Whether you’re swimming with sharks or leaping off the roof of a tall building into flight, you’ve probably experienced firsthand how mesmerizing and scary dreams can be. In the fantastic world of your imagination, anything and everything is possible! For most of us, however, dreams catch us unawares. We seem to have no control over these magical ramblings of the unconscious. But hear this: it is possible to reach a state of awareness which allows you not only to know that you’re dreaming, but to also shape and manipulate your dream as if in an augmented reality game. It’s called lucid dreaming. In his book, Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming, author Stephen LaBerge outlines the possibilities of lucid dreaming.

“You could, if you chose, revel at a saturnalian festival, soar to the stars, or travel to mysterious lands. You could join those who are testing lucid dreaming as a tool for problem solving, self-healing, and personal growth. […] People frequently consider their lucid dreams as among the most wonderful experiences in their lives.”

Does that sound like something you want in on? Thought so. Here’s your beginner’s guide to getting started with lucid dreaming.

3 Steps To Lucid Dreams

1. Write down your dreams in a journal

Before even trying to get into lucid dreaming, you have to get familiar with your dreams. Get yourself a new notebook that you can keep by your bedside to use solely as your dream journal. Your first goal should be to remember at least one dream per night and, upon waking, to write down or draw everything you remember about your dream, from shapes to emotions.

2. Identify your dream signs

When you write in your journal, make sure to jot down anything you remember from your dream that wouldn’t happen in real life. As realistic as a dream can look and feel, there are always odd occurrences, like having your house built on water or a cat-faced friend.

3. Test your state

You’re going to have to get used to this question: “Am I awake or dreaming?”

Ask yourself “Am I awake or dreaming?” throughout your waking hours, especially if something surprising or dream-like happens during your day. Rather than answering automatically, look around and carefully observe your environment, clocking even the most mundane things. It seems simple, but in order to induce lucid dreaming, you have to ask yourself whether you’re dreaming while you are dreaming, so you getting your mind into the habit of asking and answering the question and understanding and identifying your awake state first will help make it easy for you to identify your dreaming state and get comfortable in it.

Learn more techniques and approaches with the blinks to Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LaBerge and Howard Rheingold.