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Should we teach people how to control their dreams?
First of all a clarification: by this question i do not mean we should kill or limit people's dreams or even put down dreamers. To the contrary, long live the dreamers, the creative force behind our true progress!
Now, my question is related to a particular phenomenon that i have experienced called lucid dreaming, where one can become suddenly conscious that one is dreaming and even alter the flow of dreams.
I remember this had a profound effect on me, as it dispelled some myths (for example, that of experiences out of the body). But most of all, it gave me a better understanding of the kind of stuff that buzzes through our heads and make up our unconscious dreams.
Some have said that controlling our own dreams could have positive applications, like treatment of nightmares, i would venture to think that rehabilitation from certain addictions could be a potential application too.
Do you think that people should be taught openly how to become aware of and control their own dreams?
cheers
P.D. Here is some info on lucid dreaming: http://everything2.com/title/Lucid+dream
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natasha nikulina 50+
for me it is not 'should we', but 'could we ' question :)
Forgive my ignorance, but what does it mean : to control dreams ? For me, our dreams are more the function of who we are than what we do or even what we think. Though who we are and what we think we are and what we do is not separate and deeply interwoven. My dream is an 'answer' and in my waking life I try to understand what was the question.
Sometimes i have nightmares and in my dream I am conscious that it is a dream and to stop this I should wake up. And i do, but i see it is a sign, that something is wrong with me , maybe I am doing something wrong, not being quite aware of it, so it pushes me to thinking and analyzing. If I manage to find the core of disturbance ( usually i do ) and fix it, I can fly in my dreams again. ' i am' of my dream state is trying to convince 'i am' of my waking state ,that flying is easy and natural, it's always the case in my 'flying' dreams :)
But i guess, it's only the part of the equation,a kind of applicative value of dreams. The question remains : what does it mean 'to control..how can i alter the flow of dreams..? Could you share the technique or suggest any reading ? You've mentioned Ricard Feynman, is it " Surely You're joking, Mr. Feynman !"?
Thank you !
Andres Aullet 10+
Yes, the book was "Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman".
After i read about it, I tried to learn more, and I also started practicing until i was able to do two things: 1) to suddenly become conscious within a dream and to voluntarily conjure up elements in it without waking up, and 2) to go to sleep without allowing consciousness to fade away.
At a physical level, it carries a very peculiar feeling. in particular the transition between the two distinct mental states of "awake and falling asleep", and "conscious while entering the dreaming phase" came accompanied with very specific physical sensations: a subtle noise that increases in intensity, the rigor of the body (which is due to the natural mechanism by that our brain uses protect us from damaging our body during our sleep), the perception of bright light and some anxiety similar to the one produced by tachycardia.
But with some practice it is possible to be aware of all these physical sensations and to keep them under control, and that makes lucid dreaming a little easier to achieve.
It does require a good deal of practice, from what i remember. And it depends on your physical status too (it was a lot more difficult to do it when i was sick, or exhausted, or when i experienced anxiety about something else)
One of the things that i got from this was a deeper understanding of the lack of control that we have over the subconscious part of our brain, and yet how much of that subconscious is really "us", as opposed to the conscious fraction. So it helped me get to know myself a little better!
I will take some time to gather some links with info for you!
I hope this at least answers some of your questions!
cheers
natasha nikulina 50+
Thank you for responding !
I'll read the book, I love Richard Feynman ! He is my hero !
I believe whatever we practice, we become a part of it, thanks, almighty neuron plasticity :)
And I am highly interested.
"The trick is to combine your waking rational abilities with the infinite possibilities of your dreams. Because, if you can do that, you can do anything." ( "Waking Life ')
Thanks for opening me to this !
Andres Aullet 10+
http://everything2.com/title/Lucid+dream
cheers!
natasha nikulina 50+
I've realized the first problem : Time ! It takes a lot of time !
Funny , though, i don't have time to develop the ability to 'do anything' ...:)