General Question

troubleinharlem's avatar

Do you think that lucid dreaming really works?

Asked by troubleinharlem (7991points) September 25th, 2010

I was on tumblr, and I found this picture on my dashboard about lucid dreaming. I thought that it was kind of cool, but there’s no way that I could actually do it.

Do you think that it’s real, and that people could actually do it? It seems a bit Inception-y to me.

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22 Answers

TexasDude's avatar

It is real. I do it regularly.

gasman's avatar

Lucid dreaming (i.e., the dreamer being aware—in their dream—that they are dreaming and thus can direct the content of their dreams) is something I experienced only once in my life, despite having generally vivid non-lucid dreams each night.

I have no idea how—if at all—you can induce the dream-aware state while dreaming. I would bet the ranch, however, that quartz crystals under your pillow will have no effect !

TexasDude's avatar

@troubleinharlem, it’s actually not scary, more interesting than anything. I have never actually induced lucid dreaming… it just randomly happens for me (and quite often… ever since I was very young). Almost all of my lucid dreams are recurring as well, and take place in dynamic environments with realistic characters and situations. Because of my ability to explore these dream-worlds, and my impeccable ability to remember even the tiniest details of my own dreams, I’ve actually been able to map out my “dream world” on paper. The dream world is always consistent as well. It’s really pretty cool, and there is nothing sci-fi about it.

lucillelucillelucille's avatar

It does work and I’ve done it :)

isuppose's avatar

It’s completely real. I do it every once in a while. I used to be really into it so that I could do it every night by keeping a dream diary, etc.

DrasticDreamer's avatar

I have lucid dreams as well – they’re definitely possible.

El_Cadejo's avatar

No, I know it really works from experience.

MissAnthrope's avatar

It’s totally real. One of my exes had lucid dreams regularly.. apparently, her first choice when posed with the question ‘what would you do if you could do anything’ was to have sex with everyone she could get her hands on. :P

I personally went through a period of time where I was very interested in lucid dreaming, so I read up a lot on it. I think because I was aware of it and that it was on my mind a lot, I ended up spontaneously having one. I was in a really random place and all of a sudden, I realized I was dreaming. Then I realized it was a lucid dream and I could do anything I wanted. I got so excited, thinking about all the possibilities, that I woke myself up. :\

crazyivan's avatar

While lucid dreaming is certainly possible, for some people it is much more difficult than it is for others. No consensus has been reached as to what variables influence ones proclivity for lucid dreaming and since the phenomena can’t be verified for testing it is unlikely that one will be reached in the near future.

And it definitely isn’t scary. You get to fly.

downtide's avatar

I did it once, though I’ve never been able to repeat the experience.

ANef_is_Enuf's avatar

I am in the same boat as @Fiddle_Playing_Creole_Bastard, in that I don’t think I’ve ever deliberately tried to do it. Just always happened naturally for me, all my life. I am not always (but still pretty often) able to control what is going on in my dreams, but I would say 99% of the time I am aware that I am dreaming.

TexasDude's avatar

I actually think that what I experience isn’t exactly lucid dreaming, by definition.

For example, I can explore my dream worlds as freely as I can the real world, and I am aware that I am in my dream world, but I cannot (read: never actually have been able to) manipulate the environments or characters themselves. I can’t move mountains, or fly. It’s like my dreams have rules and logic like the real world, but I can still explore them, so I guess that means I’m only partially lucid?

troubleinharlem's avatar

You guys are so lucky… I’ve never done it at all. :/
I’ve had recurring dreams and such, where it was the same kind of place and a recurring story, but otherwise… nothing as cool as those things.

ANef_is_Enuf's avatar

Oh, I can manipulate what happens in my dreams. Not every time, but it just happens naturally, I’ve never done any exercises or attempted to enhance the experience in any way. It was only a couple of years ago that I learned this wasn’t “normal”... I figured everyone could do it.

troubleinharlem's avatar

@TheOnlyNeffie : haha, it’s okay. I’m just kidding. xD I’m just majorly jealous that I can’t do anything nearly as cool.

ANef_is_Enuf's avatar

If it is any consolation: most of my dreams are nightmares. Always have been, so sometimes I feel like this is a coping mechanism. Usually it comes into play when I tell myself that the person chasing me with an axe isn’t real, I’m just dreaming. lol

Trillian's avatar

Yes. I’ve done it though my control is not where I want it to be. Yet.

El_Cadejo's avatar

A good trick to be able to lucid dream is every time you walk through a door way touch it and ask yourself, seriously ask yourself “I am dreaming?” Then really think about it. The answer will obviously be no. The idea is to get yourself doing it so much it becomes second nature. Soon you will start doing this in dreams and you find yourself answering the question with Yes….yes I am dreaming right now. Enter lucid dreaming. The only thing you have to beware of is getting too excited when you realize you are indeed lucid dreaming as it will sometimes wake you up.

Austinlad's avatar

This has been discussed here many times. Check this Fluther link

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