Lucid Dreamachine

This instructable is an inexpensive re-make of Brion Gysin's Dreamachine. This lucid dream machine is simply a cylinder with holes punched in it so, when spun, creates a flickering light pattern across your closed eyelids. This flickering is supposed to cause a state of lucid dreaming. This means that you are unconscious and dreaming, but are aware of what is happening and able to control your dream. More about them here -OR- Try an online version * here *CAUTION!!! The lucid dreamachine has a strobing effect that MAY cause epileptic seizures in certain persons. If you try the online version or decide to build one yourself, you do so at your own risk! So, if you have had seizures in the past, just play it safe and don't try it.

step 1Gather Materials

There is a LOT more than needed for this project than I first expected. Some items can be replaced or substituted for others, but here is a rough list. Materials: 1 Old tu…

step 2Cutting Cylinder to length

The easiest way I found to do this was take a flexible tape measure and measure out 30" from one edge on a couple of points from around the cylinder. Then, using these poin…

step 3Creating the Cylinder

This step is crucial to having your Dreamachine function properly. You must punch holes strategically in the cardboard cylinder so, when it spins, it has the correct strobe…

step 4Finishing the Cylinder

To make it easier to center on the turntable, I simply took an old 12" record and glued it to the bottom of the cylinder. I used PL200 Construction adhesive (if it's strong…

step 5The Base

One of the last things you need to do is make a frame to hold the light in the middle of the cylinder. Again, this can be done in any number of ways (hanging from the ceili…

step 6Using the Dreamachine

Congratulations, you should now have a working lucid dream machine. I painted the rest of it flat black, just so it all matched and looked okay. To use your new toy, make s…