This is something that works very well for me....

I'm certainly not new to LD, and I can always learn more, but I thought I might offer something that may help some out there. This is my take on a meditation from Shakti gawains book, "Creative Visualizations", adapted for the sake of guiding dreams. Done during the day in a chair, it can be very relaxing and serve other purposes. Take the meditation and adapt it to suit you.

First, a couple things to expect, as many people are startled by the physical effects of meditation done properly. Your pulse will slow (my BPM typically drops to low 40's, though my resting heart rate is in the 50's). Farther in you may experience temperature sensations of enveloping warmth. Shortly before lucidity you may feel as though you are being "pulled" when your body gets even more relaxed. This is good, accept it, and prepare to dream :)

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Activating the chakras
Start lying on your back in bed, arms at your side, and be very comfortable. Breathe normally, but slowly. Spend a couple minutes just breathing in for 4 seconds, breathing out for 4 seconds, holding your lungs empty for 3 seconds, and repeating. Find a pace that suits you.

When you feel ready, try to see in your mind's eye a dimly illuminated gold sphere at the center of your head. Breathe into this sphere, guiding the air into it, and causing it to glow a little brighter with each breath. It's glow may recede slightly as you breathe out, but thats okay, just keep breathing into it, illuminating it, until you feel it is bright enough.

Next, see the dimly lit gold sphere in the center of your neck, and illuminate it with your breath until you feel it is bright enough. Then, see the dimly lit gold sphere in your chest, and breathe illumination into that one as well. Make sure you still see the light from the prior two spheres you illuminated, and if necessary, breathe more light into the head or throat sphere.

Next, illuminate the sphere in your abdomen. Then in your groin. The between your knees, and finally between your feet. Once all seven spheres are illuminated to your satisfaction, bask in their light while continuing to breathe while focusing on their light.

Now, feel the light begin to swirl around you. Breathe in as the light washes over you from your toes to your head. Breathe out as the light flows under you, from your head to your heels. Let it swirl around you and feel it's warmth as it encircles you.

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By this point, my body is usually completely relaxed and I just begin to visualize what I want to dream about until I slip into the dream. This is how I can make myself dream about something of my choice, but I'm working on a method of going to lucidity. I've been able to induce brief and mild OBE's doing this by seeing myself float upward and then looking back down on my sleeping body.

Does anyone have any good visualizations or suggestions for letting yourself slip into a dream while maintaining control? I use the technique I just described to you when first going to bed. MILD's are a bit easier for me to go lucid with.

One last suggestion, if you think it may help you, you might want to get yourself some relaxing meditative music, and record yourself speaking these instructions to make your own guided relaxation. Or you could pick up some of Shakti Gawains tapes at your library. Alternatively, you could date someone experienced in guiding meditations ;)