The NovaDreamer
Lucid Dream Mask: A Review

The NovaDreamer is probably the most famous of all lucid dream machines, namely because it was created by Dr Stephen LaBerge and his team at the Lucidity Institute. The original mask was discontinued in 2004, although a new model, The NovaDreamer II is due for release sometime soon.

The lucid dream mask works by detecting Rapid Eye Movement (REM) while you sleep, and flashing lights through your eyelids. Because external stimulus is often incorporated into our dreams, you will be given a very vivid lucidity trigger.

I recommend practicing these free lucid dreaming techniques before you spend money on lucid dream machines. The two concepts really go hand-in-hand. Once you are comfortable with reality checks in particular, the artificial lucidity triggers dramatically increase your chances of having lucid dreams.

History of The NovaDreamer

Having founded The Lucidity Institute, Stephen LaBerge decided to create a machine that could induce lucid dreams on demand. First he launched the DreamLight and DreamLink. These were the first lucid dreaming masks on the market and sold for over $1,000 because of their cutting-edge technology.

The machines were refined over the years and in 1993, LaBerge and his team released The NovaDreamer. The mask was eventually discontinued in 2004. However, you can still obtain a second-hand one at eBay for between $300 and $600, which is in line with the original retail price.

Alternatively, you can wait for the next generation mask - The NovaDreamer II - to be released in 2010/11 with an estimated price tag of $800 to $1000.

How Lucid Dream Masks Work

The original NovaDreamer has two LED lights positioned in the center of the mask. It also has a speaker setting. It uses infra-red technology to watch your closed eyelids and look for REM sleep. When triggered, the mask gives out flashing lights and audio cues which are incorporated into your dream.

We receive external stimulus in our dreams all the time. For instance, sometimes when my alarm clock goes off I hear an alarm in my dream - maybe a fire alarm or a telephone. Our brains have a habit of making the stimulus fit the dream scene.

When you dream while wearing the NovaDreamer mask, your brain will interpret the flashing lights as any number of things. One customer testimonial says: "I see a beautiful pattern of gold and yellow diamonds that fills my field of vision..."

When this happens, it is up to you to perform a reality check. Lucid dream machines do not equate to instant lucid dreams. They just provide the cues. You have to practice reality checks so you know exactly how to become lucid.

Once you realize this, you will be inside a lucid dream. This brings a greater level of clarity to the dream and the freedom of dream control.

NovaDreamer Review

From my research of lucid dream machines, I have found the NovaDreamer to be pretty reliable. There are lots of gadgets that promise to alter your states of consciousness, and not all have genuinely good success rates. So I'm glad to the report this one has a good reputation in many reviews.

The instructions are easy to follow. You can set the brightness and duration of the flashing lights, as well as a time delay to give you a chance to get to sleep without being interrupted. The display also tells you how many light cues were given during the night - that is, how many chances you had to lucid dream!

The mask itself is reasonably comfortable once you adjust the straps to fit your head. The best position to lie is on your back, so the mask stays in place. You can lie on your side, although sometimes this moves the mask out of place and causes false positives. This is when the lights flash but you are not dreaming, which can waste battery power and even wake you up.

"Learn from your dreams what you lack"

W.H. Auden

As with many lucid dream masks, some people report tearing it off in the middle of the night, just to sleep undisturbed. But usually the desire to have lucid dreams is enough motivation to stick with it. The foam keeps the electronics well away from your eyes so the discomfort comes from having to sleep with it strapped to your face. This feeling may also be incorporated into your dream!

Success Rate of Lucid Dream Masks

The only real controversial element is the light cue itself. To be fair, The Lucidity Institute states clearly that the mask does not guarantee lucid dreams and you do need to pitch in with some effort relating to reality checks. This enables you to take action when you see the flashing lights in a dream. Some people simply didn't follow the instructions and didn't react to the light cues. No lucid dreams for them! They ended up selling their masks on eBay which is where you can benefit.

With this in mind, I recommend practicing some unaided lucid dreaming techniques to have your first few lucid dreams naturally before you buy the mask.

Another negative feature in one NovaDreamer review was that the flashing lights could ruin a lucid dream in progress. Faced with the distraction of the bright lights, all they could do was sit and wait - a waste of valuable lucid dream time! At worst this is an annoying side-effect. At best, it can remind you to stay lucid and extend the lucid dream for much longer than normal. There are rumors that the NovaDreamer II will have a two-way feedback function - so you can tell your mask you are lucid with pre-set eye movements. Now that is clever!

Over time, you will recognize the flashing lights as a dreamsign that frequently reminds you to check if you are dreaming. Your subconscious brain will make it a habit to recognize this dreamsign, making lucidity more likely the more you use the lucid dreaming mask. It is also very good for recognizing false awakenings.

Where to Buy NovaDreamer

These lucid dream machines are available to buy second-hand through eBay. We are still waiting to hear when this lucid dream mask will be sold again as new.

The new NovaDreamer II was due for release in summer 2008, although this has clearly been pushed back. The new version will have more interactive functions, including real-time response to eye movement signals, plus greater comfort, reliability and performance, according to The Lucidity Institute. It was successfully trialled at a workshop in April 2008 - we just have to wait for mass production to begin. However, it is likely to be more expensive that the original mask.

If you want to pre-order your mask now, send an email to ND2(at)lucidity.com (replace (at) with @). You will be added to their mailing list and have the chance to buy NovaDreamer before it goes on release to the general public.

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