Introduction and Front Matter

ou might...you just might be in for the surprise of your life. The world of sleep and dreaming is far, far more complex and fascinating than most of us ever imagine. With all of our technological sophistication, we have still failed to come to more than the barest understanding of what goes on for a full third of our lives. But what we do know is intriguing, exciting, astonishing...and just as often baffling and frustrating. There are opportunities for growth, adventure and just plain fun open to any who dare answer the knock. But as with anything else in life, there is no free lunch, and the price and risk for what can be gained is, unfortunately, higher today than it will be when we have a greater understanding of this aspect of our lives.

I looked for years for a reference which would give me handy access to all the subjects covered in this book. None did, so I created my own. It was, at the time of its first writing in 1987, the single most concise and complete source of data for the layman on sleep and dreaming available, and remains today one of the most simple, entertaining and practical works of its kind.

he following is a partial list of resources used in the creation of this book. Titles are accompanied by brief notes from the author. Most of these resources date prior to 1990, but while many new books have appeared on the subject, these continue to be excellent resources. Where possible I have listed the publisher of the paperback version as a cost-cutting measure. Most, if not all of these books, should be available as new or used titles at major online booksellers.

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Benson, Herbert H., with Miriam Z. Klipper, "The Relaxation Response" William Morrow & Co., Avon Books 1975:
Still the definitive layman's guide to relaxation techniques and their biological and psychological effects. Relies heavily on clinical data; suggested for those who find less scientific approaches flaky or suspicious.

Faraday, Dr. Ann, "The Dream Game", Afar Publishers, Perennial Library 1976:
Primarily concerned with psychoanalytical aspects of dreams and dream interpretation. If transactional analysis and Jungian psychology appeal to you, then this book could be an excellent foundation text for building a personal dream symbology.

Garfield, Patricia Ph.D., "Creative Dreaming", Random House, Ballantine Books 1976:
A classic; this work did more than perhaps any other to spark public interest in lucid dreaming. Garfield takes a much more emotional and spiritual approach to dreaming than Stephen LaBerge and devotes considerable attention to the techniques and lifestyle of the Senoi, often citing information which has sinced been challenged by academics. Recommended for those who might find LaBerge's books too stuffy.

LaBerge, Stephen Ph.D., "Lucid Dreaming", Random House, Ballantine Books 1986:
A decade newer than Garfield's, this still stands as the definitive lay text on lucid dreaming. Backed with a veritable mountain of research. Recommended for those who might find Garfield's work a bit flaky. LaBerge is still active in the field of dream research, and is accessible on the web at The Lucidity Project

Luce, Gay Gaer, "Body Time", Pantheon Books, Bantam Books 1971:
One of very few popular works on the subject of biological clocks with strong scientific backing. This book goes into considerable depth on the physiological, psychological, and anthropological implications of rhythmic biological cycles and covers some speculative research still seen by many as "new age" a full forty years after its first publication.

Luce, Gay Gaer and Segal, Dr. Julius, "Sleep", Lancer Contempra 1966.
Long out of print, this is often found in second-hand bookshops and remains to this day perhaps the finest single lay text ever published which covers all aspects of sleep. A superb sourcebook. Despire its age, very little of its material has been rendered obsolete by more recent findings. This was probably the most-used resource in the creation of this book.

Monroe, Robert A., "Journeys Out of the Body", Doubleday, Bantam Books 1982.
Probably the most popular work ever on the subject of out-of-body experience (OOBE). This was followed by "Far Journeys" in 1985 which presented a more personal, less scientific look at the phenomenon. Scholarly work in a field that tends to resist a scholarly approach.

Segal, Dr. Julius and Luce, Gay Gaer, "How to Avoid Insomnia: The Guide for Troubled Sleepers", Doubleday & Company Paperback Library 1971.
Another out-of-print title from two of the most knowledgeable authors in the field. This covers common-sense approaches to insomnia and looks at a wide range of psychological and physical abnormalities which affect normal sleep.

	Medical Disclaimer
his book is intended to provide information in regard to the subject matter discussed. It is offered with the understanding that the author is not engaged in practice of health services nor consultation in regard to health, but is a layperson involved exclusively in personal research and commentary. All statements in this book are to be considered uninformed opinions, neither authoritative nor verified. The therapies discussed in this book are presented solely to educate and entertain. Neither the author nor the publisher shall have liability or responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book. This material should be used as a starting point for further research, and for no other purpose. Neither the author nor the publisher assume any liability for failure to apply this material for the purpose which it was intended. Any therapies or activities described in this book are strictly adjunctive or complementary to medical treatment and are not recommended as treatment for any ailment diagnosed either by the reader or by a competent health professional. Self-treatment can be hazardous and the reader is therefore urged to seek out the best possible medical assistance wherever available whenever symptoms may present themselves. The suggestions offered here could hide the cause of, or have unwanted effects on the treatment of, insomnia caused by a clinical illness. None of these techniques are recommended for more than short term use. None of the techniques outlined in this text should be used by anyone suffering from chronic insomnia or a recognized medical condition without the consent of a physician. In all cases, consult your physician before putting any of these suggestions into practice. Author's Statement I, Cub Lea, have no experience in formal dream research and no training in sleep therapy, psychology or neurobiology. Everything presented here is culled from personal research over the last 25 years and/or from my own experience. This should not be considered a definitive work. Despite an obvious personal attachment to the subject, I have attempted to remain as neutral and free of judgment as possible throughout the book, and to present fair and appropriate information with a keen awareness of the potential health and psychological risks inherent in the application of this material. Many of the conclusions presented here are in direct conflict with accepted thinking in regard to specific issues related to sleep and dreaming, and undoubtedly errors in judgement and presentation have crept into this material without my knowledge. These errors may or may not be corrected in future, and I leave it to the reader to determine the value and accuracy of all information contained in this work.

teve Winter is a layman with no experience in formal dream research or training in the field. Everything presented here was culled from his own experience and personal research.

His interest in sleep and dreaming started very young. He recalls cherishing his dreams as a child despite the seeming disinterest of his parents. He discovered the concept of dream consciousness at about age eight, but it wasn’t until his late teens when he first heard about lucid dreaming and began to refine both his knowledge and abilities.

Steve offers a contemplative pose for his cover portrait after a hard day of answering hate mail and filing rejection letters.

He has experimented personally with most of the techniques and ideas presented in this book for dealing with insomnia, sleep reduction, dream enhancement techniques, sleep learning and subliminal learning, personal cybernetics and much more. He claims to have had considerable success with sleep induction, relaxation techniques, dream induction, lucid dreaming and dream control. He describes himself as a dabbler who has had degrees of success in all these areas but seldom experiences consistent results, which he attributes in part to the slippery nature of sleep and dreaming itself and his own perfectionist approach to the pursuit.

He brings a personal touch to his writing which can only be obtained from first-hand experience with the subjects he writes about, and an authority that stems from his constant need to know why. Unlike many writers in this field who begin with data and attempt to find experience to back it up, a great deal of Steve’s experience comes from "accidental" discovery of many of the ideas presented here, discoveries within himself which he later sought to prove using the existing research.

Readers should also find that in spite of his personal attachment to the subject, he attempts to remain as neutral and free of judgment as possible throughout the book. Some of this is a conscious effort to conquer his own judgments but much of it comes naturally to him through his own experiences. He also attacks his subject at as deep a level as possible, and the conclusions he reaches often bring him into direct conflict with accepted thinking in these areas. He is aware that he can and does make mistakes and attempts throughout this book to remind the reader when he is speaking from his own experience, flying in the face of convention or engaging in pure speculation.