MILD: Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams

Man is a genius when he is dreaming.

~Akira Kurosawa

MILD stands for Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams. It is one of the easiest lucid dreaming techniques around today, created by lucidity guru Dr Stephen LaBerge. He invented the technique while at university in order to induce lucid dreams at will. It turned out to be very successful!

MILD teaches you to notice when you are dreaming. The best time to practice it is when you wake up after a dream.

Doing this dream exercise in combination with reality checks will improve your ability to control your dreams. So here we go...

Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams

Start by improving your dream recall. Keep a dream journal and use the anchoring method I described earlier. Next time you wake up from a dream, remember it as clearly and vividly as possible.

Set the intention to control your dreams. As you fall asleep, tell yourself "next time I'm dreaming, I will realize I'm dreaming". Repeat it like a mantra. Don't just say the words - understand what they mean.

Imagine what it would be like to suddenly realize you are dreaming. Put yourself back in your last dream and re-live the ending. Except this time you will remember you are dreaming and become lucid. Continue to visualize what you would do next.

Meanwhile, look for impossible features of the dream, like talking animals or unusual colors that expose the nature of the dream. LaBerge calls these dreamsigns and they are effective triggers for waking up in a dream.

Continue your mantra and visualizations until you fall asleep or feel sure that the intention to control your dreams is set in your subconscious. If your mind wanders, gently return your focus back to the lucid dream intention. The last thing you think about before falling asleep should be lucid dreaming.

Meditation

MILD Lucid Dreams If you want to practice this lucid dreaming technique before a daytime nap, try meditation first to get your mind and body in a relaxed state. Start by lying in a comfortable position and keep warm. Close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply.

Observe your thoughts as they come and go, without actively guiding them or letting them overcome your peaceful state of mind. Visualize each thought on a white cloud, passing out of sight before another cloud appears. After 5-10 minutes you will feel very relaxed and ready to begin mnemonic induction of lucid dreams.

MILD: FAQ

I don't wake up in the night - when can I practice MILD?

If you don't recall waking up at all after your dreams, you can bite the bullet and set your alarm for ninety minutes before you normally wake up. With any luck, you will have recently finished a dream cycle. Focus on remembering the details, then set your intention to wake up in your next dream. Alternatively, try MILD before an afternoon nap.

How can I improve my chances of MILD working?

You want to be totally relaxed when you start this dream exercise. To improve your chances, don't go to bed with an empty stomach or a full bladder. Be sure the bedroom is warm and you have a glass of water nearby if you often wake up thirsty. If you have a lucid dream anchor, make use of it before you close your eyes and any time you wake up.

How do I stop my mind from wandering?

The only answer to this is... focus! Once you get the hang of basic meditation, it will become easier to just observe your thoughts instead of interacting with them. Remember your motivation for lucid dreaming, and consciously push away unwanted thoughts. This will help you through the MILD process until the intention to lucid dream is set.

The next time you are dreaming, the MILD thoughts and motivations will help you find a dreamsign and control your dreams instantly!

Lucid Dreaming Techniques
Keeping a Dream Journal
Reality Checks
MILD
Wake Initiated Lucid Dreams - WILD
Cycle Adjustment Technique - CAT
Meditation
Self-Hypnosis