Gackenbach, JayneHunt, Harry T.2021-03-112022-05-312022-05-311992Gackenbach, J.I. & Hunt, H. (1992). Lucid dreaming as a transpersonal (meditational) state: A potential distinction from dream-work methods. Journal of Mental Imagery special issue Prolucid Dreaming (Akhter Ahsen, Ed.), 97-102.https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14078/2175As interesting as we find Akhter Ahsen' s (1988) method of variously re­dreaming the dream in wakefulness as an addition to current therapeutic dream-work, it may be a mistake to link his approach to the growing literature on lucid dreams. His comments show that he understands lucid dreaming as a sort of mental waking up in the dream, allowing primarily its deliberate modification. This seems to miss the characteristic sense of clarity and/or peak experience in these dreams that appears precisely when they are not controlled (or over-controlled) and which links them to similar states occurring within meditative practice and other altered states of consciousness. This misunderstanding is widespread and probably stems from the actual proximity of inexperienced lucid dreamers to physical awakening and the tremendous emphasis on dream control in the more popular literature on lucid dreams.387.96KBPDFenAll Rights Reservedredreamingdreamtherapeutic dream-worklucid dreamsmental waking upmeditative practiceconsciousnessphysical awakeningdream controlpopular literatureArticle