Chapter 6

AI AND LUCID DREAMS

Dreams are a mystery that accompanies us every night. In them, we experience worlds that seem real: we fly, we converse with people who are no longer here, we travel to places we've never seen. But there is a special kind of dream:  lucid dreaming .

A lucid dream is one in which the person realizes they are dreaming and can, to some extent,  direct what happens . It's like being the protagonist and director of a movie created by the mind.

Generalities about lucid dreams:

They occur mainly during the REM phase (when the eyes move rapidly under the eyelids).

Not everyone experiences them, but with practice they can be achieved.

They are used by some as a tool for  creativity, problem solving or personal growth .

They are related to a higher level of  self-awareness and mental control .

How can artificial intelligence help?

AI doesn't dream, but it can  help us understand and train  our ability to lucid dream:

Sleep monitoring : Apps with sensors and AI algorithms analyze breathing, movement, and brain wave patterns to identify REM sleep phases and alert the person.

Personalized coaching : AI can design programs to train your dream memory, suggest reminders, or offer reality checks (such as asking yourself several times a day if you're dreaming).

Scientific studies : Through massive data analysis, AI helps researchers discover which factors increase the likelihood of lucid dreams.

Therapeutic applications : People with recurring nightmares, especially those suffering from post-traumatic stress, can learn to take control of their dreams to make them less painful experiences.

A bridge between science and mystery:

Lucid dreams remind us that the human mind is  an unexplored universe . AI is like a flashlight illuminating that universe: it can't dream for us, but it can give us tools to better understand and harness that inner power.

Final reflection:  taking care of our sleep is just as important as taking care of our wakefulness. Sleeping well means giving our body and mind the rest they need. And when we achieve lucid dreaming, we discover that  we are capable of creating realities within ourselves .

Artificial intelligence helps us get closer to that mystery, but the true art of dreaming remains a unique gift of the human mind.

Remembering dreams is the  first essential step  toward achieving lucid dreams, because if we don't remember them, we won't be able to distinguish or train our consciousness within them.

Here I share with you some  simple and effective strategies :

Steps to remember dreams

Prepare your mind before sleeping

Remind yourself:  “I am going to dream and I want to remember my dreams . ”

This little ritual trains your brain to pay attention to what you dream.

Dream Diary:

Keep a notebook and pencil next to your bed.

When you wake up, write down everything you remember, even if it's just words, images, or sensations.

Over time, your dream memory strengthens and you begin to recall more details.

Wake up gently

Avoid very loud alarms. The ideal is to wake up gradually (with soft sounds or natural light).

Stay still for a few minutes, with your eyes closed, reviewing what you dreamed before moving.

Pay attention to emotions

We often remember dreams that had  a strong emotional charge  (joy, fear, surprise) better.

Ask yourself:  What did I feel during the night?  That emotion may bring back memories from the dream.

Micro-awakening techniques

If you wake up in the middle of the night, don't move immediately.

Try to remember what you were dreaming about before going back to sleep.

How does AI help?

Sleep apps : Some use AI to detect REM sleep and wake you up at the ideal time to remember your dream.

Pattern analysis : Using your logs, AI can identify which habits (diet, sleep, stress level) help you remember more dreams.

Writing Reminders : AI-powered apps can send you alerts to write down your dreams and help you organize a digital journal.

Reflection:  Remembering your dreams is like  opening the door to an inner theater  where anything is possible. Once you get used to recalling them, the journey toward lucid dreaming becomes more natural. AI can be your ally as a silent coach, but the real power lies in your  daily attention and discipline .

7-Step Dream Recall Routine:

Mental preparation before sleeping

Just before going to bed, repeat three times silently:
“I will dream and remember my dreams.”

This simple act programs your mind to be attentive.

Create a suitable sleeping environment:

Turn off screens 30 minutes before bed.

Take a slow breath (inhale 4 sec, exhale 6 sec).

This increases the quality of REM sleep, where you dream the most.

Keep a dream journal next to your bed:

Have your notebook and pen ready.

It also helps to record audio on your cell phone if you wake up sleepy.

When you wake up, stay still for a few seconds:

Don't move right away.

Ask yourself,  “What was I dreaming about? ”

Let images, emotions or phrases come.

Write down or record whatever you remember, even if it's just a small thing.  A word ("tree," "dog"), an emotion ("fear"), or an image.

Although it may not seem like much, your dream memory will improve over time.

Nightly review:  Before going back to sleep (or the following night), read over your notes.

This tells the brain that dreams are important, reinforcing the memory.

Identify patterns and dream signals:

After 1 or 2 weeks, review your journal.

Look for elements that are repeated (places, people, situations).

These are your  “dream signs” : they will help you recognize that you are dreaming → a key step to achieving lucid dreams.

Extra tip:

If you want to further enhance your practice, AI can help you with:

Sleep apps that detect REM sleep and wake you up at the ideal time.

Automatic classification of your dream journal, so you can identify patterns faster.

AI AND LUCID DREAMS

By: José Saul Velásquez Restrepo

Dreams are a mystery that accompanies us every night. In them, we experience worlds that seem real: we fly, we converse with people who are no longer with us, we travel to unknown places, or we relive memories mixed with fantasy. But there is a special kind of dream:  lucid dreaming .

A lucid dream occurs when a person realizes they're dreaming and can, to some extent, direct what happens. It's like being the protagonist and director of a movie created by the mind.

Generalities about lucid dreams

• They occur mainly during the REM phase (when the eyes move rapidly under the eyelids).
• Not everyone experiences them naturally, but with practice they can be achieved.
• They can be used as a tool for creativity, problem solving and personal growth.
• They are related to a higher level of self-awareness and mental control.

Great figures throughout history have taken advantage of dreams: Nikola Tesla said that many of his ideas came to him in dream states; Salvador Dalí practiced techniques to wake up in the middle of a dream and then paint what he saw; even Paul McCartney claimed that the melody of "  Yesterday"  came to him while he slept.

How can artificial intelligence help?

AI doesn't dream, but it can be our ally in understanding and training this ability:

• Sleep monitoring : Apps with sensors analyze breathing, movement, and brain wave patterns to identify REM sleep phases and wake you up at the ideal time.
• Personalized coaching : AI can design “reality check” reminders, digital dream journals, and dream recall exercises.
• Scientific studies : By analyzing large amounts of data, AI helps discover which habits promote lucid dreaming.
• Therapeutic applications : People with recurring nightmares, especially those suffering from post-traumatic stress, can learn to take control of their dreams and transform them into healing experiences.

Steps to remember dreams (basis of lucid dreams)

1.    Prepare your mind before sleeping  → mentally repeat:  “I will dream and remember my dreams.”

2.    Create a suitable environment  → no screens before sleeping, with slow breathing and relaxation.

3.    Dream journal  → have a notebook or recorder handy and write down everything you remember.

4.    Wake up gently  → stay still for a few seconds after opening your eyes and reviewing images.

5.    Review and reread  → review what you have written every night to reinforce your dream memory.

6.    Identify dream signs  → look for elements that are repeated in dreams (places, people, symbols).

7.    Practice self-awareness  → By recognizing these signs, the mind begins to realize that it is dreaming.

A bridge between science and mystery

Lucid dreams remind us that the human mind is an unexplored universe. AI is like a flashlight illuminating that universe: it can't dream for us, but it can give us tools to better understand and harness that inner power.

Final reflection

Taking care of our sleep is just as important as taking care of our wakefulness. Sleeping well means giving our body and mind the rest they need. And when we achieve lucid dreaming, we discover that we are capable of creating realities within ourselves.

Artificial intelligence can show us the map, but  only our minds hold the key  to unlocking the door to lucid dreams. Dreaming is an eternal art, a unique gift that reminds us that the boundary between reality and imagination is drawn within each person.

THE ART OF LUCID DREAMING: AN INNER JOURNEY

Every night, when we close our eyes, a secret universe opens up within us. There are no limits: we can fly, talk to those who have passed away, visit worlds that don't exist on maps. This universe is called  sleep , and within it lies a special treasure:  lucid dreams .

A lucid dream is that magical moment when we discover we're dreaming. It's like waking up inside a dream and realizing we're the masters of the story. Suddenly, we're no longer just spectators: we're creators.

The miracle of lucid dreams

In lucid dreams, we learn that the mind is an infinite painter. Every memory becomes a color, every emotion a brushstroke, every desire a new form. There is the laughter we never forget, the hug that healed us, the hope that lifted us up after we fell.

Lucid dreaming is living twice: once in waking life and once in conscious imagination.

How to take care of that gift

Sleep is an inner garden. To flourish, it needs care:

Sleeping well is watering your roots.

Calm is the fertile ground that nourishes it.

Exercise and breathing are the fresh air that strengthens you.

And every new learning is a seed that keeps you alive and young.

When we write down what we dream, when we pay attention to our nighttime emotions, we are telling the mind:  “Your messages are valuable, I want to hear them.”

AI as a travel companion

Artificial intelligence can't dream, but it can accompany us like a flashlight in the dark. It reminds us when we're in the ideal dreaming phase, organizes our dream diaries, and shows us patterns we might not see.

It's like a map that lights the way, but the journey is still ours.

Final reflection

Lucid dreams are a reminder that we carry infinite creative power within us. They are proof that there are no boundaries between what we imagine and what we experience.

Valuing our dreams is valuing our minds, and learning to lucid dream is discovering that we are greater than we think.

Because in the end, the greatest mystery is not in the stars or the oceans, but in that silent world that awakens when we close our eyes.