So, you're interested in learning to lucid dream,
but you don't know where to start.
I'm a best-selling lucid dreaming author, and have over three decades
of lucid dream experience.
This video will tell you everything you need to know
before you start your adventure. So if you want to skip
30 years of learning and mistakes, watch this video.
A lucid dream is simply a dream in which you know that you are dreaming.
You've probably already had one. Most people have.
It's a skill you can learn. But even though
a lot of people will tell you that you can learn to have lucid dreams easily --
or even tonight -- in reality, like any skill, it takes time and effort.
Yes, you might get lucky and have one tonight; but to do so regularly
is something that takes continued practice.
Controlling dreams isn't lucid dreaming. That's a separate skill
that you learn after you learn to lucid dream.
Lucid dreaming is simply knowing that you're dreaming.
Most lucid dreamers quickly develop dream control once
they start to develop the ability to lucid dream.
There are no guaranteed methods for lucid dreaming.
Each dreamer has to experiment and find their own technique.
Anyone who claims they have the perfect techniques
is lying to you. However, there are
thousands of techniques you can try. So if you keep
experimenting, you're bound to find one that works for you.
So try different things, and have fun!
However, there are a few great core techniques
to get started with. These are the bread and butter of lucid dreaming
practice. The first is reality testing.
This is the act of regularly questioning if you are dreaming,
and performing a test to check.
You're probably familiar with the famous idea of pinching yourself
to see if you're dreaming. A reality test
is very similar to this. During the day,
whenever something unusual or dreamlike happens,
seriously ask yourself, "Am I dreaming?".
Then, pinch your nose and try to breathe through it.
When awake, you will obviously not be able to breathe.
However, when dreaming, you will find it easy to breathe --
because you're only pinching a dream nose -- and
this will let you know that you're dreaming.
There are many other reality checks to choose from.
You can try to read text, which is often unstable
and changes in dreams; or choose from the many
other reality checks others have invented.
The important thing to remember is to reality test
as often as possible during your waking hours.
This way, you're building a habit that will eventually transfer
into your dreams. And when it does, you will have the
absolutely amazing experience of realising
that you're dreaming within a dream.
One of the most effective techniques for lucid dreaming
is known as the Wake Back to Bed technique.
This is the simple act of disturbing your sleep
roughly four to five hours after you go to bed.
Simply set an alarm to wake you up at this time,
spend between 15 to 30 minutes awake,
then return to bed to continue your sleep.
This interruption in your sleep will increase your
mental alertness -- which will, hopefully,
then transfer itself into the dreamworld,
resulting in a lucid dream.
Speaking of techniques, the most important place to start
is to record your dreams. It doesn't matter
how you do it -- in a dream journal, with an app,
or a voice recorder. It's hard work,
but it's worth it. If you don't have a record of
your dreams, you will spend years repeating the same mistakes,
and never learning from experiences.
Some of the very first dream pioneers learned how to lucid dream
just from keeping a dream journal and getting
to know their dreams. The more familiar you are with
your dreams, the more precise you will be able to be
with your reality tests -- as you will know exactly the kind of
events that often occur within your dreams.
So I'll say it again: Record your dreams.
Every expert lucid dreamer does it.
If you're struggling to remember your dreams, there are ways
to improve your dream recall. The easiest way
is to simply remain still with your eyes closed when you wake up.
Take a few minutes to slowly pull back whatever fragments of dreams
you can remember. If you do this each morning, your dream recall
will rapidly improve. Also, before going to bed each night,
tell yourself, "The very first thing I'll do when I wake up
"is remember my dreams".
Setting this intention is a powerful way
to remember your dreams in the morning -- and also increases
your chances of lucidity.
There are two types of lucid dream. The first is known as a DILD,
or Dream Initiated Lucid Dream.
These are dreams where you become aware that you are dreaming
during the dream.
So, essentially, you're adding awareness to dreams.
These are the most common form of lucid dream,
and the one you've most likely experienced.
The second is the Wake Initiated Lucid Dream,
or WILD. These are the exact opposite to a DILD:
these are dreams where you add dreams to awareness --
in other words, where you fall asleep consciously,
and retain your awareness as you fall into the dream.
WILDs deserve the name, as they can
often be very strange. They're considerably
harder to induce; but they are a genuinely astounding experience.
Don't listen to hype. There are people all over the internet
who want to hype up lucid dreaming. Ignore them --
they're idiots. Lucid dreaming is amazing,
but it takes hard work and practice. If someone is
clickbaiting you with claims like "Lucid dream tonight",
or "Lucid dream whenever you want", or wild exaggerations,
they don't know what they're talking about.
Give them the middle-finger salute, and walk away.
If it sounds too good to be true, then it almost certainly is.
Binaural beats are nonsense.
I don't really need to say more than this -- they just don't work.
They're unscientific -- and if you do have a lucid dream when you listen to them,
you did that! So don't give the credit to someone else for lamely recording
eight hours of a computer-generated tone that does nothing.
Be proud of the lucid dream you had. Binaural beats
are nonsense. Don't waste your time -- you're better than that.
Lucid dreaming takes time.
Think of it like learning to play the piano -- because it will take you
roughly the same amount of time to become skilled
at lucid dreaming. And of course, everyone learns at a
different rate. Don't expect miracles overnight -- settle in
for a long and exciting adventure. Most lucid dreamers,
like musicians, spend their lives
honing and improving their skills.
Lucid dreaming is amazing, but it isn't magic.
Technically, you can dream almost anything you wish --
but in reality, there are limitations.
The power of your imagination, the length of an average dream,
even your motivation, will all limit how you lucid dream
and how often you spend trying for one. It's a totally
worthwile and amazing experience -- but don't expect miracles.
No amount of how-to videos, books or devices
will replace the importance of paying attention
to your dreams. Lucid dreaming is a
personal adventure, and you will need to invest your time,
observing and learning about your dreams.
Others can only share their experiences -- yours may differ.
If you're spending more time watching YouTube videos
than you are paying attention to your dreams, then you’re doing it wrong.
If you're subscribed to a channel with clickbait titles like
"Lucid dream tonight", go and unsubscribe
straight after watching this video. These people are misleading you,
and probably care more about clicks than they care about
your ability to lucid dream.
If they're willing to lie to get attention,
can you really trust their advice? Essentially,
they're wasting your time -- and you've only got one life.
Choose where you invest your time carefully.
Don't worry if you find lucid dreaming difficult --
because it is!
You're trying to make your brain do something extraordinary.
Lucid dreaming is essentially dream hacking.
Give yourself, and your brain, some credit.
Your mind is amazing -- learning to make it do something as
complicated and out-of-the-ordinary as lucid dreaming
is going to take time and dedication.
When you learn to lucid dream, you will have a thousand questions --
and each new lucid dream will give you more.
Make the most of the lucid dreaming community, and don't be afraid to ask.
Don't just listen to the biggest YouTuber,
one expert, or the first answer you get.
Ask as many people as you can,
and get a wide selection of opinions.
There are no final experts on lucid dreaming,
so get a variety of views. If you have any questions,
drop them in the comments below -- and I and other lucid dreamers
will do our best to answer. Subscribe to this channel,
and hit the bell button so you never miss a video.
I promise to bring you the most experienced,
professional lucid dreaming advice, and the widest resources
you can find on YouTube. The subscribers to this channel
are among the most talented lucid dreamers on the planet,
with a huge selection of experiences -- and they're
always happy to share their advice. Join the channel,
and you will be in good hands. Your adventure into lucid dreaming
will be one of the most exciting and rewarding
journeys you will choose to take. Remember:
stay smart, and always question the advice you're given.
Most importantly, become friends with your dreams.
They, more than anything else, will be the key to unlocking
lucid dreaming. Of course, there's so much more to learn.
There can never be a true complete
guide to lucid dreams. Lucid dreaming is a lifelong adventure,
full of surprises. Who knows?
You may even be the person to make a brand-new discovery
and change the world of lucid dreaming.
So, stay lucid and prepare yourself
for the adventure of a lifetime.
If you'd like to get really in-depth, then pick up a copy of my book
"Are You Dreaming?" for a more complete guide.
But remember: Your dreams
will always be your truest guide to lucid dreaming.
I'm Daniel Love, The Lucid Guide.
And until next time, stay lucid!