Meaning of a Dream

This section is for beginner lucid dreamers who understand how to become lucid - but find themselves flung into a crazy, unpredictable dreamscape. You may feel you have very little dream control and this is totally normal for beginners. That's because the dreamworld obeys very different laws compared to physical reality.

In the waking world, if you want something to happen (like walk forward three steps) you simply will it to happen and your body does the rest. As long as it's within the realm of physical possibility, control of your waking reality is easy.

In a lucid dream, the rules are changed. You are suddenly in possession of a ghostly, ethereal body that can run through walls and travel through time. The dreamworld cares little for Einstein and Newton. The dreamworld is governed by your subconscious mind, and it is your task to work with it - not against it.

The following articles may sound utterly bizarre to non-lucid dreamers, but if you have any lucid dreams under your belt you will begin to understand the language of the subconscious mind. You'll learn how to tame its logic and most importantly control your lucid dreams exactly how you want to.

How to prolong lucid dreams and enhance the clarity and consciousness of your guided dream. Includes a range of very easy dream stabilizing techniques.

How to control your dreams with clarity. My own first-hand lucid dream research with advice on how to actively control and manipulate your lucid dreams.

How to Maintain Dream Control

Three ways to maintain dream control when you start to lose lucidity. Plus, why dream control isn't always what your subconscious dreaming self wants most.

Learn how to create dream characters in your lucid dreams. These six ways of summoning new characters will help you understand the nature of dream control.

Setting a lucid dream intention means consciously planning an objective to fulfill to make your lucid dreams more rewarding. Find inspiration here...

Five lucid dream challenges for beginners: have flying dreams, taste delicious foods, run through walls, go star-gazing and talk to your subconscious mind...

Tibetan Dream Yoga is a similar practice to lucid dreaming in the ancient philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism. Explore new depths to lucidity.

Many people want to have lucid dreaming sex... but can beginners have erotic dreams? And is it ethical to pursue sexual fantasies while lucid dreaming?

Find out what happens when you look at your reflection in a lucid dream mirror... And how to use dream mirrors as portals to alternate dimensions.

Ever wanted to master flying in your lucid dreams? Here's your step-by-step flight training - from bouncing in meadows to rocketing through outer space!

Flying Dreams Infographic

Many beginners want to have flying dreams - but flying in lucid dreams isn't always so intuitive. Here's how to soar like a superhero on your lucid quest.

In the past, I have become conscious rather frequently in my dreams. For example, last night I was interacting with a few of my friends and right when the conversation took its most exciting turn, I realized I was dreaming and gained control of the dream. The only thing I wanted to do was hear the next sentence! I tried to wait out the end of the conversation and even tried to let the dream continue, but now that I was conscious, I couldn't really be surprised by anything that was happening.

What suggestions might you have for actually reaching the part of dreaming where conversation with the subconscious becomes possible? I'm not too worried about the flying or breathing underwater yet (which I actually have done on occasion), but rather, is there a way to really let the dream continue with my conscious mind playing only a minimal part in affecting the actions of others?

Rebecca says: First of all, I applaud your desire to use lucid dreaming for something more profound than just fulfillment :D

This is actually the true meaning of lucid dreaming - it's not primarily about dream control but simply having the conscious clarity of thought to enjoy the dream in a more vivid and meaningful context.

When you become lucid, heighten your awareness (rub your hands together and remind yourself you're dreaming) but refrain from exerting any other conscious will over the dream. I find if I passively explore the dreamscape for a minute (walk round a corner, through a dream door, etc) the dream picks up again on its own and I become wrapped up in the story.

If you're hanging around and still nothing happens, try actively handing the dream back to your subconscious. Say out loud "Show me something that will blow my mind!" or "Take me somewhere really cool!" Tell the dream what you want... not specifically, but that you're open to anything happening.

Or you can go somewhere to deliberately be an observer: go to a city and sit on the top of a building and observe the streets below. Lock onto a dream character you find interesting - and follow them.

Another experiment is to find a portal - a mirror, door or even a wardrobe - and jump through, expecting to find something amazing the other side (perhaps a house from the past, or a spaceship of the future). Having an expectation will admittedly start to shape the result - because you don't want to be standing at the back of an empty wardrobe, not having traveled anywhere! But it opens new possibilities for the subconscious to create a new scene with new characters and developments.

In summary, give the dream a little nudge, keep exploring, and it will resume its own path...