Lucid Dreaming

Dreams are the playground of the mind. Anything can happen when one is dreaming. The only limitation is that we only rarely realize the freedoms granted to us in our dreams while we have them. Lucid dreaming is the ability to know when one is dreaming, and be able to influence what will be dreamt. A normal dream is much like passively watching a movie take place in your skull.
In a lucid dream, the dreamer is the writer, director, and star of the movie.
Lucid dreams are exceptionally interesting. Lucid dreaming is defined as dreaming when the dreamer knows that they are dreaming. The term was coined during the 1910Õs by Frederik van Eeden who used the word "lucid" in the sense of mental clarity (Green, 1968).
There is no need to run from or fight with dream monsters.
In fact, it is often pointless to try because the horror is in their own mind, which can pursue them wherever they dream themselves to be. The fear is real, but the danger is not. The only way to escape is to end the fear, for as long as they fear their dream, it is likely to return. Unreasonable fear can be defused by facing up to the source, or going through with the frightening activity, so that one can observe that no harm comes to them. In a nightmare, this act of courage can take any form that involves facing the "threat" rather than avoiding it. Monsters often transform into benign creatures, friends, or empty shells
(Saint-Denys, 1867/1985) when courageously confronted in lucid dreams. This is an extremely empowering experience. It teaches in a very visceral manner that fear can be conquered. Lucid dreaming can also help people achieve goals in their waking lives.
There are many ways that individuals can use lucid dreams to prepare for some aspect of their waking activities. Some of these applications include: rehearsal
(trying out new behaviors, or practicing them, and honing athletic skills), creative problem solving, artistic inspiration, overcoming sexual and social problems, coming to terms with the loss of loved ones, and physical healing. If the possibility of accelerated physical healing, suggested by anecdotes from lucid dreamers, is born out by research, it would become