Dream Control
Dream control is similar to lucid dreaming, but the two are not one and the same. In dream control, one has the ability to actually change things in their dreams, such as the landscape, the setting or the event. Where lucid dreaming allows one to fully experience the sensation of their dream as if it is reality, controlling dreams places one in complete control of what happens, although this is an ability that takes a lot of time to learn.
How to Control Your Dreams
You can’t learn how to control your dreams without first being in a lucid dream, so the first step is to learn the process of lucid dreaming. Keep a dream journal and pencil next to your bed so you can record your dream recollection upon waking, while it is still fresh in your mind. Write down any memories from your dream immediately, before going to the bathroom and before speaking to anybody after waking. Some tips for learning dream control include:
- Set your alarm according to a 90-minute sleep cycle (set it to go off seven or eight and a half hours after you go to bed). Research shows that waking at the end of a 90-minute sleep cycle will increase the chance that you will be dreaming when you’re awakened by the alarm.
- Tell yourself repeatedly to remember your dreams as you fall asleep. Doing so will increase the chance that you will.
- Drink a lot of water before going to bed to increase the chance that you will wake up at some point in the night. This will increase your opportunities to dream.
- Learn to recognize your dreams. Most people dream about the same places or settings, and with practice you will start to realize when you’re in your dream world.
- Enjoy the dream. Once you reach a point of lucidity in your dream, you will recognize that you are dreaming. The first time this occurs you will probably awaken immediately, but once you accept you’re dreaming, you will be able to stay in your dream to fully enjoy the experience of living your fantasy.
- Try changing one small thing in your dream to start, like making your favorite dessert materialize in front of you. Eventually, you will be able to chance anything you want in your dream, from the landscape to the people who inhabit it.
You may find that you cannot control every dream you have. When this happens, simply accept your dream and go with the flow of it, however; with increased practice, your ability will become stronger and you will find yourself recalling and enjoying your dreams more thoroughly than ever before.
Disclaimer: These statements and products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult your physician regarding any sleeping disorders.
