the west. The play of light upon the stark landscape kept
awake the feeling of love within me.
      Since this first lucid dream, I have noticed on several
occasions that lucidity has arisen following an experience
of love or deep rapport with another person. Sometimes
when I experience this kind of contact during the day, I
am able to sense that a lucid dream is imminent. On
these days, I try to retire earlier than usual in order to
allow the experience time to unfold.
      After my first lucid dream it was months before
consciousness again emerged in my dreams. I had not
begun to cultivate the faculty nor to attribute any
particular significance to it. Yet the memory of the Light
and the luminous feelings associated with it left me with
an intense desire to re-experience its transforming
effects.
      Meditation and dream-work became a part of my daily
regimen soon after this first lucid dream. About six
months later, after meditating one night with a friend, I
had a strong feeling that an important experience was
awaiting me in sleep. After sharing the impression with
her, I said goodnight earlier than usual and went home.
Before going to sleep I re-oriented my bed so that I
would be able to see the stars through my bedroom
window. This ritual seemed to enhance the feeling of
expectancy. I went to sleep and had the following
experience in the early morning:

     I feel that I am waking up. I realize that I've been
hashing through many ideas and problems. As I lie in my
bed with my eyes closed, I suddenly realize that there's
no reason why I shouldn't experience the Light! I feel a
complete lack of the usual feelings of unworthiness. It's
as if a problem has been solved by the long period of
self-reflection.
     As I wait expectantly, a warmth begins to fill my body.
Although my eyes are closed, I sense that a white light is
shining through the window and entering my solar
plexus. It rushes upward until a warm brightness fills

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