Scientifically speaking, what are the best ways to go lucid in a dream? This is the subject of a recent essay published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition. The authors, all German and Swiss researchers, looked at 35 studies of lucid … [Read more...] about 6 Best Scientifically Tested Techniques for Lucid Dreaming
6 new dream books for 2012
It's hard to keep on top of all the excellent dream and consciousness studies books coming out. I routinely -- for better or worse -- read five or six books at a time. I keep them in separate rooms of the house, so I always have something to read … [Read more...] about 6 new dream books for 2012
Who is really suffering from a lack of sleep? Perceptions versus Reality
This is a guest post by historian A.L. Castonguay. Whenever we see an image of someone who is "sleep deprived" what do we usually see? A parent with children? An overweight or obese person --or one who's underweight? Someone living in a rural … [Read more...] about Who is really suffering from a lack of sleep? Perceptions versus Reality
Lucid Dreaming on the Brain
A fascinating new study has just come out showing precisely the parts of the brain that are associated with meta-consciousness, or the ability to be conscious of ourselves. Michael Dresler and co-researchers from the Max Planck Institute of … [Read more...] about Lucid Dreaming on the Brain
New podcast: Borderlands of Consciousness — Sleep paralysis and hypnagogia
In April, I gave a lecture at Stanford University on sleep paralysis and hypnagogia. The teaching assistants of Dr. William Dement's class were kind enough to record the talk, so I cleaned it up a little and added a creative-commons badge so it can … [Read more...] about New podcast: Borderlands of Consciousness — Sleep paralysis and hypnagogia
Lucid Dreaming Masks: reviewing the next generation
This is the year for lucid dreaming technology. First, the smart phone app Dream:On captured the imagination of the media, boasting over 300,00 downloads in the first month. Then, lucid dreaming mask Remee secured over half a million dollars in … [Read more...] about Lucid Dreaming Masks: reviewing the next generation
4 Steps to All Day Energy: the Power of the Nappuccino
I recently stumbled onto an incredibly effective strategy for hitting the restart button during a mid-afternoon slump. Don’t try to recharge with a cup of coffee. And don’t take a nap. Instead, do both. It sounds absolutely crazy, but mixing … [Read more...] about 4 Steps to All Day Energy: the Power of the Nappuccino
4 reasons not to lengthen a lucid dream
In the lucid dreaming community, there's a lot of emphasis on how to lengthen lucid dreams and prevent awakening. There is nothing wrong with this. The skill of holding your attention span and riding the turbulent sea of REM takes time to develop, … [Read more...] about 4 reasons not to lengthen a lucid dream
Why Kids Can’t Sleep: Growing Up in the Digital Age
It’s easy to be nonchalant about how nobody gets enough sleep these days, but the impact on our children is real. Most kids in the US and UK are overtired, and most teens are in a state of constant sleep deprivation. In fact, Generation Z (currently … [Read more...] about Why Kids Can’t Sleep: Growing Up in the Digital Age
Renewing the Practice of Dream Divination
Dreams and divination exist in the same realm. There are elements of synchronicity, surprise, and mystery to both. They go together like apples and cinnamon. And in many cultures dreams are the divination tools. Many Native American and other … [Read more...] about Renewing the Practice of Dream Divination