Healing Through Lucid Dreaming

According to Jaffe and Bresler (1980), “mental imagery mobilizes the latent, inner powers of the person, which have immense potential to aid in the healing process and in the promotion of health.” We believe this statement applies a fortiorito lucid dreaming, a state that possesses the most vivid imagery possible. In the following, we will survey potential applications of lucid dreaming to healing

Comments on OBEs and Lucid Dreams

In Chapter 9 of Lucid Dreaming (LaBerge, 1985), I argue that the only necessary feature distinguishing lucid dreams and OBEs is how the person interprets the experience. In order to have an OBE you must merely believe that you have in some sense “left your body.” Of course, the subjective sensations of being out-of-body provide no proof as to whether and in what way you actually have “left your body.” Those interested in the details of my reasoning should read the original

Physiological Mechanisms of Lucid Dreamin

For those of you here who aren’t familiar with the general approach we have been using in our research on lucid dreaming I will briefly describe it. We’ve been having talented lucid dreamers, like Beverly Kedzierski, enter the dream state on a particular mission. Before they go to sleep we arrange that once they realize they are dreaming they will make an eye movement signal by moving their eyes left, right, left, right

LaBerge Comment

Resonating with the concerns Bob Ogilvie ex-pressed in an earlier Lucidity Letter, I found Goethe description of the three types of characteristic responses to “every new significant phenomenon” relevant. “The mass asks . . . what use is it and it is not wrong to do so; for it can become aware of the value of a thing only through its utility

Healing Through Lucid Dreaming

According to Jaffe and Bresler (1980), "Mental imagery mobilizes the latent, inner powers of the person, which have immense potential to aid in the promotion of health." I believe this statement applies even more to lucid dreaming, a state that typically possesses the most vivid imagery possible. In the following, we will survey potential applications of lucid dreaming to healing

Response to Gackenbach

Jayne Gackenbach reports that in conversations with many people in the United States and abroad she has heard voices expressing concern about the potential for "abuse" of lucid dreaming (1987). Gackenbach feels that "it is incumbent upon the leaders of this emerging field to also voice concerns" (p. 4) and claims that "we are at fault if we do not routinely caution audiences about abuse or even dangers in accessing an incredibly powerful state of mind" (p. 6). While I share some of my colleague’s concerns, if not apprehensions, I believe it is premature and inappropriate to "routinely caution audiences" about supposed "dangers" that have not yet been convincingly demonstrated. I do not really believe that there is cause for alarm. I have already discussed my own concerns regarding the proper use of lucid dreaming in my 1985 book, to which I direct readers interested in my views. Here I will limit myself to a few comments on the issues addressed by Gackenbach

Lucid Dreams: New Research on Consciousness During Sleep (Edited by Jayne Gackenbach and Stephen LaBerge; Plenum: in press)

Among the mysteries of sleep, dreaming must surely be considered the most wonderful; then how much more so must be considered the lucid dream, in which dreamers know that they are dreaming and are in a certain sense awake, and yet are soundly asleep