The world we enter in our dreams is as vivid and eventful as waking reality. Normally, we have no conscious influence on our dream imagery – we are passive observers. But in lucid dreaming, people can control their dream experiences. When you dream, your brain’s conscious ‘control center ‘ shuts down, and you can no […]

The world of our experiences owes as much to our minds as to the world outside. All our experiences – sights, sounds, smells, and tastes – are our mind’s interpretation ions of the physical reality that exists around us. Without a mind to perceive it, a sound is just a pattern of vibration in the

Our normal state of consciousness is constructed on the basis of our expectations, which make the world around us a consistent and familiar place. It can be an interesting experiment to try shaking up your expectations deliberately and, through this, induce an alteration in your mental state. The approaches described here will not take you

While altered states of consciousness can be frightening or unpleasant experiences, they can also be intensely pleasurable. Some people claim that they can provide glimpses of a deep reality beyond the realm of everyday thought. It is not surprising that people have developed numerous techniques to explore these states. Everyone deliberately alters their state of

To keep your memory as green as it was in your youth, keep looking at the world as you did then. A curious mind, a thirst for detail, and the will to practice are for the sole preserve of the young. Life-long habits are the best possible foundation for keeping your memory sharp. Play Memory

From birth until old age, our memory skills continue to develop. At each stage of life, we add new skills, refine established ones, and build on our store of experiences and knowledge. The story of our memory throughout life is about change – but not necessarily about decline. We remember little of what happened in

Meditation is a highly effective technique for focusing the mind – and for keeping it focused. With patience and practice, it is possible to apply a similar discipline to everyday activities at home and work. The resulting state of ‘mindfulness’ can improve memory and help us to operate more effectively across a range of situations.

There are many practical ways in which we can encourage mindfulness to develop. They don’t demand any extra time – they are simply different ways of carrying out and thinking about everyday tasks. These exercises will help you to recognize that everything around you is part of a continual process of change. Every time you

From early childhood, we are encouraged to be creative – to use our imagination and discover innovative solutions. But can creativity be learned at all, or is it one of nature’s gifts bestowed on the lucky few? Psychologists who have Examined the nature of the creative process may have some answers. It is often suggested

Most of the time, we take consciousness for granted-it is the transparent window through which we view the world. But sometimes, the view changes dramatically, as though the window has become distorted or suddenly been flung open. These seemingly mysterious changes are known as altered states. The contents of our consciousness change from moment to