Nowhere Near LDing!

Last night, I set my alarm clock for 3:00 after going to sleep around 11:00. Well, I tried some WILDing from 10:30 to 11:00 and I knew I was almost into LDing. So I figured I would be able to after I get some sleep. So I woke up at 2:50 on my own and tried to relax myself. Well, for some reason I couldn't relax myself completely. I tried for nearly 30 minutes and nothing worked. I tried the 61 point technique, the Finger technique, and the Breathing technique. Well, I gave up. So then I spent the next 10 minutes just trying to go back to sleep. So I don't get it. During MILDing, it's harder for me to relax than WILDing. Even though I haven't LDed yet. So does anyone know any possiblities for all of this?

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Originally posted by That_Matt_Boi
Last night, I set my alarm clock for 3:00 after going to sleep around 11:00. Well, I tried some WILDing from 10:30 to 11:00 and I knew I was almost into LDing. So I figured I would be able to after I get some sleep. So I woke up at 2:50 on my own and tried to relax myself. Well, for some reason I couldn't relax myself completely. I tried for nearly 30 minutes and nothing worked. I tried the 61 point technique, the Finger technique, and the Breathing technique. Well, I gave up. So then I spent the next 10 minutes just trying to go back to sleep. So I don't get it. During MILDing, it's harder for me to relax than WILDing. Even though I haven't LDed yet. So does anyone know any possiblities for all of this?

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Okay, I had my first WILD a couple of days ago. Because of this, I've got a decent knowledge of what I've been doing wrong fresh in my mind. So, I hope you don't mind if I give you a bit of advice: when WILDing, keep ONE thing in mind.

Keep it simple, stupid!

The reason I say this is that half the reason I think I failed in my earlier attempts, was that I was trying TOO MANY techniques when trying to WILD. I was trying to DO something. The key to WILD is in NOT doing anything. At ALL.

So, simply, what you should be doing:

Lie down, relax. Use the 61 point technique (this one works a charm). Don't worry about the breathing techniques too much, I find them distracting. Use it if you think you need to, though... but after your breathiong gets shallow, try not to pay too much attention to it, as this might make you take a deep breath involuntarily, and "break out" of the whole relaxing phase. Just focus gently on your eyelids and the cool light patterns, even if they aren't much, and feel your body relaxing.

Also, my suggestion is this: don't bother with the counting and the finger technique, as they may end up distracting you and ultimately stopping you from getting to sleep. I find these too techniques to be more of a hinderance than a help.

Instead, just chill out, relax completely, and your breathing should get shallow, your thoughts a little sluggish. At this point, just watch the lights/hypnogogic imagery (Don't be worried if they aren't much! If it's just a few light patterns, thats okay... it's all I get!) and for the luv, DONT focus or think too much. Just relax... RELAX...

I hope I've been on some help... good luck! And keep trying! It took me a while to get it right, and I'm still gonna keep trying till I can do it right, every single time...

Clearing your mind also helps.

being successful in WILD is different for everyone--there are many different ways to achieve conscious sleep paralysis and it ultimately depends on what works best for you. like the blue meanie said above, just watching hypnagogic imagery has worked for me in the past....however, it is also difficult because it requires finding a perfect balance between concentrating and not-concentrating. my most recent WILD didn't involve focusing on hypnagogic imagery, but instead allowing myself to begin to fall asleep and focusing on my body feeling--for me, there is a kind of pressure and tingling that i feel in all of my limbs preceding sleep paralysis, and once i feel this come on, if i remain calm and as unthinking as possible, sleep paralysis is next. from there, however, entering into a dream is something that you have to learn totally on your own...it usually requires total relaxation

my first successful WILD was when i wasn't even trying...i think this says alot, expecially as i had experienced quite afew half-successful attempts (sleep paralysis and whatnot). since then i've gotten the feel for it, and had about a dozen WILDs.

whether hypnagogic imagery or solely sleep paralysis precedes the lucid, it seems 'passive awareness' is vital for most. keep it simple, don't strain at all, and it will come in good time. it gets easier as you get a feel for it.

personally, i don't try to force anything if its hard to relax on a certain night...after half an hour it might just be best to go to sleep..

keep on trying...you might not think you're close, but lucids have a way of sneaking up out of nowhere if you stay dedicated...

pleasant dreams :)