Ever drifted off to sleep and seen strange shapes, lights, or flashes of imagery? That’s hypnagogia—your natural gateway to lucid dreaming.

In this episode, Dr. Clare Johnson explores:

You'll also hear firsthand descriptions of real hypnagogic experiences and get practical advice for recognizing these strange and amazing pre-dream visuals as they unfold.

Whether you’re new to lucid dreaming or just want to get better at it, learning to watch hypnagogia could change how you fall asleep - forever.

Upcoming Lucid Dreaming Ocean Retreat with Dr. Clare Johnson: Portugal, May 19-23, 2026.

Sign up to Dr. Clare's newsletter to be first to know all her workshop, retreat and conference dates, receive lucid dream tips and dreamy gifts: https://deepluciddreaming.com/sign-up/

Listen to the Sleep & Deep Lucid Dreaming podcast on https://www.deepluciddreaming.com/podcast/

The Art of Lucid Dreaming

The Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming

Elixir of Sleep

Video classes and guided lucid dream meditations with Dr. Clare: https://deep-lucid-dreaming-video-courses.teachable.com/

Imagine a 9-foot tall woman who reveals cosmic wisdom, or a blue fairy who can open portals into deep Earth. Sometimes the most fascinating lucid dreams involve encounters with dream guides, power animals, and special figures who impart knowledge.

In this episode, Dr. Clare Johnson shares her four categories of lucid dream figures (from zombies to super-aware) that she came up with during her PhD research – the first in the world to investigate lucid dreaming as a creative tool.

Is everything within a dream an aspect of the dreamer? No – there are transpersonal dreams where we encounter deeper levels of knowledge.

Dr. Clare describes how best to interact with power animals and guides, and shares tips on how to connect with them.

Upcoming Lucid Dreaming Ocean Retreat with Dr. Clare Johnson: Portugal, May 19-23, 2026.

Sign up to Dr. Clare's newsletter to be first to know all her workshop, retreat and conference dates, receive lucid dream tips and dreamy gifts: https://deepluciddreaming.com/sign-up/

Listen to the Sleep & Deep Lucid Dreaming podcast on https://www.deepluciddreaming.com/podcast/

The Art of Lucid Dreaming

The Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming

Elixir of Sleep

Video classes and guided lucid dream meditations with Dr. Clare: https://deep-lucid-dreaming-video-courses.teachable.com/

This is a common question, and the answer can be summed up in one word: "no." Lucid dreaming is a natural phenomenon of consciousness and it is no more dangerous than non-lucid dreaming, which we all engage in naturally every night. Lucidity is simply awareness. We become aware that we are dreaming. 

In this episode, Dr. Clare Johnson explains her take on the "dangers" of lucid dreaming. Her view is based on nearly 50 years of personal lucid dream practice as a prolific lucid dreamer; original and world-first PhD research into the topic of lucid dreaming as a creative tool; and her eight books, some of which involved assessing reports of lucid dreamers from around the globe. 

Tune in to hear why people think lucid dreaming might be dangerous, and learn more about this versatile state of consciousness. 

Upcoming Lucid Dreaming Ocean Retreat with Dr. Clare Johnson: Portugal, May 19-23, 2026.

Sign up to Dr. Clare's newsletter to be first to know all her workshop, retreat and conference dates, receive lucid dream tips and dreamy gifts: https://deepluciddreaming.com/sign-up/

Listen to the Sleep & Deep Lucid Dreaming podcast on https://www.deepluciddreaming.com/podcast/

The Art of Lucid Dreaming

The Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming

Elixir of Sleep

Video classes and guided lucid dream meditations with Dr. Clare: https://deep-lucid-dreaming-video-courses.teachable.com/

Have you ever meditated in a lucid dream? When attempted with stable lucid awareness, this is the fastest route to blissful oneness.

In deep lucid dreaming, we can receive immersive experiences of light that reveal the underlying workings of the universe. In this episode, Dr. Clare Johnson shares her 2016 “Lucid Light Theory of Dreams and Reality.

She gives examples of transcendent lucid dreams, and emphasises that this bliss state is NOT reserved for mystics, meditators and the devout. In fact, this light is always present – it’s just easier to access in lucid dreams and other altered states such as hypnagogia and the void.

Dr. Clare shares tips on how to enter the Lucid Light from a lucid dream.

Upcoming Lucid Dreaming Ocean Retreats with Dr. Clare Johnson: Hawaii, Oct 25-29, 2025. And Portugal, May 19-23, 2026.

Sign up to Dr. Clare's newsletter to be first to know all her workshop, retreat and conference dates, receive lucid dream tips and dreamy gifts: https://deepluciddreaming.com/sign-up/

Listen to the Sleep & Deep Lucid Dreaming podcast on https://www.deepluciddreaming.com/podcast/

The Art of Lucid Dreaming

The Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming

Can you heal your body? In this episode, we’ll explore how different states of consciousness can guide and trigger physical healing—often spontaneously and naturally.

Dr. Clare Johnson looks at scientific research that shows lucid dream actions activate the same brain areas as waking movements, opening the door to real physical benefits. She shares her own story of healing from a fibroid tumour, unpacking the steps she took and the particular states of consciousness that were helpful.

Dr. Clare also shares the story of a woman in her workshop who experienced a startling energetic shift that released her stiff hips. This was in the waking state.

Whether through lucid dream healing or while fully awake, this episode offers practical insight on how to tap into your body’s natural recovery in any state of consciousness.

Upcoming Lucid Dreaming Ocean Retreats with Dr. Clare Johnson: Hawaii, Oct 25-29, 2025. And Portugal, May 19-23, 2026.

Sign up to Dr. Clare's newsletter to be first to know all her workshop, retreat and conference dates, receive lucid dream tips and dreamy gifts: https://deepluciddreaming.com/sign-up/

Listen to the Sleep & Deep Lucid Dreaming podcast on https://www.deepluciddreaming.com/podcast/

The Art of Lucid Dreaming

The Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming

Elixir of Sleep

Video classes and guided lucid dream meditations with Dr. Clare: https://deep-lucid-dreaming-video-courses.teachable.com/

Have you ever dreamed about something, then watched it play out in real life?

In this fascinating episode, Dr. Clare Johnson explores precognitive dreams — dreams that appear to predict future events. While most dreams are psychological or symbolic, every so often one breaks the pattern with eerie accuracy.

Tune in to discover:

This episode offers a grounded introduction to one of the strangest and most intriguing aspects of dreaming — and how your own dreams might be reaching into the future.

Upcoming Lucid Dreaming Ocean Retreats with Dr. Clare Johnson: Hawaii, Oct 25-29, 2025. And Portugal, May 19-23, 2026.

Sign up to Dr. Clare's newsletter to be first to know all her workshop, retreat and conference dates, receive lucid dream tips and dreamy gifts: https://deepluciddreaming.com/sign-up/

Listen to the Sleep & Deep Lucid Dreaming podcast on https://www.deepluciddreaming.com/podcast/

The Art of Lucid Dreaming

The Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming

Elixir of Sleep

Video classes and guided lucid dream meditations with Dr. Clare: https://deep-lucid-dreaming-video-courses.teachable.com/

In this podcast episode, Dr. Clare speaks to one of the deepest dream explorers around: Bob Hoss, Director of the DreamScience Foundation and a powerhouse at the International Association for the Study of Dreams.

Tune in and discover:

• How Bob communicates with his wife Lynne, who has dementia and is unable to speak, in his lucid dreams! He describes how he went to a “halfway house” between the living and the dead to reassure her… and what happened next in waking life.

• Dr. Clare shares her dreams of light featuring an Alzheimer's patient.

• The most exciting dream research: how neuroscience aligns with lucid dreaming. Brain imaging and AI.

• Experiments to discover how conscious lucid dream figures are.

• The four levels of dream control (Johnson 2004)

• The delight of becoming a dot of conscious awareness in lucid dreams and transcending the ego-self.

• Dr. Clare shares her lucid dreams with deceased people and their message of how incredibly precious life is.

• Bob shares what lucid dreaming and quantum entanglement teaches us about the meaning of life.

You can find Bob Hoss over on https://dreamscience.org/ or reach him at [email protected]

Join Bob Hoss and Dr. Clare Johnson at the next IASD conference in Ashland, Oregon, June 13-17, 2026. Experience the power of sharing lucid dreams and dream wisdom with hundreds of enthusiastic dreamers… and dance the night away at the Dream Ball on the last night! Info at https://www.asdreams.org/

Subscribe to the Sleep & Deep Lucid Dreaming podcast on your favourite channel to receive ALL podcast episodes. Only a fraction appear on YouTube. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sleep-deep-lucid-dreaming/id1813136792  https://open.spotify.com/show/0oOcnmNBZugcrOzGvr0yYO 

Or listen on our website: https://www.deepluciddreaming.com/podcast/

And… come to Portugal for a lucid dreaming ocean retreat with Dr. Clare Johnson, 19-23 May, 2026. https://deep-lucid-dreaming-video-courses.teachable.com/p/lucid-dreaming-ocean-retreat  P.S… a spot just opened up for the Hawaii Lucidity Retreat later this month: 25-29 October on Big Island. We have our very own lucid dream temple :-) For details, email [email protected]

Have you ever woken up feeling completely awake but unable to move, trapped in your own body? That’s sleep paralysis — a natural biological safety mechanism that sometimes feels downright terrifying.

In this episode, Dr. Clare Johnson dives into what sleep paralysis is, why it happens, and most importantly, how you can manage it so fear doesn’t take over.

She shares tips from her own experience and that of others to help you stay calm and transform scary moments into ones of curiosity and empowerment.

Tune in to learn:

Upcoming Lucid Dreaming Ocean Retreats with Dr. Clare Johnson: Hawaii, Oct 25-29, 2025. And Portugal, May 19-23, 2026.

Sign up to Dr. Clare's newsletter to receive lucid dream tips and dreamy gifts: https://deepluciddreaming.com/sign-up/

Listen to the Sleep & Deep Lucid Dreaming podcast on https://www.deepluciddreaming.com/podcast/

The Art of Lucid Dreaming

The Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming

Elixir of Sleep

Video classes and guided lucid dream meditations with Dr. Clare: https://deep-lucid-dreaming-video-courses.teachable.com/

Have you ever known something without being told or shown in conventional ways? In this episode, we dive into dream telepathy — the ability to communicate and receive information beyond our normal senses, often through dreams.

Dr. Johnson shares a mind-blowing telepathic lucid dream she had that won the IASD Dream Telepathy Contest and shattered her perceptions about the nature of mind.

She shares real-life examples of precognitive dreams and touches on scientific research from the 1960s and 70s that supports the idea of extra-sensory perception (ESP) and telepathy during sleep.

Learn how to recognize and trust these intuitive messages in your own dreams and explore the fascinating depths of human consciousness.

Upcoming Lucid Dreaming Ocean Retreats with Dr. Clare Johnson: Hawaii, Oct 25-29, 2025. Portugal, May 19-23, 2026.

Sign up to Dr. Clare's newsletter to be first to know all her workshop, retreat and conference dates, receive lucid dream tips and dreamy gifts: https://deepluciddreaming.com/sign-up/

Listen to the Sleep & Deep Lucid Dreaming podcast on https://www.deepluciddreaming.com/podcast/

The Art of Lucid Dreaming

The Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming

Elixir of Sleep

Video classes and guided lucid dream meditations with Dr. Clare: https://deep-lucid-dreaming-video-courses.teachable.com/

People often ask Dr. Johnson if astral projection (also known as an out of body experience or OBE) is the same as a lucid dream. No, it is not.

Dr. Clare Johnson will share:

Whether you're brand new to the concept or have been curious for a while, this episode dips into the wonderful world of out of body experiences.

OBEs aren’t just for mystics or seasoned meditators. In this episode, you'll learn how everyday people can experience OBEs naturally, safely, and intentionally.

Upcoming Lucid Dreaming Ocean Retreats with Dr. Clare Johnson: Hawaii, Oct 25-29, 2025. And Portugal, May 19-23, 2026.

Sign up to Dr. Clare's newsletter to be first to know all her workshop, retreat and conference dates, receive lucid dream tips and dreamy gifts: https://deepluciddreaming.com/sign-up/

Listen to the Sleep & Deep Lucid Dreaming podcast on https://www.deepluciddreaming.com/podcast/

The Art of Lucid Dreaming

The Complete Book of Lucid Dreaming

Elixir of Sleep

Video classes and guided lucid dream meditations with Dr. Clare: https://deep-lucid-dreaming-video-courses.teachable.com/