Mindful Dreaming: Harness the Power of Lucid Dreaming for Happiness, Health, and Positive Change

218 Pages·2018·8.564 MB·English

by  Clare R. Johnson

M I N D F U L
Explore the Secret Language of the Night J
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There are many books on dreams, dream interpretation, and lucid

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dreaming. What makes this one different is that Clare R. Johnson
D r e a m i n g

combines the principles of mindfulness with a fresh approach to lucid

dreaming. The end result is a step-by-step guide for understanding dream
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language, lucid dreams, and how to use the secret language of the night
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for improving our waking lives.
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With clarity and verve, she explores the following topics:
F Harness the Power of Lucid Dreaming
 What dreams are and why they are so important U
 How to improve sleep quality and wake up refreshed L for Happiness, Health, and
 How to have lucid dreams
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 How to transform nightmares and heal from the past
Positive Change
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This is a helpful and practical book that belongs on every nightstand. It
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is a book for all who want to unleash the power of their dreams for lives
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infused with health and joy.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Clare R. Johnson, PhD, is the leading expert on lucid dreaming. She has a
PhD from the University of Leeds on using lucid dreams as a creative tool
(hers is the fi rst doctoral work in the world to explore this topic), is a lucid
dreamer herself, and is the board director of the International Association
for the Study of Dreams. She regularly gives talks and leads workshops
about dreaming. Visit her at deepluciddreaming.com.
www.redwheelweiser.com
ISBN 978-1-57324-734-4 U.S. $16.95
51695
CLARE R. JOHNSON, PhD
9 781573 247344
MINDFUL
Dreaming
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M I N D F U L
D r e a m i n g
Harness the Power of Lucid Dreaming
for Happiness, Health, and
Positive Change
CLARE R. JOHNSON, PhD
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This edition first published in 2018 by Conari Press, an imprint of
Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
With offices at:
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
Copyright © 2018 by Clare R. Johnson
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, record-
ing, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing
from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages. Previously pub-
lished in Great Britain in 2017 as Dream Therapy by Orion Spring, an imprint of The
Orion Publishing Group Ltd, ISBN 978 1 4091 6945 1.
ISBN: 978-1-57324-734-4
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.
Cover design by Jim Warner
Cover illustration The Ispot © Brain Stauffer
Printed in Canada
MAR
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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For Yasmin,
the biggest gift of my life
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This book offers techniques for working with dreams. It is not a
substitute for psychological counseling or medical advice. If you
have any physical or mental health concerns, you must consult
your doctor or other medical practitioner.
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Contents
One What is Mindful Dreaming and how can it help us? 1
Two Understanding dreams: core techniques 25
Three How to have lucid dreams 43
Four Transform your inner movie through Lucid Dreamplay 67
Five Sexual dreams for health and well-being 89
Six Healing from the past: supporting your younger self 103
Seven Nightmares and how to resolve them 119
Eight Illness and pain: how to dream yourself well 139
Nine Healing dreams for grief and loss 155
Ten Soul dreams: dream your way to happiness 175
Epilogue Create your own best life 193
Resources 197
References 199
Practice List 203
Acknowledgments 205
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one
What is Mindful Dreaming and
how can it help us?
Today, many people are asking themselves: how can I become
healthier and happier? Worldwide, we have developed so many
aids to create positive moods and enhance our physical and
mental well-being, from feel-good movies to fitness centers and
spa breaks. Yet there’s an entirely free, natural way to increase
our personal health and happiness. It even saves time.
Because we do it while we’re asleep.
We all dream every single night. Too often, dreams are dis-
missed as unimportant, or ignored. But your dreaming mind can
become your best friend if you let it—a friend who wants to help
you to live a happier, healthier life; a friend who is available to
listen to your problems and dish out wise advice, even at 3 a.m.
These days there is a lot of buzz about mindfulness, where we
focus our awareness on the present moment and become fully
conscious of our thoughts, emotions, and experiences. This
interest in mindfulness is wonderful, as it means more people
are looking to wake up in their lives.
But what about the third of our lives we spend asleep?
Imagine how life would transform if we learned to be mindful
in our dreams, too! Recalling dreams and working with them
while awake is a huge step forward for mindful living, as it
connects us with the deepest part of ourselves. Mindful Dreaming
takes mindfulness a step further because we are not only
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