Astral 101: Exploring Without Fear

Lucid Lesson

By Ryan Boyd

Maintaining and stabilizing the lucid dream was the tip of the iceberg.  There are so many possibilities in lucid dreaming, and the one we will be focusing on today is movement through the dream-space.  If you can’t direct yourself throughout the lucid dream, you probably won’t experience the full spectrum of possibilities within it.  In this lesson we will discuss 3 quotes from Lucid Dreaming by Robert Waggoner that discuss how to interact and move through the dream environment:

Lesson #5:  “The dream space largely mirrors your ideas, expectations, and beliefs about it.  By changing your expectations and beliefs, you change the dream space.  Realizing mental space responds best to mental manipulations, you let go of physical manipulations and use the wings of your mind.”

An example of this is when some people in a dream think that they can barely move or cannot fly, they won’t be able to.  Knowing that it is a dream, you can change your expectation of gravity, and therefore allowing yourself to move more freely.  You create the dream physics.

Lesson #6:  “The mind, emotions, and mental action precede the effect.”
As stated in Spirit Science lesson 1, when you do something you have to have thought of it first.  In the dream world, this is more than just true; it’s one of the ‘laws’ so to speak.  You can create anything, and I mean ANYTHING if you think it in the dream.  I wish I had a big bowl of ice cream.  Boom, its right in front of you.  I wish I was on the top of that building.  You’re already there.  Just think about it and it will happen.  This doesn’t necessarily mean you control the dream; just that you control where you are in it and what you experience in it.  But, you will soon find that not everything goes according to plan.  Moving on.

Lesson #7:  “Concentrating on the goal as your sole focus, then intending yourself there, moves your awareness effortlessly”

Enough said, just focus on what you want to do/where you want to be and then intend to do it/be there.  I actually want to add the next quote into this explanation, as it directly ties in with quote 7.  The quote is, “When you focus on your goal, you attract your goal.  When you focus on fears, you attract your fears.  In a mental space, your focus matters because it naturally draws you to the area of focus.”  Relating to the major topic, when you want to overcome a fear in the astral plane, you don’t have to confront it.  You can simply not allow it into your energy field by shifting your focus to something else.  This all applies to astral projection, because these same techniques are used to move and interact there.  It is the thought realm, so it would only make sense.  Now, on to the main bulk of the article.

Protection
Although ignoring something unpleasant in Astral can work, some things in Astral cannot be ignored.  A solid way to overcome fear and be safe is to defensively arm yourself.  There are three main techniques widely used among the spiritually aware to become protected, and they are known as Grounding, Shielding, and Filtering.  The Maharic Seal from Kathara teachings is essentially all three of these in one, but I prefer to do them separately and in sequence, because they compliment each other in that way and it can become a more personal technique rather than an all-encompassing one.  If you want to check out Kathara teachings, find the Keylontic Sciences category in the SS forum.  I personally disagree with some of their methods, but the sheer amount of information the teachings discuss is formidable.  To each his own I guess.  Now, let’s begin.

Grounding

In basic terms, grounding is the connecting and anchoring of your energy to the Earth.  There is a more complex version of it that doesn’t involve the earth but anchors you in a thought form, idea or resolve.
Grounding is done so that our energies do not fluctuate and waver, so that they remain constant and so that we can grow at a steady pace.  When we focus on spiritual things, especially the subject of astral projection, we begin to disconnect from our physical reality.  Through grounding we allow ourselves to reconnect and become rooted in the earth’s nourishing embrace.  A grounding meditation will assist us with this, so I’ll give an example of one now.  I’m not claiming this meditation is the best one out there; it is just one I tend to use.  I suggest everyone find their own way to connect to the earth.

Begin by sitting comfortably, preferably on a chair so your feet can touch the ground.  The location can be anywhere, just as long as you feel connected to nature.  Close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply, in through your nose, out through your mouth.  Feel where the air touches you and where you touch the air.  Do this for however long you feel is necessary.  Feel where your clothes touch you and where you touch your clothes (Likewise with this step). Finally, feel where you touch the ground and where the ground touches you.  At this point, you feel at one with your surroundings.  Suddenly, you start to feel very heavy.  You feel yourself sinking into the ground slowly.  Continue to breathe deeply, in through your nose, out through your mouth.  With every inhale, draw in energy from the earth, allowing it to fill your entire body.  Visualize yourself as a tree, and your feet extending as roots into the center of the earth.  Allow yourself at this moment to appreciate everything the earth has provided for you.  This connection will stay solid as long as you believe it will.  Bring yourself back into your regular consciousness and know that there is nothing to fear, as you have a direct relationship with the earth and nothing can break that bond.
This meditation has many variations, but the general idea is to establish a connection to the earth or anything that can resemble your foundation.  This can be your purpose, your reason for existing, your reason for fighting, or your personal dreams and goals.  Connecting and becoming acquainted with a foundation will bring you closer to it as well as create a harmonic balance between you both.  You’ll find that your negative energy will be recycled by positive energy through the earth, and this in turn takes away fear.


Shielding

Shielding is probably the most important technique one can learn as an astral explorer. Shielding is essentially protecting yourself from unwanted energies by projecting, programming, and solidifying a spiritual barrier around you. This is not as hard as it seems, but it does require a lot of practice. We’ll begin with the projecting.

Projecting is when you bring something that is inside into the external. Shields will project the most strongly with emotions. Any emotion that has a form of expression to it can work, but positive emotions are the strongest. If you use an emotion like anger, the shield will literally be the embodiment of anger, and be very unstable. We want our shields to be constant and strong. Let’s begin with the least prevalent but the strongest of all emotions, love. Begin by visualizing your soul within your body as a ball of light. You can see your whole personality, your aura, everything you are within this ball of light. Now, focus on the one emotion you pick, in this instance love, gathering and taking over the ball of light. Nothing but that emotion (love) is present in your soul. Restrict the love in your soul into a smaller, more confined ball of light. Squeeze it as small as you can, concentrating its raw power. And then finally, release and push it out of your body. This isn’t just a mental exercise, as you should physically feel the energy leaving your body. The feeling is similar to that shiver you get down your spine when something excites you internally, except projected outwards. This release of energy can also be called a pulse, and can be used for other purposes, but we won’t get into that in this issue.

 

Now, programming this released energy around you is the fun part. With this step, the sky is the limit. The energy can take any shape or form if you visualize it. It all has to do with your imagination. Just like in lucid dreaming, your projected energy’s physics are governed by your mind. You can shape the shield in any geometrical form. The 5 platonic solids are usually the main programming templates for shields. If you choose to, use the correct shape correspondent to your elemental affinity. The image presented shows the correspondence. You can also use a sphere if you are a very balanced individual, but spheres do not have any defined attributes and are the basic template for shields, a beginner programming if you will. Next comes programming the attributes of the shield. If you treat the shield as a living extension of you, you can speak to it and intend it to be a certain way. For example, telling it “you will reflect energy” will cause it to do so. Even specifying which type of being to keep out, giving it healing properties, and inflating it’s size can work. The stronger your will, the stronger the programming.

Finally, solidifying the shield is sort of like activating it. This is sort of hard to describe, but once you are done programming it, you sort of tense up your body and mind to make its characteristics concrete and unbreakable. At this point you can specify how long you want the shield to last, in which the length of your tensing signifies it’s “life-span”. You don’t even have to specify and as long as you believe it is there and strong, it will be there and strong.

The shield is a lot stronger when you are grounded, as your energy will not fluctuate and it will be more defined. It’s possible to draw the energy you use to create the shield from your foundation as well. The shield doesn’t need to be around you; it can protect other people or areas, so experiment with it!


Filtering

Filtering is similar to pulsing but it adds a ‘twist’ so to speak.

After your shield has been created and you feel you contain some negativity, you can use this technique to sift out all of the negative energy. Basically, you project light energy (not emotional energy) outwards through your shield and begin to spin your shield, accelerating until you feel there is no more negative activity in your energy field. This causes the shield to be completely purged of darkness.

You can use these three techniques directly in the astral or just in day to day life. When practised, they will give you a sense of confidence, as you are protected and nothing can harm you. Aside from these things, your higherself will always be there to protect you (along with whatever else watches over you). The astral realm is not something to fear, it is a place of wonder and exploration. Even when confronted, you have the power to overcome anything there. The next article will inform you of the many entities you may become confronted with, negative and positive, as well as how to deal with them. I apologize for the late post, and I hope the new information makes up for it. Remember, you can ask me anything at astral101@thespiritscience.net . Thanks for reading, and until next time, all will be revealed.

Dream Control Essentials

The following is a lesson from the upcoming 2014 edition of The Lucid Dreaming Fast Track  For more lessons like this, check out my course at the website.

The best way to actively control your lucid dreams is to exploit unconscious dream principles. Today I'll show you how they work with some of the most common dream desires: flying, changing the scenery and making music.

Flying Dreams 

Most lucid dreamers love to fly...

However, flying dreams are not always that easy to control... and that's not surprising - we have no experience of flying unaided in real life!

Where does the energy go in take-off?

How do we guide our air speed, direction or altitude?

What is the driving force of this fanciful flight?

But these are physical concerns, and the lucid dream is a mental construct. Which is why your new ability to fly in your dreams is founded mentally, not physically.

Remember in The Matrix when Morpheus asks Neo how he beat him in a virtual reality fight? He asks, was it because he was stronger, faster, or fitter in the simulated world?

No. It was because he truly believed he was better.

​It’s the same concept in lucid dreams.

(It's not surprising, perhaps, that the Wachowskis themselves are lucid dreamers. Without ever alluding to it, The Matrix is a veritable instruction manual for lucid dream control.)


For most people, successful flight boils down to the level of confidence you have in defying imaginary gravity. Overcoming that mental hurdle requires the absolute certainty that you are dreaming.

So, start with the clarifying statement: "I'm dreaming."

Elaborate if you feel those words alone aren't hitting the mark: "I'm inside a dream. This is all in my head. I can do anything here." Perform a reality check and boost your lucidity.

The next step is to practice your new anti-gravity mindset. Demonstrate to yourself and to the dream that you can hop and bounce along the dreamscape perfectly well.

Remember that it’s all a dream and you are safe.

Now start to hover... and fly. All within your comfort zone at first.

The more you succeed, the more confidence you will build. For a lot of people, this small bit of practice is all it takes before they go soaring off above the clouds, Superman style.

Repeat: "I'm dreaming. I can fly!" if you feel like you're faltering at any time.

For an alternative boost, use a flying aid like a jet pack, giant wings, Iron Man suit, or a dragon. This can give the ultimate confidence in your flying abilities. Some dreamers swear by it.

Creating Dream Scenes

You're standing alongside Gandalf, fighting off The Black Uruks of Barad-dur (only the most feared orcs in Middle Earth) when you realize it's all getting a bit much and you'd prefer to be gazing at a turquoise lagoon in the Caribbean. In 1720.

No problem - just change the dream scene.



There's just one minor drawback. Simply thinking of a beach location isn't usually enough to get you there.

Of course, we're still in the mental construct of a lucid dream and the same rule applies as before. The hurdle you must overcome is defying the waking logic that "scenes" do not just "appear".

I like to get a bit creative with scene changes and you will likely find completely different methods that work for you. Here are some of my favorites to start off with:

• It's behind you. I wanted to eat lucidly in my dream but I was in the middle of an empty field. So imagined there was a restaurant behind me, and when I turned around a second later, there it was. I went in and ordered a delicious meal of roast chicken.

• Mirror portals. Did you know that mirrors are portals to other realities? Of course you did. The crucial element is understanding that the glass is actually a viscous liquid and you may plunge your face right in there, only to emerge in a brand new scene.

• Dream doors. These are well known for their illogical nature. A dream door stands inexplicably in the middle of a dreamscape, or is any door leading to the unknown. Closing a dream door and opening it again can reveal a completely different time or place.

• Spin around. Cited as a dream stabilizer, spinning can also transform your dreamscene. Your calm expectation of the desired location will create it for you. Spinning also causes the dream to fade to black. Some dreamers call this "the void" - a place for quiet meditation - while others see it as simply a lack of visual scenery. I recommend exploring this curious state. 

• Movie reel. From the blackness, you can initiate a new scene by watching it appear on a distant movie reel in the darkness. Allow the reel to approach you in space before becoming fully immersed in the frame.

​

In all of these scenarios, the most important thing is to have a calm expectation of what you seek.

When semi-lucid, you may find yourself in a battle of logic with your unconscious dreaming mind. Nothing about the dream is changing how you'd like. If so, remind yourself clearly: "I am dreaming" and perform your lucidity stabilization techniques. Then try again.

One of the most powerful ways to have your expectation fulfilled is to say the words out loud:

• "I'm in Jurassic Park."
• "I can shoot fireballs from my hands."
• "Through this portal, it's one million years B.C."
• "I'm a giant man in a land of tiny apes."
• "I have telekinetic powers."
• "I'm Batman."
• "I'm Guybrush Threepwood."

Saying it out loud just makes it more real.

Soundtracks

I love to hear music in my lucid dreams. It's like the experience of listening to music in real life - but often more potent. The sound surrounds you. You dance on the inside. You can even see it.

Sometimes music arises spontaneously in lucid dreams but if not, summon it using the same principle as before. Audializing sound in your head may not come naturally to everyone so just say out loud:

"I can hear violins playing."

Then await the music.

You can also seek out your favorite composer or instrument and allow the dream to progress naturally. If you can recreate your lucid dream music on waking - you've struck gold:


"Being lucid, I wiped out everything and stood in the clouds. I constructed a huge piano out of light and started conducting it. I say conducting rather than playing, because I didn't have to touch the piano to make it play. I was waving my fingers at it like a wizard. Every time I played a key, that note would send light up into the sky.

I played the four chords with my left hand and the music became louder and warmer. Then I started playing the other parts of the song. My mood lifted with the pace of the music. Drums joined in out of nowhere. A soft bass hummed underneath us and buzzed in elation at the end of each bar. I made fills and solos and flourishes. It was awesome."

- Peter Casale [Listen to the song, Lucid, on YouTube.]


Remember that you don't need an instrument, nor any technical knowledge of creating music, in order to conjure beautiful sounds in a lucid dream. It's all in your memory and your imagination.

I'm not an accomplished musician. I play piano by ear, because I'm too lazy to read sheet music. I don't play any other instruments. And yet, I have wonderfully musical lucid dreams.

I once dreamed of composing a song with many instruments while leaping across lily pads. Each time I landed, another part of the soundtrack grew in complexity.

Other musical dreams have been fueled by emotions and movement; so that flying creates light, string-filled pieces... and bursts of happiness create twinkling noises, the intensity of which I can see.

Turns out there aren't enough words in my vocabulary to describe the awesomeness of lucid dream music.


For more lessons like this -- including step-by-step advice on becoming lucid, sustaining your lucidity, exploring your dreams, and applying the benefits to your waking life -- see the Lucid Dreaming Fast Track  course.

Lucid Dreaming Lessons

17 Things Learned from Lucid Dreaming

By Rebecca Turner 

I've been lucid dreaming for almost 17 years now. That sounds like a long time. And yet, I've still got a lot to learn.

To the newcomer to lucid dreaming - who has the whole exciting journey ahead of them - I want to share some of the most profound, useful and surprising lessons from my experience. 

I hope this sees you well on your dream travels.


1. Mindfulness is key. The easiest way to produce ongoing lucid dreams is to make it a mental habit to observe and question your reality. Look out for clues that you might be dreaming and always have that in the back of your mind. Critical thinking is a severely under-appreciated trait. For lucid dreamers it is essential.

2. The senses are illusory. Your brain is capable of simulating a solid replica of waking physical reality in a lucid dream. It's mind-blowing. The idea that physical reality is necessary for us to perceive at all... is simply an illusion.

"Whatever I have accepted until now as most true has come to me through my senses. But occasionally I have found that they have deceived me, and it is unwise to trust completely those who have deceived us even once."

~ Rene Descartes

3. Nightmares are healthy. Nightmares release difficult feelings and rehearse fears and possible outcomes. They form a therapeutic and protective mechanism which help preserve your mental health. Embrace them always - especially lucid nightmares which you will remember most intensely.

4. Dream figures are unpredictable. People in lucid dreams resist being classified. Sometimes they can represent parts of your psyche, sometimes reflections of their real life counterparts, and sometimes simply empty shells. They rarely tell explicit truths; like dreams themselves, their insights are usually encoded.



5. Expectations rule. In a lucid dream, your conscious expectations play a significant role. Have bold confidence that you can fly, and you'll enjoy boundless flights of fancy. Expect to meet your soul mate behind a door, and he or she will be waiting with a smile. Narrate your expectations for best effect - for example, "I'm going to leap into space now!"

6. Always intensify your lucidity. There's always potential to further intensify your lucidity, making the experience longer, richer and more easily directed. Rub your hands together, perform a reality check, say "I'm dreaming" and study your palms. All provide more consciousness at the start of a lucid dream and should be done any time you feel your awareness is fading.

7. Lucidity is slippery. If you don't maximize your lucidity, it's highly likely that your awareness will slip away sooner than you'd like. This is due to the reduced functionality of your sleeping brain - it is simply harder to focus for long periods of time. Regularly remind yourself that you're dreaming to bring your full attention back to the reality of the dream.

8. False awakenings rock. Dreaming of simply waking up can be frustrating. But false awakenings can also be an enlightening reminder that there is a weird and wonderful world in there yet to be explored. They are so vivid, and so powerfully convincing, it is surely an invitation to play. A false awakening is like my brain challenging me to go deeper down the rabbit hole.



9. Sleep paralysis can be awesome. No, not always. Many people suffer needlessly with this paralyzing condition. But harnessing it in a positive way can produce a snap gateway to a lucid dream. If sleep paralysis is a factor in your life (and it may be, whether you lucid dream or not) you may as well put it to great use. Instead of fighting it - use it to become lucid.

10. Lucid dreaming is a sleeping meditation. Studies have found that lucidity creates intense focus, self awareness and dissociation from the outside world - just like meditation. Furthermore, the stimulus of a lucid dream can be dissolved to nothing, allowing you to experience pure consciousness in a void. What better kind of meditation could there be?

11. Lucid memories are golden. Waking memories are a patchwork of subjective emotions and sensory interpretations. Your brain does little to differentiate lucid dream memories - it's all "real". So, whether you've just lucid dreamed of surfing the greatest wave, or meeting your hero in the flesh, those memories will feel real and vivid and wonderful years from now.



12. Lucid dreaming is a lifestyle. You can lose the ability to lucid dream if you disregard it long enough. Stress, drugs, sleep deprivation, a hectic lifestyle... myriad factors can get in the way of lucid dreaming, even for long term practitioners. To keep lucid dreams coming, make it a lifestyle choice to respect your sleep and dreams.

13. Lucidity is a by-product. Lucid dreaming is the accidental love child of dreams and consciousness. Perhaps the evolution of lucid dreaming will prove a highly useful adaptation; by reducing stress, enhancing our problem solving skills, and in a host of other ways that impact on our success as a species.

14. No two lucid dreams are the same. Even if you adore lucid dreaming of the same thing (hello... flying!) each dream will be totally unique. It's unlike replaying the same level of your favorite video game. In each dream, you'll feel different emotions, explores different locales, and improve your abilities.

15. Conscious dreams are a conduit to creativity. Without the critical left brain vetoing creative ideas on the trot, lucid dreaming allows unrestricted artistic expression. This opens you up to thoughts, feelings, solutions and imagery you might not explore in waking life.



16. Lucid dreams are therapeutic. Helpful insights are often encoded in your regular dreams - and lucid dreaming allows you to seek specific wisdom straight from the horse's mouth. Sometimes known as "the dreamer of the dream", "the silent observer" or "the inner self", you can access this source by shouting any question out loud and waiting for the dream's candid response.

17. The learning curve is steep. In the beginning, lucid dreaming might feel like all work and no play. Induction is usually the greatest challenge. But it's a sharp learning curve; well worth investing the initial intensive practice to reap the rewards of a lifetime of exhilarating lucid dreams.

Sound awesome? It truly is... and everyone is capable of it. Learn how to start lucid dreaming with my Lucid Dreaming Fast Track.

Levels of Lucidity in Conscious Dreams

By Rebecca Turner

Many beginners question their levels of lucidity in conscious dreams. They may assume that because they couldn't control other dream characters, they were not lucid at all. Or they fret over their ability to morph the scenery at will. Is there a definitive point where someone can say they had a lucid dream?

Yes, there is. If you have ever had the conscious awareness (or knowing) that you were acting inside the dream world, then you had a lucid dream. Equally, if you have ever been able to willfully control parts of the dream world, you were lucid. A lucid dream can last one second - or one hour!

"The ten thousand states of mind are hallucinatory. Hallucinations are real. Dreams are real. But there are some things more real." ~ Rama

In Tibetan Buddhism, Dream Yoga is known as "apprehending the dream". This simply means becoming aware of the unreal nature of the dream state, and is reflected by either the awareness or control of the dream world.

Of course, there is a big difference between a passing awareness of the dream world, and full conscious lucidity. Even though there is no scientific classification of these states (yet), I will describe the different levels of lucidity here.

A Non-Lucid Dream

This is the default dream state, where you are totally unaware that you are dreaming. It may be hazy and illogical - or vivid and highly evocative. Either way, you have no conscious awareness or control, and you automatically accept the reality of the dream world as being completely real.

Non-lucid dreams are created entirely by the subconscious mind. They are usually based on memories and experience, coupled with the unconscious brain's conceptual understanding of reality. Since they are not literal, you can interpret your dreams based on recurring dream themes and symbology.

A Semi-Lucid Dream

The lowest levels of lucidity occur with a semi-lucid dream, which may involve the realization that you are dreaming. Perhaps something very illogical happens and you question where you are. Or maybe you practice meditation or Dream Yoga which teaches you to be more self aware.

Once you realize you are dreaming, your conscious brain will wake up. The first few times you will feel quite alien in this new reality, and have trouble doing anything that conflicts with the normal laws of physics. If you can't immediately fly in your lucid dream, or teleport to an exotic beach location - don't be deterred. You can't do this in real life and your conscious brain doesn't expect it to happen here either.

The good news is, as you explore your lucid dream world, you will start to notice little inconsistencies. And the part of your conscious brain that is responsible for influencing the dream will start writing a new rule book. Encountering higher levels of lucidity is like learning to walk all over again. Soon you will be able to soar above the clouds, run through solid objects and create entire new dream scenes. See how to control your dreams for more specific advice on this.

A Fully Lucid Dream

To experience a fully lucid dream, you will probably need a good amount of direct experience of lucidity. That's my assumption anyway. Don't get me wrong - my early lucid dreams were highly exhilarating - but in no way did I have control of my entire surroundings. First I had to get to grips with staying lucid for more than ten seconds; then it was a challenge to control my immediate environment. However, once I mastered each of these skills, they stayed with me.

A fully lucid dream means having complete awareness that you are in a dream world. You understand that it is the creation of your own mind, and that you can manipulate any element at will. You can teleport across the universe at the speed of thought, morph yourself into an atom, or independently direct the actions of any other dream character.

But lucid dreaming is not just about dream control. Anyone who has ever experienced a lucid dream knows that. It is about having conscious awareness of the dream state, which is often even more intense than waking reality. 

For instance, you can float in the air above a city and observe hundreds of people in the streets below, going about their business. You can take a back seat and allow the dream to be guided by your subconscious mind, while having absolute conscious awareness of your part in it. 

This is the real beauty of lucid dreaming; it is your gateway to an alternate reality, where you can observe your own existence in a far richer context.

The Highest Levels of Lucidity

What is the absolute highest level of lucidity possible? Can it be defined, or is it like asking what's beyond the edge of the universe?

Tibetan Buddhism has incorporated the art of Dream Yoga for at least a thousand years. Compared to modern lucid dream research (which has only been around for the last 30 years) the Buddhist monks have a major head start.

Buddhists believe the ultimate goal in Dream Yoga is to attain full conscious awareness, then dissolve the dream state. That doesn't mean waking up. Instead, they aim to remain fully lucid and consciously aware while asleep. Deprived of any physical stimulus from the sleeping body, or any conceptual stimulus from the dreaming mind, they are able to observe the purest form of conscious awareness. That sounds like an excellent goal for any lucid dreamer.

52 Ways to Have Lucid Dreams

Learning to have lucid dreams can be fun, intensive, frustrating, euphoric, bizarre, daunting - yet ultimately, lucid dreaming is a hugely rewarding and life-changing experience.

 

By Rebecca Turner
 Learning how to lucid dream is like any other skill that you develop over time. There is no magic secret to behold. But there are a number of tried-and-tested methods that you can employ.

Below I've listed a number of those techniques to get you started. There are probably more than 52 ways to have lucid dreams but we might start to stumble into repetition and overlap of techniques. Besides, 52 is more than enough to get you started.

I've kept them short for simplicity, so you may need to delve into the links for elaboration. You may find it useful to bookmark this page and return to it weekly for new ideas, or print and check off the list daily as you explore new lucid dream induction routines.

To supercharge your skills, I recommend daily meditation as this forms a part of numerous well-known practices (such as MILD, WILD, incubation, OBE-exits and hypnagogic induction). It's also essential that you can remember your dreams, so #1 on my list is a no brainer. Good dream recall is the foundation of lucid dreaming.
Happy dreaming ;)

52 Ways to Have Lucid Dreams

1. Start a dream journal and write down at least one dream every morning.
   
2. Do a dozen reality checks each day - such as trying to push your hand through a wall and asking "Am I dreaming?"
   
3. Perform a daily 10-minute breathing meditation and examine your self-awareness as you become sensitive to your surroundings.
   
4. Listen to brainwave entrainment during afternoon naps and early morning meditation.
   
5. Learn to interpret your dreams and record key recurring themes.
   
6. Supercharge your dream intensity and dream recall with lucid dream supplements like Galantamine or Choline.
   
7. Experiment with a dream herb like Calea Z for vivid and memorable dreams.
   
8. Perform Dr Stephen LaBerge's Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD) before you go to sleep tonight.
   
9. Practice the Wake Induced Lucid Dreams technique whenever you can.
   
10. Observe your own hypnagogic hallucinations as you drift off to sleep.
    
11. Make a dream pillow filled with aromas that promote relaxation while you sleep.
    
12. Rid yourself of any sleep disorders which disturb your quality of REM sleep.
    
13. Listen to a lucid dreaming hypnosis session as you go to sleep to place targeted auto-suggestions in your subconscious mind.
    
14. Listen to subliminal messages for lucid dream induction.
    
15. Watch our free subliminal lucid dreaming video before bed.
    
16. Figure out your best sleep posture for lucid dreaming (usually on your back for WILDs, although you may be different).
    
17. Try the Wake Back to Bed method by waking early for 30 minutes.
    
18. Get a comfortable mattress - not too firm, not too soft - so you always get a good night's sleep.
    
19. Experiment with the OBE Exit Technique, a fun visualization technique, as taught by Nick Newport of Lucidology.
    
20. Use aromatherapy to induce specific memories and associations while you sleep - also known as a Smell Induced Lucid Dream (SILD).
    
21. Eat cheese before bed to increase your dream intensity ("cheese dreams").
    
22. While lucid, ask the dream to help you become lucid more easily in future.
    
23. Incubate specific dream plots by reading evocative fiction and watching powerful movies before bed (warning: horror movies beget nightmares!)
    
24. Allow yourself to daydream - any time - pushing your conscious awareness into a range of different realities.
    
25. Practice having Out of Body Experiences (OBEs), a type of sleep paralysis induced lucid dream.
    
26. Wear a digital watch and perform a reality check every time it chimes on the hour (the sound may also filter through into your dreams).
    
27. Learn about the ancient art of Dream Yoga from Tibetan Buddhism.
    
28. Encourage false awakenings when you sleep in different locations or anticipate an unusual event when you wake up in the morning.
    
29. Deliberately induce sleep paralysis -- and then visualize your desired lucid dream scene.
    
30. Set an alarm every 90 minutes of sleep to wake you during your most likely period of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep to boost your dream recall.
    
31. Count backwards from 100 as you fall asleep: "100. I'm dreaming. 99. I'm dreaming. 98. I'm dreaming..."
    
32. Take afternoon naps when you feel tired, especially after meals.
    
33. Allow yourself more lie-ins and practice lucid dreaming techniques.
    
34. Don't smoke marijuana or drink excessive alcohol as this inhibits REM sleep.
    
35. Let go of any fears that are holding you back. There is nothing to be fearful of when you understand how it all works.
    
36. Aim to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night - or more if you feel you need more (I do!)
    
37. Perform Daniel Love's Cycle Adjustment Technique by alternating your daily wake-up times.
    
38. Visualize your next lucid dream in advance; how you will become lucid, what it will feel and look like, and what you'll do first.
    
39. Try a Finger Induced Lucid Dream (FILD) when you wake up in the night: lie still and minutely wiggle your index and middle finger till you fall asleep lucidly.
    
40. As you fall asleep, lie perfectly relaxed, melt your awareness into the mattress, and repeat the phrase: "The next scene will be a dream."
    
41. Hypnotize yourself as you fall asleep, visualizing your way into a beautiful garden that represents your subconscious.
    
42. Expect to have spontaneous lucid dreams, also known as Dream Induced Lucid Dreams (DILDs) where you become lucid through flashes of logic.
    
43. Use a lucid dream mask such as the REM Dreamer, also known as an Electrically Induced Lucid Dream (EILD).
    
44. Play first-person video games like Prototype or Left 4 Dead to stimulate the proven phenomenon of Game Induced Lucid Dreams (GILDs).
    
45. Some swear by this one: go to bed thirsty and place a glass of water the other side of the bedroom. You may dream an out-of-body experience in an attempt to fetch the drink.
    
46. Conversely, perform reality checks every time you use the bathroom, then go to bed with a semi-full bladder and dream urination can induce lucidity.
    
47. Sharpen your visualization skills: lay in bed with your eyes closed and visualize the room in vivid detail. Visualize outdoor scenes as well.
    
48. Imagine kinesthetic sensations like riding a bike, floating on a cloud, or running through a field as you fall asleep.
    
49. Take a Vitamin B6 supplement which converts tryptophan (found in cheese, chicken, salmon, eggs and milk) into serotonin, for more vivid dreams.
    
50. Set at least three clear lucid dream intentions before you go to sleep at night.
    
51. Learn as much as you can about lucid dreaming from books and online resources.
    
52. Create your own art inspired by dreams to bring dreaming to the forefront of your imagination and boost your dream recall.