Mutual Dreaming
Mutual Dreaming - shared dreams - is a subject that overlaps with lucid dreaming. Whilst you can have mutual dreams without lucidity, the two often occur together. The leading book on the subject is Mutual Dreaming by Linda Magallon. Mutual dreaming is also a key element of the excellent fictional novel Dreamside by Graham Joyce.
What is Mutual Dreaming?
Mutual dreaming occurs where the dreams of two or more people share certain elements. At its most powerful the dreamers share the same dream completely. As with lucid dreaming, this can occur spontaneously or can be induced deliberately. Mutual dreaming is most common amongst two people who know each other well.
The degree of overlap between the dreams can vary considerably. The most basic is meshing dreams. In this case, the elements of the different dreams share a connection. This can be as loose as a feeling or as strong as specific elements - people, place, events, etc - occuring in both dreams.
The stronger form of mutual dreaming, the meeting dream, occurs where the dreamers actually
Mutual Dreaming Techniques
Spontaneous mutual dreams can often occur simply because two people who know each other well are exposed to the same stimuli. Both have a dream connected with something that happened that day, possibly interpreting it in similar fashion. It's an extension of the situation where one person knows what their partner is thinking and/or is about to say.
As with lucid dreams, mutual dreaming can be induced. The more "in tune" the dreamers are, the easier this is. Having already learned to induce lucid dreams also helps.
At the simplest a mutual dream is induced by the dreamers agreeing in advance what they'll dream about. For example: "We'll both dream about the park".
If the dreamers are experienced at lucid dreaming, this can be enhanced by incorporating dream signs. This is most effective when the dreamers share a common sign. For example, feeding birds in lucid dreams. Hence: "We'll both dream about feeding the birds in the park".
The chance of success can be increased by sharing appropriate stimuli - for example, by actually walking in the park in the evening and feeding the birds. Lucid dreams on this subject can then more easily be induced.
Lucid dreaming takes lots of practice, mutual dreaming even more.
Learn How to Have Lucid Dreams
People have been having lucid dreams since long before the name was coined. Some lucky people seem to know how to have lucid dreams without even trying. Most of us have to learn lucid dreaming like any other skill.
You can buy various commercial devices to assist lucid dream induction. Some of these are designed to trigger a stimulus during REM sleep (when we do most of our dreaming). Whilst such devices can be an effective aid, most people can learn to dream lucidly without them.
The techniques for lucid dream skills are actually quite simple although they might take weeks or even months to get results. The key is simply to realize that you are dreaming. Then you become "lucid" whilst still asleep. You are conscious yet not awake.
There are essentially two aspects to this induction process:
Learning to recognize your dreams
Habitually questioning your state of consciousness
I've broken these two steps down into a few simple elements on the pages that follow, these should guide you through the process.
It doesn't work for everybody, but don't give up too soon. Some people learn lucid dream skills in a week, others take months before they first achieve lucidity. It's worth persevering.
Steps to Lucid Dreaming
Question your state of consciousness
Record your dreams - the Dream Diary
Find your personal Dream Signs
Notice your Dream Signs when asleep
Once you've "got it" and started to dream lucidly, you'll probably find that the biggest difficulty is waking up too soon.
The Spin Technique
How to Avoid Waking From Your Lucid Dreams
Some people fear that they will be "trapped" in a lucid dream and never wake. In reality, most people find that they wake from the lucid dream state far too easily. This especially true when you're new to lucid dreaming; the sudden realisation "I've done it!" can shock you awake.
The spin technique is a widely used method to prevent lucid dreams from ending - or at least to delay the moment.
If you feel yourself beginning to wake from a lucid dream, the spin technique is very simple to use. Just stand still, extend your arms, then start to spin on the spot. Start slowly then gradually speed up. As you see the world around you spinning and the colours flowing, think of the dream location you want to see when you stop. Then slowly stop spinning and with any luck you'll be back in lucidity.
Why does this work? One hypothesis is that when a dream starts to fade the visual effect is very similar to spinning - colours and shapes start to run and mix. By spinning, you are incorporating this visual factor into the dream, making it part of the dream. That somehow persuades your brain By spinning, you are incorporating this visual factor into the dream, making it part of the dream. That somehow your brain to stay dreaming.
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