Using Binaural Beats for Lucid Dreaming
Binaural beats for lucid dreaming are said to stimulate the same theta frequency brainwaves that naturally occur during REM or dreaming sleep. Scientifically what binaural beats do is play two distinct frequencies, one around 130 Hz in one ear, and one around 136 Hz in the other ear. Your brain does not like the slight difference in frequencies, and therefore responds by creating an internal frequency around the difference, at about 6Hz or so. The effects can be intense. The reason why we cover the binaural beats lucid dreaming connection is that the tranquil and relaxed state that they can induce may set the stage perfectly for lucid dream experiences. Do they directly induce lucid dreams? Like many other aids some will claim that they do, but even if all they do is put you in the perfect state to use your techniques, this may be enough.
How Binaural Beats for Lucid Dreaming work
The science behind the binaural beats lucid dreaming connection is actually quite simple. These tones are designed to entrain the brain, or make the natural brainwaves follow a desired pattern that promotes relaxation and focus. This in turn sets the stage for deep sleep and the potential for lucid dreams. You brain is being not just trained but actually entrained – think of it as a combination of training and engaged. The actual binaural beats lucid dreaming connection can be captured as:
1. Sounds of almost equal frequencies are to each ear either with headphones (which may work better) or stereo speakers. These tones must be crisp and clear, and the effect must be a stereo effect. Many people download these sounds into their mp3 player or buy them on a CD. There is usually little equipment to buy and you may be able to find simple ones for free. You might, however, need to buy headphones that are more comfortable than the ones you have if you will need to sleep with them on.
2. Since these tones are not exactly the same and only similar, the brain actually creates a third sound which itself is the binaural beat. In some ways the brain is merely making sense of the fact that two different tones are playing that are very similar, and therefore creating a third tone that bridges them. This tone will be key in the entrainment process.
3. Brainwaves similar to the binaural beat are formed. Thus, for example, if a tone of 102 Hz is played in one ear and a tone of 109Hz is played in the other, the brain will produce a binaural beat of 7Hz to bridge them. Then the brainwaves also get entrained and a brain wave of 7Hz will also be produced.
4. This new brain wave based on the binaural beats produces a relaxed and focused effect, which in this case sets the stage for lucid dreaming and longer and more vivid dreams in general. And again, while nothing can actually directly induce lucid dreams, this method in combination with the use of solid lucid dreaming techniques can help you achieve success.
The Binaural Beats Lucid Dreaming Connection
The binaural beats lucid dreaming connection can be quite effective, but we should start with the important statement that the absolute most important factor in inducing lucid dreams, whether through binaural beats or not, is faithfully following dream control techniques. Learning how to lucid dream is not as simple as playing a certain CD, as much as we wish it was, and this includes binaural beats for lucid dreaming. With that caveat aside, we want to go over the best way to use binaural beats for lucid dreaming.
The first decision you will face when using binaural beats for lucid dreaming involves whether you will pursue dream-induced or wake-induced lucid dreaming techniques. Wake induced lucid dreaming, also known as WILD, involves drifting into the lucid dream from a waking state. In this case you may simply play the beats as you fall asleep. The hope is that the beats might prompt lucidity right away. WILD is usually done through naps or through waking yourself up in the early morning and then going back to sleep, the latter because we do not enter dream sleep (REM) right away when we fall asleep in the evening.
Dream induced lucid dreaming (DILD) requires a different approach. This is the most common form of lucid dream induction and it involves practicing lucid dream techniques so that you are aware that you are dreaming when dream naturally happen, in the middle of the night. In this case you will play the binaural beats all night, looped so that it is still playing when you naturally enter REM sleep several hours after going to bed. This will help you enter a restful state when you are falling asleep, and a state that is conducive to lucidity later on.
Binaural Beats for Lucid Dreaming Tips
The above helps you know, in a general way, how to use binaural beats for lucid dreaming. We also wanted to present some tips that may help you refine you approach:
- You may want to experiment with the optimal volume for your binaural beats for lucid dreaming. Small changes may produce changes in how successful you are. Keep track of the volume settings and your success.
- Some people play background music with their binaural beats. You still of course need to be able to hear the beats but the background music can be quite relaxing and can have a positive effect.
- You may also want to adjust the tone itself that is being played. Binaural beats for lucid dreaming are relying on the science of the frequency of the beat more than the tone itself, so you might be able to vary the tone itself.
- Make sure that the method you are using to ensure that you are separating the beats for each ear is comfortable. Choose headphones which not only stay on but do not affect your sleep in any way.
- As with any other lucid dreaming technique, keep a journal of everything else you are doing in conjunction with binaural beats for lucid dreaming – what you eat, when you go to bed, what technique you used, etc. You want to see what the optimal combination was in many ways.
- Finally, try different products, especially if you are using free or low-cost binaural beats for lucid dreaming. While you may like your initial choice you still may want to try a different product, particularly if it used a different technology for producing the beats.
As you can see, binaural beats can actually be used for both dream-induced and wake induced lucid dreaming. In fact, they are often used by those doing a combination approach – hoping to have wake-induced dreams but surely ready to “settle” for dream induced experiences!
World of Lucid Dreaming has a nice overview of binaural beats for dream control, and the experts at Binaural Brain also do a nice job covering how to use these beats for lucid dreaming.
Binaural Beats for Lucid Dreaming Conclusion
So binaural beats for lucid dreaming is worth trying. It is a bit less direct than other lucid dreaming technologies of course – binaural beats do not directly induce lucid dreams but they set the stage for the most conducive environment to have them. Not only is this type of lucid dreaming music good for those who are learning to lucid dream for the first time, but it is also good for those who have successfully had lucid dreams but are stuck in a rut of not having had one for a while. Our next page goes over the best Binaural Beats techniques and choices and we also offer a page the details what to look for in free lucid dreaming binaural beats. In the end we hope that this form of lucid dreaming aide proves helpful to you whether you are a more experienced lucid dreamer who is in a rut or wants to have more experiences of lucidity or are just starting out and want a boost. We hope that the binaural beats lucid dreaming connection is strong for you, and we would love to hear from anyone who has used binaural beats for lucid dreaming.