Do you think that this ‘creativity’ (i.e., these songs) exists in your subconscious mind, and just needs a technique to access it? Or is the song created in that moment of the lucid dream? Where does this inspiration come from?
As I mentioned, creativity isn‘t something we ―create. Whenever I write a song the result will be best, when I‘m able to just let it flow and not have I‘ve sort of experienced directly what is meant by teachings which say, ―The ego/self is an illusion‖. Below all emotions, thoughts and sense perceptions that come and go without our doing lies what we really are: pure unconstrained awareness. I‘ve had some very rare lucid dreams that came close to this realization: No dream images, no dream body, but a calm, peaceful void. But words are not adequate to describe this.
For some people, lucid dreaming causes them to develop interests in spiritual things. For example, if you suddenly begin to see mandalas in lucid dreams and never had an interest in that in your waking life, then you might want to understand ‘what’ mandalas mean. Has lucid dreaming affected your interest in spiritual matters? How so?
I got interested in psychology and science and started reading a lot about these topics because I wanted to find out what actually happens in the brain while dreaming and especially lucid dreaming. However, this couldn‘t provide me with satisfying answers. There are several theories out there – some even very contrary to each other. None of them can provide solid evidence though. Probably that‘s because (lucid) dreaming events are almost impossible to measure and very hard to ‘verify’ in Western terms.
Even though scientists have been able to prove that lucid dreaming exists it‘s almost impossible to ―record‖ the strange events that happen to us inside this state and make them visible to any other observer than the dreamer himself. That‘s why I was amazed when I finally started reading Buddhist and other spiritual teachings because most of them know the state and have mastered and implemented it into their practice thousands of years ago. Today Eastern traditions and Western science/psychology appear to slowly start working together and complement each other‘s findings. I think that‘s a very wise path to go.
Developing a daily meditation routine has showed me that dreaming and waking are much more connected than they seem to be – just as everything else we perceive. To me, a spiritual practice is what some lucid dreamers may call ―lucid living‖. Seen from the view of Buddhist psychology for example the ―waking experience‖ is merely a dream, too. Interestingly Western science/quantum physics agrees with that view more and more.
Apparently, Prince was a lucid dreamer, and talked with others about his lucid dreams before his passing. Have you met other singers, songwriters, musicians who use lucid dreaming for lyrics or music?
Unfortunately not, but I‘d love to! So if you‘re one of them and are reading this: feel free to get in touch! I‘d appreciate it very much!
I‘ve found that some artists I like a lot are lucid dreamers who use it for their creative work. Richard D. James aka Aphex Twin for example is one.
Do you have any creative goals that you would like to achieve in a lucid dream?
A while ago I started taking piano lessons to improve my skills a little. I‘d like to experiment with that in lucid dreams and find out how it affects my learning curve. But that‘s not really a creative goal I guess.
At the moment my goals are more on the spiritual side. I‘d like to experiment with meditating in lucid dreams and to confront myself with whatever could be my current ‘challenge’ on my path. But I still enjoy flying so much so it might take me another while.
I also like just watching the dream consciously and let it ―guide me. That‘s so wonderful!
If people want to learn more about your work, where should they go?
Most of my work can be found here: www.youtube.com/einastronaut If you‘re a filmmaker and in need of a beautiful score, you can also take a look here: www.cosmocatstudios.com.
Eike, many thanks for taking the time to share your perspective on dreams and lucid dreaming.
Thank you for having me.
