Divination Series - Part 4.5 - Oneiromancy, or Using Dreams to Predict the Future and Lucid Dreaming

Oneiromancy (from the Greek Oneiros) is a form of divination based upon dreams; it is a system of dream interpretation that uses dreams to predict the future. Derived from the Greek words oneiros which means dream and the Greek word manteia that means prophecy. Swiss psychotherapist and psychiatrist who founded analytical psychology, Carl Gustav Jung, focused this idea and formed theories, experiments, and terminology around Oneiromancy (Wikipedia)

I have at many times in my life had, and heard from people, about dream coming true. I'm sure most of you have, too. Also on the rare occasion, I find myself aware that I am dreaming. For some people this is a common occurrence, and one can actually train the mind to be aware of dream states, a practice called "Lucid Dreaming".

The purpose of addressing both topics at once is due to the fact that the best known method to induce a "prophetic" dream, is to become adept at lucid dreaming. When you're aware of your dream, you can learn to control it. You can perform astral projection, receive messages from spirit guides, use it for personal and spiritual exploration, or even meditation. These things are the most likely to give you messages and symbols of significance in the waking world.

Methods of learning lucid dreaming learns:
Dream Induced Lucid Dreams (where you start dreaming normally and become lucid from within the dreamstate), The most popular type of DILD is called Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD), and also a whole other category known as Wake Induced Lucid Dreams (WILDs) "which involves training yourself to go directly from waking to a lucid dream state. It involves falling asleep consciously and induces some strange phenomena linked with the out of body experience (OBE)"

Easy Beginner's Steps to Lucid Dreaming using DILD:

1. Improve your dream recall. - You can begin by starting a dream journal, keep it right by your bed so you can record your dream as soon as you wake up.
2. Perform Frequent Reality Checks - "A very easy lucid dreaming exercise, reality checking is the secret weapon of those who tend towards Dream Initiated Lucid Dreams (DILDs). By performing reality checks regularly throughout your waking day, you will enhance your awareness of the waking state and be much more likely to recognize the dreamstate. Soon you will spontaneously perform a reality check in a dream, exposing the nature of the dream reality and giving you instant dream control."
3. Learn to Meditate - "Research has linked meditation with easy lucid dreaming for several reasons. First, it trains you to enter altered states of awareness on demand. Second, it bridges the gap between your conscious and unconscious brain. And third, it makes you more self-aware, helping you to recognize the unreality of the dream world and become lucid more often."
4. Research. - "If you are serious about having regular lucid dreams, you do need to do a little research. It can help you latch on to the best induction methods for you, and learn easy ways to control and explore your conscious dream world. If you don't know the ropes, the whole process takes a lot longer to learn. "- Source

Once you've gotten the basics down, you can move into the more advance techniques. There are many books and websites to help explain these methods and they're easy to find.
More Techniques 

And of course, because this is a Wiccan blog, I have to include some witchy ways of inducing prophetic dreams. Do note that I haven't tried these myself, and I make no promises of success.
Prophetic Dream Spell
Stone-based Prophetic Dream Spell
Prophetic Dream Prayer

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