How To Lucid Dream, 5 Methods To Try

This article may contain affiliate links, learn more.

Have you ever wished you could control your dreams? Lucid dreaming is just that, the ability to become aware of and even manipulate your dreams while you're still asleep. Imagine flying through the sky, exploring fantastical worlds, or confronting your fears, all within the safety of your own mind.

It isn't just for the naturally gifted; anyone can learn how to have a lucid dream with a bit of practice and the right techniques. Here are just five methods you can try to induce lucid dreaming and live out your wildest dreams, literally!

Our subconscious holds immense power. Each of us contains endless amounts of strength within; we just have to look to the darker parts of ourselves to find it.

The Shadow Work Journal is designed to help you explore the deepest corners of your psyche and use your discoveries for unimaginable personal growth. Click here to learn more today and see what power you hold.

Two cut-off circles of orange to purple watercolor paint sit on the sides of the banner ad, both overlaid with minimalistic white graphics of zodiac constellations on top, a qhite background behind them. There's dark purple text that reads,
Canva Pro
Canva Pro

To sign up for the Higher Perspectives daily horoscope, click here!

ADVERTISEMENT

Awake While Sleeping

ADVERTISEMENT
A blue-lit shot of a woman sleeping in bed on her side, arms sprawled out, eyemask on.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Lucid dreaming is a fascinating phenomenon that occurs when you become aware that you're dreaming while still in the dream state. This awareness allows you to take control of the dream's narrative, characters, and environment, letting you conjure whatever your heart desires.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many people also use lucid dreams for problem-solving, creative inspiration, and even overcoming nightmares. It can be a powerful tool for exploring your subconscious mind, offering insights into your deepest thoughts and desires. But how do you get there? How can you start lucid dreaming? Well, there are a few ways. Let's explore them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Reality Checking

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Someone holding their hand up in the sunshine, the background blurred.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Reality checking helps train your mind to be more aware of whether you are awake or dreaming. This mental exercise boosts metacognition, your ability to monitor your own thoughts. Higher metacognition when awake can lead to better awareness while dreaming.

ADVERTISEMENT

The brain's prefrontal cortex, involved in both reality testing and lucid dreaming, plays a key role here. To improve metacognition, practice reality testing throughout the day by regularly asking yourself, "Am I dreaming?", checking your surroundings for clues (things like hands, text, and numbers tend to warp in dreams), and noticing how you're interacting with your environment. By reality-checking even when awake, you'll get into a habit that you might be able to pull into your dreams, too.

ADVERTISEMENT

Keeping A Dream Journal

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A woman sitting up in bed, eyemask pulled onto her forehead, writing in a journal.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Keeping a dream journal, also known as a dream diary, is a widely used technique to start lucid dreaming. It's also probably the simplest method. All it involves is writing down what happened in your dreams as soon as you wake up, as writing down your dreams helps you recall them better and notice recurring patterns or unusual events (dreamsigns) that can signal you're dreaming.

ADVERTISEMENT

To make it effective, record your dreams immediately upon waking up. It's also helpful to review your dream journal regularly to reinforce your dream awareness and improve your ability to recognize when you're dreaming. This practice aims to increase your chances of experiencing lucid dreams by enhancing your overall dream recall and awareness.

Discover the secret powers hidden in your deepest, darkest subconscious, click here to begin your journey.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wake-Initiated Lucid Dreaming (WILD)

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Someone sleeping wrapped in a blanket, arm hanging off the bed.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

A wake-initiated lucid dream (WILD) happens when you transition directly from being awake to entering a dream state. This means keeping your mind alert while your body begins to fall asleep.

ADVERTISEMENT

To try WILD, start by lying down in a comfortable position and relaxing deeply. As you do so, you may start to experience hypnagogic hallucinations, which are vivid sensations or images that occur just before falling asleep. You then have to hold onto these images as your body falls asleep, still aware and cognisant of what you're seeing, so you remain alert when the dreams take over.

Though it's simple in concept, mastering WILD can take quite a lot of time and patience. Don't give up if you don't see results right away!

ADVERTISEMENT

Wake Back To Bed (WBTB)

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Someone in bed reaching over to hit snooze on an alarm clock that's at 6 AM.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Wake back to bed (WBTB) involves waking up after several hours of sleep to enter REM sleep while remaining conscious. This sounds complicated, but it's pretty easy to implement.

ADVERTISEMENT

To try WBTB, set an alarm for about 5 hours after you go to bed. After waking up to the alarm, stay awake for around 30 minutes and engage in a simple, quiet activity like reading or journaling. Then, go back to sleep.

Once back asleep, you'll have a higher chance of experiencing a lucid dream. During the wakeful period, be sure to engage in any activity that keeps you fully alert, as studies show that the likelihood of lucid dreaming depends more on how awake you are during this time rather than the specific activity you choose.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mnemonic Induction Of Lucid Dreams (MILD)

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A man sleeping on his back in a tshirt, blanket drawn up.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD) is a method backed by scientific research to help induce lucid dreams. MILD focuses on prospective memory, where you set an intention to realize you're dreaming.

ADVERTISEMENT

To try MILD, think about a recent dream you had as you fall asleep. Identify a "dreamsign" from said dream, something unusual or impossible like being able to fly. Now, imagine yourself back in that dream, aware of the dreamsign, then repeat to yourself, "Next time I dream, I will remember I'm dreaming."

It's effective to practice MILD when waking up during the night, especially when dreams are still fresh in your memory. WBTB and MILD can be practiced in tandem, too, by using MILD once you wake up from the alarm you set for WBTB.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Power Of Our Dreams

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A woman asleep in bed, hands under her head.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Learning how to have a lucid dream is a journey that requires patience, practice, and persistence. By incorporating techniques such as the ones listed here, you can gain mastery over your dreams and use them to live out your fantasies.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lucid dreaming also offers unique opportunities for personal growth, creative exploration, and emotional healing. Have fun, yes, but don't be afraid to be meditative with your lucid dreaming, too. The world is truly your oyster once you're in control.