Lucid Dreaming

This is an excellent introductory book on lucid dreaming by a young author who also trained with Akong Rinpoche and is a practising Buudhist. He first experimented with lucid dreaming as a teenager and has been able to integrate it with Buddhist teachings in his Mindfulness of Dream and Sleep programmes (see www.charliemorley.com). The book sets out the basics of lucid dreaming and outlines scientific studies while making it clear that the intention to remember your dreams and keeping a dream journal are essential first steps. The book also examines the role of archetypes and nightmares in integrating the shadow and relates the phenomenon cross-culturally to shamanism and dream yoga. For me some of the most interesting content was in the case histories. One man cured himself of nicotine addiction after a lucid conversation with a woman who said she was his brain. Another woman met her deceased father in a lucid dream and found total acceptance of her unconventional lifestyle. Yet another dreams of her death and becomes the light. Ultimately lucid dreaming can be understood as a form of spiritual training leading to the expanded awareness of lucid living. Those looking for a more extensive treatment can read his Dreams of Awakening.