SENIOR PROJECT PROPOSAL COVER PAGE

PROJECT TITLE: A Methodical Examination of Lucid Dreaming

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: I will attempt to learn to have regular lucid dreams, or dreams where
one achieves a conscious state and can then control them without waking up, having experiences such
as flying. I will approach this endeavor with purposeful precision and method due to the subjective
nature of lucid dreaming; while it is not guaranteed that I can have a lucid dream, by using proven
methods effectively, I will have a much greater chance of success and will learn much about lucid
dreaming in the process.

The senior project format is perfect for experimentation. I have repeatedly tried various methods to
induce lucid dreaming on my own time, but between work and school, it is difficult to devote a major
portion of my concentration to the effort. My senior project will allow me that time.

GOALS: Ideally, I would master the ability to dream lucidly and explore the experience. I will also
have various supplementary activities to explore the implications of dreaming lucidly.

PROCEDURE: Because lucid dreaming requires conscious, day-time effort and a methodical approach
to sleep, I will have four components to my project: research, experimentation, immersion, and
reflection.

PROPOSED OUTCOME: I will have examined various techniques of learning to dream lucidly in
hopes of mastery. To that end, I will work to improve my skills in research, experimentation,
communication, electronics, philosophy, and film evaluation.

Student Name: Michael Fogleman

Faculty Advisor: Ms. O'Connor
Onsite Advisor: N/A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I.Rationale (your reasons for selecting this topic)

I have previously tried to learn to dream lucidly, but it requires constant concentration and
intense immersion for success. School, work, and other factors have prevented me from
succeeding in this interesting endeavor. The senior project program provides the perfect format
for attempting this endeavor: I will have an extended period of time to concentrate principally
on lucid dreaming. I will also be able to explore the research behind it, as well as its
implications in a more diligent manner.

II.Goals (the purpose of the proposed project)

There are clear complications to this project: first, there is no perfect guarantee that I will learn
to dream lucidly, although by attempting to use methods that have been proven successful
scientifically, I will have a very good chance of achieving success. No matter what, I will learn
about the art and science behind lucid dreaming. Second, my dreams are entirely subjective: I
could, in theory, completely lie about the entire experience convincingly and pass the project.
This is counter-productive to my personal goals, however. I genuinely wish to learn and perfect
this skill; since I have to sleep every night, I might as well experiment with it to make it more
interesting and fulfilling. By submitting this proposal, I am confirming my intention to
genuinely and diligently explore this realm, and Ms. O’Connor will vouch for this.

Ideally, I would learn to dream lucidly and master the experience so that I can continue to do it
for the rest of my life. However, considering the first limitation mentioned above, a more
realistic goal is to fully examine and attempt various inductions methods, which are listed and
explained briefly below:

• Dream Recall: Remembering all of your dreams is the essential building block of any
examination in the world dreaming. I will keep a dream journal, where after waking, I
immediately record every detail about every dream I can remember. I will also reflect on
any patterns I find. I have a history of having dreams where I am being chased, where I
am flying, or where I am being confronted by someone I have been worrying about;
these patterns will be further revealed by my dream journal.
• Reality Testing: Reality testing is one of the most basic induction methods for lucid
dreaming, where one constantly checks to see if their perceptions are real. The hope is
that a pattern will be established and re-iterated in a dream, where one would realize that
the dream is not real and could then control it. Commonly used methods are checking a
clock to see if the time changes, seeing if one’s hands appear solid, etc. This requires
constant devotion and repetition, and the senior project is perfect for this.
• Mnemonic induction of lucid dreams (MILD): The MILD technique requires one to
concentrate all willpower before falling asleep on the intention to realize one is
dreaming and to have a lucid dream. After waking (particularly in the middle of the
night), one reviews the dream they just experienced and returns to sleep in hopes of
repeating the dream with increased odds of achieving lucidity.
• Wake Back to Bed (WBTB): The WBTB method uses scientific knowledge of REM
cycles to hack the odds of achieving lucid dreams, making it one of the most successful
and simple ways to achieve a lucid dream, with a 60% success rate
[http://www.lucidity.com/NL63.RU.Naps.html]. Essentially, one goes to sleep when
tired, wakes up five to six hours later, spends an hour concentrating on the concept of
 lucid dreaming, and then falls back asleep with increased odds of achieving a lucid
dream.
• Lucid Dreaming Mask: An alternate method to inducing lucid dreams uses an external
“lucid dreams mask”, essentially an electronics kit with LEDs and a timer in it to make
lights flash at a specific time in your REM cycle. I can order the materials from a
website and Mr. Clune, my Electronics II teacher, has said that he would be happy to
give me the materials I need as well as time in his room to work on it. The kit is very
simple: once I have the parts, I need only to solder them in, which is very simple.

I will immerse myself in media relevant to lucid dreaming and its implications: non-fiction
books exploring the biological and psychological aspects of dreaming and lucid dreaming in
particular, philosophical texts about the definition of reality, films that relate to lucid dreaming
or reality, and internet websites discussing lucid dreaming. For each source that I read or view, I
will write an entry in my journal about it, summarizing the contents and relating it back to my
project. A list of possible books, films, and internet sources to examine are listed below:

• Books: Lucid Dreaming and Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming [LaBerge], The
Interpretation of Dreams [Freud], Psychology studies, philosophy of sleep, Lucid
Dreaming for Beginners [McElroy], Lucid Dreams in 30 Days [Harary & Weintraub],
Lucid Dreaming [LaBerge], The Conscious Exploration of Dreaming [Brooks &
Vogelsong], An Introduction to the Psychology of Dreaming [Bulkeley]. This is just a
starting point: I will read books relating to the psychology/biology of dreams, the
philosophy of reality, sleep, and dreams, the cultural and historical connections to
dreaming, and dreaming in literature.
• Movies: Vanilla Sky, Waking Life, The Science of Sleep, The Matrix
• Internet: YouTube videos discussing lucid dreaming, Delicious Links [Delicious is a
social bookmarking site, where users collect bookmarks and share them with the world.
You can find the bookmarks that I would use at
delicious.com/birdmanx35/luciddreaming or delicious.com/birdmanx35/seniorproject].

Finally, I will reflect on the experiences I have during the project in three formats: a dream
journal, a separate daily journal (as required by the Program), and my final paper and
presentation.

III.Objectives (what you expect to accomplish and learn as a result of doing this project – both personal
and content oriented)

This project will enable to me to research and attempt various methods of lucid dreaming. I will
also explore various relevant academic areas: the psychology and biology of dreaming, various
philosophies concerning dreaming and reality, the electronic components that aid in dreaming
lucidly, and the historical and cultural significance of dreams. I will produce a dream journal,
complete with every dream I have during the project, a comprehensive journal reporting and
reflecting on what I’ve learned, and my final paper and presentation.

IV.Procedure (how you will achieve your objectives)

I will attempt the different methods above in a logical order as determined by my successes and
failures in dreaming lucidly, as well as the research I do, requiring a bit of flexibility as to the
 time frame for which methods I use. For example, if I find that a combination of working on
dream recall, reality testing, and implementing the MILD technique work very successfully,
there will be no need for me to try another method. If, however, after a week or so they are not
working, I will expand my attempts to encompass WBTB or a lucid dreaming mask.

I will, of course, be keeping a dream journal and a regular journal throughout the entire
experience, which will record my experiments and the research I have been doing in terms of
the assorted pieces of media listed above. I will also post blog entries discussing my
experiences to my blog, mwfogleman.com.

If I achieve regular lucid dreams, I will shift into another phase of this project, which will be
focused on exploring different possibilities in those dreams and the implication of it. I may, for
example, decide to try to learn to fly in my dreams. For each experience dreaming lucidly, I will
write a piece of creative writing, perhaps a narrative of the experience in poetry or prose. I will
also produce something that will help others achieve dreams lucidly, learning from what did and
did not work for me; this will probably be a paper or a poster, perhaps a blog entry.

V.Connections (how you will successfully demonstrate the proficiency in each of the Expectations for
Student Learning through the proposed project)

My journal and paper / presentation will reflect that I have been reading purposefully, as I will
view every book, movie, internet source, or experience with the goal of achieving lucid dreams;
they will also reflect my ability to write and communicate effectively.

The necessary flexibility required by this project will allow me to work on my ability to
identify, analyze, and solve problems.

This project’s significance to me personally, and my determination to succeed with it, will
demonstrate self respect. I will juggle my academic requirements (particularly AP English) in
the midst of this project; success in this area will reflect respect for my education, my teachers,
and those who provided me with the opportunity to do a Senior Project.

To succeed, I will need to work independently and co-operatively with others. Lucid dreaming
and the activities I have detailed above are personal and independent experiences, but I will
need to communicate my activities effectively to Ms. O’Connor, the senior project committee,
and others. I will attend rehearsals for Mixed Chorus, Men’s Chorus, and Choral Spectrum, and
continue to serve as Webmaster; in Drama, I will serve as lights chair for the Spring Play and
Senior One Acts, as I will create my own Senior One Act. These activities on top of my
academic requirements will reflect continuing, constructive involvement in school and extra-
curricular activities.

I will fulfill my responsibilities and exercise my rights as a member of local and global
communities by abiding by the Rules of the Road, participating in community decisions
(particularly in the Choral Program, where I am an officer, and in the Debate Team, where I will
end a successful year as captain by working with Mr. Nugent, Mr. Fisher, and the new captain to
ensure success next year for the team). I will also demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures by
exploring the historical and cultural implications of dreams. Finally, I will update my
community on my progress through my presentation and entries on my blog.