it anytime you think of it, especially when something odd occurs or when you are reminded of dreams. It helps to choose specific occasions like: when you see your face in the mirror, look at your watch, arrive at work or home, pick up your NovaDreamer, etc. The more frequently and thoroughly you practice this technique, the better it will work.
1.
Do a
reality test.
Carry some text with you or wear a digital watch throughout the day.
To do a reality test, read the words or the numbers on the watch.
Then, look away and look back, observing the letters or numbers to
see if they change. Try to make them change while watching them.
Research shows that text changes 75% of the time it is re-read once
and changes 95% it is re-read twice. If the characters do change, or
are not normal, or do not make sense, then you are most probably
dreaming. Enjoy! If the characters are normal, stable, and sensible,
then you probably aren't dreaming. Go on to step 2.
2.
Imagine
that your surroundings are a dream.
If you are fairly certain you are awake (you can never be 100%
sure!), then say to yourself, "I may not be dreaming now, but
if I were, what would it be like?" Visualize as vividly as
possible that you are dreaming. Intently imagine that what you are
seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling is all a dream. Imagine
instabilities in your environment, words changing, scenes
transforming, perhaps you floating off the ground. Create in
yourself the feeling that you are in a dream. Holding that feeling,
go on to step 3.
3.
Visualize
yourself enjoying a dream activity.
Decide on something you would like to do in your next lucid dream,
perhaps flying, talking to particular dream characters, or just
exploring the dream world. Continue to imagine that you are dreaming
now, and visualize yourself enjoying your chosen activity.
3.2.3 Dreamsigns
Another dream-recall related exercise introduced in EWLD and further developed in A Course in Lucid Dreaming is identifying "dreamsigns." This term, coined by LaBerge, refers to elements of dreams that indicate that you are dreaming. (Examples: miraculous flight, purple cats, malfunctioning devices, and meeting deceased people.) By studying your dreams you can become familiar with your own personal dreamsigns and set your mind to recognize them and become lucid in future dreams. The Course also provides exercises for noticing dreamsigns while you are awake, so that the skill carries over into your dreams. This exercise also applies to lucid dream induction devices, which give sensory cues--special, artificially-produced dreamsigns--while you are dreaming. To succeed at recognizing these cues in dreams, you need to practice looking for them and recognizing them while you are awake.
3.2.4 Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD)
The MILD technique employs prospective memory, remembering to do something (notice you're dreaming) in the future. Dr. LaBerge developed this technique for his doctoral dissertation and used it to achieve lucid dreaming at will. The proper time to practice MILD is after awakening from a dream, before returning to sleep. (Modified from EWLD, p. 78)
1.
Setup
dream recall.
Set your mind to awaken from dreams and recall them. When you awaken
from a dream, recall it as completely as you can.
2.
Focus
your intent.
While returning to sleep, concentrate single-mindedly on your
intention to remember to recognize that you're dreaming. Tell
yourself: "Next time I'm dreaming, I will remember I'm
dreaming," repeatedly, like a mantra. Put real meaning into the
words and focus on this idea alone. If you find yourself thinking
about anything else, let it go and bring your mind back to your
intention.
3.
See
yourself becoming lucid.
As you continue to focus on your intention to remember when you're
dreaming, imagine that you are back in the dream from which you just
awakened (or another one you have had recently if you didn't
remember a dream on awakening). Imagine that this time you recognize
that you are dreaming. Look for a dreamsign--something
in the dream that demonstrates plainly that it is a dream. When you
see it say to yourself: "I'm dreaming!" and continue your
fantasy. Imagine yourself carrying out your plans for your next
lucid dream. For example, if you want to fly in your lucid dream,
imagine yourself flying after you come to the point in your fantasy
when you become lucid.
4.
Repeat
until your intention is set.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 until either you fall asleep or are sure that
your intention is set. If, while falling asleep, you find yourself
thinking of anything else, repeat the procedure so that the last
thing in your mind before falling asleep is your intention to
remember to recognize the next time you are dreaming.
3.2.5 Napping
Two observations led LaBerge in the late 1970s to develop morning napping as a method of lucid dream induction. First, he noticed that lucidity seemed to come easier in afternoon naps. The second suggestion same from several lucid dreamers who noted that certain activities during the night appeared to induce lucid dreaming. The diverse qualities of these interruptions: sex, vomiting, and pure meditation, piqued LaBerge's curiosity regarding what feature each might possess conducive to lucidity. The answer proved to be quite simple: wakefulness interjected during sleep increases the likelihood of lucidity. In fact, the nap technique, refined through several NightLight experiments, is an extremely powerful method of stimulating lucid dreams. The technique requires you to awaken one hour earlier than usual, stay awake for 30 to 60 minutes, then go back to sleep. One study showed a 15 to 20 times increased likelihood of lucid dreaming for those practicing the nap technique over no technique. During the wakeful period, read about lucid dreaming, practice reality checks and then do MILD as you are falling asleep. The Lucidity Institute's training programs include this technique as an essential part of the schedule, one of the reasons why most participants have lucid dreams during the session.
3.3 HOW QUICKLY CAN I LEARN LUCID DREAMING?
The speed with which you develop the skill of lucid dreaming depends on many individual factors. How well do you recall dreams? How much time can you give to practicing mental exercises? Do you use a lucid dream induction device? Do you practice diligently? Do you have a well developed critical thinking faculty? And so on.
Case histories may provide a more tangible picture of the process of learning lucid dreaming. Dr. LaBerge increased his frequency of lucid dreaming from about one per month to up to four a night (at which point he could have lucid dreams at will) over the course of three years. He was studying lucid dreaming for his doctoral dissertation and therefore needed to learn to have them on demand as quickly as possible. On the other hand, he had to invent techniques for improving lucid dreaming skills. Thus, people starting now, although they may not be as strongly motivated as LaBerge or have the same quantity of time to devote to it, have the advantage of the tested techniques, training programs, and electronic biofeedback aids that have been created in the two decades since LaBerge began his studies.
Lynne Levitan, staff writer for the Lucidity Institute, describes her experiences with learning lucid dreaming as follows:
"I first heard of lucid dreaming in April of 1982, when I took a course from Dr. LaBerge at Stanford University. I had had the experience many years before and was very interested to learn to do it again, as well as to get involved in the research. First I had to develop my dream recall, because at the time I only remembered two or three dreams per week. In a couple of months I was recalling 3 to 4 or more per night, and in July (about three months after starting) I had my first lucid dream since adolescence. I worked at it on and off for the next four years (not sleeping much as a student) and reached the level of 3 to 4 lucid dreams per week. Along the way, I tested several prototypes of the DreamLight lucid dream induction device and they clearly helped me to become more proficient at realizing when I was dreaming. During the first two years that we were developing the DreamLight, I had lucid dreams on half of the nights I used one of these devices, compared to once a week or less without. In considering how long it took me to get really good at lucid dreaming, note that I did not have the benefit of the thoroughly studied and explained techniques now available either, because the research had not yet been done nor the material written. Therefore, people now should be able to accomplish the same learning in far less time given, of course, sufficient motivation."
3.4 WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST LUCID
DREAMING TRAINING?
The Lucidity Institute offers electronic devices that help people have lucid dreams. They were developed through laboratory research at Stanford University by LaBerge, Levitan, and others. The basic principle behind these devices is as follows: the primary task confronting someone who wishes to have a lucid dream is to remember that intention while in a dream. One of the best ways to increase a person's chances of having a lucid dream is to give a reminder to the person during REM sleep. In the lab, we found that flashing light cues worked well in that they tended to incorporate into ongoing dreams without causing awakening. You may have noticed that occasional bits of sensory information are filtered into your dreams in disguised form, like a clock radio as supermarket music or a chain saw as the sound of a thunderstorm. This is the same principle used by our lucid dream induction devices: the lights or sounds from the device filter into the user's dreams. In cases of very deep sleepers, we found that it was sometimes necessary to use sound as well as light to get the cues into dreams. The dreamer's task is to notice the flashing lights in the dream and remember that they are cues to become lucid. Because we could not possibly accommodate everyone who wants to come into the sleep lab for a lucid dream induction session and most people would rather sleep at home anyway, we worked for several years to develop a comfortable, portable device that would detect REM sleep and deliver a cue tailored to the individual user's needs.
3.4.1 The NovaDreamer
The
NovaDreamer
lucid dream induction device works by giving flashing light or sound
cues when the user is dreaming. Users modify the device settings to
find a cue with the right intensity and length to enter their dreams
without causing awakening. In addition, device users practice mental
exercises while awake to enhance their ability to recognize the
light cues when they appear in dreams. The NovaDreamer includes a
soft, comfortable sleep mask, which contains the flashing lights, a
speaker, and an eye movement detection apparatus. The NovaDreamer's
electronics are all inside the sleep mask. The NovaDreamer uses REM
detection to time the delivery of lucidity cue and provides feedback
on the number of cues given. It includes the "Dream Alarm"
feature to boost dream recall. Users have a choice of a wide
selection of cues and receive feedback on the number of cues they
receive during a sleep period.
The
lucidity cues of the NovaDreamer are intended to enter into ongoing
dreams. This can occur in several ways. Cues can be superimposed
over the dream scene, like a light flashing in one's face, or they
can briefly interrupt the dream scene. The most common (and most
difficult to identify) incorporation of cues is into dream stories.
Little brother flashing the room lights, flash bulbs, lightning,
traffic signals, police car lights: all are real examples of
incorporations of NovaDreamer cues. The trickiness of cue
appearances underscores the need to thoroughly prepare one's mind to
recognize cues via waking practice.
The
NovaDreamer offers a second method of lucid dream stimulation. This
method arose out of the discovery that while sleeping with the
NovaDreamer, people frequently dreamed that they awakened wearing
the device, and pressed the button on the front of the mask to start
the "delay," a feature that disables cues while you are
drifting off to sleep. Ordinarily, a button press would cause a beep
to tell you that you had successfully pressed it. However, people
were reporting that the button was not working in the middle of the
night. Actually, they were dreaming that they were awakening and
pressing the button, and the button did not work because it was a
dream version of the NovaDreamer. Dream versions of devices are
notorious for not working normally. Once people were advised that
failure of the button in the middle of the night was a sign that
they were probably dreaming, they were able to use this "dreamsign"
reliably to become lucid during "false awakenings" with
the NovaDreamer. Research suggests that about half of the lucid
dreams stimulated by the devices result from using the button for
reality tests. Available
from the LI. For details, see the NovaDreamer
manual (in html format), or in
Acrobat PDF format.
3.5 HOW WELL DO LUCID DREAM INDUCTION DEVICES WORK?
The
Lucidity Institute's lucid dream induction devices are designed to
help people achieve lucidity by giving them cues while they are
dreaming and also by providing a reliable means of testing one's
state of consciousness. They do not make people have lucid
dreams any more than exercise machines make people develop strong
muscles. In both cases the goal, strength or lucid dreams, results
from practice. The machines accelerate the process. Several factors
enter into success with one of these devices. One is how accurately
the cues are coordinated with the user's REM sleep. The devices' REM
detection systems are adjustable to individual variables. Another
success factor is how well the cues enter into the dream without
awakening the sleeper. A third factor is how prepared the user is
for recognizing cues in dreams and becoming lucid. Finally, the
user's commitment to performing a reality test on each awakening
with the device influences success. All four of these factors are,
to some extent, controllable by the device user: adjustment of eye
movement sensitivity to catch REM sleep, selecting a cue that enters
dreams without causing awakenings, mental preparation to recognize
cues in dreams, and resolution to do reality tests. Therefore, it is
difficult to obtain a truly accurate measurement of the
effectiveness of the devices. Nonetheless, research with various
versions of the DreamLight (previous lucid dream induction device
that is no longer in production) have shown that it definitely helps
people have more frequent lucid dreams.
Because
expectation makes lucid dreaming more likely, one might wonder
whether the DreamLight is any more effective than a placebo. A
study recently published in Dreaming proved that it is.
In brief, fourteen experienced DreamLight users were exposed to two
conditions: light cues or no light cues. Subjects thought they were
testing two different light cues and did not know their nightly
condition (making motivation and expectations constant). Thus, the
study examined how much the DreamLight's light cues specifically
contributed to the achievement of lucid dreams. More people had
lucid dreams on nights when they received light cues (73% versus
27%). Lucid dream frequency was three times greater on nights with
cues (one lucid dream every three nights versus one in eleven nights
without cues).
An
earlier study with a different version of the DreamLight showed a
five-fold increase in lucid dreaming frequency when people used the Mnemonic
Induction of Lucid Dreaming (MILD) mental technique in
conjunction with the device, compared with using no device and no
mental technique. Using the device without mental techniques worked
about as well as just using the mental technique; both cases were an
improvement over using nothing.
In
summary, at this stage the lucid dream induction devices can
definitely help people to have lucid dreams, or to have more of
them. Important factors contributing to success are good dream
recall (the DreamLight and NovaDreamer also can be used to boost
dream recall with the "Dream Alarm feature"), diligent
mental preparation, and careful adjustment of the device to meet
individual needs for cueing and REM detection. No device yet exists
that will make a person have a lucid dream.
3.6 ARE THERE ANY DRUGS OR NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
THAT STIMULATE LUCID DREAMS?
A
number of substances have been suggested to enhance the likelihood
of lucid dreaming, from vitamins to prescription drugs. There are
few good scientific studies to test such claims. Lucid dreaming is
highly subject to the placebo effect; the belief that something will
stimulate a lucid dream is very effective! This is not to say that
there are not substances that do, in fact, promote lucid dreaming.
We are interested in discovering such and welcome observations from
fellow dreamers. At this time, however, we do not endorse any
substances for inducing lucid dreams. Many prescription drugs as
well as marijuana and alcohol alter the sleep cycle, usually by
suppressing REM sleep. This leads to a phenomenon called "REM
rebound," in which a person experiences intense, long REM
periods after the drug has worn off. This can manifest as nightmares
or, possibly, as lucid dreaming, since the brain is highly active.
Drugs in the LSD family, including psilocybin and tryptamines
actually stimulate REM sleep (in doses small enough to allow sleep),
leading to longer REM periods. We do not recommend the use of drugs
without proper guidance nor do we urge the breaking of laws.
3.7 HOW CAN I PREVENT WAKING UP AS SOON AS I BECOME
LUCID?
Beginning
lucid dreamers often have the problem of waking up right after
becoming lucid. This obstacle may prevent some people from realizing
the value of lucid dreaming. Fortunately there are ways to overcome
this problem.
The
first is to remain calm in the dream. Becoming lucid is exciting,
but expressing the excitement can awaken you. It is possible to
enjoy the thrill that accompanies the dawning of lucidity without
allowing the activation to overwhelm you. Be like a poker player
with an ideal hand. Relax and engage with the dream rather than
withdrawing into your inner joy of accomplishment.
Then,
if the dream shows signs of ending, such as a loss of detail,
vividness, and apparent reality of the imagery, the technique of
"spinning" can often restore the dream. You spin your
dream body around like a child trying to get dizzy. LaBerge
developed this technique after experimenting with the idea that
relaxing completely might help prevent awakening from a dream. When
in a lucid dream that was fading, he stopped and dropped backwards
to the floor, and had a false awakening in bed! After a few trials
he determined that the essential element was the sensation of
motion, not relaxation. The best way to create a feeling of
movement, especially in the dream scene has vanished, leaving
nowhere to move to, is to create angular momentum (or the sensation
of it), by spinning around your axis. You are not really doing it,
but your brain is well familiar with the experience of spinning and
duplicates the experience quite well. In the process the vestibular
and kinesthetic senses are engaged. Presumably, this sensory
engagement with the dream discourages the brain from changing state
from dreaming to waking. Note that dream spinning does not usually
lead to dizziness. Be aware that the expectation of possible
awakening sometimes leads to a "false awakening" in which
you dream of waking. The vividness of the spinning sensation may
cause you to feel your spinning arm hit the bed. You think,
"Oops, I'm awake in bed now." Think now--your physical
body wasn't really spinning, it was your dream body--therefore, the
arm is a dream arm hitting a dream bed! To avoid being
deceived, recite, "The next scene will be a dream," until
a scene appears. If you are in doubt about your status, perform a
thorough reality test.
Research
at the Lucidity Institute
has proven the effectiveness of
spinning: the odds in favor of continuing the lucid dream were about
22 to 1 after spinning, 13 to 1 after hand rubbing (another
technique designed to prevent awakening), and 1 to 2 after
"going with the flow" (a "control" task). That
makes the relative odds favoring spinning over going with the flow
48 to 1, and for rubbing over going with the flow, 27 to 1.
4.1 WHAT ARE THE BEST RESOURCES FOR LEARNING MORE
ABOUT LUCID DREAMING?
Over
the past fifteen years, exercises, techniques and training materials
have been developed and refined to the point where most anyone can
learn to have lucid dreams if they are willing to devote time and
effort. The Lucidity Institute offers lucid dreaming training
through several modalities. To start, most bookstores carry the book
Exploring the World
of Lucid Dreaming (EWLD) by LaBerge and Rheingold (Ballantine,
1990), or you can order it online from Amazon.com.
It presents a step-by-step training program with exercises and an
introduction to the various possible applications of lucid dreaming.
The Lucidity Institute's A Course in Lucid Dreaming
(included with the NovaDreamer
package) provides a more thorough training program with five
units of exercises and a workbook for tracking your progress. EWLD
is the textbook for the Course.
There
are several other good resources, although caution is in order when
buying books on lucid dreaming. Some are poorly researched and
present claims or methods that have not been rigorously tested.
Below is a list of books and audio tapes that we have found valuable
for introducing the facts about lucid dreaming, conveying something
of the experience, or assisting with training. Some excerpts from
the books are available on The Lucidity Institute website.
LUCID
DREAMING
By Stephen LaBerge, Ph.D., (Ballantine, 1986; ISBN 0-345-33355-1)
This is the seminal work that first brought lucid dreaming to the
attention of the general public and legitimized it as a valuable
field of scientific inquiry. It is still the best general reference
on lucid dreaming and a pleasure to read. The phenomenon of lucid
dreaming is explored from many angles, beginning with the history of
the practice in human cultures. LaBerge describes the early days of
the scientific research and tells the story of his successful
challenge of the established school of thought in sleep research,
which held that awareness while dreaming was impossible. He
discusses many methods of lucid dream induction, including the way
he taught himself to have several lucid dreams per night. Other
topics covered include: contemporary theories of the function of
dreaming "Dreaming,
Function, and Meaning", applications of lucid dreaming, the
relationship of lucid dreaming to out-of-body
and near-death experiences, and the possibility of using lucid
dreaming as a gateway or stepping stone on the path to spiritual
enlightenment. See Annotated
Table of Contents for more details. Out of print; Check Addall.com,
Half.com,
Amazon.com,
and other online bookstores for a used copy.
EXPLORING
THE WORLD OF LUCID DREAMING
By Stephen LaBerge, Ph.D. and Howard Rheingold (Ballantine, 1990)
A practical guide for lucid dreamers. The first half of the book
establishes a basic understanding of sleep and dreams, followed by a
progressive series of exercises for developing lucid dreaming
skills. These include cataloging "dreamsigns," your
personal landmarks that tell you when you are dreaming, the
Reflection-Intention and MILD techniques for becoming lucid within
the dream and methods of falling asleep consciously based on ancient
Tibetan Yoga practices. Induction methods are followed by practical
advice on maintaining and
guiding lucid dreams. After presenting the lucid dream induction
techniques, Dr. LaBerge explains his understanding of the origin of
dreams, founded on current views in the sciences of consciousness
and cognition. This provides a foundation for the methods of
employing lucid dreams to enhance your life, which are detailed in
the second half of the book. The applications considered are:
adventures and explorations, rehearsal for living, creative problem
solving, overcoming
nightmares, healing, and discovery of expanded awareness and
spiritual experience. Many delightful and illuminating anecdotes
from lucid dreamers illustrate the use of lucid dreams for each
application. See Annotated
Table of Contents for more details. You can order from Amazon.com.
A
COURSE IN LUCID DREAMING
By Stephen LaBerge and Lynne Levitan (Lucidity Institute, 1995)
This is a comprehensive home-study training program in lucid
dreaming. It takes you from the beginning stages of improving your
dream recall and becoming familiar with the hallmarks of your
dreams, through several different techniques for increasing your
ability to have lucid dreams, to mastery of the art of lucid
dreaming. All known methods of lucid dream induction are covered.
Many focusing exercises help you develop the mental powers needed to
become an expert lucid dreamer. Charts and logs assist you in
assessing your skill level and monitoring your progress. The Course
has five Units and takes a minimum of four months to complete. The
textbook is Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming. The
Course is included with the NovaDreamer
package.
CONSCIOUS
MIND, SLEEPING BRAIN
Edited by Jayne Gackenbach, Ph.D. and Stephen LaBerge, Ph.D.
(Plenum, 1988; ISBN 0-306-42849-0)
Nineteen dream researchers and other professionals contributed to
this scholarly volume. It represents a wide spectrum of viewpoints
in the field of lucid dreaming study and is an essential reference
for anyone interested in studying lucid dreams or applying them in
clinical practice. Topics include: literature, psychophysiology,
personality, therapy, personal experience, related states of
consciousness, and more. Out of print. Out of print; Check Addall.com,
Half.com,
Amazon.com,
and other online bookstores for a used copy.
OUR
DREAMING MIND
By Robert L. Van de Castle (Ballantine, 1994; ISBN 0-345-39666-9)
An excellent overview of the vast field of dream research;
comprehensive and very well written by one of the field's pioneers.
Discounted at Amazon.com.
LUCID
DREAMS
By Celia E. Green (Hamish Hamilton, London, 1968)
This is the classic book that inspired Dr. LaBerge to begin his
studies of lucid dreaming. Green supplemented the scant published
literature on lucid dreaming (e.g., the Marquis de Saint-Denys and
Frederik van Eeden) with case histories from her own informants to
put together a concise and thoughtful picture of the phenomenology
of lucid dreaming. A bit dated, but still worth reading 30 years
later. Out of print; Check Addall.com,
Half.com,
Amazon.com,
and other online bookstores for a used copy.
DREAMS
AND HOW TO GUIDE THEM
By The Marquis d'Hervey de Saint-Denys, edited by Morton Schatzman,
M.D. (Duckworth, London, 1982)
A great pioneer of the art of lucid dreaming, the Marquis first
published this exploration of lucid dreaming in 1867, yet this is a
very modern, and yes, lucid, thesis. He describes his personal
experiments and the development of his ability to exercise control
in his lucid dreams. Out of print; Check Addall.com,
Half.com,
Amazon.com,
and other online bookstores for a used copy.
PATHWAY
TO ECSTASY: THE WAY OF THE DREAM MANDALA
By Patricia Garfield, Ph.D. (Prentice Hall, 1989)
Delightfully told story of Patricia Garfield's transcendent and
erotic adventures with lucid dreaming. Out of print; Check Addall.com,
Half.com,
Amazon.com,
and other online bookstores for a used copy.
CONTROLLING
YOUR DREAMS
By Stephen LaBerge, Ph.D. (Audio Renaissance Tapes, Inc., 1987, 60
minutes)
This audio cassette tape captures the essence of Dr. LaBerge's
public lectures on lucid dreaming. It is highly informative and
inspirational. Use it as an excellent introduction to the topic or a
concise refresher. Dr. LaBerge begins by portraying the experience
of lucid dreaming. He then presents methods for learning the skill,
including the powerful MILD technique. The descriptions he gives of
possible applications of lucid dreaming, from creative problem
solving and rehearsal for living, to overcoming nightmares and
achieving greater psychological integration, will encourage you to
learn this valuable skill. Available from Amazon.com.
THE
LUCID DREAMER
By Malcolm Godwin (Simon & Schuster, 1994)
Beautifully illustrated with nearly 200 full-color and
black-and-white illustrations of little known dream masks and Zen
paintings, Aboriginal Australian art, North American paintings, and
works by modern native primitives, Surrealists, and schizophrenics.
The text is a well-written, thoughtful, and inspiring survey of
lucid dreaming as viewed primarily from a philosophical and mystical
perspective. Discounted at Amazon.com.
TRANCE
INDUCTION OF LUCID DREAMING
By Stephen LaBerge, Ph.D. (The Lucidity Institute, 1993, 40 minutes)
Dr. LaBerge's trance induction is designed to help you create a
mind-set in which lucid dreaming will happen easily. The hypnotic
induction begins with progressive relaxation accompanied by guided
visualization of calming images. Once you have attained a peaceful
state of mind, Dr. LaBerge gives you suggestions for building
confidence that you will succeed at having lucid dreams. You are
guided in devising a personal symbol to help you to recognize when
you are dreaming. Musical accompaniment by Robert Rich. The Trance
CD is included with the NovaDreamer
package.
4.2 WHERE CAN I FIND LUCID DREAMING WORKSHOPS?
An
intensive overview of lucid dreaming techniques is presented at
Lucidity Institute lucid dreaming training programs. Attendees are
frequently offered the option of purchasing a NovaDreamer at a
discount in a package with the workshop fee. To date, most of the
training programs have been held in California, but the Lucidity
Institute will give one wherever there is enough interest. Dr.
LaBerge gives weekend seminars at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur,
California about once a year, as well as occasional lectures and
workshops at other venues. To find out about upcoming events, sign
up for the LI
mailing list.
The
Lucidity Institute offers several DREAMING
AND AWAKENING lucid dreaming programs, in which a few dozen
oneironauts (explorers of the dream world) convene for ten days to
dedicate day and night to developing their lucidity skills under the
guidance of Dr. LaBerge. See Keelin's "Diary
From Lucid Dream Camp" for a review. These residential
retreats are usually held on the Stanford University campus or in
Hawaii. Attendees live, eat, dream, and meet together, practice
exercises, discuss experiences, and follow a specially designed
sleep schedule. The intense focus, group support and schedule
combine to ensure that participants experience lucid dreams during
the program (more than 80% did so in 1998) and are then able to
share and obtain advice to guide future lucid dreams. Participants
in past retreats have enjoyed the mix of work and play, with 95%
evaluating the program as "very" or "extremely
satisfying." They have also had great success at lucid
dreaming, most have had one or more lucid dreams during the program.
The next program is scheduled May
10-19, 2006 on the Big Island of Hawaii.
4.3 WHAT IS THE LUCIDITY INSTITUTE?
The
Lucidity Institute is a small business
founded and directed by Dr. LaBerge. Its goals are to make lucid
dreaming known to the public and accessible to anyone interested, to
support research
on lucid dreaming and other states of consciousness, and to study
potential applications of lucid dreaming. The Lucidity Institute
sells books, tapes,
and devices. Any
profits
are used to support further research on dreaming and consciousness.
We have a membership society which offers an online discussion forum,
and a means of participating in and supporting research on lucid
dreaming. You are invited to get involved! To sign up on our mailing
list (for web site updates, events, experiments, new product
announcements and special offers), you can complete a short online
form for the Lucidity
Institute mailing list.
4.4 WHAT QUALIFIES THE LUCIDITY INSTITUTE TO WRITE
THIS FAQ?
On
the internet, anyone can play "expert", and there are
several FAQs on dreaming and lucid dreaming. Which FAQ is
authoritative? What qualifies the Lucidity Institute to write this
FAQ? Why should readers take its contents any more or less seriously
than those of other FAQs? These are all reasonable questions to ask.
This FAQ was written by LI staff (primarily Lynne Levitan) and
Stephen LaBerge. Dr. LaBerge has had more than 20 years of relevant
personal and professional experience, having received his Ph.D. in
Psychophysiology from Stanford University for his pioneering
laboratory research on lucid dreaming. During the course of his
dissertation study he learned to have lucid dreams at will, and has
recorded more than a thousand lucid dreams which he has used for
personal growth and exploration as described in his books Lucid
Dreaming and EWLD. His contributions to lucid
dreaming methodology include developing lucid dream induction
techniques (e.g., MILD, the counting technique for falling asleep
consciously, and early morning napping), the spinning and
hand-rubbing technique for stabilizing lucid dreams, and various
lucid dream induction devices such as the DreamLight and NovaDreamer.
His scientific contributions include using eye-movement signals to
prove the reality of lucid dreams, characterizing the basic
physiology of lucid dreams (and coining the terms DILD and WILD),
and showing through a variety of experiments that lucid dream
actions affect the brain (and to a lesser extent the body) as-if
they were actually happening. Lynne Levitan has also had many years
of personal and professional experience with lucid dreaming and
wrote many of the articles in NightLight.
4.5 WHAT IS THE LUCIDITY INSTITUTE MEMBERSHIP
SOCIETY?
The
Lucidity Institute aims to encourage as many people as possible to
learn lucid dreaming and to use it to grow and improve their lives.
We also know that the people who see the potential of lucid dreaming
are the ones who can help most to map this new frontier and discover
its treasures. The Lucidity Institute membership society is an
organization for all people interested in lucid dreaming, novices
and experts, laymen and scientists.
Members
receive frequent short email updates (LUCIDITY*FLASHES) which may
include articles on lucid dreaming -- new findings, applications,
speculations, inspiring examples, and experiments for members to
participate in at home. The results
from the experiments appear in subsequent issues, so members can
benefit from them. Some studies are of methods of inducing lucid
dreams, or about ordinary dreams, so that novice lucid dreamers can
contribute. Others test activities and applications within lucid
dreams.
Membership
includes a personal account on the Lucidity
Institute Forum. The Forum is an online discussion board that
allows members all over the world to discuss lucid dreaming.
Technical support for Lucidity Institute devices is also available
through the Forum. Anyone is welcome to read messages, but only
members may post messages and create new topics.
The
basic membership fee of US$35 covers the cost of maintaining the
membership society and some of the expenses involved in the research
described in the next section (4.6). If you choose an upgraded
membership, the additional fees will go to fund research
on lucid dreaming by Dr. Stephen LaBerge and his colleagues at
Stanford University.
4.6 WHAT ARE THE LUCIDITY INSTITUTE'S CURRENT
RESEARCH PROJECTS?
The
Lucidity Institute's research currently has three foci. These are:
the mapping of brain activity during the initiation of lucidity, the
study of Tibetan Dream yoga methods of inducing and manipulating
lucid dreams, and the development of expert explorers of states of
consciousness.
The
brain mapping project is an extension of prior
research into the psychophysiology of the lucid dream state,
which found that high central nervous system activation is a
prerequisite for lucidity. The goal is to identify which brain areas
are activated during the onset of reflective consciousness in the
REM sleep state. With this knowledge, we may be able to develop
methods of easily and reliably inducing lucid dreams whenever
desired, using biofeedback or direct stimulation.
The
study of Tibetan Buddhist techniques of lucid dreaming is aimed at
making use of the thousand years of experience accumulated by this
tradition. Literature currently available is couched in esoteric
language from which it is difficult to discriminate useful
techniques from culture-bound ritual. Through online
and laboratory experiments, we are testing the effectiveness of
lucid dream induction methods found in the Dream Yoga doctrines.
The
third aspect of our work is part of the long term goal of the
Lucidity Institute to foster understanding of all types of higher
states of consciousness. The purpose of this project is to assemble
and train a group of individuals with extensive experience in
meditation, lucid dreaming, hypnosis, and other altered states to
facilitate study of these states' mind-body relations and potential
applications and benefits.
4.7 HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED WITH LUCID DREAMING
RESEARCH?
Students
who wish to conduct research on lucid dreaming can prepare by
studying the fields of psychology and neuroscience. Dr. LaBerge and
colleagues conduct laboratory research on lucid dreaming at Stanford
University. Volunteer (unpaid) research positions can be arranged
for those with their own funding.
The
best way to contribute to ongoing lucid dream research is through
the experiments published in NightLight
and on the Lucidity Institute web
site. These experiments are designed for individuals to carry
out at home and report the results back to the Lucidity Institute
for analysis and publication. Much of our current knowledge about
the most effective methods of inducing lucid dreams has come from NightLight
experiments, as has valuable information about the nature of
dreams. We are grateful to our oneironauts (explorers of the dream
world) for helping us to advance understanding of dreams and
lucidity.
If
you live in the Bay Area and are fairly confident you can have a
lucid dream in the lab, you are invited to be a subject in
laboratory research on lucid dreaming. We receive many offers from
volunteers, but time and resources limit us to only using
experienced lucid dreamers that are likely to succeed in the lab. If
you are interested in volunteering, contact
the Lucidity Institute.
4.8 WHY DOES THE LUCIDITY INSTITUTE CHARGE MONEY FOR
LUCID DREAM TRAINING?
Lucid
dreaming is an extraordinary and powerful state of consciousness
accessible to all people. Like the ability to dream, to imagine, to
sing and dance, it is a free and joyful expression of life. It also
has the power to expand the mind, bringing new insight and even
spiritual understanding. Our mission at the Lucidity Institute is to
teach our fellow humans about the potential of lucid dreaming and
provide means of making the state more accessible to all.
Some
of the methods we have created require money to develop, produce and
distribute. Those of us who work to bring these materials to the
world do this full time and need money to eat, pay rent and afford
transportation. Nonetheless, we do not wish to restrict access to
lucid dreaming to those with disposable income, so we do whatever we
can to help those sincerely interested in lucid dreaming to achieve
their goals. This includes scholarships for training programs, and
free information. For example, the information on the Lucidity
Institute website is published elsewhere for sale. Herein it is free
to all, so long as it is distributed intact and unmodified. We would
like nothing more than to be a fully charitable organization,
promoting lucid dreaming, which we believe has value for
transforming human consciousness and improving our world, to all
without fee. Such a dream could become real through generous
endowments from individuals with vision. Until this manifests,
however, we must continue to work within the structure of our
market-based economy.
4.9 HOW CAN I CONTACT THE LUCIDITY INSTITUTE?
Contact
information:
http://lucidity.com/Contact.html
Copyright Notice
Copyright 1994-2004, LUCIDITY.com. All rights reserved.
Permission for non-commercial use is hereby granted, provided that
this file is distributed intact. Quotations must be properly cited.
Reference Citation:
LaBerge, S. & Levitan, L. (2004). Lucid Dreaming FAQ. Version 2.3, January 16, 2003 http://lucidity.com/LucidDreamingFAQ.html