Stop thinking that more awareness equals easy lucid dreams awareness and lucidity
Stop thinking that more awareness equals easy lucid dreams awareness and lucidity

are often conflated to mean the same thing in fact, if you look on any lucid
are often conflated to mean the same thing in fact, if you look on any lucid

dreaming website or anywhere else you'll find that mindfulness practice meditation
dreaming website or anywhere else you'll find that mindfulness practice meditation

Anything leading to awareness is often touted as being a great way to have
Anything leading to awareness is often touted as being a great way to have

lucid dreams but that's not exactly true.
lucid dreams but that's not exactly true.

And if you follow that path, you'll end up barking up the wrong tree well,
And if you follow that path, you'll end up barking up the wrong tree well,

that's if you didn't have this video.
that's if you didn't have this video.

So, by the end of today's video, you're going to learn that meditation and
So, by the end of today's video, you're going to learn that meditation and

mindfulness will not lead to lucid dreams unless you do it in the right way.
mindfulness will not lead to lucid dreams unless you do it in the right way.

And that's exactly what this video is all about, teaching you
And that's exactly what this video is all about, teaching you

how to use awareness correctly
how to use awareness correctly

for lucid dreaming.
for lucid dreaming.

So, first things first.
So, first things first.

I've been teaching lucid dreaming for decades and in that time I've
I've been teaching lucid dreaming for decades and in that time I've

had professional meditation teachers top of their game, come to me
had professional meditation teachers top of their game, come to me

wondering why, when they're so good at meditation, when they're so hyper
wondering why, when they're so good at meditation, when they're so hyper

aware why can't they have lucid dreams?
aware why can't they have lucid dreams?

Well, it's because awareness and lucidity are two very different things
Well, it's because awareness and lucidity are two very different things

awareness is a muscle you build and use towards lucidity but just
awareness is a muscle you build and use towards lucidity but just

throwing meditation into your practice, willy nilly is not going
throwing meditation into your practice, willy nilly is not going

to achieve regular lucid dreams.
to achieve regular lucid dreams.

And it really doesn't help that there are terms like...
And it really doesn't help that there are terms like...

Dreams of awareness which are completely misleading.
Dreams of awareness which are completely misleading.

Because even though awareness is a component to lucidity it is
Because even though awareness is a component to lucidity it is

definitely not the main component.
definitely not the main component.

It's only one functional element of true lucidity so, how do you use awareness?
It's only one functional element of true lucidity so, how do you use awareness?

For lucid dreaming.
For lucid dreaming.

So I want you to forget everything you think you know about awareness and lucid
So I want you to forget everything you think you know about awareness and lucid

dreaming, and let's start from scratch.
dreaming, and let's start from scratch.

Let's do an experiment right now, I want you to take your hand and to
Let's do an experiment right now, I want you to take your hand and to

become incredibly aware of your hand.
become incredibly aware of your hand.

Focus on the sensations in your hand, the heat, the position everything you can.
Focus on the sensations in your hand, the heat, the position everything you can.

Become very aware of how your hand feels.
Become very aware of how your hand feels.

And you'll notice that awareness isn't that difficult it's just a
And you'll notice that awareness isn't that difficult it's just a

case of where you place your focus.
case of where you place your focus.

And focus is the key word but we'll get to that in a moment.
And focus is the key word but we'll get to that in a moment.

But as you're aware of your hand...
But as you're aware of your hand...

Bear in mind that you're completely unaware of the sensations in your left
Bear in mind that you're completely unaware of the sensations in your left

foot until now that I've mentioned it and your awareness shifts to your left foot.
foot until now that I've mentioned it and your awareness shifts to your left foot.

And now that you're focusing on your foot, you may still have a vague
And now that you're focusing on your foot, you may still have a vague

sensation of the feeling in your hand, but you're also not aware of your
sensation of the feeling in your hand, but you're also not aware of your

breathing which suddenly you are now.
breathing which suddenly you are now.

Now that you're aware of your breathing, you're probably not aware of the like
Now that you're aware of your breathing, you're probably not aware of the like

button, and the subscribe button, and the comment section So prove that you
button, and the subscribe button, and the comment section So prove that you

are and hit the like button, subscribe if you're new here, and leave a comment.
are and hit the like button, subscribe if you're new here, and leave a comment.

So awareness itself isn't that difficult, and essentially what most people mean
So awareness itself isn't that difficult, and essentially what most people mean

when they use the word awareness is
when they use the word awareness is

focus
focus

but bear in mind something very important when you were
but bear in mind something very important when you were

practicing awareness just then.
practicing awareness just then.

Did you at any point question whether you were dreaming?
Did you at any point question whether you were dreaming?

Was that part of your awareness practice?
Was that part of your awareness practice?

Probably not.
Probably not.

You were probably so intent on focusing on those things that you
You were probably so intent on focusing on those things that you

forgot to question your reality.
forgot to question your reality.

So awareness itself, or focus to be more precise is actually leading you
So awareness itself, or focus to be more precise is actually leading you

away From lucidity, if used incorrectly.
away From lucidity, if used incorrectly.

If you focus on focus, but not on questioning reality, on reality
If you focus on focus, but not on questioning reality, on reality

tests, then awareness actually becomes a distraction in your non lucid
tests, then awareness actually becomes a distraction in your non lucid

dreams, you are technically aware.
dreams, you are technically aware.

It's just the focus of your awareness is nothing to do with lucid dreaming.
It's just the focus of your awareness is nothing to do with lucid dreaming.

And this is why people who are really experienced with meditation don't
And this is why people who are really experienced with meditation don't

automatically have lucid dreams.
automatically have lucid dreams.

Because even though their muscles of focus and awareness are strong they are
Because even though their muscles of focus and awareness are strong they are

aimed in the wrong direction in fact, it can even be a hindrance to these people.
aimed in the wrong direction in fact, it can even be a hindrance to these people.

Because they've developed such a strong sense of awareness and focus
Because they've developed such a strong sense of awareness and focus

what they've actually created, is an incredibly compelling distraction away
what they've actually created, is an incredibly compelling distraction away

from the skills required for lucidity.
from the skills required for lucidity.

Awareness and focus are only useful for lucid dreaming when they are targeted on
Awareness and focus are only useful for lucid dreaming when they are targeted on

the skills required So, what does this all mean, and what can you do instead?
the skills required So, what does this all mean, and what can you do instead?

Well, if you want to use meditation mindfulness and focus for lucid dreaming
Well, if you want to use meditation mindfulness and focus for lucid dreaming

you have to remember that what you're really doing is building a muscle
you have to remember that what you're really doing is building a muscle

that will be used for something else
that will be used for something else

it is not the muscle building itself or the strength of that
it is not the muscle building itself or the strength of that

muscle Which leads to lucidity.
muscle Which leads to lucidity.

You build that strength so it's a tool for the skills required
You build that strength so it's a tool for the skills required

but what are those skills?
but what are those skills?

So let's look at standard mindfulness meditation awareness practice
So let's look at standard mindfulness meditation awareness practice

often you focus on your breathing.
often you focus on your breathing.

And if thoughts enter your mind, you let them float by
And if thoughts enter your mind, you let them float by

and you maintain your focus on that central point.
and you maintain your focus on that central point.

on your breathing all very good if you want to build the muscles of
on your breathing all very good if you want to build the muscles of

awareness and focus, but not very good for lucidity, because if you're
awareness and focus, but not very good for lucidity, because if you're

so focused on breathing alone, that itself becomes a distraction from the
so focused on breathing alone, that itself becomes a distraction from the

priority for lucid dreamers which is Questioning your current state of reality.
priority for lucid dreamers which is Questioning your current state of reality.

That is the focal point for lucid dreamers.
That is the focal point for lucid dreamers.

To be a skilled lucid dreamer, your ability to focus needs to
To be a skilled lucid dreamer, your ability to focus needs to

be strengthened so that you can use it for the right things.
be strengthened so that you can use it for the right things.

And the right things are this.
And the right things are this.

You need to focus on the priority question, Is this real?
You need to focus on the priority question, Is this real?

Am I dreaming?
Am I dreaming?

What is going on right now?
What is going on right now?

And when you're focusing on that, you then engage critical thinking
And when you're focusing on that, you then engage critical thinking

skills and observational skills
skills and observational skills

and this isn't just vaguely being aware of what's going on around you
and this isn't just vaguely being aware of what's going on around you

this is focusing on the world being present and aware and then asking the
this is focusing on the world being present and aware and then asking the

question, Is this a dream right now?
question, Is this a dream right now?

Is this real?
Is this real?

And then using your critical thinking skills and reality tests, you
And then using your critical thinking skills and reality tests, you

make an assessment based on that.
make an assessment based on that.

So, mindfulness is only a tool in order to facilitate those skills.
So, mindfulness is only a tool in order to facilitate those skills.

Think about it this way.
Think about it this way.

You can be incredibly aware.
You can be incredibly aware.

In a nightmare.
In a nightmare.

When you're being chased by the drooling demon zombies, you are very
When you're being chased by the drooling demon zombies, you are very

aware of your fear you are very aware of trying to escape the zombies, and
aware of your fear you are very aware of trying to escape the zombies, and

you are very aware of their breath on your neck that dream is full of
you are very aware of their breath on your neck that dream is full of

awareness, but it's not a lucid dream.
awareness, but it's not a lucid dream.

In order to turn that into a lucid dream, that focus, that awareness needs
In order to turn that into a lucid dream, that focus, that awareness needs

to turn inwards and question the nature of your reality your priority question.
to turn inwards and question the nature of your reality your priority question.

As a lucid dreamer, it's always, is this real?
As a lucid dreamer, it's always, is this real?

Or is this a dream?
Or is this a dream?

What is going on right now?
What is going on right now?

And that engages critical thinking, observation, and reality testing.
And that engages critical thinking, observation, and reality testing.

So, more awareness definitely doesn't equal more lucid dreams, but more
So, more awareness definitely doesn't equal more lucid dreams, but more

awareness about the right things does.
awareness about the right things does.

And you can gain more awareness about lucid dreaming by watching one of
And you can gain more awareness about lucid dreaming by watching one of

the videos on the screen right now.
the videos on the screen right now.