Free Dream Control Techniques

Dream control involves using the conscious waking mind to control the subconscious dream state. According to Jordan Lite in "How Can You Control Your Dreams?," an article in "Scientific American," people can control their dreams more than they realize. Control your dreams according to your goal. Determine whether you want to promote lucid dreaming, control specific dream content, or solve a life problem. Learning to control dreams takes a sustained effort, which may be marked by trial and error as you gain understanding of your dream life. Take the first step and believe dream control is possible. Control dreams to achieve lucid dreaming---the awareness in a dream that you are dreaming.

Small Changes

• See what you want to see in your dreams.

  Attempt what you believe is possible. Spend time affirming that you can control your dreams, recommends the dream website Dream Views. Try to control an element in a dream scene or attempt to affect your actions in a dream. Maintain a sense of calm restraint and pay attention to how much force you need to accomplish different types of dream control, suggests Dream Views.

Dream Spinning and Verbal Commands

• Verbalize your desire in your dream.

  Implement dream spinning and/or verbal commands to control dreams that lose control. Visualize---spin---a dream as you want it to occur when you feel a dream taking an objectionable course. Advises Dream Views. Try a verbal command by speaking what you want to happen. Say in a dream, for example, "I want to watch whales migrate." Dream Views recommends repeating your dream desire as you imagine the desired scene in your mind.

Problem-solving Dream Control

• Imagine a problem immediately before falling asleep.

  When a waking life problem defies a waking solution, try exercising dream control. Think about your problem as you prepare to go to sleep, suggests Jordan Lite. Find a visual image to hold in your mind. Visualize, for instance, a child's messy room. Make this image the last image in your mind before you fall asleep. Refrain from getting out of bed as soon as you awaken. Give yourself time to recall the dream or an emotion associated with a dream. In an anecdotal study, Lite claims that 50 percent of students in her class dreamed about their problem by using this technique, while 25 percent of them solved their problems.