Dreams are largely unexplained phenomena that occur during sleep. They can be fascinating or terrifying, clear or weak. It is known that everyone dreams during the night (Kau), and that one may be capable of having four to six dreams in a single night (Schneider and Domhoff); however, many people don't even remember these dreams ever happening. Some people, on the other hand, are able to not only remember them, but be aware of them as they emerge. A dream in which the dreamer is conscious for at least part of the dream is called a lucid dream. Lucid dreaming can be an exhilarating experience, although it can be very difficult to master. Dreams have played an important role in culture and religion (Schulze). For example, the Old Testament contains many references to dreams and visions. One of the most important is the story of Jacob's ladder in Genesis 28:10-19. On his journey from Beersheba to Haran, Jacob had a dream of a ladder stretching from Earth to Heaven. Christianity isn't the only place where dreams have been mentioned in history. In ancient Egypt, dreams were considered supernatural. For them, dreams were a message from God. In ancient Greece, dreams were thought to be divine. Individuals often went to a specific place when they were sick until they dreamed of good health. Many Greek philosophers were also the first to believe that dreams came from our own minds. However, it was not until the French scientist Alfred Maury began his research that modern conceptions of dreaming and dream interpretation began. Maury deduced that dreams were the result of external stimuli. When part of the bed fell on his neck, he awoke from a dream in which he had been carried to the...... middle of paper......iddreamlessons.com/2009/03/04/incredible-famous - dreams/>.Kau, C.. Explore the world of your dreams. Np, 2011. Web. 7 December 2011. Library.thinkquest.org/C005545/>. LaBerge, A. and L. Levithon. "Frequently Asked Questions About Lucid Dreaming. Version 2.3." The LucidityInstitute Inc. Np, January 16, 2003. Web. December 8, 2011. Schneider, A., and G. W. Domhoff. "Frequently Asked Questions About Dreams." The quantitative study of dreams. University of Southern California, 2011. Web. 8 December 2011. www2.ucsc.edu/dreams/>. Schulze, Brandan. "Dreams and dreams." Oracle ThinkQuest. ThinkQuest, July 31, 1997. Network. December 8, 2011. .Vandekeere, M.. “Lucid Dreaming Tips: How to Have Lucid Dreams.” Lucid dreams: the six fundamental steps. Marc Vandekeere, 2009. Web. 7 December 2011. .