Lucid Dreaming Essays (1051 words) - Dream, Lucid Dreams

Lucid Dreaming Ever have the feeling where you don't really know if you are dreaming or awake? That feeling of conscious awaking in you dreams where you are able to control yourself, your movements, and your wishes. This can be defined as lucid dreams. Roughly one-third of our lives we spend on sleeping, and significant amount of this time is spent on dreaming. So why not enjoy our dreams by controlling them, instead of letting dreams controlling us. The term "lucid", came from Frederik Van Eeden in 1913, he used it to define the sense of mental clarity. The definition of lucid dreaming is nothing more than becoming aware that you are dreaming, while you are dreaming. There are different levels of control among people where you are able to control your lucid dreams. A low-level lucid dream is one where you know you're dreaming, but that's it. In experiencing a higher level of lucid dream, you have the power to control, influence, and react to various events and contents of the dream. For those who have mastered the state of lucidity, the benefits are enormous. It gives a person a chance to experience adventures unsurpassed in everyday life, like that vacation on the moon. You can literally do anything you wish; the only limits are the limits bound my your imagination. Having the ability to tap to our unconscious, and subconscious mind, it also gives us a valuable insight into our daily lives. "By learning to make the best of the worst situation imaginable, you can overcome nightmare's and fears in the waking world" Gackenback/Bosveld 1989) There are several techniques for inducing a lucid dream, and the Lucidity Institute, Inc., founded in 1987 by lucid dreaming researcher Dr. Stephen LaBerge to support research on lucid dreams and to help people learn to use them to enhance their lives. This has created special devices to assist people in achieving lucid dreams. Inducing lucid dreams takes concentration, effort, and time. Some people have been able to have lucid dreams on the very first night of attempting to do so, however it may take others up to weeks. This varies greatly from person to person. It seems, as people who remember their dreams with greater ease tend to find it easier to have lucid dreams when compared to those who remember only a few every month (LaBerge). Many people seem to confront with the chance to learn of lucid dreaming asking themselves, "Why would I want to lucid dream?" The most common use of lucid dream is for those who have achieved the skill for pure fun and adventure. Unlike reality the laws of physics or even the rules of government do not restrict you. There is no need to be afraid of social consequences, because they are non-existent. You can fly, glide, touch, taste, whatever your heart desires. The limits are limitless. "Entertainment is not the only use of lucid dreaming, because of the strong link between the mind and body during dreams, there is evidence to suggest that dreams can be used for mental and physical healing" (Ziesing). Many have failed trying to induce lucid dreams, yet often people start having a lucid dream after giving up. So do not push to have one, trying too hard would only end up in frustration. After one has accomplished with the task of inducing lucid dreams to the max, reality testing is the assurance, and a constant question. Whether or not what one is experiencing is indeed reality, several times a day one may ask him/her self, "Am I dreaming?" The answer to that question might surprise the inducer of lucid dreams in time (Van de Castle 42). Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD) is a technique developed by Dr. Stephen Laberge, and is used by him to induce lucid dreams at will during his study. The steps to lucid dreaming via MILD are to set you mind to awaken from dreams and recall them as completely as possible. After one has recalled it, concentrating single-mindedly on its intention to remember to realize that he/she was only dreaming. One may say, "Next time I'm dreaming, I want to remember I'm dreaming." By trying to really put this really in your mind and

Julius Ceasar Essays - Cultural Depictions Of Julius Caesar

Julius Ceasar Essays - Cultural Depictions Of Julius Caesar Julius Ceasar In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Decius Brutus and Mark Antony, both Roman Senators, eulogize Julius Caesar, each using a different technique and approach. Brutus, in a somewhat arrogant, to the point, eulogy, attempts to sway the people. He justifies conspiring against Caesar by stating that Caesar's ambition would have hurt Rome. However, in Antony's eulogy, he focuses on Caesar's positive traits, and cunningly disproves Brutus' justification for killing Caesar. The fickle Romans waver between leaders, responding emotionally, rather than intellectually, to the orators. Brutus seeks to explain why he conspired against Caesar. He begins his speech with Romans, countrymen ..., appealing to their consciousness as citizens of Rome, who, he later says, will benefit as freeman with Caesar's death. This shows that Brutus knows how to lure the crowd, appealing to their better judgement as Romans. He declares that he is an honorable man, and tells them that he will let them judge the validity of his claims. That is, he will allow the truth to speak for itself. This encourages the crowd to believe him, as an honorable man. He says that he wants them to know the facts; Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses that you may the better judge. Sharing information with the people is flattering and it almost guarantees acceptance. He gets their sympathy by saying that he loved Caesar, daring the people to find anyone who loved Caesar more. Brutus declares that he never wronged Caesar, that he cried for Caesar's love, was happy for his greatness, honored him for his courage, but had to kill him because of Caesar's ambition. He says that the reason for killing Caesar was his great love for Rome. He justifies his actions by saying that he loved Caesar but, Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. He then asks rhetorically if the people would want to live their lives as slaves under Caesar's rule or would they prefer to live as freemen with Caesar dead. To anyone insulted by his speech he wonders if, as Romans who love their freedom, they could be offended or reject what he, Brutus, says. He poses the question, Who is here so base that would be a bondman? He stresses the point, repeating the line, If any, speak, for him have I offended. I pause for a reply., allows them to respond to his rhetorical questions, giving them an even greater sense that he cares about them and their opinions. They can only respond, None, Brutus, none. That is, none are offended, they do not disagree or argue with his words or his actions. Mark Antony's eulogy utilizes a different approach. He starts out by addressing the crowd as Friends because he wants to come to them as a friend rather than a ruler trying to gain power. He then says, I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him., thus he can ease in praises of Caesar without the crowd stopping him. He sounds very sincere when he says, The noble Brutus hath told you Caesar was ambitious.... For Brutus is an honorable man. He repeats that statement three more times becoming increasingly sarcastic, saying finally, Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and sure he was an honorable man. Since the people responded positively to Brutus' speech, Antony could not insult Brutus' honesty in a direct manner. Yet, Antony disproves Caesar's ambition with three examples. One is when he gave the ransom of captives to the public treasury and not his own, another when he cried with the poor people, and finally when he refused the kingship that Antony offered him, three times. Anyone who was ambitious would never have done any such things. Antony says, I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke. , but that is exactly what he does. Antony is using a dramatic effect on the people, first by entering on the stage with the body of Caesar, and at the end stating that his heart is still with the body of Caesar, ending his speech weeping. In justifying Caesar and disproving Brutus, the people see Antony as a potential successor to Caesar. They are swayed to him by his dramatics, his underhanded way of making a point, his repetition, and compelling proof of Caesar's concern. He is able to get the people to question the rightness of killing Caesar. He has planted doubt in the people's minds, in all areas except that he, Antony, is, poor soul, an honorable. The difference between the eulogies shows us the importance of style of speech. Both try to appeal to the people, and both use repetition, but