British manga artist Yiyang Cheng uses lucid dreams to create her comic, Margaret. Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, she converses with her subconscious while dreaming, even though she admits her control over these conversations isn’t perfect. She described her process in detail in her master’s thesis.
Cheng says that lucid dreams have allowed her to confront her biases and fears, which have been vividly embodied in her striking images and storylines. For instance, a recurring dream where she was threatened or coerced and felt powerless revealed her tendency to be accommodating. She channeled this experience into the story of a woman fighting for her independence. As a result, she changed both the manga’s plot and her own behavior.
Cheng practiced lucid dreaming to change her reactions. She used to run from pursuers in her dreams, but now she faces them. She brought this method of confronting her fears into her manga, making her heroine stronger and more independent. Margaret became more than just a reflection of dream plots; it’s also the result of Cheng’s conscious effort to work on herself and face her fears.
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Cheng’s master’s thesis is available on the University of Wales website.
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