If you are unfamiliar with the term, a lucid dream is one in which you are aware that you are dreaming. Lucid, of course denotes consciousness. The extent to which you are lucid within your dream depends on how stable the dream is, how much of the dream you can recall upon waking and how much control you have over the course of the dream.

Control over your dream is the most important element of Lucid Dreaming. It is an incredible experience to be in the midst of a dream and to know that you are in fact dreaming. You are in control of everything in your dream and can have any experience you choose to have.

Just consider that for a moment. Lucid Dreaming looks, feels and engages all of your other senses as if it were really happening but you know that you are only dreaming and will be totally safe no matter what you do. This is the kind of virtual reality experience which computer experts can only dream of creating!

A growing number of people are mastering Lucid Dreaming and trying it for themselves. While most of us have an experience with Lucid Dreaming at some point in our lives, just imagine how great it would be to have a Lucid Dram any time you choose!

Lucid Dreaming gives you the opportunity to have any experience that you can think of. You can meet anyone you ever wanted to, visit other planets, have unbridled erotic experiences, speak with the loved ones you have lost; anything you can imagine can happen.

Being able to experience Lucid Dreaming on a regular basis is something which used to take a long time to be able to do. Some people spent months before they could have a Lucid Dream - and some were never able to master the technique.

So are there any simple ways of experiencing a Lucid Dream?

There are those who maintain that certain foods can foster Lucid Dreaming if eaten before bed; among these are mustard, dairy products and orange juice.

Others recommend popcorn, pickles, fish and ice cream. While these people say that these foods prepare your mind for Lucid Dreaming, it should be noted that many of them are also high in salt and fat, which won’t necessarily help you to get a good night’s rest.

Can Technology Assist You?

New technologies can make it somewhat easier to experience Lucid Dreaming. There are devices which can help to stimulate you to have Lucid Dreams such as eyeshades and sleep masks which activate a LED when rapid eye movements are detected. This light reminds you that you are dreaming; letting you take control of the dream!

Another of the new developments is an audio technology known as binaural beats. Different frequencies are played in each ear of the listener; this has been found to be helpful in achieving Lucid Dreams.

These binaural frequencies synchronize the hemispheres of the brain; by listening to these frequencies, the brain is helped to achieve REM sleep, the sleep state necessary for Lucid Dreaming.

If you have always wanted to experience Lucid Dreaming for yourself, binaural sound presents the quickest and easiest way to begin.

Lucid Dreaming or Conscious Dreaming is the art of being aware that one is actually dreaming. In simple words, while in dream, you are aware that all the events are not happening in fact, or ‘It’s Just A Dream!’ kind of situation. There is certain amount of control you can exercise while lucid dreaming, which is not the case in normal dreams.

The power of having complete control over the direction of your dreams is something straight out of metaphysical existence. Suddenly, all the limitations you ever felt in life just cease to exist.

However, is it really that easy to have lucid dreams? Can anyone experience lucid dreaming and reap the benefits?

In fact, lucid dreaming is not too difficult a task. If you are determined to learn this powerful medium of expressing your inner desires, there are tried and tested ways of achieving this.

First, you must decide exactly what you want to accomplish here. Are you just trying to make your dreams a playground through lucid dreaming, or is there a specific goal which you are aiming to achieve through lucid dreaming? Whatever your reason, you should be clear and determined about it.

Then starts the actual process of learning this art. Firstly, you need to learn a process, called Dream Recall, i.e., recalling a dream you had the previous night. Unless you remember a dream, you can’t achieve the stage of lucid dreaming.

This is not going to be an overnight kind of process. You should keep a dream recall register to begin writing down every single detail you can recall of your dreams every day. You will find your capacity for dream call improving as you do so. Try implementing “reality checks” during your dreams to begin training your mind to be alert as you dream.

Many people have found that hypnosis can drastically reduce the time needed to prepare your subconscious mind to experience lucid dreaming. Often just one of two hypnosis sessions will allow you to consistently remember all of your dreams. Once this occurs your mind is then conditioned for lucid dreaming.

While in a lucid dream, it may happen that suddenly, you are wide-awake. However, with the power that you have attained so far, you’ll be easily able to recollect all the important details of the dream. Now, just try to relax and sleep again, while continuing the dream with the desired directions. When you wake up, you’ll realize the real power of conscious dreaming you just experienced the night before.

Another good way of inducing lucid dreams is to wake a few hours earlier than usual, then go back to sleep. The dreams you will have in these few hours are the easiest to make into lucid dreams. You may even find yourself unsure whether you have been sleeping or just thinking to yourself as you lay in bed. Just set your alarm for a few hours early, wake and reset the alarm and then go back to sleep and you will be more likely to have lucid dreams.

When learning lucid dreaming, it helps to be well aware of your sleep patterns so you know when the best times for you to have lucid dreams are.

Lucid dreaming can actually help you fight sleeping disorders, like insomnia. Whenever you are struggling to sleep at the normal sleeping hours, you just need to tell your mind that sleeping equals lucid dreaming, and your mind will take care of all the thoughts that are preventing you from falling asleep.

Up until recently learning the art of lucid dreaming was a time consuming process. However recent advances in sound technologies have made things drastically easier for anyone to experience lucid dreaming.

One of the quickest and most reliable methods of inducing lucid dreaming is to listen to binaural beats audio.

Binaural audio involves listening to two slightly different frequencies in each ear. This synchronizes brain waves to the state where lucid dreaming is most likely to occur and at the same time causes deep relaxation.

Before binaural audio technology, meditation was the method of choice for those wanting to learn lucid dreaming, and this was a process which could sometimes take years to master. Many simply gave up, not having the determination to pursue the practice.

By listening to binaural sound waves, particular when combined with hypnosis to prepare the subconscious mind, it is possible for you to experience lucid dreaming very soon after your first attempt.