Concerns with Lucidity Essay: Clinical and Transpersonal Concerns with Lucid Dreaming Voiced

Abstract

Because the phenomenon of dream lucidity has become a field of inquiry for both scientists, clinicians, philosophers, and dreamers, I would like to highlight a few concerns which have been mounting in my mind with regards to wide spread access to lucid dreaming. We so often experience the lucid dreamas pleasant and so seldom hear about "bad" experiences therefore it is easy for those interested in dream lucidity to gloss over potential problems. During this my sabbatical year from the University of Northern Iowa, I have had the opportunity to talk to many people both in the United States and abroad about lucidity. Although there is much excitement about its potential those which voice concern for its abuse are also being heard. This excitement is normal and often accompanies the "discovery" (in this case re-discovery) of any new state of consciousness. However, it is incumbent on the leaders of this emerging field to also voice concerns. My concerns with this field are twofold, including clinical or personal experiential applications of working with parts of the self in the dream as well as issues regarding the transpersonal nature of the experience.