Have you ever been able to control your dreams? Change the course of your dreams?

Characters in the novel can manipulate their dreams after they become aware that they're dreaming. Have you ever been able to control your dreams? Change the course of your dreams?

I can direct my dreams on occasion, but not consistently.

Wow, I can't, not at all. I tend to sleep like a rock & rarely remember my dreams.

I always dream and can continue the same dream after being up for a short time. Sometimes I can change the course of a dream.

I can't control my dreams, but sometimes I can go back into the same dream after being awake for a short time, as Sandra mentioned above. I envied Irene's ability to control her dreams, but then reminded myself that it's a novel, and in fiction anything is possible.

I'm curious - For those of you who have some control over your dreams, how do you do it? Is it something you've practiced deliberately for years, or did you just know how?

No, I've never tried to "control" my dreams. I know I must dream, but I never remember them. I don't rely on my dreams to run my life.

No, I can't control my dreams--much to my dismay! I have some recurring dreams that I WISH would change, but they always end the same, e.g. waitressing when I'm unfamiliar with the menu and other frustrating situations.

I wish I could , It would be so nice! Sadly I have never had this gift!

I have, on occasion been able to re-enter a dream to bring it to resolution, or repeat a dream, and even to direct that which I want to dream about...

I think the fun of dreams is letting them take wherever they go.

I am a control freak. My dreams are one area of my life I have NOT been able to control. Probably best, some things need to happen naturally without coercion.

Control isn't part of my dreaming. Some dreams repeat as BJ mentioned. But I never know the cause of that; it just happens. Sometimes I can wake myself if the dream is terrible--I tell myself it's only a dream so just leave it.

I know that everyone dreams. I don't remember my dreams so no chance in controlling them or changing the course of them. I would like to recall them; I know they can be interesting and reflective of what is going on in your life.

Yes, I can go back into a dream and manipulate or change the outcome. But as for actually visiting someone or returning to the same dream another day that doesn't always work.

Yes. It is called Lucid Dreaming and it is actually a skill that can be taught.

There's a novel coming out in mid September about lucid dreaming, The Anatomy of Dreams by Chloe Benjamin I haven't read it myself but you'll find information on BookBrowse at http://bit.ly/TK88VO

The cover of "The Anatomy of Dreams" reminds me of that of "How to Tell Toledo form the Night Sky." I wonder if the same cover artist did both. It sounds from the description that "Anatomy" may take a not-so-benign view of lucid dreaming. I hadn't heard of lucid dreaming before, and I'm not sure I want to learn to control my dreams. I like that one element of my life remains beyond my control.

JuliaA - an interesting observation about the similarity of the covers - you're right they do seem to share a certain style. I do wish that publishers would follow the film industry in listing those involved in a book's production, not only would this allow us to know the answer to questions such as who designed the book cover, but it would give long overdue recognition to the many people involved in the creation of a finished book and, I think, over time, would go a long way to correcting the perception that many people seem to have that all that's needed is an author and readers and thus traditional publishers are unnecessary to the process, which is so far from the truth but is a view that seems to persist and is growing. But enough of this, or I will be in danger of breaking my own house rule of straying off topic! (Davina, BookBrowse editor).

I can't control my dreams and I usually can not remember them either. Not sure if I really want to. I sort of feel its the mind's way of either taking a vacation since my body is sort on break too or its a sorting process that I do not need to consciously bother with.

As others have mentioned, I, too, am sometimes able to "pick up where I left off" after awakening for a brief period. I often feel conscious while dreaming, and sometimes do try to direct the dream. More often than not, I've found that returning to a dream in progress is not a desirable experience. Sometimes, I think I envy those who claim to "sleep like a rock," with no dream memories.