Aromatherapy Can Lead to Deeper Sleep AND Lucid Dreams
Learn How to Use Essential Oils for Better Sleep
If you’re interested in lucid dreams and more specifically in experiencing them for yourself, one of the first things you need to do is “create the right environment” for lucid dreaming. Part of this (and arguably the most important part) is ensuring you get the deepest REM sleep possible. This, as they say, is where the magic happens.
Marilyn Reid, owner of the website Taruna Oils, knows a lot about essential oils and aromatherapy. She has agreed to share the article below with readers of Dream Prophesy. I know you’ll enjoy this article as much as I did. The article details how to use essential oils for better sleep, which is of course, vital to lucid dreaming.
Using Aromatherapy For A Good Night’s Sleep
by Marilyn Reid
Do you toss and turn all night or possibly even have trouble drifting off to sleep altogether? Do you wake up in the morning groggy and discombobulated due to poor rest? If so, you can continue this pattern, turn to dangerous pharmaceuticals or begin utilizing aromatherapy.
Obviously, using essential oils for an aromatherapy treatment is the best choice on the list. You surely do not want to continue having restless nights and the side effects of sleep aid pharmaceuticals are quite concerning if you read the warnings. While you need to follow directions regarding safe use of essential oils, they are far safer when used properly than drugs.
Lavender – The flowers and the essential oils distilled from this plant are a wonderful choice for those suffering from anxiety and stress. The sedating effects are also ideal for those plagued with sleep troubles. An added bonus to having this essential oil in your medicine bag is the skin healing properties when applied to burns, bites and acne breakouts.
Roman Chamomile – Be careful when purchasing this essential oil because there are other types of chamomile that are less effective for sleep and more so for other ailments. The Roman variety has a peaceful floral fragrance that blends well with lavender and some other oils.
Ylang Ylang – The floral fragrance of this oil has hints of fruit as well. It can be used alone or blended with the two previous oils. It complements them well by improving the quality of your sleep.
Marjoram – While you may think about cooking when you hear marjoram, the essential oil has benefits outside of the kitchen. This particular oil will relax your muscles while soothing your entire nervous system. The sedating effects reduce hypertension as well.
Bergamot – This cold-pressed oil can help balance your emotions. Unlike other citrus oils, it has a calming effect that can benefit your sleep-inducing efforts.
Frankincense – Many ancient cultures used frankincense, including the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians. The oil contains incensole acetate, which relieves anxiety and depression. If you are having sleep troubles related to emotional disturbances in your life, frankincense is an excellent choice.
Other potentially beneficial oils for your sleep problems are valerian root, vetiver, clary sage, cistus, spikenard, rose, neroli, sandalwood and cedarwood.
High-quality essential oils can be found online and in your local health food store. Read about the various companies to find one with a good reputation and affordable prices. If a company prices all of their oils the same, it is a red flag. Some simply require more raw product to create, raising the price accordingly.
In addition to investigating the manufacturer, you should make sure you are purchasing from a reliable retailer. Read online reviews to find out about their customer service and products.
Once you have the oil or oils, you are going to use for sleep induction, you will need to decide how to incorporate them into your nightly routine. One option is to add several drops to your bath water or in the shower. When taking a shower, block the drain and drop the oils into the water, allowing the steamy medicated water to relax your mind and body. Another option is to keep a diffuser in your room. Follow the direction on the package. You can massage a diluted form of the oil into your skin or have your partner do it. The touch is soothing and can help to stimulate the absorption of oils into your system. Some of the oils on this list, such as lavender, can also work directly on tense muscle tissues when applied in this manner.
Keep track of which oils and methods are most effective for helping you to get the rest you deserve at the end of each day. You will soon have the right combination incorporated into your nightly routine. Then, good sleep is yours for the taking!
Also See: How to Have Lucid Dreams
Lucid Dreams in 30 Days: A Step By Step Guide
How You Can Have these Fascinating Dreams
All dreams (prophetic dreams, recurring dreams, dreams about snakes, dreams about exes, etc..) are fascinating. Even nightmares are fascinating, in their own way. Yet the type of dreams that seem to fascinate and mystify people the most are Lucid Dreams. While we could use thousands and thousands of words to explain Lucid dreams and lucid dreaming, I think it’s usually best to keep things as simple as possible – so, I like to define Lucid Dreams like this: This type of dream is one that seems and feels so REAL, the dreamer is convinced it HAS TO BE REAL. The colors in lucid dreams are more vivid, the sounds clearer, and the emotions deeper.
Is it any wonder everyone wants to experience lucid dreams?!
Books have been written detailing how you can experience these dreams for yourself – or, more to the point – they tell you all the steps you need to take to put yourself in the perfect position (frame of mind) to experience lucid dreaming.
One of the clearest, easiest, and most effective programs is defined in glorious detail in the book Lucid Dreams in 30 Days, Second Edition: The Creative Sleep Program by Keith Harary, PH.D and Pamela Weintraub.
For individuals who want to experience lucid dreaming for themselves (and do so on a regular basis, even), this should be the first (and probably last) book they buy. The information is based on years of research from, literally, around the world and includes breakthrough techniques developed by world renown psychologists and dream researchers.
Book Description:
With this volume you will learn to explore the mysteries of your sleeping self. Beginning with simple steps such as keeping a dream journal to record your dreams, Keith Harary, Ph.D., and Pamela Weintraub take you step-by-step, day-by-day through the lucid dreaming process. You advance to realizing when you are in a dream state, waking up “in” your dreams, and eventually, actually controlling the content of your dreams.
About the Authors:
- Keith Harary is a research director of the Institute for Advanced Psychology in Tiburon, California.
- Pamela Weintraub is an author and journalist who specializes in health, biomedicine, and psychology. She is currently a consulting editor at Psychology Today and executive editor at MAMM magazine, and has served as editor in chief of OMNI and staff writer at Discover, Weintraub has written hundreds of articles for many national publications, including Redbook, Ms., McCall’s, Audubon, and Health, to name just a few. She lives in Connecticut.
See Lucid Dreams in 30 Days, Second Edition: The Creative Sleep Program for a look inside this fascinating book.
How to Have Lucid Dreams
Tips to Increase Your Chances of Lucid Dreaming
When I’m trying to explain lucid dreams to someone, I always tell them that a lucid dream is a dream that seems too real to be a dream – too good to be true. Everything in a lucid dream is more intense than in regular dreams.
In lucid dreams:
- Feelings are more pronounced
- Details are more vivid
- Blues are bluer, reds are redder, greens are greener, etc
- Everything, absolutely everything, is more intense
Some experts believe that you’ll never fully understand what a lucid dream is until you have one for yourself. There’s a lot of confusion surrounding these dreams – some dreamers aren’t sure if they’re dream was was a lucid dream or not. Some dreams may be borderline but, know this, if you have a lucid dream, you won’t have any doubts about it.
So the question that remains to be answered is this, “How can you make yourself experience lucid dreams?”
If only it were that easy. What we CAN do is set the stage for lucid dreams and create the right environment for lucid dreaming. Below are tips and suggestions that’ll put the odds of experiencing lucid dreams greatly in your favor.
How to Have Lucid Dreams
As I said below, the answer to having lucid dreams lies not in a simple one-and-done solution but rather in a series of steps that will improve your chances for inviting lucid dreaming. It’s all about becoming more in touch with your dreams. Think of it like this: You have to make a big deal of your dreams. The bigger the better!
- Keep a Dream Journal to improve your chances of having lucid dreams. I probably give this advice more than any other when it comes to dream interpretation and lucid dreaming. While keeping a journal requires a little more work on your part, it is so worth it in the long run. A dream journal helps you understand your dreaming patterns, can help you sort through emotions, sets the stage for lucid dreaming, and… let’s face it.. can provide fascinating reading material as the days, weeks, and months go by! Keep in mind, a dream journal will probably not be something your write in every single morning. Some dreams simply don’t stand out. You” write in your journal when either “pieces” of a dream stand out to you or dream symbols register with you. Some mornings, your dream journal may be as simple as one sentence. Example: “In my dream last night, Rosie was crying and I didn’t know why.” Keeping a dream journal will program you to pay more attention to your dreams, help you retain information, and (as I said above) make a big deal out of dreaming.
- Set the stage for lucid dreaming right before you fall asleep. Each night (or anytime you’re lying down to sleep), think of dreaming as you drift off. Ask yourself, “I wonder what I’ll dream about tonight…” Some people even like to “invite” dreams by telling themselves, “I will dream of a hot air balloon tonight!” or “I will see my brother in my dream tonight…” Some use code words and fixate on these words right before falling asleep. Basically these words are the dream symbols they wish to dream about. Again, it’s all about making a big “to do” about dreams and dreaming. The thought, here, is to think about dreams before you go to sleep and to think about dreams first thing upon waking.
- Use dream registers. Another trick for becoming more in touch with your dreams – and a way to connect your waking waking world with your dream world is to use “registers.” What are dream registers? These are something I, myself, coined the phrase for. The thought of having “registers” that connected the waking world with the dream world has always fascinated me. Whenever something we are passionate about in our everyday life shows up in our dreams and “registers” with us, it is a fascinating connection. For example, if you are passionate about baseball (one of my own greatest passions!) and have a dream where you are excited about a baseball game, it feels “right.” It’s as though the two worlds connected by your love for the sport. You can create your own “dream registers” and they can be colors, numbers, specific animals, or any inanimate object. Basically, here’s what you do: In your waking life (“the real world”), begin “registering” each time you see a particular thing. If you choose the color purple, for example, begin making a point of thinking, “There is purple!” each time you see the color. If you choose squirrels, each time you see one, think (or even say), “Squirrel!” (I’m having “Up” flashbacks now…) Whatever register you choose, stick with it! Also, it’s best not to choose more than one – although the temptation is great, choose one reigster. Person, place, thing, color.. your choice – just make it one. What you’re looking for is this, you want to “register” it such a regular basis that you begin “registering” it in your dream. When this happens, you have made a very vital connection between the two worlds and are WELL on your way to lucid dreaming.
- Positive Re-Enforcement. Many people swear by telling themselves such things as, “I will remember what I dream tonight.” and “I will have a lucid dream tonight.” I’ll be totally honest, I’ve never had success with this, but enough people have for me to list it here.
- Get into… way into.. dream interpretation and analysis. Well, you’re certainly in the right place! Use our dream dictionary to help solve the mystery of your dreams. You’ll also find our dream color guide and meaning of dream numbers page useful. You can also find countless dream symbols and dream interpretations on the dream blog, itself.
- Create the Scene, Ambiance, and Atmosphere that’ll invite lucid dreaming. To experience deeper sleep and, as a result, improve your chances of having lucid dreams, you need to make sure your bedroom is as comfortable, relaxing, and sleep-inducing as possible. Using your bedroom primarily for sleeping will help a great deal. Also, try to keep clutter to a minimum and comfort to a maximum. Lavender-scented room sprays (and even linen sprays) also help a great deal. You may also want to check out this wonderful Lucid Dream Herbal Bath and Candle Set. Remember, though, never go to sleep with candles burning. Blow them out before you lay down – the aroma will remain in the room long enough to help you fall asleep.
- A lot has to do with timing. Our most vivid dreams (which certainly include lucid dreams) occur during REM sleep (the deep sleep characterized by Rapid Eye Movement). A dreamer’s first REM phase usually happens about an hour and a half (or 90 minutes) after first falling asleep. Additional REM phases typically occur every 90 minutes afterward. Many experts suggest programming yourself to awaken during REM sleep, when you are most likely to vividly remember your dream, THEN try to fall immediately back to sleep and “jump” back into your dream. Did you know that you can encourage your body to have more REM sleep simply by keeping a regular sleeping schedule?
- Aromatherapy and Essential Oils. Using the right aromatherapy with the right essential oils can help you accomplish the tip above… deeper REM sleep!
- Arm yourself with knowledge. Build a library of books about lucid dreaming (some great books are shown below) and do diligent research on the subject. The more you understand lucid dreams, the more apt you’ll be to experience them for yourself.
- One more time, the bigger deal you make of your dreams.. the more you talk about them, research them, and thoroughly enjoy them… the more apt you will be to experience lucid dreams.
What Are Lucid Dreams?
If, like most people, you are fascinated with and interested in Lucid Dreams, Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self is a book you’ll want very much to read.
Lucid dreams are those dreams that feel SO REAL that you aren’t 100 percent sure if you’re awake or dreaming. Colors in lucid dreams are more vibrant, sounds are louder, thoughts are clearer. The emotions felt in the dream register with your emotions the minute you awaken.
Many people believe that they can program themselves to actually have more Lucid Dreams. They also feel that they can use these lucid dreams for self growth, self help, and self improvement.
The book shown in this post would be an excellent source for the individual who wants to learn more about lucid dreams and lucid dreaming.
Product Description
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.
While lucid (consciously aware) in the dream state and able to act and interact with dream figures, objects, and settings, dream expert Robert Waggoner experienced something transformative and unexpected. He was able to interact consciously with the dream observer-the apparent Inner Self-within the dream. At first this seemed shocking, even impossible, since psychology normally alludes to such theoretical inner aspects as the Subliminal Self, the Center, the Internal Self-Helper in vague and theoretical ways. Waggoner came to realize, however, that aware interaction with the Inner Self was not only possible, but actual and highly inspiring. He concluded that while aware in the dream state, one has both a psychological tool and a platform from which to understand dreaming and the larger picture of man’s psyche as well. Waggoner proposes 5 stages of lucid dreaming and guides readers through them, offering advice for those who have never experienced the lucid dream state and suggestions for how experienced lucid dreamers can advance to a new level.
Lucid Dreaming offers exciting insights and vivid illustrations that will intrigue not only avid dreamworkers but anyone who is interested in consciousness, identity, and the definition of reality.
What is Lucid Dreaming?
Can You “Make” Yourself Have Lucid Dreams?
- A Lucid Dream is a dream in which you realize you are dreaming.
- Lucid Dreams are more vivid than other dreams. The yellows are more yellow, the blues are more blue, the emotions are larger, the fear is stronger, and so on.
- Have you ever seen the movie Vanilla Sky? This was an example of Lucid Dreams hitting the big screen!
- During a Lucid Dream, a certain “clue” or “sign” will alert the dreamer that is actually a dream.
Lucid Dreams First Used by Frederik van Eeden
The term Lucid Dream was first used by Frederik van Eeden who used the word “lucid” in the sense of mental clarity. When something tips us off in a dream that it is, in fact a dream, we regain our mental clarity. The clue that tips us off could be seeing someone we realize is deceased, having a magical power such as invisibility, or being able to fly, etc.
Lucid Dreams occur in different “strengths” or “levels.” They’ve gotten a great deal of attention because many people believe we can use them to “control” our dreams and, even, help us solve problems.
Can You Make Yourself Have Lucid Dreams?
The questions on everyone’s mind are, “Can I make myself experience lucid dreams” and “How can I make myself have lucid dreams?!” There’s a bit of a controversy over this particular subject.
Some dream experts believe you absolutely cannot make yourself experience lucid dreams. They argue that these dreams only occur supernaturally and cannot be provoked or invited in any way.
Personally, I believe that “making” yourself experience lucid dreams isn’t nearly as easy as it sounds. There’s certainly no switch to turn on and you can’t “will” yourself to have lucid dreams.
Having said that, however, I believe you can set the stage for experiencing lucid dream. There are steps you can take to become much more in tune with your dreams and this will, in turn, set the stage for lucid dreaming. Once the stage is set, so to speak, they are much more likely to occur.
I’ve written an article How to Have Lucid Dreams, read the article for 10 easy ways to help set the stage for lucid dreaming.
Lucid Dreams Category on Dream Prophesy
In the Lucid Dreams category, watch for many upcoming articles addressing this very premise. As a dreamologist, I am very passionate about Lucid Dreams. I believe they can, like all dreams, give us a lot of insight into our emotions, our thoughts, our core beliefs, etc. A greater sense of self can be gained by paying closer attention to our dreams.
That’s what this site is here for – to help us identify exactly what our dreams mean and what they’re trying to tell us. We’ll learn how to use this information to bring peace into our heart and minds as we build the lives we’ve always… well…dreamed of.
“Dreaming is an act of pure imagination, attesting in all men a creative power, which if it were available in waking, would make every man a Dante or Shakespeare.” – H.F. Hedge
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