What happens next?

So, I try the WILD technique a lot. But I seem to be getting nowhere with it. Most of the time I lie still for a few minutes and after that I feel strong vibrations, I feel my heart beating much stronger than usual, I see wierd shapes and colours, and my body starts to tingle and go numb (most strongly in my feet / lower legs for some reason... last night I actually pulled myself out of it because there was an unbearable feeling in my feet.) But nothing ever happens beyond that. Honestly, a few times I have been lying there for over an hour. I hallucinate, hear noises and feel vibrations, but there's never a transition into a dream. A few months ago I read on here that if you open your eyes you may be in a dream, but whenever I open my eyes I'm just staring at the ceiling, I started to think they may be False Awakenings but the reality checks say no. Also, as they aren't false awakenings, I would have assumed I would be in sleep paralysis, but I can always move as soon as I open my eyes... So, what happens after hallucinations and vibrations? I can't already be in SP because I can move... Opinions?

Thanks :)

My opinion now is that you need to think what you want your dream to be like. For example think about flying on Moon or something else. I am also new to this , but after reading your post , I think that this should be your next step...

You need to tone down on your awareness, otherwise you won't be able to keep falling asleep. I assume you do it WBTB or napstyle.

As i see it, there isn't much doing in a WILD-attempt. It's more about setting yourself up to be lucid and falling asleep that way until the dream forms. Simple does not mean easy though. What you're fighting against is the obstacle of your own mind, which will easily trick you into thinking about or doing something, that will make you lose connection with what's anchoring you.

Most common pitfalls:

Am i in a dream yet?
Is this what SP feels like?
Wonder how much time has passed?
I really need to scratch that itch... no, yes, i'll wait.
Yes! Vibrations! Now i'm close...
Wow those hypnagogic hallucinations are really cool!
Should i swallow... i think i have to, or..?
So, i'm trying to WILD here... what's up with that?
Ouch, my **** hurt(s)!

The problem with these isn't actually about them. You noticed they all were thougts, huh?

Don't think, just dont. Your brain will do it for you.

Move/scratch/swallow if you have to, dont think about it.

No thinking means no reacting to stuff.

The only thing that needs to be active is the part of you that watches it all happen. Use whatever anchor/method you need to make sure it stays that way. As long as you manage to only watch, you are in fact lucid:). Now, fall asleep that way.

Good luck, Tucane

Make sure your timing is right. You want to do this after 4 or 5 hours of sleep, when you are close to long dream cycles. Try to daydream and visualize a scene. It may not necessarily turn into a dream directly, but it will spark some mental imagery that should lead to a dream. For example, if you are counting, imagine the image of a clock, with the numbers changing. If you are focused on your breathing, imagine your breath rhythm as waves on a beach. Imagine yourself lying on the beach, feeling the warm sand.

You have to help your mind along a little. Encourage it to produce some sort of scene.

Do not focus on SP, at all. It can be a good mile marker letting you know where you stand, but if you focus solely on that and in your mind think "oh good now ill wait for vibrations and HI", you will not WILD. you need to be the passive bystander putting in only very little input. Your mind will do the rest. I used to over think all the SP and HI as we'll and rarely had a WILD. with trial and error, and lots of practice you will be successful :) you can always message me with any questions. Good luck!

You might need to change the time you attempt to WILD. It sounds like you're doing everything perfectly but you're just not entering REM sleep. Change around the time you try to WILD until you find your REM cycle and it should fix the problem. Remember, just because you fall asleep while aware, doesn't mean you fall right into REM sleep.