Lucid dreaming: we're all obsessed by it. Anything to do with sleep seems to fascinate us all, becuase it's the great unknown. Why do our brains do what they do? Why is our subconscious so weird? A lot of it's still guesswork, but lucid dreaming is one part of sleep we might be able to train ourselves to do. Research has shown that you can induce lucid dreaming with a number of different practices... including listening to music. Here, we outline what lucid dreaming is, why it appeals to so many of us and what role music could play in helping us trigger lucid dreams.
What is lucid dreaming?
A lucid dream takes place when someone is aware they are dreaming while they are in the process of doing so. During this state, people are able to manipulate their dreams and take control of the narrative. While many people may never have experienced a lucid dream, the capacity to do so is a trainable skill and there are certain triggers which may help you enter a lucid dream.
Lucid dreams are most likely to take place during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, which you will go through several cycles of while you are asleep. You might enter your first phase of REM in the first couple of hours of entering sleep, and you will cycle through several other phases throughout the night.
There are many benefits of lucid dreaming, which is why people are often keen to induce it if possible. It can decrease recurring nightmares and can help the dreamer take control of their subconscious and manipulate it to create a more calming and comfortable narrative. This can help with issues such as anxiety and sleeplessness. It can also help problem-solving skills, because the dreamer is able to confront their fears and negotiate a situation in their subconsciousness.
What traditionally causes lucid dreaming?
Scientists are not convinced about the root causes of lucid dreaming, but like any dreams, it is likely to be linked to events in your life or any emotions or feelings you may be experiencing or processing.
How music might help trigger lucid dreaming
There is compelling research to show that music can be a powerful tool for achieving lucid dreaming, but this varies from person to person.
To incorporate music into your lucid dreaming, start using music in your dream recall practice. When you first wake up in the morning, take a few minutes to recall your dreams and set them to a soundtrack. Playing these specific songs or melodies after this may help trigger lucid dreaming. Listen to this music before you go to bed, as it can help bring you to a relaxed, sleepy state and also associate your mind with the state of dreaming.
A common way to check whether you are lucid dreaming is to perform what is called a 'reality check'. Throughout the day, check if you are awake or dreaming by pressing your finger into your hand. In your dream, you would be able to push your finger through your hand, but in reality that's obviously not possible. If you regularly practise these habits during waking hours you will find yourself doing it in your dreams. Start listening to a piece of music or specific song or melody as you do this, and you might find it crops up in your dreams at the same moment.
Keep a dream journal and make notes of any musical themes or melodies that crop up in your dreams – lucid or otherwise.
What music is best for lucid dreaming?
People often use binaural beats to help induce lucid dreams. Binaural beats are rhythms played at two different frequencies at the same time. This said, there isn't one specific type of music that is best for lucid dreaming, but ambient and more atmospheric music can help bring a listener into a more relaxed state.
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Soundscapes might be a good place to start, so perhaps head over to apps like BBC Sounds, Spotify, Headspace or BetterSleep to try out a few.
It's best for the individual to experiment with different types of music and see what works for them. Perhaps start by making a playlist of music that creates a strong emotional response within you or paints a vivid picture.
Or, try out some of our recommendations of the best classical music for sleep. All the pieces listed there are guaranteed to help you nod off and get your subconscious firing on all cylinders.
A few things to be aware of with music and lucid dreaming...
Be aware though when experimenting with anything to do with your sleep patterns. Incorporating music into your sleep routine may disrupt your ability to fall asleep. Always keep the music at a low volume so it doesn't interrupt or overwhelm your ability to sleep. Plus, if you're having any kind of troubling or triggering dream, step back from the practice for a while.
