Frequency and nature of flying dreams in a long dream series

Abstract

Although many authors have speculated about the possible correlates of flying dreams, empirical research in this area is scarce. In a long series of 6701 dreams, 1.72% (115 dreams) of them included unaided flying. These showed great variability in characteristics like body position while flying; the activities that triggered flying; the method of flying; presence of other flying persons and being seen by other dream characters. Dreams with normal flying were associated with the waking-life experience of flying, whereas non-lucid flying dreams were not. Being lucid in a dream affects the characteristics of flying dreams. Assuming continuity on an emotional level, large-scale diary studies are needed to investigate the relationship between the emotions of flying dreams and waking life experiences.