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.
We may also question just how the future of virtual reality will impact the study and practice of lucid dreaming. Are we, perhaps, the last generation to whom lucid dreaming will maintain an appeal? Will our descendants forgo the challenges faced in attaining lucidity in favour of effortless virtual worlds?
I expect this may be the case for many, however, one fact should keep the flame of lucidity alight, in spite of the growing competition from ever improving digital alternatives:
Dreams, unlike man-made simulations, are a natural phenomenon replete with the inherent mysteries of our universe and the unknown.
Our digital worlds are crafted in code, born from man's imagination but limited by a predefined structure. In any software simulation - all that can be known, experienced or discovered within it, already exists. It has already been decided upon and programmed.
Exceptions to this exist, such as the procedurally generated universe of games such as No Man's Sky, but these mathematically generated variations are still constrained by the choices of its human creators.
The dream world, like our universe, contains mysteries that are unknown to any human - true discoveries lay awaiting us. Our dreams have no author beyond the enigmatic workings of our mind, nature and our individuality. Dreams are the ultimate sandbox, one that develops and morphs according to its own nature - programmed not by man, but through the same processes that gave birth to mankind itself.
Whatever the future holds, we now live in exciting times. We are witness to the birth of humanity's first steps into the creation of virtual worlds and experiences - the advent of a true form of 'shared dreaming'. At the same time, we still have a strong motivation to explore our innate, private biological virtual reality - lucid dreaming.
Lucid Dreaming in a Virtual Reality World
The future is bright for dreamers. Our universe is becoming infinitely larger. New worlds will be spawned not only within our dreams, but in our waking technologies also.
Indeed, it's possible that as we become more at home within our digital virtual worlds, our species may become more inclined to question reality itself. And, perhaps, a side effect of virtual reality will be an increased proclivity towards lucid dreaming. As we already know, those who regularly question reality are inclined to awareness within their dreams.
If nothing else, it is certain that there will be a creative flow between the world of dreams and our virtual worlds. Dreams will undoubtedly inspire virtual artists and, in turn, virtual experiences will offer our minds a unique feast of experiences with which to build new dreams.
It would seem that dreaming is such a profound aspect of humanity that we have been compelled to create technologies that allow us to 'dream' even while we are awake. It is without doubt that with the birth of virtual reality we now stand at the precipice of a new age of human experience. I believe that if we retain a respect for the strengths and weaknesses of both our biological and technological virtual worlds, and if we develop a mutual and creative relationship between them - that humanity has a very exciting and adventurous future ahead of us.
The following 360 video, where you can guide your own viewpoint, is a wonderful taster of what the future of virtual experiences may hold, especially their ability to bring education and the impossible to life.
(It’s best viewed on a phone, or better still, using a virtual reality viewer such as google cardboard. It makes for great lucidity inspiration too!)
About The Guest Author
Daniel Love is a British lucid dreaming expert, whose goal is to share lucid dreaming in an honest and thoughtful manner. His motto is that we become "lucid about lucidity" and he aims to dispel some of the myths and misunderstandings surrounding the subject, with the hope that it will help bring the wonders and benefits of lucid dreaming to a wider audience.
To hear more, see my interview with Daniel Love and check out his book Are You Dreaming? on Amazon. You can read my full review here.
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...
