[mike@af]

I love this topic.

Only an estimated 100,000 have the ability to control (or have lucid) dreams constantly, I'm lucky to be one of those few. Which is why I love this topic. I'd say a good 97% of my dreams are lucid, I had three last night and two the night before. I usually have most or total control of the dream, its an amazing feat. In a given week I have between half a dozen and a dozen lucid dreams.

There are certain factors that really correspond to that. REM sleep is a huge factor, everybody goes through REM sleep, infact multiple times a night. I've noticed I usually have more dreams, and more vivid dreams if I am super relaxed and tired. Exhaustion causes deep sleep, but the mind and the body are tired and tense therefore you spend time in deep sleep but not REM with paralysis.

Part of REM sleep is paralysis, being that the mind is awake and your body paralyzed this allows your to dream without injuring yourself or waking up. If your muscles werent fully relaxed and paralyzed you could be roundhouse kicking your partner or whatever if you dreamt you were Chuck Norris.

I've also noticed an increase in lucid dreams when my mind is subconciously active. I can realize when my mind is subconciously active, now many people will challenge that theory saying that if I realize that my mind is subconciously active that its really concious activity. No its not, I've done debates, discussions, and seminars on the theory in philosophical, metaphysical, sociological, and anatomical concepts. Theres the argument that dreams are subconcious, and realize them does not make them concious, you're just aware. Its a long argument and its beside the point. The point I was making with having an active subconcious has allowed me to have lucid dreams in which in intepret and solve emotional problems.

Now you're probably asking, "Why the hell are you philosophizing in your dream instead of having sex?". I'll be honest, I've had sex in my dreams...woo...its boring. Unless its really vivid and you actually think its true, but its still boring. I can go have sex if I want...I dont need to be dreaming. Now with philosophy our concious minds are bound to the rules and parameters set forth by society. Although I throw these rules out the window they are still imprinted and no matter what, you will still recall them, subconciously.

Heres the thing with solving problems in dreams. Dreams are a random collection of thoughts, images, and memories just smashed into one. Luckily not all of the rules and parameters are present. Which is why I can fly if I feel like it. Since thats an advantage I am able to solve emotional, sociological, personal, or even scientific problems in my dreams since the rules in concious life do not present themselves.

I've had lucid dreams as far as I can remember. I can still recall a dream as far back as 4 years old. Since I've been knowingly having lucid dreams I've been able to train myself to control my dreams. Thats a task, and all it is is having dreams continuously and realizing your dreams and trying recall them.