Are Lucid Dreams Real?

The Unbelievers
For some individuals it is very difficult to believe that lucid dreaming is a reality. They may not understand what lucid dreaming is and simply dismiss it as some phony fad. Unbelievers may also think that a lucid dream is just another dream where you think you are aware, but it is just another plain old dream.

Explanation
If some one told you that they could jump up in the air and fly high in the sky you would probably think they were telling you a lie or they were simply crazy. If they explained to you that they obtained some sort of propulsion device that they strapped to their back, you would be more likely to believe them, but you may have some doubts. Lucid dreaming also requires an explanation.

Experience
If the unbeliever actually had a lucid dream, the figurative light bulb in their head would glow brightly and chances are they would believe in lucid dreaming. Experience is the key. Those of us that have the wonderful experience of lucid dreaming know without a doubt that lucid dreaming is unequivocally real.

Scientific Proof
In the 1970’s, Keith Hearne at the University of Hull in England experimented with lucid dreaming in a sleep lab. He would have a lucid dreamer signal that he was consciously aware while dreaming by moving his eyes from left to right a predetermined number of times. Since we have REM (rapid eye movement) while asleep, Hearne determined that a REM polygraph pad (a device that detects REM) would capture the intentional eye movements. In 1975, his lucid dreaming associate became lucid in the sleep lab and moved his eyes left to right the predetermined number of times to signal that he was consciously aware while asleep. Hearne observed the REM polygraph, thus scientifically proving that lucid dreaming is a reality.

A few years later, Stephen LaBerge at Stanford University performed a very comparable experiment by signaling his conscious awareness from the dream state through eye movements during a lucid dream.

LaBerge published his results in a scientific journal in 1981 and has continuously experimented with lucid dreaming research throughout his life.

Proof Is Positive
Most people do not realize that they are dreaming when they actually are in a full dream state. They accept every far-fetched and impossible thing they are doing or experiencing in their dream to be real. The lucid dream experience includes some very incredible and unique properties. When you reach lucidity in a dream, you simply know that you are asleep and are aware. This is often triggered by observing the far-fetched and impossible things happening in a dream and realizing that these things could only occur in a dream. Thus, the dreamer becomes lucid.

Personally, after I experience a lucid dream, it leaves me with a warm, pleasant feeling throughout the day. It is an invigorating experience that lasts far after awakening. Remember to document all of your dreams.

Often, when you realize that you are having a lucid dream it is so incredibly overwhelming that you wake up the moment you become lucid. It is upsetting to waste a lucid dream so read through all of my lessons to learn how to avoid premature awakenings and have long, wonderful lucid dreams!

© 2009 – 2010 Gary Gardner, All Rights Reserved