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"The idea of immersion - using stereoscopy, gaze-tracking, and other technologies - is one of the two foundations of VR technology. The idea of navigation - creating a computer model of a molecule or a city and enabling the user to move around, as if inside it - is the other fundamental element." So says Howard Rheingold, author of the bestselling book, Virtual Reality.
At this moment, technicians in white lab coats all over the world are scurrying around, building new and faster computers which will some day allow us to create and control personalized virtual universes. Yet our brains already constantly filter and compile sensory information to present us with a fluid, coherent world. Our brains are so good at this job that they demand no sensory input at all. They let us dream.
Can dreams compare to virtual reality? Many people complain their dreams seem vague and automated, while virtuality gives us freedom to explore in crisp detail. Our brains seem to come with dream-erasers, which can sometimes make it difficult to recall our nocturnal adventures, yet a jaunt through cyberspace - at least today - is not easily forgotten. I think dreams are underrated.
I remember once when I lived with my parents, I noticed someone had moved our Christmas tree across the room. Worse, our white chihuahua was running loose in the house. I was about to ask my mom if I should put the dog out, when I realized we didn't have a chihuahua. I was dreaming.
The first time I found myself aware in a dream, I was in seventh grade. I flew into the sky, and after a few short seconds, I woke up. I spent four years trying to do that trick again, without luck.
Finally, I discovered a book that described exactly what I had done, and how to do it again. Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming, by Dr. Stephen Laberge (a research powerhouse in the dream field) and Howard Rheingold, is chock full of examples and techniques for cultivating and exploring "lucid dreams", so named for their characteristic clarity.
Here are a few simple steps you can take to enjoy lucid dreams in your own life. Keep in mind that like any new skill, lucid dreaming may take some practice.
Start a dream journal. Keep it by your bed. When you wake up, whether it's in the morning or in the middle of the night, write down everything you remember about your dreams. The sooner you write them after waking up, the better. If nothing else, just jot down a few notes to jog your memory later.
Look for dreamsigns. Most people have recurrent images in their dreams - or recurring dreams! Maybe you often find yourself flying in your dreams, or being chased, or eating cheesecake. Learn to notice these dreamsigns, and when you find them, test your state.
Ask yourself "Am I dreaming?" It seems like a silly question, but it isn't. The dreaming mind tricks us - I once saw a winged sofa with fly over my house, and dismissed it because my front yard was otherwise normal.
Ask that question any time you see or experience anything remotely unusual, or anything that reminds you of your dreamsigns:
Don Juan, the Yaqi sorcerer made famous by Carlos Casteneda, suggests performing a state-test every time you see your hands - a fairly regular occurrence for most people.
After that, just keep trying. Eventually, you'll ask yourself "Am I dreaming?" and the answer will be "Yes!" You're pretty much on your own from there. Explore. Be creative. Have fun! Dreams can't hurt you, and nothing can stop you from doing anything you want. Fly, beat the living daylights out of someone, make wild passionate love, or try your hand at reshaping the world. The possibilities are endless.
Is it Virtual Reality? Better? Who knows? Maybe it's not as high tech as slipping on a glove and some head mounted display, but it is worth the effort.
Sweet Dreams!
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