Hallmarks of Dream Mechanics

Dream states have their own mechanics which are consistent regardless of the individual’s capacity for visualization and narrative invention. Some people only dream in black and white and some people only dream of daily routines in a manner which seems as if prepping and composure for day to day life. The majority of people, however, will experience a broad range of dream states which include entirely novel dimensions of sensation; yet there are a few elements of mechanics which seem to be limitations for everyone.

Words

If you focus on written words in a dream you will find that the letters appear mutable. It is possible to glance at text and infer what it says through internal speech, but when one attempts to pick out each word of a text, the symbols appear nonsensical and will even change from one moment to the next. Focus on the letters, look away; then focus back on the letters- they will have changed. Though the letters will have changed one will still infer the same message from the text. A particularly interesting challenge, which demonstrates the asemic quality of words in dream states, is to try and find a single word from the inferred meaning of a body of text. An example of where this can become problematic is finding a particular name on a cell phone contact list. You will find that it is impossible to do so without letting go of the notion of finding the contact name and instead imagining you have found it without focussing on the letters of the text.

Images

Similarly to the nature of text in dream states- two-dimensional images, when closely examined, will have a fluid quality which appears in contant flux. Looking away and then back at an image, one will notice radical rearrangement of details; even with a steady and prolonged gaze one will notice subtle morphing in minute details the more one attempts to focus on minute details. This effect can be rather entertaining, esspecially when viewing artwork in dreams- which appears to be self animated and alive. Brushless mental paintings are a joy to create even if they can’t be seen by anyone else.

Light

Even in states of lucid dreaming, one will find that lighting is beyond direct control in ways that are normal to waking reality. Light switches, for example, are useless and bulbs will be on or off in ways which respond more to the mood of a dream than direct causation. One could be in a nightscape one moment and daylight the next as the heart/mind shifts in emotion. Lighting seems to be an element of dreaming which the unconscious mind does not give up control over easily.

These common mechanics of dreaming can provide opportunities for becoming more lucid the more one reflects upon them in the waking state and preps their attention to notice them. What are some other consistent dream mechanics you have noticed? Have you had experiences which broke away from these tendencies?

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