Lucid dreaming can be a space for creative problem-solving.

A recent study shows haiku poems written in lucid state are more creative than in waking.

The effects of lucid dreaming imply that becoming more present in waking life can also enhance creativity.

Have you ever written a song in a dream? Paul McCartney did, or at least he woke up with the melody for "Yesterday" playing in his mind (Barret, 2001).

Dreams have long been associated with creativity. From novels to art, scientific breakthroughs to inventions, many brilliant ideas have first been revealed in dreams. I’m no Paul McCartney—I can’t even read music—but I once woke up with a song in my head about my dog. I sang it to a musician friend who turned it into a score and recorded it for my birthday.

History abounds with anecdotes of people experiencing these kinds of surprising creative moments, and the products that result from them. Recently, however, researchers have also studied what happens when we intend to use dreams to consciously create something. One such example is writing poems while lucid dreaming.

Waking Up to Dreaming

Lucid dreaming is the state of being aware that one is dreaming. Once lucid, we can move around in a dream, direct it, and consciously change its contents. I have had clients who described choosing to fly in a dream or looking for—and finding—a solution to a daytime problem.

We can also use lucid dreams to find solutions to problems within the dream itself. I once dreamed I was in a messy dorm room with dirty clothes and bedding strewn everywhere. At that moment, I became lucid and decided to clean it up. Suddenly, a gleaming white washing machine appeared, and I threw everything inside. In my work with clients,........

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