Lucid dreaming is a fascinating phenomenon, but it is often misunderstood. Since there’s uncertainty around the occurrence of lucid dreams, it’s common to feel fearful of the experience. After all, lucid dreaming isn’t always pleasant, which leads to questions about whether a regular practice is inherently dangerous for dreamers.
To alleviate your concerns, I’ve thoroughly explored if engaging in lucid dreaming is dangerous or not. By debunking the most common myths about the practice and following a practical guide, you’ll feel more at ease trying lucid dreaming yourself.
Even if you continue to feel doubtful about lucid dreaming, you can receive expert knowledge through the Experience Lucid Dreaming Quest on Mindvalley. You’ll feel more in control during your dream state and reduce anxiety, so you can experience rewarding lucid dreams. Best of all, you can try it completely risk-free with Mindvalley’s 15-day trial.
What Makes Lucid Dreaming Dangerous?
While lucid dreaming is generally considered a safe practice, it’s important to take a deeper look. After all, it would be difficult to get an accurate perspective on its safety without a balanced approach. But from what I’ve gathered, there’s worry surrounding lucid dreaming because of the possibility of sleep paralysis or becoming unhinged from reality.
Sleep paralysis is a form of lucid dreaming that occurs when you become fully conscious, but your body remains paralyzed. It can be stressful as you can’t move, speak, or wake yourself up. While sleep paralysis isn’t inherently harmful, you might see or hear scary things that feel unpleasant.
Additionally, while not backed by science, lucid dreaming could be problematic if you have a history of psychosis or schizophrenia. This is because some believe lucid dreaming can trigger mental issues or cause you to become detached from reality. So, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional if you feel you’re at risk.
The most legitimate concern is that lucid dreaming too frequently could cause sleep disturbances. After all, if you have a really vivid dream and wake up from it you may have a hard time falling back asleep. However, this would mostly happen after experiencing a nightmare or sleep paralysis since there could be some fear in falling back asleep.
Lastly, because children and teenagers may not be able to fully understand or control their dream state, they should practice lucid dreaming under supervision. All in all, by understanding and following the best practices, it’s possible to minimize these risks and enjoy safe lucid dreaming.
8 Misconceptions About Lucid Dreaming — Myth vs. Fact
Since most people are unfamiliar with lucid dreaming, it’s normal for there to be worries about it being dangerous. However, there are benefits to lucid dreaming that you’ll miss out on if you get caught up in the myths. By debunking common lucid dreaming myths, you can enjoy its benefits while setting realistic expectations for the experience.
Myth 1: It Can Cause Harm
Although there are some risks to the practice, lucid dreaming is not dangerous or able to cause harm. The biggest concern is the negative experience of a lucid dream turning into sleep paralysis or the rare chance you’ll become unhinged from reality. And, the latter may only be of potential concern to those with pre-existing and severe mental illnesses. However, lucid dreaming has many benefits that should be considered:
- Minimized Anxiety — The feelings of control that you get while lucid dreaming can carry forward in your waking life. Since anxiety comes from a fear of the unexpected, practicing lucid dreaming can teach you that you can shape your future.
- Improved Motor Skills — Although limited, there is some scientific evidence to prove that movement done during lucid dreaming can improve the same movement while awake.
- Better Problem Solving — Some researches have found that since lucid dreaming heightens creativity levels, those that practice it can maneuver through conflict and issues with more ease.
With this in mind, setting spiritual protection around your aura before you lucid dream is important. This is because when you dream, you´re entering the astral realm in a vulnerable state, which can attract unwanted energies. To avoid a spiritually dangerous experience with lucid dreaming, you can visualize a golden shield around your body before bed.
Myth 2: You Can Get Trapped in Dreamstate
Many people believe that if you have lucid dreams, you can get trapped in a dream state. However, lucid dreaming can’t physically prevent you from waking up, making this belief a myth. It’s possible to become so engaged in a dream that you lose track of time, but you’ll eventually wake up naturally or because of external stimuli.
Additionally, it’s been theorized that you remain connected to your physical body through an energetic cord during your dream state. When you’re ready to wake up, this cord allows your consciousness to snap back into your body, preventing you from becoming stuck. But, it can feel difficult to wake up from a lucid dream since you’re so immersed in the experience.
Myth 3: The Practice Is Addictive
While a small percentage of individuals may use lucid dreaming as a form of escapism, the practice can’t become physically addictive and cause danger. In reality, lucid dreaming can be a powerful way to spiritually grow, problem-solve, and boost creativity when practiced responsibly.
You should treat lucid dreaming the same as you would any other behavior or habit. Like a hammer, you can use lucid dreaming to build or destroy, so use it accordingly. Practicing lucid dreaming can be productive when you take substantial breaks between dreams and set a productive goal or intention beforehand.
Myth 4: It Makes You Tired
While frequent sleep disruptions to induce lucid dreaming could lead to fatigue, lucid dreaming does not make you tired. If anything, engaging in lucid dreaming without disruption can lead to better sleep. This is because lucid dreaming occurs during your sleep’s REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle.
REM is the deepest sleep cycle and the stage at which humans can have vivid dreams. It only makes sense that lucid dreaming could occur during REM. Interestingly, REM is the most restorative and rejuvenating cycle, so with undisturbed lucid dreaming, you can extend your REM cycle and feel well-rested.
Myth 5: You’ll Have Full Control
If you’ve ever heard someone describe lucid dreaming, you may think it’s always a positive experience you can fully control. And while you’ll have more control than astral projecting, it’s not always the case. Sometimes uncomfortable emotions can come up that’ll leave you feeling powerless but but you can combat this by surrendering to the experience
Traumas and phobias can also be triggered during a lucid dream, and you’ll have no choice but to sit with the experience. It can feel even worse when you don’t expect it to come up and have no tools to cope with the experience. To effectively manage these difficult moments, I recommend trying the Mindvalley Quest on lucid dreaming, where a top expert will guide you.
Myth 6: Only Special People Can Do It
The idea that only special or gifted people can have lucid dreams is a myth, as it naturally occurs in people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. So, you don’t need to be a natural-born psychic or gifted soul to induce lucid dreaming. While some people may be more naturally prone to it, anyone can do it with practice.
If you’re having trouble, drink mugwort tea on days when you want to induce lucid dreaming. It was commonly used in ancient traditions to increase spiritual awareness while dreaming and to aid in dream recall after waking. You can also practice daily reality checks to help you become conscious while dreaming, so you don’t feel scared while lucid dreaming.
Myth 7: It’s Quick to Master
It’s true that some individuals can lucid dream relatively easily, but for most people, it’ll take time, effort, and patience. You need practice with self-awareness, visualization, and control over your emotions to master lucid dreaming, which can take time. Differences in brain function, sleep quality, and stress levels can also affect your success.
Even if you employ techniques for lucid dreaming, it takes a lot of effort and discipline to keep it up. At the end of the day, you’ll need ongoing practice and the willingness to experiment with your inner world. Establishing a daily reminder and a reward system for successful attempts can help you stay consistent.
Myth 8: It’s the Same as Astral Projecting
It’s not outlandish to think that lucid dreaming is the same as astral projecting, however, there are differences. First, astral projection separates consciousness from the body, whereas lucid dreaming refers to conscious dreaming. This is why people often see astral projection as the more challenging practice.
While lucid dreaming, you also have more control over the experience since you can manipulate your dream. Comparatively, astral projection allows you to explore the universe without physical constraints, but you’re not as in control of the experience. Because of this, astral projection is considered more advanced than lucid dreaming.
How to Lucid Dream Safely
Before you attempt to lucid dream, it’s important to learn more about the functions of the practice. It can be helpful to read the experiences of others to get a subjective understanding of the experience. Once you feel comfortable with the information you’ve gathered, follow the steps below to induce a lucid dream.
1. Tailor Your Sleep Environment
Having the right sleep environment can help improve your chances of inducing a lucid dream. You’ll want to sleep on a comfortable surface, so create a quiet and dark environment and remove distractions. I recommend using an eye mask and turning off electronic devices an hour before bed.
Other helpful practices include sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed, and limiting exposure to blue light. These factors can affect your ability to get into REM, cutting your chances of having a lucid dream. Sleeping on your side and skipping heavy meals before bed can also help minimize sleep paralysis.
You can even try aromatherapy with scents like lavender and chamomile since they’re known for their calming properties. Additionally, placing crystals like Amethyst or Moonstone around your bed can heighten your chance of lucid dreaming. But make sure you cleanse and program your crystals first so they don’t attract negativity.
2. Stay Grounded in Reality
Staying grounded before and after lucid dreaming can bring your practice to the next level. Not only will this decrease the odds of a frightening lucid dreaming experience, but it can also help you become more intentional while lucid. The best way to stay grounded is by practicing something called reality testing.
This is where you focus on something that shouldn’t change while you’re conscious, so you can check it while dreaming. You should do it throughout the day since it helps you recognize when you’re in a dream state. As you begin lucid dreaming, reality testing will prevent you from feeling scared.
A common test is to look at your hands and ask, “am I dreaming?”. In a dream, your hands may appear distorted or have more or fewer fingers than usual. You can also look around to see if your surroundings appear normal since they can appear surreal or fantastical in a lucid dream. For instance, you can continuously check a clock while dreaming to see if the time changes or continues to stays the same.
Another great way to stay grounded is by using a dream journal. Writing down lucid dreams can help you stay grounded in reality and keep you from getting too immersed in the dream world. It can also help you set clear goals and intentions for your lucid dream, which can maintain your focus on your goals during your dream state.
3. Use Inducing Techniques
A useful technique to try is the “wake-back-to-bed” technique where you sleep for 5 hours, wake up and stay up briefly, and then go back to sleep to induce a lucid dream. There’s even mnemonic induction where you sleep for 5 hours and when you wake, you repeat to yourself that the next time you dream you’ll remember you’re sleeping. Since it uses prospective memory, you’re more likely to induce a lucid state while sleeping.
There is some research indicating that those who play interactive games have higher rates of lucid dreams, so that could be something to keep in mind.
Further, I recommend doing guided meditations to induce lucid dreaming. This can help you relax beforehand and create a smooth transition between your waking life and the dream realm. Keeping up with meditation can increase your self-awareness, improve your visualization skills, and lessen anxieties about lucid dreaming being dangerous.
You can also connect to your angels, guides, ancestors, or whatever benevolent energy you believe in. Ask this energy to protect you while you sleep and to help you ease into your lucid dream. It may even be beneficial to ask for help with whatever you’re trying to achieve during your lucid dream, whether healing or reflection.
The Best Way to Practice Safe Lucid Dreaming
The reality is, regardless of the numerous methods you attempt, you might struggle to trigger a lucid state during sleep. I confess that for years, my efforts proved unsuccessful before I finally managed to achieve it. However, even when I did, it wasn’t devoid of the necessary expert counsel. The “Experience Lucid Dreaming” Quest on Mindvalley was the catalyst for my initial breakthrough with lucid dreaming.
The Quest is taught by Charlie Morley, a leading expert in lucid dreaming who teaches, writes, and speaks on the subject. As the author of multiple books on lucid dreaming’s potential for self-improvement, Morley incorporates Buddhist principles into his work and is acknowledged by prestigious institutions such as Cambridge and Oxford.
Joining Mindvalley was worth it because I could learn at my own pace and enrol in other Quests with the 15-day trial. Most importantly, the Quest taught me to master my subconscious mind and inner intelligence. Charley Morley takes a unique approach to lucid dreaming that involves neuroscience, psychology, brain hacking, and modern spirituality techniques. All of this promoted my healing, enhanced my performance, and I gained deep insights.
Taking this Quest is a worthwhile investment if you’re serious about lucid dreaming and are worried about it being dangerous. It teaches holistic lucid dreaming techniques and cultivates a supportive community of like-minded people. You’ll learn to develop the required skills and mindset for a successful experience without the usual risks.
FAQs on Lucid Dreaming
Why does lucid dreaming happen?
There is no direct answer to why lucid dreaming happens, as there is a lot of mystery surrounding this question. The lack of understanding has even led to many questions surfacing about whether lucid dreaming is dangerous. However, many spiritual theories exist on why lucid dreaming is even a phenomenon, which help debunk these claims.
The most intriguing theory is that lucid dreaming allows you to access parallel realities and dimensions beyond the physical world. Much like astral projecting, lucid dreams may hold the key to exploring the true nature of reality while one sleeps. While there is no evidence to back this up, it’s a claim worth contemplating.
Additionally, others believe that lucid dreaming is a tool for spiritual awakening and enlightenment. The thought is that the more you become aware during a dream state, the more you can develop self-awareness during waking life. If you can control your dreams, you should have an easier time manifesting your dream life.
What’s it like to have a lucid dream?
The experience of a lucid dream can vary from person to person and from dream to dream. However, there is general consensus on what it’s like, with the most common description being a heightened sense of self-awareness. If you’re keen on experiencing it for yourself, you should follow set guidelines to increase your chances.
One of the most common descriptions is that you can manipulate your experience. This can include being able to change your surroundings, create new objects or characters, and even fly. It’s also common to have vivid sensations, enhanced creativity, intense emotional experiences which is why some people think lucid dreaming is dangerous.
When does lucid dreaming occur?
Lucid dreaming happens during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep and is the stage of sleep where most vivid dreams occur. During REM, your brain is highly active and therefore, more likely to produce dream states where you’re lucid. Heightened self-awareness can occur at any point but is most likely to occur during the later stages of REM.
While lucid dreaming is naturally occurring in some people, others use tailored techniques to induce this state purposely. I recommend following the professional advice of a credible expert in lucid dreaming for the best results. This ensures you’ll minimize any fears about lucid dreaming being dangerous while maximizing the benefits.
Bottom Line
Lucid dreaming isn’t a dangerous practice and therefore shouldn’t be feared, as it can profoundly benefit your waking life. Through lucid dreaming, you can get to the bottom of complex issues you wouldn’t otherwise have as easy access to. Additionally, it can serve as a powerful tool for becoming enlightened.
Since it’s clear that lucid dreaming isn’t inherently dangerous, you should feel more confident trying it. Debunking the common myths around lucid dreaming will get you in the right mindset before trying lucid dreaming yourself. Once you’re ready, you can go back to the techniques in this article to help you induce a lucid dream state.
It’s best to approach lucid dreaming with a thorough understanding if you want to have the best luck. For this reason, I recommend trying the “Experience Lucid Dreaming” Quest on Mindvalley to feel more assured. You’ll get a step-by-step program led by the renowned Charlie Morley and be able to try it with Mindvalley’s 15-day free trial.
