DILD is a category of lucid dreaming techniques in which you become lucid (aware that you are dreaming) from the dream state. You start out having a regular non-lucid dream, then become lucid in the moment, thus proceeding to have a lucid dream. This can happen at any point in the night either spontaneously or as a result of something in the dream that triggers lucidity (which is what we train for by performing DILD techniques). .
Lucidity from DILD techniques is achieved through the use of either A) present-moment awareness practices B) techniques for future lucid dream induction. By either developing present-moment awareness that will extend into your dreams, or targeting your future dreams to induce lucidity, you can become lucid any time you're asleep. The advantages of DILD techniques is their potential for long-lasting results. In other once, once you properly train yourself to a particular habit or trigger that successfuly induces lucidity, lucid dreams may become automatic and permenent.
Being lucid in a dream means you are presently aware of your dream state. So, one common way to do this is to develop a habit of present-moment awareness during the day. If you're always (or even just sometimes) aware of whether or not you're dreaming in any given moment, you will also be aware in your dreams. Habitual awareness is the backbone of reality checks, SAT (Sporadic Awareness Technique), ADA (All Day Awareness), and DILD hooks—which all work because of the habitual act of becoming (or constantly being) presently aware throughout the day.
Habitual awareness is developed either A) through repetition randomly (sporadically) or B) through constant awareness, or C) with a trigger that reminds you to be aware of the waking/dream state.
There's debate about whether awareness practices are considered techniques, especially with certain ones like reality checks (which do not directly cause lucidity), but present awareness for lucid dreaming can be highly effective just like the usual techniques.
The other common way of becoming lucid from the dream state is through the use of prospective memory and future intent. Pure intention practices like mantras or placebos like masks and teas are some of the most commonly used and simple ways of getting lucid dreams. However, they are not as effective as true lucid dreaming techniques like MILD.
MILD (Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams) is a powerful DILD technique developed by researcher Dr. Stephen LaBerge. It makes use of mnemonics (memory aids) to trigger lucid dreams and is shown to cause lucid dreams at a higher rate than pure intention practices. Click here to read the full MILD guide.
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