How to Induce a Lucid Dream While Awake

June 12th, 2007

This article is Part 12 in the series Mastering the Art of Lucid Dreaming.

Though it's difficult to induce a lucid dream directly from the waking state when you first go to bed at night, it is very possible to achieve a wake induced lucid dream (WILD) during your wake-up interval in the morning or when napping in the mid-afternoon. In order to induce a conscious dream from the waking state, and especially when attempting it during a daytime nap, it's first necessary to completely relax your physical body. There are several very effective relaxation techniques described on this site.

When you are completely relaxed, lie comfortably on your back in bed. Lift one hand and forearm until it is pointed upward, held perpendicular to your upper arm. Keep your arm in this position as you drift off to sleep. When you lose conscious awareness, your arm will naturally fall back to the bed, which will most likely wake you up. When this occurs, begin the technique again. The purpose of this exercise is to teach yourself how to retain your conscious awareness as you transition into the sleep state, to maintain a perfect balance between a physically sleeping body and a consciously aware mind. You'll eventually become able to remain mentally awake long after your body falls asleep.

Another useful technique is to perform a specific mental task as you fall asleep. Though it may come as a surprise, something as simple and repetitive as counting sheep can be helpful. Counting your breaths can be equally effective. The goal is to continue the activity even as you drift into the sleep state. As long as your conscious awareness is active, the likelihood of achieving a lucid dream is increased.

You can combine the act of counting with the "I am dreaming" affirmation. As you lie in bed, think to yourself, "One. I am dreaming. Two. I am dreaming. Three. I am dreaming. Four…" and continue counting in a gentle, relaxed manner. As you fall asleep, hold on to your conscious awareness for as long as possible but don't concentrate so hard you can't fall asleep.

Actively involving your mind in a specific visualization can be even more effective because it provides the mind with ready-made scenery for your dream. As you lie in bed, visualize yourself walking along a path in the location of your choice. It may be a path in a lush forest, a path down a spiral staircase, a long corridor within a large mansion, or any other path that allows you to explore your surroundings as you move deeper and deeper into the setting you have created within your mind. Maintain your conscious awareness as you observe the details of your environment, even as you fall asleep. Repeat the "I am dreaming" affirmation as you explore the scene within your visualization, and eventually that visualization may transition into a dream.

You can also try falling asleep with your eyes open, a technique Erin Pavlina describes in her podcast. I haven't successfully induced a lucid dream with that particular technique yet but it might work for you. The podcast is brief and offers an excellent introduction to lucid dreaming.

Stay tuned for the next part in the series, which will include techniques to help you remain lucid so you can enjoy your lucid dreaming experience for as long as possible.