Should I tackle the lion before the fish?

I have been told that the WILD is the 'holy grail of LD', yet I feel more like I should aim for a WILD before any other.
I have yet to have a lucid dream, although I tried approximately one year ago, keeping a dream journal, etc.
Before entering into NREM the other night, I thought "Oh what the hell", and gave it a shot. My tier to reality was me walking down an endless staircase, and at each step I would countdown from 100. I gradually saw hypnogogic imagery and felt slight vibrations.
I got too excited, "woke up" just before entering sleep paralysis, and then went to sleep, frustrated.

I knew I was entering NREM, thus there was no possibility of me entering a dream, I hadn't prepared myself, etc, yet I easily got to the transition stage. I like WILDs the best because it means instant transition, instant, viewable results.

I have been thinking of combining a WILD and a CAT (WILD CAT:banana:), so what do you guys think?
I just finished summer school, am 16, male... and I'd like to be able to WILD before rejoining school in the fall.

Thoughts?

I know how you feel. I've gotten excited during the onset of sleep paralysis too before; it's a real pain if you wake yourself out of it.

Coupling WILD with CAT sounds like a good idea to me.

Ah, CANWILD, search that, a technique that mixes CAT+WILD already exists. Also, WILD is no holy grail, it just tends to be harder in general, but it is different for everyone.

As long as you don't get too frustrated, there is no reason not to start WILD right away. Even if it fails, there is a good chance you will have a lucid dream later in the night due to it being on your mind as you fall asleep. Maybe you should start by just trying to figure out what it feels like to fall asleep normally. Stay aware of what happens to your body and mind as you transition to sleep. Same thing as a WILD, really. This way, you won't become frustrated, or feel like you are failing.

I know how you feel I try WILDs and I always get to excited but I am trying MILDs first then WILDs

I checked out CrazyInSane's CANWILD tutorial, (thanks Walms) and it looks legit. It basically reduces the relaxation phase to one minute, instead of half an hour, because your body is already asleep.

I think, if anything, I will be more excited if I try to do MILDs first, because then I'll be confident I can do it and even more excited about starting the WILD, ironically increasing the time it takes.

I now have a few n00b questions:
Also, after your body experiences the first tremors, is it in sleep paralysis?
If so, then why can I instantly move my arms to scratch an itch, etc?
How long after entry into sleep paralysis does it take to enter a lucid dream (transition)?
How will I know I'm ready at any time to enter the dream?
How do I enter?

Thanks!

Interestingly enough, I am having the same exact questions after "waking up" while getting excited entering sleep paralysis. I had a very similar experience. I'm confused how the sleep paralysis transitions into a dream.

Try not to confuse yourself with SP. Many people who try WILD without lucid dreaming at all before confuse SP with the gooey, unattached feeling you get from laying still in bed for a while. You will be unable to move if you are in SP; it takes some mental effort to break SP (no where near instant).

SP is VERY noticeable; its not subtle at all. If you still feel 'outside' your body when you feel your SP, it most likely isn't SP. It should feel like you are somewhat inside your head, at least for me it does. I feel like I'm part of the HI in my head when I feel the SP onset. What I mean by outside your body is that your senses haven't tuned inwards yet; its like you are still aware of everything external.

The reason WILD is so difficult for beginners is because of the gap inexperience creates. There is no way to simulate or demonstrate what you will experience; you have to find out for yourself. Another reason WILD is so difficult is it takes a lot of practice with maintaining trances. You will be on the very edge of losing consciousness when you induce SP; this is why many people fail by falling asleep.

Personally, I thought I was making solid headway with WILD when I was new. I was one of those noobs who claimed to be able to induce SP instantly. Then I did a DEILD and realized I was no where near close to pulling off a WILD.

So, Rathez, are you saying that I should aim for another lucid dreaming technique first? I know that there are some "exceptional people" who can enter WILDs easily (I am definitely not them!!).

Also, for anyone else reading this, please tell me more information on transition, remaining calm and unexcited, and techniques that work best for you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Assasinof6

So, Rathez, are you saying that I should aim for another lucid dreaming technique first? I know that there are some "exceptional people" who can enter WILDs easily (I am definitely not them!!).

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The reason I brought this to your attention is because you'll be following the wrong leads, get frustrated after it doesn't work for months, and possibly give up, which is what I would hate to see. Due to the nature of lucid dreaming, its very hard to communicate the stages you'll go through during a WILD. WILD is very complicated, yet very simple, and the experience is like nothing else.

Keep going at it, but if something isn't working, change it up. As Einstein says "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Gotta run shortly, I'll respond a bit more when I'm back.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Assasinof6

Also, for anyone else reading this, please tell me more information on transition, remaining calm and unexcited, and techniques that work best for you.

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When doing a WILD, the first priority is to basically try and fall asleep. If you just lay still and try to note the changes that happen to your body, you're focusing too much on the external. You basically need to lay still and not think; pretty much like you're trying to fall asleep. Don't force thoughts in, don't force thoughts out. Try and keep a clear mind. Inevitably, thoughts will flow in. This happens when we fall asleep.

The best way I can explain it is when we get caught up in 'scenes' while were falling asleep, and it kind of drifts us under. This is the trance state that is needed to be maintained. You need to passively watch the images, but not get lost in them. This is the trance state in which your body gets tricked into thinking you fell asleep. To the untrained, this is very hard to maintain. You'll find yourself starting to drift in, getting caught up into images, then snapping out of it. You just have to keep practicing. Eventually, you'll be able to let these thoughts flow through your mind freely, and you'll passively watch them, but not get caught up. This is when SP will onset, and you'll feel like you're inside your head, inside these thoughts flowing.

Once SP sets in, its just as easy as trying to 'move' into the dream with your mind. This part is relatively easy; you will achieve it on your first try.

Edit: Feel free to PM me if you're having trouble or have any questions.

So you're saying achieving WILDS is much less an endurance task (staying perfectly lucid) and more meditation?