The relation between reality and dreams has always been blur and exciting for everyone. Sometimes, we are fascinated by a dream world, while at other times, we are scared of it. Dreams have conserved many unsolved and unanswered questions for thousands of years. Christopher Nolan is considerably a magnificent science teacher who perform his practical classes in grand budget and highly magnificent way possible. Here we are going to touch the lucid dream pool with simple way possible.
One of the finest directors of all time, with a super-calculative and visionary mind, immense knowledge, and a deep understanding of physics and human psychology — even that would be an understatement when describing the legendary Hollywood director Christopher Nolan.
The movie we are about to discuss is Inception, directed and written by Christopher Nolan, starring some of the finest actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Cillian Murphy, and many more.
The central theme of this film revolves around a mysterious, fascinating, and intellectually stimulating concept: lucid dreaming. A lucid dream is a state where the dreamer becomes aware that they are dreaming and can often control the content and direction of the dream.
Sounds interesting? Let’s dive deeper into this concept and also explore how one can learn to experience lucid dreaming.
What is dream?
According to Acharya Vagbhata, Swapna (dream) is a state of mind in which all the indriyas (sensory organs) are disconnected from the external environment and relieved of their duties, while the mind remains active and continues its function. In this state, the mind experiences the illusory content of dreams.
From a modern perspective, dreams are considered "a state of consciousness that involves sensory, cognitive, and emotional experiences occurring during sleep."
In Ayurveda, Swapna is classified into seven categories:
1. Drista – dreams based on things seen
2. Sruta – based on things heard
3. Anubhuta – based on past experiences
4. Prarthita – based on desires
5. Kalpita – purely imaginary dreams
6. Bhabik – predictive or prophetic dreams
7. Doshaja – dreams arising due to imbalances in bodily humors (doshas)
The state of lucid dreaming may fall under the category of Kalpita Swapna, as it is described as a dream that is entirely imaginary and consciously influenced by the dreamer.
Lucid dreaming
A lucid dream is a dream in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming and can often exert control over the dream’s content. Lucid dreams are like clay toys — we can mold them into anything our imagination desires. We can become our favorite superhero, fly through the skies, reach out and pick fruits from distant trees, perform acts of telekinesis and telepathy, and even experience what feels like time travel — all within a limited span of dream time.
Lucid dreaming creates a unique dimension where one can learn and practice different skills, overcome nightmares, or simply enjoy surreal and exciting experiences. However, it can sometimes take a confusing turn, turning into a trap-like condition where one finds it difficult to distinguish dreams from reality.
While lucid dreaming has many benefits, frequent and prolonged lucid dreaming may come with certain drawbacks. In some cases, it has been associated with anxiety, stress, and even symptoms of depression. Some individuals may become so addicted to the lucid dream state that they prefer it over reality, wanting to remain in that dimension for as long as possible. This, understandably, can have a negative impact on a person’s mental well-being.
Fortunately, such extreme cases are rare, but they do highlight the importance of balance when exploring the fascinating world of lucid dreaming.
Reality of lucid dreaming and in movies
Christopher Nolan is truly a masterclass director when it comes to science fiction movies — whether it's Tenet, Inception, or the magnificent masterpiece Interstellar. He has a unique ability to blend the rules of the practical world into finer, mind-bending concepts that often leave us in a state of awe.
Let’s first discuss some of the fictional elements introduced in Inception for the sake of storytelling. In the movie, a machine is used to interconnect the dreams of participants who are dreaming simultaneously — a concept that is, as of now, scientifically impossible. The blending of dreams between different individuals does not happen in reality. They also use a drug to induce sleep and another to extend the dreaming time — again, a fictional element, as we currently have no way to control the exact timing or duration of lucid dreams.
However, the movie cleverly integrates several authentic concepts of lucid dreaming. In a lucid dream, you can shape the environment, build anything, modify reality, and blur the line between what is possible and what is not. The film portrays this beautifully. One realistic concept shown is the sudden awakening when a person experiences a sudden jerk — something many people encounter in real life as they wake from a dream.
Another interesting aspect the movie highlights is that we don’t have full control over our dreams, just like we don’t always have control over our thoughts. This is symbolized by the unintentional appearance of Cobb’s wife in his dreams, driven by his subconscious mind.
If we start diving deep into the movie and its layered concepts, we might as well find ourselves lost in an entirely different dimension — just like the characters in Inception.
The mechanism of lucid dreaming
Lucid dreaming is one of those wild experiences where you suddenly realize — wait, this is a dream — and you don’t wake up. You stay in the dream, fully aware, and sometimes even in control. It feels surreal, like you're walking through your own movie with the power to direct it.
But what’s going on in your brain during all this?
Normally, when we dream (especially in REM sleep), the part of the brain responsible for logic and self-awareness — the prefrontal cortex — kind of takes a back seat. That’s why our dreams can be totally bizarre and we don’t question them. Flying? Talking to animals? All normal when you’re asleep.
But in a lucid dream, that logical part of your brain actually lights back up — just enough for you to realize you're dreaming. You're still deep in REM, but a part of you wakes up inside the dream. It's like having one foot in reality and one foot in your dream world.
Some people train themselves to do this. They keep dream journals, practice “reality checks” (like looking at their hands or clocks during the day), and even use techniques like waking up briefly in the night and going back to sleep with the intention to become lucid. With practice, the brain starts catching on — and one night, you'll look around in a dream and realize, this isn’t real… but I am here.
Scientifically, lucid dreamers often show more gamma brainwave activity — linked with awareness and conscious thinking — even while they’re still dreaming. It’s like the brain gets a moment of clarity in the middle of the chaos.
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