Do Black People Lucid Dream? Lucid Dreaming Basics

Why Don't Black People Lucid Dream?

Only a few people have any idea what lucid dreaming is and there are just a small amount of these who are successful at achieving it.   It seems that of all lucid dreamers, there is only a tiny percentage of black people present in this number.  It seems to be one of those things for the New-Agey, spiritually conscious people, and I believe that most black people would consider lucid dreaming to be an occult practice among the ranks of astral projection, out of body experiences, communication with the dead and devil worship.  Being that most black people have a strong foundation in the church (Christianity), these are things that you just don't play with.

Having experienced lucid dreams, and having been raised in church I don't really feel convicted about trying to lucid dream.  Whether lucid or not, you're still in the dream world either way. However, I do understand why some (black) people may not want to explore it, especially considering that most of us grew up with church pounded into us.

I find it somewhat disappointing that most the lucid dreamers on these online forums are Atheists or people who don't want anything to do with a God or religion.  Wouldn't you think people who are into exploring dreams would be MORE spiritual and find some divine wisdom in the dream land?

I may be getting ahead of some people.

First of all we should go over the basics of lucid dreaming.

What is Lucid Dreaming? 

 Lucid dreaming refers to becoming aware during a regular dream during sleep.  Normally when you dream you are pretty much a passive participant or a passenger along for the ride.  You behave similarly to how you normally act in waking life, but you don't really have much control over your actions.

In a lucid dream, the dreamer realizes he/she is dreaming.  He/she becomes conscious within the dream.  Something may look strange or there may be a weird circumstance that triggers the dreamer to say "Hey, I'm dreaming right now."   From then on the dreamer becomes just as aware as in real life and can consciously interact with the people (dream characters) and objects in the dream and everything is just as "real" as they are when awake.

Lucid dreaming sounds pretty easy in theory, but for most people it takes some training and practice for the mind to remember to stop mid-dream so that evaluation of the surroundings can occur.   You very well know that in most of your dreams you just go with the plot and nothing really seems unusual.  You likely wouldn't normally halt in the middle of a dream and think "Hmm....I graduated from high school years ago.  Why am I sitting here in Ms. Jones' math class?"

How Can I Learn to Lucid Dream?

Like I said, for most people, it takes some practice.  There are a very select few who lucid dream naturally and have been doing so since childhood.    For the rest of us, the key to lucid dreaming is to check reality and survey your surroundings for anything out of the ordinary while awake.  The goal is to make this such a habit that it carries over into your dreams so that you can question reality and become lucid.

One of the most popular techniques is remembering to do what is called "Reality checks" while awake.  A few reality checks are as follows:

• Electricity Test:  In dreams, electronic things tend not to work.  Lights don't turn on when you flip the switch or the remote control has no effect on the TV.  In one of my dreams I became lucid when my keychain remote control would not unlock my car.  After pushing the button several times, I was like, "Now wait a minute...Am I dreaming?"

• Nose Pinch:  Pinch your nostrils closed and attempt to breathe through your nose.  If you are dreaming you will be able to breathe.  This reality check is always my go-to for confirmation--it never fails.
   

• Finger Through Palm: Take a finger and try to push it through the palm of your opposite hand. If your finger goes through, you are dreaming!  This was the reality check I did in my very first lucid dream.  For me, my finger doesn't really go through, it just feels like I'm poking it through Play-doh.  I've found that this reality check doesn't really work in my dreams anymore.

For me, reality checks are my confirmation AFTER I experience or see something unusual in a dream. However, if you do regular reality checks everyday while you are awake, you will likely catch yourself doing it in your dreams and becoming lucid in result.

Also note that what I've described thus far is a method to become lucid from within a dream.  This is called a DILD (dream-induced lucid dream).

The second major category of lucid dreaming is the WILD (wake induced lucid dream).  This strategy involves entering a dream from a waking state.  I prefer this method because in my dreams, I'm pretty stupid and I never question anything to DILD.  The WILD method isn't easy to do because you have to stay aware until after your body falls asleep.  I've found myself doing WILD but always when I catch myself after inadvertently falling asleep in the middle of it.  I find that the WILD dreams are much more vivid and clear.

Anyway, I'll explain more about the different LD techniques, stabilization tips, etc. in upcoming posts---or just look it up and find out.

How Long Before I Have a Lucid Dream?

It varies.  Some people try for months, some are still trying after years.  I had my first lucid dream about 3 days after I found out about what it was all about from various lucid dreaming forums like THIS ONE

I think my success came so quickly because when I first learned about it, I was very bright-eyed and amazed at the whole concept and all the possibilities and it was on my mind a lot.   Since then, it's become much harder to do even though I fall asleep with the intent to LD.   I haven't had an LD in a few months.   I've had maybe 10 lucid dreams, total--most of them very short and insignificant.  Only 2 of them are worthy of retelling. 

Note that most lucid dreams tend to be short-lived until you learn how to stabilize and maintain control. 

 

 

What Does A Lucid Dream Feel Like? 

Most intentional lucid dreamers remember their first lucid experience with awe.  A lucid dream feels just as real as you sitting in your couch and reading this right now!

 I had my first lucid dream during a nap.  In the dream I found myself on a foggy street with people passing all around me.  I thought to myself  "I'm dreaming" and I poked my finger into my hand.  As SOON as I did that reality check, it was as if the dream was activated:  I could feel the breeze on my skin and I could feel my clothes on my body.  I looked around and hugged someone I knew and it felt so real!  I touched the arms and could feel his grip and his face against my cheek.

Believe me when I say that it feels like real life.  It's just a matter of becoming aware. 

Here's a video of one guy's lucid dreaming experience which included a cameo by the one and only Donald Duck.

Where are the Black Lucid Dreamers?

That is the only video on Youtube I've found where a black person describes a lucid dreaming experience.  On the lucid dreaming forums I have not come across another black lucid dreamer (that I know of) and most videos about lucid dreams are not by any black people.

Actually, on one of the forums I started a thread asking if there were any black people around and the only responses I received were from white people (presumably) who thought I was being racist for asking.  *eye roll*

I met a young black woman on an unrelated board that I introduced to lucid dreaming and she told me about a couple of her experiences, so I guess that's one--besides me and the black guy in the video above.

I will share in upcoming posts more about lucid dreaming topics.  Stay tuned or go Google some lucid dreaming discussion boards for loads of info.  

Do Black People Lucid Dream? Part 2 Awareness and Reality Checking.