There will come a point
where you can remember at least some details from dreams every
morning, and this is good. Since several dreams can occur in a very
short time during sleep, and we dream every time we sleep, there is
no shortage of them. When you reach this point, it is time to focus
on developing your sleeping consciousness.
The most common method
for developing dream lucidity is the reality check. A reality
check is simply a habit you take up in real life that cannot be
duplicated reliably in a dream. Partial lucidity, represented by the
strong dream recall that you have already developed, causes this
habit to be carried out and identifies when you are dreaming. To make
this concept clear, an example should be provided.
In dreams, it is
generally considered impossible to read, identify time on a clock, or
do any of a number of activities influenced by the left hemisphere of
the brain, which is very mathematical and less active in sleep than
waking. Therefore, by getting into the habit of checking your watch -
then closing your eyes, and telling yourself, "If I am dreaming,
the time will be incorrect" before looking a second time - you
develop a reality check. During a dream, partial lucidity will cause
you to carry out your reality check. When a reality check proves that
you are in a dream, the shock often jolts you into more complete
lucidity.
A reality check should
be performed before going to sleep and after waking up, at the very
least. To strengthen the habit, perform the reality check throughout
the day. Remember, when performing a reality check, you must stop to
remind yourself consciously of the importance of this action.
Otherwise, it will not disrupt the dream state when you do it while
asleep. A partial list of possible reality checks follows.