Dream Science
This section on dream science is about probing the unconscious meaning of dreams, how humans have regarded dreams through the ages, and how different people dream differently.
A History of Dream Research
Dream research has long fascinated civilized man - from ancient theories of souls adventuring out of body, to modern day psychoanalysis and fMRI scans.
Why Do We Dream?
Why do we dream? Learn about the history of dream research from Freud's original dream analysis to Hobson's modern biological theory of dreaming.
Activation Synthesis Theory 101
We break down this 1977 explanation of why we dream and its 1990 successor, the AIM Model, into easy to understand language.
Dream Interpretation
Real dream interpretation explores unconscious dream symbols identified by Freud's free association. Start understanding your own dream symbols today.
The Meaning Behind Dreams
Explore the meaning behind dreams with scientific dream analysis. Improve your dream recall and perform your own dream interpretation by translating the dream meaning.
30 Common Dream Symbols and Their Meanings
A fascinating list of 30 common dream symbols and their meanings. Unravel the unconscious symbolism of your dreams and find clarity in waking life.
What Do Blind People Dream About?
What do blind people dream about? Can they see in their dreams? Take a look at scientific studies into the dreams of the blind, colorblind, and black-and-white dreamers.
Inside Robot Dreams: What Google's AI Bots Think About
Google has been analyzing neural network creativity. Turns out androids really do dream of electric sheep - and pig-snails, camel-birds and dog-fish.
Will Virtual Reality Trump Lucid Dreams?
As technology continues to move us towards more immersive dreamlike experiences, one can only wonder what digital wonders lay just beyond the horizon of tomorrow.
Pregnancy Dreams
Dreams during pregnancy can be highly emotional and meaningful - from fears about your changing body, to giving birth, to predicting the sex of the baby.
Characteristics of Dreams
The five common characteristics of dreams, as defined by dream researcher J Allan Hobson. Plus, Hobson's biological theory of dreams and their real meanings.
Who Really Coined The Term "Lucid Dream"?
Frederik van Eeden is often credited - but the term "lucid dreaming" was actually first published some 46 years prior. Why is history skewed?
Do Babies Dream?
If so, what do they dream about? Dr Charles P Pollack of the Sleep Center for Medicine tells us what science knows of newborn baby dreams.
Does Jet Lag Affect Lucid Dreaming?
How jet lag and sleep deprivation may actually improve your ability to have lucid dreams - and how to exploit these principles without actually losing very much sleep.
Consciousness
and Hypnagogia
Consciousness and Hypnagogia: a guest article by Sirley Marques Bonham, PhD. Includes parts I, II, III, IV, V, IV.
About the author
Rebecca Turner is a science writer, illustrator, explorer of consciousness - and founder of World of Lucid Dreaming. She is currently studying for a biology degree in Auckland and blogging at her site Science Me.
The Anatomy of a Dreaming Supplement
A lot has happened in the last 5 months. But how did we go from business as usual to changing the face of the entire lucid dreaming supplements industry? It’s a story that I think will interest you – and you might even learn a thing or two in the process. When I was first taken on-board as Chief Lucidity Officer in 2016, one of the first things I was tasked with was taking a good look at our operations and giving things a bit of an overhaul.
How a Lucid Dreaming Community Was Born
Gather round. I’ve a story to tell. It’s a story of tragedy, re-birth and fresh beginnings... But fear not, it has a happy ending! Our forum had some pretty impressive stats at its peak: 60,171 posts, 134 people online at once and over 10,000 registered users.
How to remember your dreams
To lucid dream, I recommend being able to remember at least one vivid dream per night. That will boost your self awareness in dreams (making lucidity more likely) and also means you can actually remember your lucid dreams. Which is nice. Here are four detailed tips on how to remember your dreams more frequently. And if you don't think you dream at all - trust me, you almost certainly do. It takes an extraordinarily rare sleep disorder to deprive someone of dream sleep.
What Do Lucid Dreams Feel Like?
Years ago, before I had my first lucid dream, I had a very specific idea about what a lucid dream would feel like. I thought it would be intense and magical and a little bit spooky. This turned out to be a pretty accurate representation. Becoming aware in the dreamstate is like entering another world. One where physical laws can be manipulated (there is no spoon, Neo) and your fantasies can come true in an instant. There's definitely something magical about that - and it's as if the lucid dream world is a living, breathing organism that can react to your very thoughts.
How to have amazing lucid dreams
Experts agree that everyone is capable of having lucid dreams. Dreaming itself is a normal function of the mind. We all dream every night, even if we don't remember. And we all achieve conscious awareness while awake every single day. So what does it mean to combine these states? Why, the amazing ability to have conscious - or lucid - dreams. Sounds simple, doesn't it? So why do I keep hearing from people who say they can't achieve their first lucid dream?
Mugwort: Dream Sage of the Chumash Indians
It is estimated that these wise and wily Indians have been using mugwort in their healing and ritual practices for 13,000 years, where it is known as the ‘dream sage’. They use the herb to promote good dreams, which they consider an essential aspect of normal human functioning! But that’s not all...
