Dreams are a complex existence, something we still don’t really understand the origins of. However almost everyone has had one at least once and knows the general nature that dreams take on. Dreams are not bound by the logics and rules that dictate reality, because they are devoid of reality. Dreams are devoid of the cause and effect flow of the natural world, with events occurring on the random with no preconceived reason for its occurrence. While we don’t know why dreams happen these are things about the nature of the dreams that can be observed within all of adventures within sleep.
We also can bring to focus the most complex of these dreams, the Lucid Dream. If we can barely understand the regular dream then its no surprise we understand these special dreams even less. But once again we can characterize their general appearance, Lucid Dreams are dreams where the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming. Biologically during these dreams the dreamer’s brain shows raised activity similar to alertness (NCBI). With such cognitive recognition of ones state one holds much control over their dreams and what occurs within it.
So if one can accept that dreams are largely a collection of random events that are devoid of the laws that dictate reality, and if one can accept that within the lucid state one is aware of their dreaming nature and can exorcise some level of self control we can begin to consider what would happen if the lucid dreamer began to consider introspective ideals during these dreams.
Before continuing it should be noted that objectively measuring the plausibility and possibility of this is impossible as it is something that lays fully within the subjective measurement of change within self.
However if one is willing to consider the idea we can consider what the results of such a action would be. Well within dreams we the dreamer are embodying a character, who may not be a clear reflection of ourself, as it is possible to dream you are someone else. This is a character who dwells within a realm of pure randomness, thus their nature and existence which makes sense to the character would likely make no sense to ourself, reason why we often find ourselves asking why we did something in a dream we would otherwise never do. Thus the character we embody in dreams does not have to be us which raises more questions when we are lucid dreaming.
So we in lucid dreaming have control over our actions, however we are not necessarily a true reflection of ourselves. We may be aware we are dreaming and be able to reach consciousness as well as manipulate what is going on in the area the character whose actions we are controlling is not the same as ourselves.
This returns us to the original question, what would occur if a dreamer, in control of their actions within the dream are to begin to consider thoughts of introspection? This would likely not be a problem for the average dreamer, as being in a constant state of introspection is not something most of us are in. However what form would this introspection take in this lucid dream?
The introspection would likely take characteristics of the character we are in these dreams and fuse it with the rationalism and conscious we have of our aware state. A fusion of our personal existence of our personal conscious with some of the ideals and characteristics of the character, this introspection within a lucid dream would be highly disorienting and likely cause the dreamer upon awakening to be left in a state of confusion.
This state of confusion would likely be temporary, our memory of dreams is fleeting and as our memory of it fades the effect of this introspective fusion would fade away with it. So there would likely not be a drastic jump in ideology of the dreamer, however within the confused state one could raise further introspection to inspire change within the self. And the margin of this installed confusion would be increased the more the dreamer is able to remember the dream and the introspection.
All in all this is purely within the theoretical, however the concept of introspection within lucid dreams is one that is certainly interesting, what would be the results of taking a analytical view of an impossible irrationality? And while we as a society may likely never know, for only those of us who are lucky enough to be graced by both constant introspection and lucid dreams will get the chance to test the results of such a conflict within the mind and find the solution of just how much of a hold the irrational dreams can have over our daily rational and ideals.
