Is It Possible to Learn to Lucid Dream?

Lucid dreaming can open the door to many interesting possibilities for the dreamer. Gaining awareness while dreaming can help you deal with sleep disorders like nightmares and connect more with your inner self. You could also have some fun and try things you can’t do in real life, like flying!

While a lot of people would love to experience lucid dreaming, it doesn’t come easily. Fortunately, it is possible to learn to lucid dream. Some techniques have been developed to induce lucid dreams, like the WBTB technique, among others.

Read on as we discuss more on whether it’s possible for anyone to learn how to lucid dream and go over a few popular methods.

How Rare Is Lucid Dreaming?

Spontaneous lucid dreams are rare, however about 50% of people do experience them. 20% of people experience lucid dreams regularly and the percentage of people who lucid dream several times a week is very, very low. Many people may never experience a lucid dream unintentionally. If you’re lucky, you may get a couple of lucid dreams in your lifetime.

But the good news is that you can learn how to do it. By adopting a few techniques, almost anyone can learn to lucid dream.

Is It Possible for the Average Person to Learn to Lucid Dream?

Anyone can learn to lucid dream. While spontaneous lucid dreaming is rare, the average person can train themselves to lucid dream on demand. Frequent lucid dreamers need to learn to lucid dream using one of the many techniques available. Others prefer to use certain herbs and substances to facilitate the experience.

Scientific Studies Proving That You Can Learn to Lucid Dream

The phenomenon of lucid dreaming has been proven scientifically and there’s no doubt that it is something you can learn.

In a study conducted to further understand brain physiology in lucid dreaming, the participants had to be trained to lucid dream. 20 students went through lucidity training sessions every week for four months. At the end of the training, six of the students were able to have over three lucid dreams in a week.

It’s also possible for an average person to learn lucid dreaming while using substances to trigger lucidity. Certain drugs like galantamine can enhance cortical activation and increase your chances of having lucid dreams.

The study showed that intake of galantamine combined with some reliable lucidity-inducing techniques like MILD can lead to lucid dreams.

Another study seeking to investigate lucid dreaming involved participants who had trained themselves to lucid dream for 4 to 17 years. During the study, they slept in an MRI scanner and signaled when they achieved lucidity. One of the participants had two long and stable lucid dreams. This proves that you can train yourself to lucid dream and become a frequent lucid dreamer.

In yet another experiment, researchers wanted to induce lucid dreaming in a single nap session using external stimulation and cognitive training. 50% of the participants successfully achieved lucidity using this method. Three of those who were able to lucid dream had never had a lucid dream before the experiment.

According to these studies, anyone can learn to lucid dream with the right techniques and sometimes substances.

Personal Stories of Beginners Learning to Lucid Dream

Other than scientific studies, there are many stories of complete beginners who have trained themselves to get lucid dreams. You can find them on different lucid dreaming forums online, like the popular Reddit lucid dreaming subreddit.

This Reddit user, for instance, had been trying for weeks to have a lucid dream and they finally had a successful experience. This happened when they were not even trying to lucid dream! There are many stories similar to this–someone tries to lucid dream for a while and then one day they unexpectedly have their first lucid dream.

Yet another Reddit user had their first WILD. The WILD technique is advanced and it can take a while before you start seeing the results. In this instance, the dreamer had a full 10 minutes of lucidity.

Other people have had success using a lucid dreaming app. A lucid dreaming app offers all the necessary tools in one place for the average person looking to learn how to lucid dream–from simple reminders to perform reality checks to expert instructors guiding you.

How Long Does It Take to Learn to Lucid Dream?

There’s no definite answer as it largely depends on the individual. It may take some a single night to start lucid dreaming, and others several months or more. We recommend focusing on your journey, being consistent, and making adjustments to your technique as you go.

There’s no problem if it takes longer. With time, you’ll see progress.

Frequently Asked Questions About Learning to Lucid Dream

Can I Train Myself to Lucid Dream?

Yes, you can train yourself to lucid dream and there are several ways of doing that. One of them is the WBTB technique. You can also just start by keeping a dream journal to help familiarize yourself witht he dream state, and performing state tests to rehearse becoming lucid.

What Kind of People Have Lucid Dreams?

Everyone can lucid dream but spontaneous lucid dreaming is rare. Most people have to train themselves to start lucid dreaming.

Is It Possible to Intentionally Lucid Dream?

Yes, it is possible to intentionally lucid dream. Lucid dreaming is something that most people can successfully practice. The key is identifying the right techniques and practicing consistently.

How Long Do Lucid Dreams Last?

Lucid dream duration differs from individual to individual. Some people say their lucid dreams only last a few minutes while others say they’ve been lucid for more than hour. It mainly depends on your experience.

In general, it is rare for dreams (lucid or not) to last more than one ultradian rhythm, or about 90 minutes to two hours.

Conclusion

It is possible to learn to lucid dream and anyone can do it. If you’ve been yearning to have lucid dreams, there are techniques you can use to induce lucidity.

Learning how to lucid dream may take anywhere from a single night to several months. Everyone’s lucid dreaming journey is different, so it’s best to focus on your journey. Most of all, remember to enjoy this journey of awareness and self-discovery.