Have you ever had a dream that you can’t seem to shake? Or woken up with the feeling of a distant dream, unable to recall the lands you traveled to in your slumber? Or, perhaps you remember your dreams clearly, but you aren’t quite sure what to make of them.
If you answered “yes,” it’s important to know that you’re not alone.
Dreams are mysterious and complex, often difficult or even seemingly impossible to understand. Dreams – and what they mean – are a wildly popular topic that many of us spend our time trying to understand.
You probably already know, if only on an instinctive level, that dreams and their meanings are powerful and can be used as a tool in life, allowing us to understand certain topics or subjects better than ever before.
If you’ve ever been curious about your dreams and the messages they’re trying to convey, then this article is for you. We’ve compiled some information that will help you learn everything you need to know about dreams, what they mean, and why we have them.
So, if you’re ready to explore the lands you create when you’re in a deep, blissful state of sleep, keep reading to learn more!
What Are Dreams?
Dreams can be defined as the “subconscious imaginings that contain sounds, images, and other sensations while you sleep.”
If you’ve ever had a dream that seemed to stick with you like glue on paper, you probably understand that they are made of so much more than this simple explanation – even if we aren’t quite sure what that material they’re made of is.
We know that dreams occur during the REM – or rapid eye movement – cycle of sleep, meaning you need to be in a deep state of sleep before your dreams can come to life. REM is the deepest stage of sleep, and you will likely go through this cycle many times a night.
There are a wide range of different schools of thought regarding the function of dreams as well.
As one example, psychologist Allen Hobson claims that dreams are essentially meaningless – but how can this be? If you’ve ever had a dream that seemed to change the way you view the world, you might also find this suggestion incomplete.
While we may not know exactly what dreams are made of, there is still much we can learn about them and how to use them to our advantage…
What Is Lucid Dreaming?
One of the most powerful methods of dreaming is called lucid dreaming, wherein the dreamer is aware of the fact that they are in the dream world. As a result, when someone becomes proficient at lucid dreaming, they can actually control certain aspects of their dreams.
There are certain ways to make lucid dreaming an easier habit.
A few old tricks include attempting to locate a light switch in your dream – if the light does not turn on and off as you would expect, you can recognize that you’re dreaming. Another way to check is by trying to find a book. Open to any page and see if you can read the writings; if you’re in a dream, the words will be jumbled and hard to make out.
While it may seem complicated, the majority of people who remember their dreams have had a lucid dream at least once or twice in their life.
When you’re lucid dreaming, there is a tiny part of your subconscious that is somewhat awake, allowing a part of yourself to realize what is happening. This small amount of lucidity is what helps you control certain aspects of your dreams.
What Is Dream Induction?
Dream induction is another way to describe lucid dreaming – particularly, the ability to induce a state of lucid dreaming.
Cognitive techniques are one way to induce lucid dreaming; another is reality testing, which involves asking yourself if you’re awake throughout the day. If you ask yourself this question enough times, there’s a good chance that you’ll also ask your sleeping self.
Being able to induce your own dreams is not as much about choosing the specific content of your dreams as it is about assisting you in recalling them so clearly that you can actually harness their powers and use them constructively in your life (more on this later in the article!).
What Are Bad Dreams & Nightmares?
If you remember your dreams frequently, you may notice that some of them take on a dark or frightening theme. It can feel scary and isolating having bad dreams or nightmares, but it’s important to note that you are not alone.
A nightmare is defined as “dreams that bring out strong feelings of fear, terror, distress of anxiety.” They will feel more vivid than a regular dream, and you will often experience intense emotions upon waking.
A few of the most commons themes in dreams include:
- Teeth falling out
- Falling
- Dying or death of a loved one
- Being chased
- Being naked in public
- Extreme weather
- Being late
- Babies or family members
These are not all common nightmare scenarios, but rather the most common themes in general.
As you can see, frightening situations are not at all uncommon when dreaming. Each of these themes contains meaning, and the…
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