Have you ever experienced a dream whose results you could determine, and where you could do anything at will? Then perhaps you were able to have a “lucid dream,” which occurs when you know that you are dreaming, and can thus manipulate your dream to suit your needs.

Lucid dreaming is a common phenomenon which has been used as the theme of movies and books, and which is the focus of interest of psychologists, New Age groups, and artists alike. Because they often feel real, lucid dreams can often be more memorable than any other kind of dream. Even the pain of nightmares can be offset by lucid dreaming, which is why some psychologists recommend that their patients intentionally have lucid dreams, so that the patients can rid themselves of any torment or inner strife that may impair them in the daytime.

Although lucid dreaming is relatively rare, it can be achieved with different techniques. Before lucid dreaming can be done, however, you have to recognize that you are dreaming. You can do this by looking for “dream signs,” which can be identified by performing the following “reality tests.”

• If you are confronted with text or a clock in a dream, read the text or the time, look away, and then look at the text or time again. In the real world, text and time will not change; in the dream world, however, text and time will alter drastically.
• Switch on electronic objects, or look at reflective objects. Electronic switches such as light switches will not usually work in the dream world. Mirrors will be blurred, or will show distorted images.
• Try to inflict pain on yourself, or keep yourself from breathing. If you feel your chest tighten, or if you feel little or no resistance or pain on your skin, then you may be in a dream state.
• Observe your environment: do you see talking animals? Are there purple dogs and green horses? Do buildings suddenly get up and dance? You may be dreaming. Not everyone can have lucid dreams. There are many factors that affect such ability, including meditation and age. If you do wish to have lucid dreams, and you can recognize that you are in the dream state, then you can get started with any of the following techniques.
• In Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreaming (MILD), all you need to do is to prepare yourself mentally for lucid dreaming. While you fall asleep, remind yourself, over and over, to watch out for dream signs, and to know that you are dreaming.