| People are said to be lucid dreaming when they are | | | | The above statement is absurd. Lucid dreamers do |
| aware that they are dreaming. In other words, a lucid | | | | not do so because they want to escape real life. In |
| dreamer has the ability to be fully conscious when he | | | | fact, you can have a lucid dream only when you are |
| she is dreaming. Since lucid dreamers are aware of | | | | asleep. Since everybody sleeps, it is not escapism. |
| the fact that they are dreaming, they can control their | | | | Having a lucid dream is not escapism just as sleeping |
| dreams and dream exactly what they wish. | | | | is not escapism. One cannot escape real life just by |
| Before attempting to control your dreams, you must | | | | watching soaps on TV or reading a novel. Becoming |
| know that there is a big difference between lucid | | | | lucid in one's dreams is also not escaping from real life. |
| dreaming and dream control. People who are capable | | | | However, if a person sleeps just to have lucid dreams |
| of the former need not necessarily be able to control | | | | because he/she prefers this to sleeping, then he/she |
| their dreams and dream whatever they wish. But | | | | can be accused of escapism. |
| usually dream control follows lucid dreaming and astral | | | | 3. Having lucid dreams is an occult practice. |
| projection follows dream control. | | | | If eating is an occult practice, so is having a lucid |
| The phenomenon of lucid dreaming, however, is | | | | dream! This is a natural happening; it is neither dark nor |
| associated with a number of myths. Most of them are | | | | "sinful." The occult has nothing to do with it. |
| created by people who do not know much about the | | | | 4. Having lucid dreams is difficult. |
| subject. An attempt has been made here to debunk 5 | | | | Don't give up even before you start because |
| popular myths. | | | | someone told you that it is too difficult or that it is only |
| 1. Lucid dreaming is an invention of the New Age. | | | | for the gifted. Even beginners can become lucid in their |
| There is nothing "new" about this kind of dreaming. It | | | | dream after the first few attempts. Many people |
| isn't an "invention" either. This is something that can be | | | | report to succeed after the first attempt. |
| defined by the dreamers themselves because it is an | | | | 5. You can't lucid dream if you can't remember your |
| exclusive and subjective experience. It certainly isn't | | | | dreams. |
| typical of the New Age. One can say instead that the | | | | Enhancing dream recall is one of suggested ways to |
| phenomenon of having a lucid dream is human and as | | | | learn lucid dreaming; it isn't a prerequisite. To put it |
| natural as eating or sleeping. | | | | differently, you need not have to learn to recall your |
| 2. Only escapists have lucid dreams. | | | | dreams before you can lucid dream. |