Types of Effects Music Has on Dreams

Throughout the ages, music has been used to produce trance-like or hypnotic stages of the mind. Music has definite effects on the mind. It can also affect the quality of dreams the listener experiences during sleep. Music with short, repetitive patterns can lull the listener into a relaxed state that segues easily into sleep. In fact, there is music, such as that by Liquid Mind, and many others that is specifically designed to induce a change of consciousness, resulting in an open mind that can yield many interesting dreams. Everything in a dream is a symbol, but it is a part of you.

Lucid Dreaming

• Music that creates a visual experience for the listener can lead to lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming, or being aware of your dream and watching it or changing events in it as if watching or directing a film, can sometimes be induced by listening to music that creates a specific visual experience in the listener.

Ordinary Dreaming

• Much more common than lucid dreaming, Studies have been done on the effects different types of music have on Primary Process Thinking in ordinary dreaming, and both exciting and calming music have specific effects on the types of dreams study subjects experienced. However, there are not many of these studies for reference.

Effects Upbeat, Exciting Music Can Have on Dreams

• Exciting music can lead to more action-packed dreams, raising in the subconscious mind images with strong feelings for the dreamer. These dreams can be angry, exciting or possibly even flying or unpleasant falling dreams. Exciting music stimulates certain areas in your brain and induces a more physically invigorated feeling than relaxing music does. Exciting music can even bring out such strong feelings as to produce nightmares or unpleasant, angry sensations in dreams. However, everything that happens in a dream can make you aware of issues in your life that you need to deal with, for the symbols and action come from your subconscious mind alone.

Relaxing Music and its Effects on Dreams

• Relaxing music, such as New Age music with repetitive tones or soothing nature sounds, can induce deep relaxation and even a sort of trance that allows the listener to fall asleep peacefully. In fact, there are even relaxing records that include upbeat messages to your subconscious mind, planting suggestions for pleasant, thoughtful dreams. In peaceful dreams, a story could play out in your mind while you sleep, with no specific upsetting elements. Thought-provoking dreams can actually lead to ideas and creative thoughts that can be acted on upon awakening.