Lucid dreaming

[Phasmid]

How often do you have a dream where you're in control of everything that happens?

This morning I had a lucid dream. I was walking through this huge building and it was like any other dream until I came to a door. I actually thought, "Let's open the door" and sure enough, I reached out my hand and opened the door... I could control the speed at which I opened the door and how fast I walked through - everything.

All I really did was walk through this old house. Parts of it were random, for example I didn't control what the house looked like, but I had control of where I moved inside it. So it was basically exploring. But I knew I was dreaming, so, while in the dream I was also thinking, "What does this mean? Do I have a head full of air or something? Where are the strippers?" and then... well... I won't go into that...

But it was amazing just how real everything felt. I woke up and then thought, "It's worth another shot" and sure enough I had another lucid dream, but it lasted less longer since I wasn't really tired any more. But while I was in the dream I knew it was just a dream and it still felt real.

It was just so surreal that something completely from my own mind could be so real. I've always had these mental images of places I'd like to go, even though they're not real. I wonder if there's a secret to lucid dreaming, so that I might visit these places in person... well... in a manner of speaking.

Anyone else have these dreams? Does anyone know how they work?

[Alceste]

I've had a few, but not very many with that kind of vividness. Maybe a handful, mostly when I was younger. There is a trick, but I'm too lazy to do it... Apparently, if you start recording all you can remember of your dreams when you wake up and do that every day your general level of conscious awareness in dreams will increase, and you'll have more control over events.

I just had a poke around Amazon and there are tonnes of books on the subject. I was looking for a particular one my dad used to have, but I couldn't find it.

[stephenw]

I have no conscious awareness of my dreams. I think it accounts in part, for my lack of interest in being asleep.

[Phasmid]

I shall definitely read up on the subject. It seems like the perfect escapism.