A Visionary Guide to Lucid Dreaming

When you fall asleep at night, your mind doesn't just turn off like a light with the flick of a light switch. On the contrary, it enters a different and, at times, highly energetic mode of functioning. Lee Adams has written an excellent guide to exploring the dynamic powers and creative potentials of your own nocturnal brain. This book provides a wealth of detailed information and practical guidance for anyone interested in lucid dreams and the multiplicities of the dreaming imagination. Adams offers what few other writers about lucid dreaming are able to provide: a sensible and humble approach, grounded in empirical research, that encourages people to go beyond the mere attainment of lucidity to explore the deeper realms of the psyche. * Kelly Bulkeley, Ph.D., author of An Introduction to the Psychology of Dreaming * This is the first book on lucid dreaming that not only covers the science and art of going lucid but also how to work with the deep mythological aspects of lucid dreams. It shows you how to have more lucid dreams and how to navigate them successfully as we consciously wake up to our own mythic lives. * Ryan Hurd, dream and sleep researcher and lecturer in holistic studies and psychology at John F. Ken * Lucid dreaming should no longer be seen as something esoteric, difficult, or available only to those with special talent. Astonishing adventures--hero journeys--are available to all of us on a nightly basis if we choose. A Visionary Guide to Lucid Dreaming is an accessible and entertaining resource with advice on everything from supplements that can help achieve lucidity to interpretive methods for working in and with the dream world. * Eric Wargo, author of Precognitive Dreamwork and the Long Self and Time Loops * This delightfully bold and truly unique guide is a powerful tool for both new and veteran mind explorers, offering ways to learn more about their nighttime adventures and themselves. * David Jay Brown, author of Dreaming Wide Awake * Acknowledgments PREFACE An Invitation to the Hero's Journey An Introduction to How to Use This Book PART 1 The Dreamer and the Dream 1 Why Lucid Dream? 2 What to Expect in a Lucid Dream 3 Consciousness: The Route to Beyond 4 Awareness: Preparing to Dream 5 Sleep Paralysis and Memory: The Obstacle Is the Gateway PART 2 Lucid Dreaming: Foundational Techniques 6 Getting Past the Simulation 7 Let's Get Lucid: The Basics 8 Remembering Your Dreams 9 Lucid Dreaming the MILD Way 10 Wake Back to Bed 11 WILDing: Extended Techniques and Lucid States 12 Reality Check: Are You Awake? 13 Out-of-Body Experiences: Stepping into New Awareness PART 3 Working with Your Dreams 14 Awakening to the Potentials of Lucid Dreaming 15 Guides and Guardians of the Dream 16 Symbols: Keys to the Unconscious 17 Dream Interpretation: History and Practice 18 Dream Companions: Mentors, Guides, Friends PART 4 The Dreamer's Journey 19 The Shadow: Facing the Dream's Darker Guides 20 The Call to Adventure 21 World Building in the Liminal Space 22 Into Dangerous Waters 23 The Road of Trials 24 Anima: Meeting the Goddess 25 Animus: Atonement with the Father 26 The Reward: A Reflection PART 5 Advanced Tools and Supplements for Lucid Dreaming 27 Lucid Dreaming Supplements 28 Supplementing Tips, Plans, and Recipes 29 Galantamine: Lucid Dreaming's Holy Grail? 30 Lucid Dreaming and Technology EPILOGUE A Blessing for the Traveler Bibliography Index