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Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self
Lucid Dreaming Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self is the account of an extraordinarily talented lucid dreamer who goes beyond the boundaries of both psychology and religion. In the process, he stumbles upon the Inner Self.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
January 4, 2020
In parts dosconcerting and illuminating.
A lot more in-depth work on LD than other comparative works. The author goes through a lot of self-examination, deep analysis of material from such wildly popular classical psychologists as S.Freud and C.G.Jung and investigates a lot of points that are rarely considered in lit on this topic. I.e.:
- the unconscious and its shenanigans and the LD potential as an instrument for introspection,
- dream design
- nature of reality and its relations with the dreamscape
- traditional practices
- insights from dreams
- clairknowing originating from dreams
- the good and the evil and the rest of it
- personality investigations
- the unknowable within
- thoughtforms and symbols
- the guardians and guides
- fragments of something other than private imagination that could be perceived withing LDs
- self-healing
- dream telepathy
- therapeutic potential of lucid dreams
A lot more in-depth work on LD than other comparative works. The author goes through a lot of self-examination, deep analysis of material from such wildly popular classical psychologists as S.Freud and C.G.Jung and investigates a lot of points that are rarely considered in lit on this topic. I.e.:
- the unconscious and its shenanigans and the LD potential as an instrument for introspection,
- dream design
- nature of reality and its relations with the dreamscape
- traditional practices
- insights from dreams
- clairknowing originating from dreams
- the good and the evil and the rest of it
- personality investigations
- the unknowable within
- thoughtforms and symbols
- the guardians and guides
- fragments of something other than private imagination that could be perceived withing LDs
- self-healing
- dream telepathy
- therapeutic potential of lucid dreams
January 23, 2012
I cannot say enough good things about this book!
I found myself easily emotionally engaged with the content. I experienced Robert as being curious and enthusiastic, and my interest in my dream practice came alive like never before.
What I like best is that this book left me with more questions than answers - Robert raises many questions in the book about the nature of dreaming, and carefully avoids giving any definitive answers, leaving an open space for the reader to ponder and explore.
He offers many accounts of his own lucid dreaming experiences, and I found that simply by virtue of reading this book, my mind picked up many of his ideas which expanded my dreams quite a bit. I never thought to ask dream characters who they are, or what they represent, or to ask the dream what was beyond "this" dream, all of which I noticed happening quite spontaneously in both lucid and non-lucid dreams after reading the book.
I can sincerely say reading this book has changed my life. I have come to realize that "expansion of consciousness" is about asking good questions, and listening carefully to the answers. Robert offers so many good questions and seems to be so inquisitive, I was roused from my apathetic, depressed mid-life stupor and less than a year later I am coming alive again, in no small part due to learning to communicate with myself more effectively after reading this book.
I found myself easily emotionally engaged with the content. I experienced Robert as being curious and enthusiastic, and my interest in my dream practice came alive like never before.
What I like best is that this book left me with more questions than answers - Robert raises many questions in the book about the nature of dreaming, and carefully avoids giving any definitive answers, leaving an open space for the reader to ponder and explore.
He offers many accounts of his own lucid dreaming experiences, and I found that simply by virtue of reading this book, my mind picked up many of his ideas which expanded my dreams quite a bit. I never thought to ask dream characters who they are, or what they represent, or to ask the dream what was beyond "this" dream, all of which I noticed happening quite spontaneously in both lucid and non-lucid dreams after reading the book.
I can sincerely say reading this book has changed my life. I have come to realize that "expansion of consciousness" is about asking good questions, and listening carefully to the answers. Robert offers so many good questions and seems to be so inquisitive, I was roused from my apathetic, depressed mid-life stupor and less than a year later I am coming alive again, in no small part due to learning to communicate with myself more effectively after reading this book.
March 29, 2014
This is by far the best book I’ve read on the subject. The highly intelligent author delves much more deeply into all aspects of lucid dreams and dreaming than any of the other authors whose books I’ve read. I would give the book ten stars if I could.
I have learnt that a valuable technique when lucid dreaming is to ask the dream itself for information/help/guidance. You can ask a dream figure to explain dream symbolism or tell what it represents.
The author refers constantly to the works of Carlos Castaneda so I will be re-reading some of these. (I read them many years ago.) Don Juan’s advice of looking at our hands in the dream state will stabilize the dream and “renew the power of dreaming”.
Also, to maintain the lucid dream state you must modulate your emotions.
You do not control your lucid dreams but merely direct their focus.
There is a strong correlation between lucid dreams and out-of-body experiences. In fact I have difficulty in distinguishing between them, since it turns out that experiences in lucid dreams as in OBEs can be “real”, i.e. you can meet with other “real” people in mutual dreams, both people you know and those you don’t. OBEs are characterized by the experience of buzzing vibrations. But in both OBEs and lucid dreams you can fly around. I would recommend Robert Monroe’s “Journeys out of the body” for a fascinating, comprehensive account of OBEs. Though not a recent book it is the best I have encountered on the subject so far.
Apparently, the most common difference between a lucid dream and an OBE involves the lucid dreamer’s ability to change the “internally generated” environment experienced, while those having an OBE do not report consciously changing their environment. Also the memory of a long OBE experience seems crystal clear and is easily recalled as opposed to the recalling of a long lucid dream. And those experiencing OBEs report returning to their body.
In a lucid dream where the author asked a boy the right way back to a hotel, he received valuable advice. The boy said “here, any way is the right way”.
The simplest method to move in lucid dreams is “concentrated focus with intent”. Concentrate on the goal as your sole focus then intend yourself there.
In lucid dreams you can fly into outer space, past planets. Waggoner sees a planet with rings and four moons. He speculates whether these journeys represent “a movement of inner depth with the wings of the mind”.
Waggoner’s niece dreams of her great grandmother and receives a message for her mother which proves to be significant to the latter. So was this just a dream figure or her actual great grandmother?
He finds that he is not always directing the actions of dream figures. One dream figure told him that he was a character in her dream. Some dream figures insist that they are real, and get really offended when the opposite is suggested.
You do not create the particulars of your dream, just suggest a general intent.
Waggoner relates a plethora of striking, significant and elucidating dreams in the book.
He discovers that the unconscious is not chaotic, primitive and archaic. He knows beyond a doubt that the unconscious is “conscious, responsive and alive”.
The dream space contains various types of dream figures, behaving with varying degrees of awareness. Some appear to “possess the ability to reason, remember, comprehend and perform purposeful actions”. When the author says in a dream “All thought-forms disappear” many of the figures do so. In one case those left behind looked at him in disdain as if to say “Can’t you tell the difference?”
Moving consciously deeper into the unconscious we meet knowledgeable dream figures that may represent fragments of conscious awareness, and the inner Self. When we focus on dream objects and dream figures, we remain involved with the reflections of the self. We need to intentionally focus away from the presented dream environment and toward the presumed awareness behind the dream.
“Once the lucid dreamer directs questions or intentions to the awareness behind dreaming, he or she creates an opening from which to engage the subliminal or inner Self.” The lucid dreamer can then encounter a consciously aware, much larger aspect of Self.
The author learnt to ignore the objects and dream figures and simply shout out his requests to the dream, or “inner ego”. Responses came.
There are guides and guardians in our dreams that offer assistance or support.
Staring at an object for a long time will normally “collapse” the dream, and you will wake up.
In a lucid dream you can heal yourself in various ways: 1) symbolically and literally entering and manipulating the dream body 2) directing healing intent 3) directing affirmations etc. 4) creating symbolic healing imagery 5) seeking information about the cause or meaning of the illness 6) seeking a dream doctor, medicine, or healing environment. Some techniques are more effective than others.
Sometimes light projects from one’s hands which can be used to heal the body. In one case warts that were healed in a lucid dream turned black overnight and fell off within ten days.
Dream figures may not provide answers about health problems, whereas the awareness behind the dreaming will.
Others can also be healed in lucid dreams if they want to be healed. “The lucid dreamer’s intent appears to engage a deep source of transpersonal healing energy with surprising effects.”
Important factors in lucid dream healing include 1) a positive expectation or positive belief about possible success 2) greater “surrendering” to the lucid dream and acceptance of its own intuited information 3) the use of healing techniques one can perform by one’s own actions 4) a willingness to call on inner energy.
There is a chapter on “forward-looking precognitive” lucid dreams and one on mutual dreaming. The author distinguishes between dual-person-lucid and one-person-lucid mutual dreams. The material presented shows that what happens in lucid dreams is or can be “real” and not just something happening within the mind as often stated. In lucid dreams the author encountered “real” people previously unknown to him who gave him information that turned out to be correct.
Additionally, there is a chapter on interacting with the deceased.
In Appendix B we are given tips and techniques for achieving lucidity, including Castaneda’s finding-your-hands approach, Stephen Laberge’s MILD technique, the NAP-TO-LUCIDITY technique and Paul Tholey’s critical-mind technique.
I usually don’t re-read a book unless at least 20 years have passed since the first reading, but this book warrants an immediate re-read since it contains so much valuable information that one might have missed. So now I will be re-reading this one. I highly recommend that you buy this excellent, illuminating, extremely well-written book. Enjoy this wonderful read!
I have learnt that a valuable technique when lucid dreaming is to ask the dream itself for information/help/guidance. You can ask a dream figure to explain dream symbolism or tell what it represents.
The author refers constantly to the works of Carlos Castaneda so I will be re-reading some of these. (I read them many years ago.) Don Juan’s advice of looking at our hands in the dream state will stabilize the dream and “renew the power of dreaming”.
Also, to maintain the lucid dream state you must modulate your emotions.
You do not control your lucid dreams but merely direct their focus.
There is a strong correlation between lucid dreams and out-of-body experiences. In fact I have difficulty in distinguishing between them, since it turns out that experiences in lucid dreams as in OBEs can be “real”, i.e. you can meet with other “real” people in mutual dreams, both people you know and those you don’t. OBEs are characterized by the experience of buzzing vibrations. But in both OBEs and lucid dreams you can fly around. I would recommend Robert Monroe’s “Journeys out of the body” for a fascinating, comprehensive account of OBEs. Though not a recent book it is the best I have encountered on the subject so far.
Apparently, the most common difference between a lucid dream and an OBE involves the lucid dreamer’s ability to change the “internally generated” environment experienced, while those having an OBE do not report consciously changing their environment. Also the memory of a long OBE experience seems crystal clear and is easily recalled as opposed to the recalling of a long lucid dream. And those experiencing OBEs report returning to their body.
In a lucid dream where the author asked a boy the right way back to a hotel, he received valuable advice. The boy said “here, any way is the right way”.
The simplest method to move in lucid dreams is “concentrated focus with intent”. Concentrate on the goal as your sole focus then intend yourself there.
In lucid dreams you can fly into outer space, past planets. Waggoner sees a planet with rings and four moons. He speculates whether these journeys represent “a movement of inner depth with the wings of the mind”.
Waggoner’s niece dreams of her great grandmother and receives a message for her mother which proves to be significant to the latter. So was this just a dream figure or her actual great grandmother?
He finds that he is not always directing the actions of dream figures. One dream figure told him that he was a character in her dream. Some dream figures insist that they are real, and get really offended when the opposite is suggested.
You do not create the particulars of your dream, just suggest a general intent.
Waggoner relates a plethora of striking, significant and elucidating dreams in the book.
He discovers that the unconscious is not chaotic, primitive and archaic. He knows beyond a doubt that the unconscious is “conscious, responsive and alive”.
The dream space contains various types of dream figures, behaving with varying degrees of awareness. Some appear to “possess the ability to reason, remember, comprehend and perform purposeful actions”. When the author says in a dream “All thought-forms disappear” many of the figures do so. In one case those left behind looked at him in disdain as if to say “Can’t you tell the difference?”
Moving consciously deeper into the unconscious we meet knowledgeable dream figures that may represent fragments of conscious awareness, and the inner Self. When we focus on dream objects and dream figures, we remain involved with the reflections of the self. We need to intentionally focus away from the presented dream environment and toward the presumed awareness behind the dream.
“Once the lucid dreamer directs questions or intentions to the awareness behind dreaming, he or she creates an opening from which to engage the subliminal or inner Self.” The lucid dreamer can then encounter a consciously aware, much larger aspect of Self.
The author learnt to ignore the objects and dream figures and simply shout out his requests to the dream, or “inner ego”. Responses came.
There are guides and guardians in our dreams that offer assistance or support.
Staring at an object for a long time will normally “collapse” the dream, and you will wake up.
In a lucid dream you can heal yourself in various ways: 1) symbolically and literally entering and manipulating the dream body 2) directing healing intent 3) directing affirmations etc. 4) creating symbolic healing imagery 5) seeking information about the cause or meaning of the illness 6) seeking a dream doctor, medicine, or healing environment. Some techniques are more effective than others.
Sometimes light projects from one’s hands which can be used to heal the body. In one case warts that were healed in a lucid dream turned black overnight and fell off within ten days.
Dream figures may not provide answers about health problems, whereas the awareness behind the dreaming will.
Others can also be healed in lucid dreams if they want to be healed. “The lucid dreamer’s intent appears to engage a deep source of transpersonal healing energy with surprising effects.”
Important factors in lucid dream healing include 1) a positive expectation or positive belief about possible success 2) greater “surrendering” to the lucid dream and acceptance of its own intuited information 3) the use of healing techniques one can perform by one’s own actions 4) a willingness to call on inner energy.
There is a chapter on “forward-looking precognitive” lucid dreams and one on mutual dreaming. The author distinguishes between dual-person-lucid and one-person-lucid mutual dreams. The material presented shows that what happens in lucid dreams is or can be “real” and not just something happening within the mind as often stated. In lucid dreams the author encountered “real” people previously unknown to him who gave him information that turned out to be correct.
Additionally, there is a chapter on interacting with the deceased.
In Appendix B we are given tips and techniques for achieving lucidity, including Castaneda’s finding-your-hands approach, Stephen Laberge’s MILD technique, the NAP-TO-LUCIDITY technique and Paul Tholey’s critical-mind technique.
I usually don’t re-read a book unless at least 20 years have passed since the first reading, but this book warrants an immediate re-read since it contains so much valuable information that one might have missed. So now I will be re-reading this one. I highly recommend that you buy this excellent, illuminating, extremely well-written book. Enjoy this wonderful read!
February 19, 2013
I just couldn't bring myself to read through this book. The author doesn't seem to be coming from a scientific background. He even states in the first few chapters that his colleagues didn't give his ideas much attention. Maybe there is a reason for this?
I think the main problem I had is that it is clear that the author is making a huge assumption that dreams are not a random product of the mind, based on experiences. He continuously asserts that there is a greater meaning in the dreams and how they play out that is independent from our expectations. I have not found this to be true, and he offers no scientific evidence to support his claim. And yet, this is the basis for the entire book. I have very little patience for bad science, and the first few chapters set the scene for an entire book full of it. I couldn't continue.
If you would like to read a good book about lucid dreaming that is based on real scientific research, experiments, and evidence, pick up the Stephen LaBerge book "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming".
I think the main problem I had is that it is clear that the author is making a huge assumption that dreams are not a random product of the mind, based on experiences. He continuously asserts that there is a greater meaning in the dreams and how they play out that is independent from our expectations. I have not found this to be true, and he offers no scientific evidence to support his claim. And yet, this is the basis for the entire book. I have very little patience for bad science, and the first few chapters set the scene for an entire book full of it. I couldn't continue.
If you would like to read a good book about lucid dreaming that is based on real scientific research, experiments, and evidence, pick up the Stephen LaBerge book "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming".
January 7, 2025
5/5 ★'s
I have read Stephen LaBerge's book about a million times, so it was time to give another author a go.
This was a very interesting take on lucid dreaming from a remarkably proficient lucid dreamer! I enjoyed hearing the stories from his lucid dreams and how they have mingled with the psychic realm.
I am always open to new, unique interpretations on things we are just now exploring.
This had my attention the whole time and I can't wait to put some of these techniques to use when I get more adept in the skill!
I will definitely still be going back to LaBerge throughout the year, his book is honestly the best on the topic.
But if you want to explore the topic a bit more and gain some new insight, I recommend this one too! I just wouldn't start here myself.
I have read Stephen LaBerge's book about a million times, so it was time to give another author a go.
This was a very interesting take on lucid dreaming from a remarkably proficient lucid dreamer! I enjoyed hearing the stories from his lucid dreams and how they have mingled with the psychic realm.
I am always open to new, unique interpretations on things we are just now exploring.
This had my attention the whole time and I can't wait to put some of these techniques to use when I get more adept in the skill!
I will definitely still be going back to LaBerge throughout the year, his book is honestly the best on the topic.
But if you want to explore the topic a bit more and gain some new insight, I recommend this one too! I just wouldn't start here myself.
March 12, 2015
So, I love the subject matter, and I think the book is well-written. I love his style and the context. However, it was far, far, far too long. And it wasn't even that long. But I felt he made his points quickly and it would have done well as a 140 page book. It went on twice that long, and I found myself unable to stay with it. Instead, I want to go read Castaneda and his adventures with Don Juan Matas.
February 5, 2014
There are a lot of reasons I love this book, but the major one is that it delves really deep into the spiritual implications of lucid dreaming. It goes beyond pleasure-seeking (like flying for fun), to pushing the boundaries of the mind, delving into topics like dream telepathy, healing and subconscious unity. As a result, it isn’t a technique book, but rather an explorative journey into the many aspects of conscious dreaming.
Despite conquering some heavy territory in this book, it’s a really engaging read. There’s also a lot of it to read (320 pages), so he really gets into the nitty-gritty. His writing really opened me up to the idea that there’s more to dreaming than what you create in your own mind, that there seems to be an underlying awareness, or consciousness, which has our best interests in mind. Robert also got me really thinking about the broader scope of one’s lucid dreaming journey – how it often begins and ends in pleasure-seeking, but that there’s so much more territory to discover beyond that point.
Speckled throughout the book are lucid dreaming accounts, often his own, to illustrate experiences and points he’s trying to make, which I love – I’m a big fan of stories, as it brings a human element to heavier subject matters. And you really get a sense that Robert is a cool guy – he doesn’t vibe pretentiousness at all. He draws a lot from psychology in the book, particularly from Freud and Jung, which I find enriches the read.
One concept he brings up a lot is communicating to whatever is “behind the dream”. Instead of engaging dream characters in dialogue, which is often fruitless, he suggests declaring questions or statements to whatever exists beyond the dream. This apparently has very effective and intelligent results. Another idea he played with was to experience being something intangible, like unconditional love, by declaring to the dream, “I want to experience being unconditional love”, or a particular color, or an atom, and so on.
A lot of ideas in the book, like those ones, are better suited to people with lucid dreaming experience, so I wouldn’t recommend this book for beginners in a practical sense – I would, however, recommend it to beginners to simply open their mind to the possibilities of lucid dreaming, and to pump ‘em up about it. I know once I have more experience behind me, I’ll be coming back to this one.
Pros:
-Goes in-depth with the possibilities of lucid dreaming, territories that most other books don’t delve into
-Well-written, engaging and fun
-Information is well-organized
-Very dense at 320 pages
Cons:
-very little information on technique, aside from several pages in an appendix. While helpful, I know that personally I would need more to go on than that, so this book is best used in conjunction with a more technique-heavy book (like ‘Am I Dreaming?’ by Daniel Love)
All in all, this is an essential book to have when learning how to lucid dream, as it opens up one’s mind to a world of wonderful possibilities.
Despite conquering some heavy territory in this book, it’s a really engaging read. There’s also a lot of it to read (320 pages), so he really gets into the nitty-gritty. His writing really opened me up to the idea that there’s more to dreaming than what you create in your own mind, that there seems to be an underlying awareness, or consciousness, which has our best interests in mind. Robert also got me really thinking about the broader scope of one’s lucid dreaming journey – how it often begins and ends in pleasure-seeking, but that there’s so much more territory to discover beyond that point.
Speckled throughout the book are lucid dreaming accounts, often his own, to illustrate experiences and points he’s trying to make, which I love – I’m a big fan of stories, as it brings a human element to heavier subject matters. And you really get a sense that Robert is a cool guy – he doesn’t vibe pretentiousness at all. He draws a lot from psychology in the book, particularly from Freud and Jung, which I find enriches the read.
One concept he brings up a lot is communicating to whatever is “behind the dream”. Instead of engaging dream characters in dialogue, which is often fruitless, he suggests declaring questions or statements to whatever exists beyond the dream. This apparently has very effective and intelligent results. Another idea he played with was to experience being something intangible, like unconditional love, by declaring to the dream, “I want to experience being unconditional love”, or a particular color, or an atom, and so on.
A lot of ideas in the book, like those ones, are better suited to people with lucid dreaming experience, so I wouldn’t recommend this book for beginners in a practical sense – I would, however, recommend it to beginners to simply open their mind to the possibilities of lucid dreaming, and to pump ‘em up about it. I know once I have more experience behind me, I’ll be coming back to this one.
Pros:
-Goes in-depth with the possibilities of lucid dreaming, territories that most other books don’t delve into
-Well-written, engaging and fun
-Information is well-organized
-Very dense at 320 pages
Cons:
-very little information on technique, aside from several pages in an appendix. While helpful, I know that personally I would need more to go on than that, so this book is best used in conjunction with a more technique-heavy book (like ‘Am I Dreaming?’ by Daniel Love)
All in all, this is an essential book to have when learning how to lucid dream, as it opens up one’s mind to a world of wonderful possibilities.
May 28, 2014
To me, finding this book was like opening a gift on Christmas morning. This book ranks high on my list of good books on lucid dreaming. Because it contains the findings of all of the other books I've encountered, this text is good reference material. Most of all the major areas on the subject are explored, with new interpretations added. Mr Waggoner is an accomplish lucid dreamer, and has a doctorate degree in psychology, so his thoughts are those of a professional, competent practitioner.
As a true inter world explorer, Mr Waggoner was able to take mental notes, as well as try particular experiments, that seek to map out the mechanics of the astral world. Some of these experiments included, talking to other dream characters to determine their autonomy, trying to predict the future, different ways to stay in the dream longer, as well as asking the dream world for greater clarity and awareness.
When it comes to lucid dreaming it is all about "awareness", God is what it is because of its awareness, and we are what we are because of our "limited" awareness. As we evolve, we become what we used to think of as God, but by that time of course, God has evolved to be something else, and from our newly elevated position, we have a newer definition of what God is, and the cycle perpetuates. Remember, even God has a definition of God, and our cycle mimics its cycle on a higher level, as above so below.
The author covers the various techniques on how to sustain lucidity, and why these methods seem to work. The text also talks a lot about the larger self as a manifestation of the dream environment. If you are dreaming the dream, who or what is dreaming you ? When you ask the dream to elucidate you, what is giving you the unknown knowledge ?
Other ideals that are explored such as healing yourself and others in a lucid dream, and asking other dream characters (before you sleep) how to go lucid, and stay lucid. What does this say for having a paradigm shift in self healing, as well as our view of the health care industry, let alone the preventive health care field. The book does an excellent job in exploring these ideals, and presenting documented evident from lucid dreamers who have experienced success in some of these areas.
Mr Waggoner's most lucid text covers just about all of the accumulated knowledge of lucid dreaming. Every so often in any field, before the next wave can begin, there needs to be a competent assessment of what has been learned up to that point. As interpretations are made and consistent results are arrived at, the field advances. This book acts as a spring board for the current, and next generation of lucid dreamers.
This book significantly added to my lucid dreaming life. The information was dressed up with just the right amount of seasoned competency, and served with a side order of direct experience.
As a true inter world explorer, Mr Waggoner was able to take mental notes, as well as try particular experiments, that seek to map out the mechanics of the astral world. Some of these experiments included, talking to other dream characters to determine their autonomy, trying to predict the future, different ways to stay in the dream longer, as well as asking the dream world for greater clarity and awareness.
When it comes to lucid dreaming it is all about "awareness", God is what it is because of its awareness, and we are what we are because of our "limited" awareness. As we evolve, we become what we used to think of as God, but by that time of course, God has evolved to be something else, and from our newly elevated position, we have a newer definition of what God is, and the cycle perpetuates. Remember, even God has a definition of God, and our cycle mimics its cycle on a higher level, as above so below.
The author covers the various techniques on how to sustain lucidity, and why these methods seem to work. The text also talks a lot about the larger self as a manifestation of the dream environment. If you are dreaming the dream, who or what is dreaming you ? When you ask the dream to elucidate you, what is giving you the unknown knowledge ?
Other ideals that are explored such as healing yourself and others in a lucid dream, and asking other dream characters (before you sleep) how to go lucid, and stay lucid. What does this say for having a paradigm shift in self healing, as well as our view of the health care industry, let alone the preventive health care field. The book does an excellent job in exploring these ideals, and presenting documented evident from lucid dreamers who have experienced success in some of these areas.
Mr Waggoner's most lucid text covers just about all of the accumulated knowledge of lucid dreaming. Every so often in any field, before the next wave can begin, there needs to be a competent assessment of what has been learned up to that point. As interpretations are made and consistent results are arrived at, the field advances. This book acts as a spring board for the current, and next generation of lucid dreamers.
This book significantly added to my lucid dreaming life. The information was dressed up with just the right amount of seasoned competency, and served with a side order of direct experience.
February 6, 2011
"The year 1995 marked twenty years of lucid dreaming for me.' Thus begins Waggoner in the 7th chapter of his book 'Lucid Dreaming'. Such an anecdotal formula is certainly exercised a lot in 'Lucid Dreaming'. No matter where you place it along the axis connecting the TOPICAL with the TOPOLOGICAL, one thing is certain: the author shows little to no interest in movements other than the lateral. If the publications in the field of lucid dreaming follow that of self-help books, that is, you need to read 20+ books to dig out one that is not just super-facial -- if not downright farcical -- we, the royal first person plural, wonder when can we see a book on lucid dreaming that can be considered substantial. (I'll be thrilled if you have a recommendation in that regard)
Lucidly Waggoner dreams his book into a bestseller, and subconsciously the crowd follows.
Lucidly Waggoner dreams his book into a bestseller, and subconsciously the crowd follows.
June 4, 2017
Anecdote after anecdote, based on zero scientific background and very uninteresting. Lucid dreaming definitely does not need books like this unless they can prove what they are saying. Telepathy? Mutual dreaming? Seeing the future in dreams? This is not what I expected when I picked up this book. While the first parts of the book was okay (exploring the psyche, etc) and somewhat reasonable, the rest just seems like everything a "spiritual" individual would want lucid dreaming to be.
Lucid dreaming in itself is already a fantastic tool with endless of possibilities; why do people feel the need to add extra weird, spiritual-, world-changing elements to dreams?
Read/listen to anything Daniel Love has to say about lucid dreaming instead if you are interested. Books like this are unfortunately a big waste of time.
Lucid dreaming in itself is already a fantastic tool with endless of possibilities; why do people feel the need to add extra weird, spiritual-, world-changing elements to dreams?
Read/listen to anything Daniel Love has to say about lucid dreaming instead if you are interested. Books like this are unfortunately a big waste of time.
October 13, 2014
I fell asleep many time reading this book.
It is not what I expected. I thought it will be giving me an idea about lucid dreaming and how it is achieved.
You will be reading long boring dreams dairy .. with some tips how to achieve tasks in your lucis dreams, but not how you actually start lucid dreaming.
I'm on page 150 and I cannot waste more time on this.
3/5 is bit generous
It is not what I expected. I thought it will be giving me an idea about lucid dreaming and how it is achieved.
You will be reading long boring dreams dairy .. with some tips how to achieve tasks in your lucis dreams, but not how you actually start lucid dreaming.
I'm on page 150 and I cannot waste more time on this.
3/5 is bit generous
July 7, 2024
I was excited to read this at first, but my enthusiasm waned quite early in the book. I thought the book would suggest ways to facilitate lucid dreaming, but the author’s audience seems to primarily be people who are lucid dreamers already. I have had lucid dreams but they were nowhere near the type of dreams discussed here. All I knew was I was in a dream and nothing else, so I was hoping the book would help with making that happen more.
The other issue with the book is that it is way too long. The writer repeats his ideas and explanations much more than needed and what should be said in two paragraphs takes pages. His writing style is also not nice. There are nonfiction writers with lovely prose, like Harari or Mukherjee, but that is not the case here at all and the language and style of the text are not appealing.
Finally, the book feels like a dream journal of the author. He retells too many of his own lucid dreams to the reader when all that is needed is to tell us the gist and nothing more.
The other issue with the book is that it is way too long. The writer repeats his ideas and explanations much more than needed and what should be said in two paragraphs takes pages. His writing style is also not nice. There are nonfiction writers with lovely prose, like Harari or Mukherjee, but that is not the case here at all and the language and style of the text are not appealing.
Finally, the book feels like a dream journal of the author. He retells too many of his own lucid dreams to the reader when all that is needed is to tell us the gist and nothing more.
January 13, 2016
Far too new-age for me. The book does what too many books on lucid dreaming do, which is to try and link it to the paranormal. There are lots of accounts of dreams, which supposedly demonstrate the paranormal uses of dreaming, but, with even the smallest amount of common sense it's obvious that the author is seeing what he wants to see. To anyone else these paranormal dreams are clearly just obscure coincidences forced to fit. I forced myself to finish it but spent half the time wanting to throw it out the window.
February 9, 2017
Absolutely painful to read due to author's high degree of self-assuredness and anecdotal content. I did not get very far.
April 9, 2022
Maybe 2.8 stars?
I don’t know how much of my rating is based on this being a book that I wouldn’t have picked up to read if it wasn’t a book for my bookclub. I think dreams are interesting and have always been entertained by a good narrative of a dream or thinking about what is going on when dreaming. I appreciate some of the techniques he described as it’s fun to think about creatively problem solving in a dream world. This book might entice me to start to keep a dream journal or so if I can do any of these techniques. I certainly have been having really vivid dreams while reading it this week.
My biggest criticisms include how repetitive he was. This book should have been about 100 pages shorter than it actually was. Additionally I don’t mind anecdotes when there’s not necessarily a ton of evidence he can provide but I hate when authors list something anecdotal and then claim it as unarguable proof… especially at times when he’s referring to an anonymous dream report. I wish the book talked more about areas where lucid dreaming is being considered in the mental health community but I imagine that might be in a different book but I don’t know how much more I really want to read about lucid dreaming so I guess i’m not the target audience.
I don’t know how much of my rating is based on this being a book that I wouldn’t have picked up to read if it wasn’t a book for my bookclub. I think dreams are interesting and have always been entertained by a good narrative of a dream or thinking about what is going on when dreaming. I appreciate some of the techniques he described as it’s fun to think about creatively problem solving in a dream world. This book might entice me to start to keep a dream journal or so if I can do any of these techniques. I certainly have been having really vivid dreams while reading it this week.
My biggest criticisms include how repetitive he was. This book should have been about 100 pages shorter than it actually was. Additionally I don’t mind anecdotes when there’s not necessarily a ton of evidence he can provide but I hate when authors list something anecdotal and then claim it as unarguable proof… especially at times when he’s referring to an anonymous dream report. I wish the book talked more about areas where lucid dreaming is being considered in the mental health community but I imagine that might be in a different book but I don’t know how much more I really want to read about lucid dreaming so I guess i’m not the target audience.
May 10, 2020
An autobiographical book on the subject. The author shares his in-depth knowledge and shows that it is a more broad concept than just a pleasure-seeking experience. Dreaming which was misinterpreted for so long as just the representation of mind finally got realized to be real. You will find well-crafted information in it to use lucid dreaming and taking it to the next level of the psyche. The sense of storytelling in the book is pretty self-explanatory with tons of examples regarding mutual dreaming, healing dreams, telepathy, and interacting with the deceased. It's not particularly a how-to guide, but you will find the basic tips and techniques at the end of the book. A must for those seriously interested in the topic and of course enthusiastic beginners.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2023
I'm a major fan of this book. This one has been on my bookshelf for some time and I'm glad my desire to lucid dream reemerged. Robert covers the span of the topic ranging from techniques and induction to the science and psychology. He even dabbles on the spiritual, and the presence of the deceased. Each time I spent sifting through the pages I found endless nuggets to mine, this will be revisited and the future. For those intrigued by the ability to navigate the dream realm, it should be on your radar!
June 30, 2025
Solid lucid dreaming book, more about the wider spiritual benefits and applications of the practice than techniques to get lucid. I liked the wide verity of dream examples and anecdotal evidence of some really cool concepts. I will say that it’s a bit dense in which I couldn’t see a clear structure. Also, the audiobook narrator was very monotone.
Definitely not meant for beginners, more like something to add on to an existing foundation.
Definitely not meant for beginners, more like something to add on to an existing foundation.
November 6, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It gave great reference to the podcast interview we did with Robert Waggoner. I loved how he related his experiences and gave some resources for additional stories etc.
November 5, 2018
Excellent. I want to write a review to convince you of its excellence... but maybe later.
January 18, 2021
Holy Shit.
July 1, 2021
Absolutely amazing, not only about lucid dreaming but incredibly lucid analysis of human consciousness.
February 25, 2016
Not sure that I've given a 1 star book review on goodreads yet, but here goes. Highly anecdotal, unscientific. The author suggests a tie between lucid dreaming and ESP and out of body experiences, which is laughable to me. I've been lucid dreaming for ~30 years with varying frequency, and I assure you that no magic has transpired. Musical and artistic creation, problem solving, exploration of my own psyche - yes. Psychic travel and fortune telling - ummmm, no. I will be open minded enough to acknowledge that ESP and precognition might be real, but they feel like completely independent topics to me. If one has abilities in waking life, they should naturally carry over to lucid dreams, but lucid dreams surely are not the origin of such abilities. I see lucid dreaming as a way to experience life with less gravity and fewer constraints from the super ego. While magic would be fun, that has not been my experience.
Also, my own experience differs from the author's suggestion that emotional intensity is to be combatted in lucid dreaming in order to avoid awaking. To me, the bliss of lucid dreaming is to seek out an adrenaline rush; to become immersed in in something that seems almost overwhelming to the senses (like conducting a symphony of my own music, painting the sky, rearranging a city skyline). What is more intense than blowing ones own mind? To me, that is the goal anytime I become lucid. I'd rather have 1 short lucid dream that is intense than to have 100 longer but more mundane lucid dreams IF the belief that intensity shortens dreams is even true. Obviously, this review is no less anecdotal than I am criticizing the book for being. That said, this is just a humble review and it's too bad that the author felt authoritative enough to write a book on this without some real science. Very interesting stuff, but I couldn't stomach the magical thinking.
Also, my own experience differs from the author's suggestion that emotional intensity is to be combatted in lucid dreaming in order to avoid awaking. To me, the bliss of lucid dreaming is to seek out an adrenaline rush; to become immersed in in something that seems almost overwhelming to the senses (like conducting a symphony of my own music, painting the sky, rearranging a city skyline). What is more intense than blowing ones own mind? To me, that is the goal anytime I become lucid. I'd rather have 1 short lucid dream that is intense than to have 100 longer but more mundane lucid dreams IF the belief that intensity shortens dreams is even true. Obviously, this review is no less anecdotal than I am criticizing the book for being. That said, this is just a humble review and it's too bad that the author felt authoritative enough to write a book on this without some real science. Very interesting stuff, but I couldn't stomach the magical thinking.
March 20, 2021
So far, this has been the best book I have read on the subject of lucid dreaming. It is a wonderful mix of practical, inspiring and fascinating and if I hadn't been interested in the subject before reading it (I was, but never mind) then this book would have turned me.
The author is an experienced lucid dreamer, having practiced it for many decades. His own experiences with dream characters, controlling his dreams and then exploring his inner self through lucid dreaming had led to a career filled with research, teaching and sharing of ideas with all of the other people who have mastered this amazing skill. I read this book in the hope of being able to start practicing it myself. And I managed two lucid dreams whilst I was reading through it, although I have to admit, as of writing, I haven't so far successfully had another (but perseverance is definitely an important aspect).
There may be a lot in this book which the hardened materialist won't like, but that it because there is very little, if anything, about lucid dreaming that can be scientifically 'measured' (and if you can't measure it, then it doesn't exist, right?). It is purely phenomenological. Personal experience is all there is, and personal experience does not maketh scientific truth. However, as with meditation, everything that the author puts forward in the book can be tested by the individual. If it doesn't happen or work for you, then maybe it isn't real (for you). But if it does...well, there is a whole, incredible world to explore and a whole lot of personal growth to achieve.
This book has led me on to many other books on the subject, but so far, this has been the one that has capture my attention the most. Now, if I could just achieve that third lucid dream...
The author is an experienced lucid dreamer, having practiced it for many decades. His own experiences with dream characters, controlling his dreams and then exploring his inner self through lucid dreaming had led to a career filled with research, teaching and sharing of ideas with all of the other people who have mastered this amazing skill. I read this book in the hope of being able to start practicing it myself. And I managed two lucid dreams whilst I was reading through it, although I have to admit, as of writing, I haven't so far successfully had another (but perseverance is definitely an important aspect).
There may be a lot in this book which the hardened materialist won't like, but that it because there is very little, if anything, about lucid dreaming that can be scientifically 'measured' (and if you can't measure it, then it doesn't exist, right?). It is purely phenomenological. Personal experience is all there is, and personal experience does not maketh scientific truth. However, as with meditation, everything that the author puts forward in the book can be tested by the individual. If it doesn't happen or work for you, then maybe it isn't real (for you). But if it does...well, there is a whole, incredible world to explore and a whole lot of personal growth to achieve.
This book has led me on to many other books on the subject, but so far, this has been the one that has capture my attention the most. Now, if I could just achieve that third lucid dream...
April 27, 2019
Gave up at the 30% mark.
What starts out as promising quickly erodes into pompous and meandering theories. Is it really necessary to talk about "maya" (the illusion of life) and quote an ancient Sanskrit scholar? Must we go all mushy-headed and discuss the great unconscious other inside of us who possesses great wisdom, as hinted at by Jung but ignored by Freud, and utterly discarded by the behaviourists...
Go beyond dream objects and speak to the dream directly! The dream will answer!
The mix of new age drivel and psychobabble gets really dull.
I've had plenty of profound and moving and even important lucid dreams in my life. But I wouldn't assume that my way of dreaming is universal. And Waggoner talks like all lucid dreamers are on this amazing path to spiritual enlightenment which other mere mortals cannot even fathom. And it's his path, which he has mapped, and if you have strayed from his path, you're doing it wrong.
Waggoner really lost me when he discusses the "stages" of lucid dreaming, and relates it to Piaget's theories on the development of a child. Needless to say, Waggoner is at the top of the development ladder and we are all looking up at his very wise butt. This theorizing is pointless and dull and repetitive. He basically gives a formal structure to things he discusses in earlier chapters.
He rambles. He theorizes. He puffs himself up. And it gets so very boring.
What I wanted: more examples, more practical exercises, more dreaming and less theory. That would have made for a much better book.
What starts out as promising quickly erodes into pompous and meandering theories. Is it really necessary to talk about "maya" (the illusion of life) and quote an ancient Sanskrit scholar? Must we go all mushy-headed and discuss the great unconscious other inside of us who possesses great wisdom, as hinted at by Jung but ignored by Freud, and utterly discarded by the behaviourists...
Go beyond dream objects and speak to the dream directly! The dream will answer!
The mix of new age drivel and psychobabble gets really dull.
I've had plenty of profound and moving and even important lucid dreams in my life. But I wouldn't assume that my way of dreaming is universal. And Waggoner talks like all lucid dreamers are on this amazing path to spiritual enlightenment which other mere mortals cannot even fathom. And it's his path, which he has mapped, and if you have strayed from his path, you're doing it wrong.
Waggoner really lost me when he discusses the "stages" of lucid dreaming, and relates it to Piaget's theories on the development of a child. Needless to say, Waggoner is at the top of the development ladder and we are all looking up at his very wise butt. This theorizing is pointless and dull and repetitive. He basically gives a formal structure to things he discusses in earlier chapters.
He rambles. He theorizes. He puffs himself up. And it gets so very boring.
What I wanted: more examples, more practical exercises, more dreaming and less theory. That would have made for a much better book.
January 11, 2019
Robert Waggoner is clearly a highly accomplished, highly creative and totally whacko lucid dreamer. This book is a marvel of seeing someone commit to all kinds of far out paranormal experiments in the dream space. Now, what's you can believe you can make real in your lucid dreams, so to see him on this psychedelic and metaphysical journey is both astounding and inspiring. This guy is a pioneer who's work should be taken seriously, even if it is unlikely that your dreams will actually transport you to meet the ghost of your dead hamster that has the winning lottery numbers.
As a side note, while this book is mostly a personal journey, Robert has interacted with a real Who's Who of the lucid dream world, be on the look out for appearances by Stephen Laberge, Clare Johnson, Tenzin Wayngal Rinpoche and Patricia Garfield among others. Whenever Robert drops a name it's usually worth a google.
Highly recommended for Lucid Dreamers and those who want to learn more about this wild and totally real inner-space that's lurking right behind our eyelids.
As a side note, while this book is mostly a personal journey, Robert has interacted with a real Who's Who of the lucid dream world, be on the look out for appearances by Stephen Laberge, Clare Johnson, Tenzin Wayngal Rinpoche and Patricia Garfield among others. Whenever Robert drops a name it's usually worth a google.
Highly recommended for Lucid Dreamers and those who want to learn more about this wild and totally real inner-space that's lurking right behind our eyelids.
April 11, 2021
This book is a journey to personal spirituality and awareness through lucid dreaming, not so much a lucid dreaming tutorial (if that's what you're looking for). He writes it more like a series of lucid experiments, which I love. Asking the dream source to experience "unconditional love" is one of the existential experiments he describes, and after reading it, I tried it as well. It was an amazing experience.
He talks about other cool things, like precognition and dreams of the departed, and he gives a lot of cool stories that make you think there's more to dreaming than we currently know. You can take from it what you want. It certainly goes to show, however, that the possibilities inside the dream realm are endless.
Edit: 2nd read through was just as good as the first! I picked up a lot of interesting new tricks and tactics that I was not ready for when I read it the first time. Now that I am more dedicated lucid dreamer, it is more relevant to me. Definitely a book to read more than once!
He talks about other cool things, like precognition and dreams of the departed, and he gives a lot of cool stories that make you think there's more to dreaming than we currently know. You can take from it what you want. It certainly goes to show, however, that the possibilities inside the dream realm are endless.
Edit: 2nd read through was just as good as the first! I picked up a lot of interesting new tricks and tactics that I was not ready for when I read it the first time. Now that I am more dedicated lucid dreamer, it is more relevant to me. Definitely a book to read more than once!
November 12, 2019
I've read this book twice now, and as I get older and more experienced with lucid dreaming, I come to appreciate it more and more. It's not a how-to book (Robert has another book for that: Lucid Dreaming Plain & Simple). It consists primarily of Robert's philosophical reflections on his lucid dream experiences, especially concerning what they mean with regard to our psyche and its relationship to the physical world around us. A lot of the LD literature these days is derivative, based either on Tibetan Dream Yoga, or the work of Steven LaBerge and Paul Tholey. However, Robert started dreaming lucidly before it became "mainstream" and worked things out on his own. In this book, he provides an original, alternative approach to the meaning of this remarkable state of consciousness, which is I probably what I appreciate most about it. A really worthwhile book.
December 18, 2024
Have you ever woken up from a dream so intense, so vivid, that it left you thinking, That must mean something, only to have someone shrug it off as nonsense? That feeling of disappointment? Yeah, I know it too. If you’ve ever felt like that, Robert Waggoner’s The Lucid Dreaming Pack – Gateway to the Inner Self is exactly what you need. It’s not just about dreams; it’s about connection. Connection with yourself, your subconscious, and this strange, limitless world inside your mind. I went in expecting a how-to guide, but honestly, it turned out to be so much more.
Let’s start with lucid dreaming itself. Waggoner explains it simply—lucid dreaming is when you realize you’re dreaming, but you stay in the dream. You’re not just swept along by the weirdness; you know it’s a dream, and you can decide what to do with it. Sounds cool, right? But it’s not just a fun trick. Waggoner makes it clear that lucid dreaming is about exploring who you are and what you’re capable of.
He tells this story about his first lucid dream as a teenager. He’s in the middle of a dream when it hits him: This is a dream. I can do anything. Imagine that moment. He flies, he creates, he experiments, and it’s all because he suddenly realizes the rules of the waking world don’t apply. That one dream didn’t just excite him; it made him curious—curious about what dreams are, what they mean, and what they can teach us. That curiosity drives the whole book.
The best part? He doesn’t stop at telling you it’s possible. He backs it up with science. Lucid dreaming might sound magical, but Waggoner dives into the research to show it’s not just fluff. He talks about studies where dreamers signal their awareness with eye movements during REM sleep. Did you know your prefrontal cortex—yep, the part of your brain that makes you “you”—lights up in a lucid dream? It’s like your waking self sneaks into your sleeping mind. Wild, right? He calls lucid dreaming a “bridge” between the conscious and the subconscious, and honestly, that idea alone blew my mind.
Then there’s dream journaling. I know, I know—writing down your dreams sounds tedious. But Waggoner swears by it, and honestly, he’s right. He says keeping a dream journal helps you notice patterns and strengthens your connection to your dreams. It’s like training your brain to take dreams seriously. I started doing it, and wow—dreams I would’ve forgotten in minutes suddenly felt like they were full of meaning.
And if you’re wondering how to actually become lucid, Waggoner’s got you covered. He walks you through techniques like MILD (Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams), where you repeat a phrase like “I’ll realize I’m dreaming” before bed. Sounds simple, right? But apparently, your subconscious takes notes. Then there’s WBTB (Wake-Back-to-Bed), where you wake up after a few hours of sleep, stay up for a bit, then go back to bed with the intention of entering a lucid dream. I tried it, and let me tell you, it works—but only if you can resist the urge to scroll through your phone when you’re awake.
What I loved most, though, was how Waggoner shifts the way you think about lucid dreaming. At first, I thought it was all about control—flying, creating dream worlds, rewriting the script. But Waggoner sees it differently. He sees dreams as intelligent. Like, they have their own messages and meanings, and if you listen, they’ll show you things you didn’t even know you needed to see.
One story really stuck with me. He asks his dream, “Show me something important.” And the dream responds—not with words, but with this incredible, glowing landscape. Colors shifting, light moving, everything alive. He describes it as this moment of awe, like the dream was communicating something bigger than words could capture. It’s not just about him bending the dream to his will; it’s about the dream teaching him.
That idea stayed with me, so I tried it. In one of my lucid dreams, I asked, “What do I need to know?” The response wasn’t as dazzling as Waggoner’s, but it hit me just as hard. I saw a door—plain, unassuming, closed. But I knew, instinctively, that it was something I needed to open, both literally and figuratively. It’s funny how something so simple can carry so much weight.
The book goes deeper into how lucid dreaming can help with healing and personal growth. Waggoner shares stories of people who used lucid dreams to confront fears or rewrite traumatic memories. There’s one story about a woman who reimagined a painful experience in a dream, and by doing that, she found peace in waking life. Waggoner calls lucid dreaming a space where “the impossible becomes possible,” and he’s not exaggerating.
And then there’s the spiritual side. Waggoner talks about meeting “dream guides” and experiencing this profound sense of interconnectedness. Now, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this part—it sounded a bit out there. But the way he describes it is surprisingly grounded. He’s not preaching; he’s just sharing. He talks about asking dreams big questions and getting answers that feel like they’re coming from somewhere beyond himself. Even if you’re skeptical, it’s hard not to be intrigued.
One of the coolest exercises he suggests is asking your dream to reveal your spirit animal. I gave it a shot, and—no joke—I dreamed of a grasshopper. Wasn’t expecting that, but hey, it’s a conversation starter.
What I appreciate most about Waggoner’s book is how practical it is. He doesn’t just hit you with theory; he gives you tools. From meditation to dream incubation (where you set an intention for your dream before bed), there’s plenty you can try, no matter your experience level.
Reading this book felt less like reading and more like having a late-night chat with someone who’s been there, done that, and genuinely wants you to experience it too. It’s warm, approachable, and packed with insights that stick with you long after you put it down.
If I had to sum up the whole book, I’d say this: lucid dreaming isn’t just about having fun in your dreams. It’s about what your dreams can teach you—about yourself, your fears, your potential, and maybe even the universe. Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or just ready to try something new, this book is worth your time.
So next time you wake up from a strange or vivid dream, don’t brush it off. Grab a pen, write it down, and start paying attention. You never know what your subconscious might be trying to tell you.
Let’s start with lucid dreaming itself. Waggoner explains it simply—lucid dreaming is when you realize you’re dreaming, but you stay in the dream. You’re not just swept along by the weirdness; you know it’s a dream, and you can decide what to do with it. Sounds cool, right? But it’s not just a fun trick. Waggoner makes it clear that lucid dreaming is about exploring who you are and what you’re capable of.
He tells this story about his first lucid dream as a teenager. He’s in the middle of a dream when it hits him: This is a dream. I can do anything. Imagine that moment. He flies, he creates, he experiments, and it’s all because he suddenly realizes the rules of the waking world don’t apply. That one dream didn’t just excite him; it made him curious—curious about what dreams are, what they mean, and what they can teach us. That curiosity drives the whole book.
The best part? He doesn’t stop at telling you it’s possible. He backs it up with science. Lucid dreaming might sound magical, but Waggoner dives into the research to show it’s not just fluff. He talks about studies where dreamers signal their awareness with eye movements during REM sleep. Did you know your prefrontal cortex—yep, the part of your brain that makes you “you”—lights up in a lucid dream? It’s like your waking self sneaks into your sleeping mind. Wild, right? He calls lucid dreaming a “bridge” between the conscious and the subconscious, and honestly, that idea alone blew my mind.
Then there’s dream journaling. I know, I know—writing down your dreams sounds tedious. But Waggoner swears by it, and honestly, he’s right. He says keeping a dream journal helps you notice patterns and strengthens your connection to your dreams. It’s like training your brain to take dreams seriously. I started doing it, and wow—dreams I would’ve forgotten in minutes suddenly felt like they were full of meaning.
And if you’re wondering how to actually become lucid, Waggoner’s got you covered. He walks you through techniques like MILD (Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams), where you repeat a phrase like “I’ll realize I’m dreaming” before bed. Sounds simple, right? But apparently, your subconscious takes notes. Then there’s WBTB (Wake-Back-to-Bed), where you wake up after a few hours of sleep, stay up for a bit, then go back to bed with the intention of entering a lucid dream. I tried it, and let me tell you, it works—but only if you can resist the urge to scroll through your phone when you’re awake.
What I loved most, though, was how Waggoner shifts the way you think about lucid dreaming. At first, I thought it was all about control—flying, creating dream worlds, rewriting the script. But Waggoner sees it differently. He sees dreams as intelligent. Like, they have their own messages and meanings, and if you listen, they’ll show you things you didn’t even know you needed to see.
One story really stuck with me. He asks his dream, “Show me something important.” And the dream responds—not with words, but with this incredible, glowing landscape. Colors shifting, light moving, everything alive. He describes it as this moment of awe, like the dream was communicating something bigger than words could capture. It’s not just about him bending the dream to his will; it’s about the dream teaching him.
That idea stayed with me, so I tried it. In one of my lucid dreams, I asked, “What do I need to know?” The response wasn’t as dazzling as Waggoner’s, but it hit me just as hard. I saw a door—plain, unassuming, closed. But I knew, instinctively, that it was something I needed to open, both literally and figuratively. It’s funny how something so simple can carry so much weight.
The book goes deeper into how lucid dreaming can help with healing and personal growth. Waggoner shares stories of people who used lucid dreams to confront fears or rewrite traumatic memories. There’s one story about a woman who reimagined a painful experience in a dream, and by doing that, she found peace in waking life. Waggoner calls lucid dreaming a space where “the impossible becomes possible,” and he’s not exaggerating.
And then there’s the spiritual side. Waggoner talks about meeting “dream guides” and experiencing this profound sense of interconnectedness. Now, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this part—it sounded a bit out there. But the way he describes it is surprisingly grounded. He’s not preaching; he’s just sharing. He talks about asking dreams big questions and getting answers that feel like they’re coming from somewhere beyond himself. Even if you’re skeptical, it’s hard not to be intrigued.
One of the coolest exercises he suggests is asking your dream to reveal your spirit animal. I gave it a shot, and—no joke—I dreamed of a grasshopper. Wasn’t expecting that, but hey, it’s a conversation starter.
What I appreciate most about Waggoner’s book is how practical it is. He doesn’t just hit you with theory; he gives you tools. From meditation to dream incubation (where you set an intention for your dream before bed), there’s plenty you can try, no matter your experience level.
Reading this book felt less like reading and more like having a late-night chat with someone who’s been there, done that, and genuinely wants you to experience it too. It’s warm, approachable, and packed with insights that stick with you long after you put it down.
If I had to sum up the whole book, I’d say this: lucid dreaming isn’t just about having fun in your dreams. It’s about what your dreams can teach you—about yourself, your fears, your potential, and maybe even the universe. Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or just ready to try something new, this book is worth your time.
So next time you wake up from a strange or vivid dream, don’t brush it off. Grab a pen, write it down, and start paying attention. You never know what your subconscious might be trying to tell you.
January 23, 2013
Brilliant.
This book explored many aspects of life through the medium of dreams.
Topics included are psychology (exploring unconscious thoughts via lucid dreaming was the most interesting) , philosophy (who are we when we dream? who are we? what are dreams?) , spirituality (the existence of both mind-created and free will entities in dreams is my favorite one here).
This book was recommended to me by my Transpersonal Psychology teacher, so if you are into getting to know yourself better I would warmly recommend this different approach of yourself.
The book is filled with lucid dream reports and experimentation with lucid dream techniques :)
Awesome read !!!
This book explored many aspects of life through the medium of dreams.
Topics included are psychology (exploring unconscious thoughts via lucid dreaming was the most interesting) , philosophy (who are we when we dream? who are we? what are dreams?) , spirituality (the existence of both mind-created and free will entities in dreams is my favorite one here).
This book was recommended to me by my Transpersonal Psychology teacher, so if you are into getting to know yourself better I would warmly recommend this different approach of yourself.
The book is filled with lucid dream reports and experimentation with lucid dream techniques :)
Awesome read !!!
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