Dream recall.  Dream recall is simply an ability to remember dreams. Dream recall is usually described as the initial step towards lucid dreaming. If you have better recall it increases awareness of dreams in general. With limited dream recall  any lucid dreams can be entirely forgotten. To improve dream recall, some people keep a dream journal, writing down any dreams remembered the moment they are awaken.awake

Mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (MILD). The MILD technique is a common technique developed by Stephen LaBerge. It based on the process, which induces a lucid dream at will by setting an intention, a command to yourself right before falling asleep. This technique is aimed to remember or to recognize that you are dreaming or just to remember to look for dream signs while you are asleep and having dreams.

One very simple method is to count usually yours or other people’s fingers during the daytime, making sure it is thoroughly done and by reaching the expected number. If this is done frequently when you are awake, the similar behavior will progress itself into the dream, whereby any discrepancy from the reality will be noticed and realized that it is dreaming and the dream will become lucid.

Wake-back-to-bed (WBTB). The wake-back-to-bed technique is often the easiest way to persuade a lucid dream. The method involves going to sleep as tired as you can and waking up in four to six hours later. Then, continuing focusing all thoughts on lucid dreaming, try to stay awake for an hour and going back to sleep while practicing the MILD method. Research shows close to 60% of success rate by using this technique.

Wake-initiation of lucid dreams (WILD). The wake-initiated lucid dream occurs when the sleeper enters REM sleep with unbroken self-awareness directly from the waking state. There have been developed many techniques aimed at entering a WILD. The key to these techniques is recognizing the hypnagogic stage, which is right at the threshold of being awake and being asleep. If a person is successfully manage in staying aware while this stage occurs, they will eventually enter the dream state while being fully aware that it is a dream. 

Cycle adjustment technique (CAT). The cycle adjustment technique, developed by Daniel Love, is another attractive method to induce lucid dreaming. It involves adjusting one’s sleep cycle to encourage awareness during the morning part of the sleep. This is how it’s done:

Person spends a week waking up 90 minutes before normal wake time until their sleep cycle begins to adjust.

After this cycle adjustment phase, the normal wake times and early wake times alternate daily.

On the days with the normal wake times, the body is ready to wake up, and this increases alertness, making lucidity more likely.

Lucid Dream Supplements (LDS). The Lucid Dream Supplement (LDS) technique was developed mostly by Stephen LaBerge, which is based on boosting acetylcholine levels to promote lucid dreaming. It is now known that taking the right balance of supplements after several hours of sleep is far more effective for inducing lucid dreams. 

Lucid dream induction devices (LDID). Lucid dream induction is possible by the use of a physical device. A well-known and the original widely-distributed dream-induction device is the NovaDreamer, designed in 1993 by experienced lucid dreamer Craig Webb, executive director of The Dreams Foundation. The general principle is based on the natural phenomenon of incorporating external stimuli into one’s dreams. Usually a device is worn while person is sleeping. This device can detect if the sleeper enters a REM stage and it triggers a tone and/or blinking lights with the purpose of incorporating  the external signals into the person’s dream. Here is an example: flashing lights might be translated to a police car’s headlights in a dream. The Dream Mask by Bruce Gelerte has been developed years later based on the the NovaDreamer concept. 

Lucid dream mask models. The Lucidity Institute produced the original DreamLight and NovaDreamer models which were originally on sale for $120 and only produced in semi-limited quantities. Funds raised from these devices where used to help fund further research by the Lucidity Institute. A similar device called the NovaDreamer II has been “coming soon” since at least 2004, and should be made available to the general public in late 2009. A similar device known as the Dream Mask has also been produced. Some individuals have created their own devices using foam and simple electronics. 

Watch Video: Lucid Dreams, Dreaming, Presleep Suggestions
Mark Thurston interviews Author Scott Sparrow on Lucid Dreaming with tips for successful Lucid dreams along with presleep suggestions and more.

Visit http://www.saltcube.com for the full video.
The full DVD is packed with tips that many people have used to have their first out of body experiences and lucid dreams. You’ll learn how to use the body’s own biology to put yourself in a subconscious focus without using any mental visualizations. This shortens the learning curve immensely and you very well may have an OBE or lucid dream the very first time you use the methods in this DVD.

In volume 1 you’ll learn how to:

• Speak the body’s biological language so you can to give it the commands to fall asleep while you keep your mind awake.
• Tell how deep in trance you are by listening to the body’s signals.
• Optimize your brain chemistry to make lucid dreams much more likely and much more vivid.
• Have dozens of lucid dreams or OBEs rapidly one after the other.
• Fall asleep quickly but without falling so far asleep that you can’t become lucid.
• Conquer fear in dreams.

This post was updated on July 16, 2009