MILDs

Mnemonic Induced Lucid Dreams

There are now many slightly different modifications to the technique around, what follows is the one I use. As always, do whatever works best for you.

MILD stands for Mnemonic Induced Lucid Dream, which is rather a mouthful. All it really means is conditioning your mind to make it more likely that you will become lucid. It's a little like self-hypnosis or affirmations.

The MILD technique is usually used when going to bed and reinforced if you awake during the night. Some people have used it during the day before a nap - though there is a danger here of confusing true lucid dreaming with hypnagogic/hypnopompic imagery.

To start, prepare for bed and get yourself comfortable and ready for sleep. Now simply relax. Let your mind drift away, peaceful and comfortable.

Think about dreaming, feel that warm, peaceful sensation.

Now start to tell yourself that you will become lucid in your dreams. Tell yourself that when you awaken you will remember your dreams. You don't have to do anything, it will just happen, it is the way it will be.

Imagine yourself dreaming, see yourself in a dream, move into the dream. If you have any established dream signs, imagine them in your dream. Fully associate with being in the dream, with recognising your dream signs, with becoming lucid. And know that you will remember your dreams when you awaken. It will just happen.

Let yourself dream about dreaming and dream about waking and drift gently into a peaceful, relaxing sleep.

If you're lucky you might become lucid in your next dream cycle. If you wake during the night, try to remember the dream you had, recreate it in your mind and step back into it. Imagine yourself recognising the dream and becoming lucid as you slip back into sleep.

That's the basic principle, obviously you need to adjust the details to suit you.

Good luck!