Is it as easy as saying ' I intend to see an apple' ?
Last night I had a very vivid lucid dream where a starving dog came up to me. I immediately got the bag of dog food out of my car that I always carry, but when I poured it out it was rice and bird food. I was so distressed.
If I was aware enough could I have " intended" it to be dog food and that would have worked?
Hmmm...I had dreams like that when I want something or need to do something in a certain way but it ends up not being what I wanted.
I do think once you have more control and awareness in your dreams you can achieve what you want and need.
I guess the best way to explain it is your wanting to do something. You are going to to this thing. Its your plan of action. Once you're in a lucid dreancor anything "higher oh the chain" so-to-speak, such as the astral, you might find it easier to have clear intentions. If you are anything like me while in the astral, things should be clear enough for you so that you'll be able to make thing happen simply by saying some short and sweet command.
Example:
(to yourself) - wake!
And you should completely wake yourself up.
Intention, an example,
You realise your phone is still on the seat of the bus behind you as you're about to get off.
This realisation causes you to have the 'intention' of retrieving it, even if you miss your stop.
Your intent to do this was strong enough to stop the action you were going to take.
http://www.unlimitedboundaries.ca/2012/12/20/what-is-intent/
Give that article I wrote a read. :)
It might help to start with the concept that everything in our reality is a manifestation of consciousness, that's my opinion. Intention is the driving force behind the manifestation. To me, intention is a combination of will and desire. Intention puts a desire into action, but learning to activate it is not that easy sometimes. I think it's something that can only be learned by doing it.
Thanks y'all lots of good info. This intriguing skill comes with a very steep learning curve!