Simple Reality Checks For Lucid Dreaming

June 6th, 2007

This article is Part 9 in the series Mastering the Art of Lucid Dreaming.

In my previous article, I described how reality checks can help you achieve lucid dreams, and how to use your personal dream symbols as triggers to perform a variety of reality checks. In this article, I'll cover other simple reality checking techniques to help you become lucid in your dreams.

One of the easiest reality checks involves using written or printed text to determine whether or not you are dreaming. In dreams, text nearly always shifts, wiggles, or changes as you glance at it. This makes it perfect for use in a reality check. Whenever you ask yourself, "Am I dreaming?", glance at something with text written or printed on it. Use a book, newspaper, sign, billboard, or anything else you can find that contains clear and easy-to-read text. Stare at the text for a moment. If the text remains clear and does not shift or wiggle, read the words and fix them in your mind then look away briefly. Look back again at the text and verify the words have not changed.

If the words have changed, congratulations! You are dreaming! If the words have not changed, try the reality check a second time just to be sure you are awake. Do this throughout the day, whenever you perform your other reality checks.

I recommend writing the words "Am I dreaming?" on a small card or piece of paper and carrying it in your pocket or wallet at all times. This will not only provide you with quick access to clearly printed text to use during your reality check but will also remind you to perform the "Am I dreaming?" reality check whenever you see the card.

Similar to written or printed text, the digitally displayed letters or numbers on a digital watch, clock, cell-phone, or handheld computer also may be used to perform the reality check. In dreams, digital displays have a tendency to wiggle or morph from one string of text into a new and entirely different string of text right before your eyes.

For another quick and easy reality check, attempt to use your mind to alter your surroundings. As you ask yourself, "Am I dreaming?", attempt to use your thoughts to affect something that normally would remain fixed or stable, such as the color of the walls or floor. Try to change the color of the walls by mentally willing it to happen. If you are dreaming, there is a very good chance you will be able to change the color of the walls to the color of your choice, or possibly to a random color or pattern. If the color changes, you'll realize you are dreaming. If the color does not change, make one more try just to be sure.

Another method to determine if you are dreaming is to attempt to fly. Don't leap into the air like Superman — just in case you are not dreaming — but attempt to "think" yourself into the air. Focus on being lightweight and capable of flying, stand on your tiptoes and imagine floating upward, and see what happens. If you are dreaming, you may begin to float into the air. Flying dreams are fun and invigorating, and flying while lucid can be wonderfully exhilarating.

One reality check to avoid: never ask anyone else if you're dreaming. The answer inevitably will be "No", even when you truly are dreaming. Your dreaming mind will conspire to keep you in an unaware state. Since other people appearing in your dreams are really representations of your unconscious mind, they will almost invariably tell you you're not dreaming, which makes this type of reality check extremely unreliable. Stick to the other techniques instead.

As you learn to perform frequent reality checks, not only will you increase your odds of performing one while dreaming, you also will become more aware of the details of life you typically overlook. We are constantly bombarded with sensory information and unconsciously tune out a large portion of it. As you begin to "tune in," you will gradually become more and more observant of your surroundings. This new sensory awareness will aid you considerably in achieving conscious dreaming, and it may help you achieve an expanded awareness throughout your daily life as well.

Stay tuned for the next article, which will describe eight easy techniques to increase your chances of having a lucid dream.