Can Gadgets Get You to Dream? - By: Bruce Gelerter

Can Gadgets Get You to Dream?

After learning about the phenomenon of lucid dreaming, everyone always has the same burning question: How can I learn to have lucid dreams? While the best method for teaching yourself how to have a lucid dream varies from person-to-person, there are a few principles that are widely accepted in the lucid dreaming community:

· Performing habitual reality checks
· Recognizing dream signs
· Improving dream recall
· Using a lucid dream machine or mechanical lucid dream aid

Using a gadget or a device to induce lucid dreaming (called an "externally induced lucid dream") is much easier than having a lucid dream on your own. While a lucid dream machine will not automatically induce a lucid dream, the use of such lucid dream devices is instrumental in most lucid dreamers' methodology.

Types of Lucid Dreaming Aids

Lucid dream aids fall into a few broad categories:

· Dream Masks
· Tone Generators
· Biofeedback Mechanisms
· Vibrating Devices
· Drugs

By far, the most reliable of these is the dream mask while the most tenuous is the use of drugs. For obvious reasons, imbibing chemicals or hormones is largely cautioned against for lucid dream induction. The potential health hazards as well as the question of whether or not someone is having a lucid dream or merely a fevered delusion rules out the use of pills for lucid dream induction.

Dream masks, on the other hand, are biologically unobtrusive and induce natural lucid dreams. Some dream masks, such as The Dream Mask by The Dream Mask LLC, couple the strengths of dream masks with other technology, such as the tone generator.

How Dream Masks Work

Dream masks work by detecting the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage in sleep and alerting your subconscious that you are dreaming. The REM cycle is the best indicator that someone is receptive to lucid dreams. On average, a person has about four or five REM cycles throughout the night. Each one is an opportunity to induce a lucid dream.

The Dream Mask does this on two fronts. When the Dream Mask detects that have entered into a receptive dream state, flashing LED lights are activated that can be seen through your eyelids. These lights mimic the natural flashes and tracers that you see while falling asleep and cue your mind to awaken and begin lucid dreaming.

LED lights can be adjusted and programmed to flash at different intervals throughout the night. In this way, the Dream Mask can be customized to bet fit the users' sleep cycle.

The Dream Mask also includes a tone generator. Like an alarm clock, the tone generator wakes up part of your mind, but allows you to keep dreaming. Some people train themselves to respond to auditory cues by becoming aware and entering a lucid dream, such that the induction happens on a completely subconscious level. Others use the Dream Masks' tone generation capabilities in conjunction with the LED lights.

Supplemental Techniques

As with any tool, you can get the most out of the Dream Mask by learning a few additional techniques. Once you are in a lucid dream induced by the Dream Mask, you'll want to retain your awareness. One way to do this is by doing a "reality check." Make a habit of asking yourself throughout the day, "Am I awake or am I dreaming?" This habit will carry over into your dreams, and by asking yourself this you will be able to retain your lucidity.

You can also learn to recognize dream signs. Dream signs are telltale indicators that you are in a dream and help you to realize that you are, in fact dreaming. These include:

· Failed electronics.
· Odd lighting.
· Disproportional objects.
· Inability to run.
· Ability to pass objects through your body.
· Altered passage or perception of time.
· Garbled letters on signs.

Many people also find it useful to repeat affirmations to themselves as they fall asleep. Saying to yourself, "I will control my dreams," or "I will dream that I am flying," over and over will keep the notion in your mind as you transfer over to the dream world.

For some people, having a lucid dream is easier when on an irregular sleep pattern. Waking up in the middle of the night and spending about 30 to 60 minutes thinking about or reading about lucid dreaming can "prime" the mind for a lucid dream. Others find that merely going to bed at a different time or skipping a night of sleep can bring about a lucid dream.

In order to consistently experience lucid dreams, it is best to combine lucid dream techniques with lucid dream machines. By covering both the psychological and mechanical fronts, you'll greatly increase your chances of inducing a lucid dream.

About the Author

Bruce Gelerter Find out how YOU can Lucid Dream by visiting us at http://www.thedreammask.com

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Bruce-Gelerter/39329

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