Suddenly I was wide awake in my dream. I felt like flying, jumped into the air and shot off. The wind in my face and pink lakes beneath me. Then I woke up ..."
This is how a woman describes a so-called lucid dream in an internet forum. And it's not just a crazy dream. It is a state of consciousness in which you know exactly that you are dreaming. But because all the senses are active, the experience still feels real. It is estimated that half of all adults have experienced something like this at least once. Mostly by chance. But there are also talented people who can deliberately induce a lucid dream. They are called oneironauts.
Some can easily teach themselves new things in their sleep
Lucid dreams can be very different: Some people "only" remember their everyday life, others can spin together the plot of their dream themselves and even acquire psychic abilities. They create their own movie, in which they naturally play the leading role. Become the queen of chocolate land? Drink cocktails on a dream beach with George Clooney? Fly through space? No problem at all. But not only that is possible: some talented people can even learn and practise various things in a lucid dream. The German psychologist, dream researcher and sports scientist Paul Tholey used lucid dreams to practice skating or snowboarding, for example. He did this until he finally mastered both sports in reality. Admittedly, this all sounds strange at first. But lucid dreaming is actually a scientifically proven phenomenon. But what actually happens in the brain when you fall asleep? Roughly speaking, sleep can be divided into three phases: light sleep, deep sleep and REM sleep. In this third phase, eye movements, breathing and the body's energy consumption skyrocket and we dream intensely. Normally, the higher consciousness that allows us to reflect on ourselves is not active. In a lucid dream, however, it switches on, the sleeper notices that he is dreaming and can analyze his thoughts and feelings as he would in the waking phase. But some people also worry. Isn't that dangerous? What if I can no longer tell the difference between dreams and reality? These fears are unfounded. According to experts, you may be confused when you wake up, but this only lasts for a short time. And sleep is no less restful than with "normal" dreaming.
Anyone can learn lucid dreaming
Exactly why the brain "switches over" is not yet clear. Lucid dreaming tends to be a niche area of research. This is because people who reliably lucid dream are rare. This makes research under the complicated conditions that prevail in a sleep laboratory difficult. However, experts agree that everyone can learn to lucid dream. And it holds great potential. Lucid dreaming is already being used to treat nightmares. The idea behind this therapy is that a dream whose action you can determine yourself is not frightening. Other scientists want to use lucid dreams to explore the human consciousness and understand what exactly changes in the brain when it suddenly changes its level of consciousness from one moment to the next.
With all these possibilities, it is hardly surprising that lucid dreaming is also quite popular outside of science. There are tons of instructions on the subject online. There are also a number of stores offering devices that are supposed to enable lucid dreaming. Their effectiveness has not been scientifically proven. If you are curious, it is better to browse www.klartraumforum.de. This is where enthusiasts discuss the best techniques. Their motivation is clear: to have fun. Dreamwalkers are particularly fascinated by the prospect of superhuman abilities. So, have you got the urge to dream?
Here's how to enter the wonderful world of lucid dreaming
The good news: the ability to control our dreams lies dormant in all of us. The bad news is that it doesn't happen overnight. Some training is required. Researchers recommend a combination of different methods. The key is to be patient and practise diligently.
The reality check: the most common trick. Ask yourself five to ten times during the day: "Am I dreaming or am I awake?" Or hold your nose briefly and try to breathe in - something that doesn't work in reality. These checks become a habit for the subconscious, and sooner or later they can also be used in dreams. However, it can take a few months to get to this point.
Bedtime ritual: Just before you fall asleep, repeat the sentence over and over again: "The next time I dream, I will remember that I am dreaming."
Wake up on time: Set your alarm clock five to six hours after you fall asleep. When you wake up, stay awake for a while, think about what you dreamed and then go back to sleep. This should ensure that you are mentally more alert in the second sleep phase.
Keep a dream diary: Have a notebook or notepad ready in which you write down exactly what you experienced in slumberland after waking up. Not just the action, but also feelings, smells and impressions.