Astral Society

Dreams and Lucid Dreaming FAQ

« From the Astral Society Archive on: October 19 , 2004 »

2.01 What are dreams?

There are about as many different explanations for what dreams are as there are people that dream. Some believe that dreams are unfocused astral projections where the astral body projects into what’s known as a dream pool. Others believe that dreams are nothing more than a regurgitation of memories and experiences acquired throughout the day.

Most dreams occur in periods of sleep known as REM cycles. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement and is a period that occurs just after you drift into sleep but before you enter a period of deep sleep known as Delta sleep (due to the brain waves produced).

2.02 What is Lucid Dreaming?

Lucid Dreaming is the process by which a person becomes fully aware within their dreams. This is usually achieved by the realization that one is dreaming, and as such a person can then proceed to take control of their environment.

2.03 What can you do during a Lucid Dream?

Pretty much anything you want. Once you realize that you are inside a dream, you are limited only by your imagination. Think about all the cool stuff you’ve ever done in your dreams, once you have a lucid dream, you are in total control and can recreate those feats or much more.

2.04 How do I remember my dreams better?

Dream recall is a good first step to achieving lucid dreams. A good way is to get a small notebook and write down your dreams when you wake up. Or if you don’t like the idea of writing first thing in the morning (and lets face it, not many of us do), then it might be worth considering the purchase of a Dictaphone (or even a normal tape recorder will do). That way, whenever you wake up, you can get your thoughts down on tape straight away.

Don’t worry if you don’t remember a lot, just write down or record everything that comes to mind. If you keep doing this, you will train your memory and as such, your dreams will become progressively easier to remember. You can check this by reviewing your dream logs every so often and checking to see if your dreams are becoming more detailed (this has the added benefit of giving you the confidence to continue by knowing that you are making progress). The best time to record your dreams is right after you wake up, since the dream will still be fresh in your mind – the longer you leave it, the more the memories are likely to fade.

2.05 Where can I find out what my dreams mean?

There are a whole host of websites on the Internet that offer so-called dream ‘dictionaries’. These are usually a collection of common images with assigned meanings given to them. However, these meanings may not be appropriate for everyone, so probably the best way to find out what your dreams mean is to interpret the images and symbols for yourself.

There is a technique you can use to analyze some images, known as Image Association. This involves taking a specific image and meditating upon it, writing down every word that comes to mind, no matter how dumb it may seem. These words are then grouped into lists of associated categories, with some words being present in more categories than others. These common words are then assumed to be the primary meanings for the image while the less common ones are assumed to be the secondary meanings. All this may seem a bit time consuming, which is why it’s recommended only for particularly vivid or significant imagery.

2.06 What is Dreamlinking?

In its simplest terms, Dreamlinking is a means by which two (or more) people connect with each other through their dreams. This can be achieved by either having a shared dream with another person or by entering someone else’s dream through an astral projection. Intent plays a large part in dreamlinking and often a connection can be established through act of will alone.

2.07 What is a reality check?

A reality check is a method employed when one wishes to experience a lucid dream. It involves performing a repetitive task (such as looking at your watch for example) and at the same time asking yourself several questions with the purpose of validating your current reality level. These questions would typically be something like “Is this a dream?” and followed by an attempt to do something that would not be achievable in the physical world. So, you could ask yourself “Can I fly?” And attempt to levitate yourself.

This may seem a highly irregular thing to do, but the purpose of reality checks is to make them habitual in waking life, and (hopefully) in your dreams too. If you continue to practice reality checking in waking life then eventually you will find that you begin to do the same thing in your dreams. When you look at your watch in your dreams, to use the above example, and ask yourself if you can fly, you will find that you will be able to fly in your dream and this will lead to the realization that you are dreaming… voila! Lucid dream.

2.08 What increases my chances of having a lucid dream?

As stated above, increasing your dream recall and reality checking will increase your chances of having a lucid dream. As well as those, will and affirmation also help. If you want a lucid dream badly enough, eventually your subconscious will get the hint and provide you with a few.

One other thing to look out for are dreams that are known as Pre-Lucid. These are where you dream you wake up without actually doing so, and although they can be slightly irritating at times, they are a good sign that you are getting closer to having a full Lucid dream.

2.09 Is it possible to project from a Lucid Dream?
Yes, and often this is seen as an easier method since you don’t have to place your body in a balanced hypnogogic state. Once you are having a lucid dream, your environment will seem much more vivid; this is partially due to the increase in your level of awareness, but also because your environment has taken on many of the properties of an astral projection (possibly reinforcing the belief that all dreams take place on the astral plane – although they are purely subjective in nature).

There are a few methods you can use to turn a lucid dream into a projection. The first involves the use of mirrors. It is believed that on the astral plane, mirrors act as portals through which you can travel (I have experienced this for myself and so am of the same opinion). Once you realize this, you can simply create a mirror within your dream and use that as a means of transportation to the objective astral plane.

Another method believed to work is incredibly simple and involves use of the phrase “Astral Project, NOW!” Said with sufficient will behind it.

2.10 What are precognitive dreams?

Precognitive dreams are dreams in which you experience future events that later turn out to come true. These are often confused with premonitions although the difference is usually the type of dream you have. If your dream contains actual scenes of the future event then it is classed as precognitive, whereas if the dream contains metaphorical imagery and vague symbolism, then it is classed as a premonition.