Many people hear the words “lucid dreams” and find themselves wondering “what are lucid dreams?” They find themselves seeking ways to define lucid dreams and what it means to have them. Here is the simple version for those of you who are wondering what lucid dreams are and how to define lucid dreams: lucid dreams are dreams in which you know that you are dreaming.
A lucid dream can happen in one of two ways. The first and far more common way that lucid dreams happen is this: at some point in the dream you realize that you are dreaming. The second and far rarer way that lucid dreams happen is that a person has one on purpose. It is possible to induce lucid dreams and it is a skill that people who are fascinated by the dream world covet.
To define lucid dreams and to really explain what lucid dreams are, however, is a little bit more complicated. To understand what lucid dreams are and to know how to define lucid dreams involves understanding the subject of dreams as a whole.
Do you know why you dream? Do you know when you dream? Scientists have been able to prove that a person has multiple dreams during one night of sleep. The dreams seem to coincide with each cycle of sleep, but the dreams that are categorized as lucid dreams almost always happen during the REM cycle of sleep. It is during this cycle of sleep that the brain shows activity that is similar to that of a person who is awake. Why this is when lucid dreams occur is still a mystery. Scientists have yet to pinpoint the exact area or areas of the brain from which dreams originate. In fact, scientists are still out on what dreams really are, how they happen and why they happen. There is no evidence that shows any sort of hormone being released to encourage the brain to dream, and dreams aren't mappable on the brain.
Many people find that dreams are the brain's subconscious. The subconscious observes everything in your daily life and dreams could be a way for the subconscious to figure out those situations and what they mean. Some early psychologists thought that dreams tapped into a collective unconscious. The jury is still out on what they are, but one thing most knowledgeable people seem to agree on is this: dreams are a way to work through your waking life.
This is why lucid dreams are so popular. Some people find that they can control the events of a lucid dream and so lucid dreams become a way for the conscious mind to work through the waking life, but without any of the waking life's consequences. You can see why it is hard to define lucid dreams and hard to explain exactly what are lucid dreams and why you have them. One thing is certain though, once you have a lucid dream, you are going to want to have another one.
Lucid Dreaming Tip #1
Lucid Dreams can be very addictive. Once you realize you are dreaming, especially if you have developed the ability to control the actions taking place in your dreams, you are going to want to have more dreams just like that. There is a lot of information that will tell you how to induce lucid dreams and how to make them a regular part of your sleep cycle.
Lucid Dreaming Tip #2
Nobody is sure exactly how dreams happen. Scientists know that during REM sleep the brain's activity is almost like the activity of a brain of a person who is awake, but nobody is sure why this is or how it happens. Scientists don't know if the brain generates dreams or if the body forces the brain to be active during REM sleep.
Lucid Dreaming Tip #3
Analyzing dreams is one of the most popular areas of psychology. There are lots of resources for people who are trying to figure out the symbolism of their dreams. There are online dream dictionaries and dream encyclopedias for sale at bookstores. Analyzing the individual symbols of a person's dream can help that person deal with areas of their waking life and this is why it is such a popular subject.
