Having trouble trying to WILD.

[Sherleon]

For a long time now I have been trying to get a lucid dream with WILD either in the afternoon or during the morning if I wake up after a dream. However I can't seem to get to the sleep paralysis stage. I start to feel heavy and start twitching and sometimes even see hypnagogic imagery (but I don't hear or see anything other than colors behind my eye lids). I tried visualizing something I want to see, counting, and observing the imagery. Does anyone have any idea what I might be doing wrong? I have tried other methods as well but haven't had any success with anything yet.

[MisakaMikoto]

Hi, It might be just that your not falling asleep during WILD Attempts You should try to fall asleep same way you do at night, yet with two differences - Try to not move - Using Something To Keep Yourself Conscious during WILD It wouldn't hurt to use some relaxations technique aswell Remember that there are only two goals in WILDs - Fall Asleep - Stay Conscious To keep yourself conscious you need to use specific amount of mental power with specific task. Some people might just be able to WILD by visualizing (or Daydreaming), some might just count half-assed way and others might need to count and yet put specific amount of focus on it to stay conscious (Example: One guy would need to put his whole focus on counting). Yet you shouldn't use too much mental power. Using too much of it might result in falling asleep longer or in worst case cause you to not get sleep at al And aswell it shouldn't be too little because it might make you will end up unconscious. And about paralysis, tingling, images and other sensations You shouldn't focus too much on them, They are just noise that happens when we fall asleep It might happen and it might not. For me they are more troublesome than actualy userful. I myself barely have during WILDs any sensations I'm just keeping my consciousness up till i appear in dream. I suggest you reading up Mzzkc's WILD Guide It's Awesome guide that explains probably most of stuff I'il give you a hint aswell: - Experiment A WILDs are quite personal techniques which might need different stuff for each person So if something does not works experiment a little If counting keeps you awake cut numbers down eg: from 500 to 30. If counting makes you fall asleep, maybe it's time to add mantra to it. Like: 1. i'm dreaming... And now Goodluck

[ThreeCat]

Hi, It might be just that your not falling asleep during WILD Attempts You should try to fall asleep same way you do at night, yet with two differences - Try to not move - Using Something To Keep Yourself Conscious during WILD It wouldn't hurt to use some relaxations technique aswell Remember that there are only two goals in WILDs - Fall Asleep - Stay Conscious To keep yourself conscious you need to use specific amount of mental power with specific task. Some people might just be able to WILD by visualizing (or Daydreaming), some might just count half-assed way and others might need to count and yet put specific amount of focus on it to stay conscious (Example: One guy would need to put his whole focus on counting). Yet you shouldn't use too much mental power. Using too much of it might result in falling asleep longer or in worst case cause you to not get sleep at al And aswell it shouldn't be too little because it might make you will end up unconscious. And about paralysis, tingling, images and other sensations You shouldn't focus too much on them, They are just noise that happens when we fall asleep It might happen and it might not. For me they are more troublesome than actualy userful. I myself barely have during WILDs any sensations I'm just keeping my consciousness up till i appear in dream. I suggest you reading up Mzzkc's WILD Guide It's Awesome guide that explains probably most of stuff I'il give you a hint aswell: - Experiment A WILDs are quite personal techniques which might need different stuff for each person So if something does not works experiment a little If counting keeps you awake cut numbers down eg: from 500 to 30. If counting makes you fall asleep, maybe it's time to add mantra to it. Like: 1. i'm dreaming... And now Goodluck Once again, great advice from MisakaMikoto. I second the advice not to look for sleep paralysis. It happens to some people, but very rarely for most. I have some tell-tale signs, but WILDs also tend to be their own isolated circumstances. So I have had some with HI, one with an OBE, and others without any of these signs at all. Just keep practicing.

[RandomHaxor]

I'll give you a hint as well: - Experiment A WILDs are quite personal techniques which might need different stuff for each person So if something does not works experiment a little Everyone on this forum needs to see this. This is possibly the best piece of advice I have seen on DreamViews regarding WILD. This was definitely true for me.

[spellbee2]

As both MisakaMikoto and ThreeCat explained, sleep paralysis is not the goal for a WILD attempt. It may happen, but it is not necessary. Due to misinformation from other lucid dreaming sources (*cough*Lucidology*cough*), many people seem to think sleep paralysis is vital to successfully WILDing. To counteract this, some of the higher-ups here at DV made an entire thread debunking some myths of sleep paralysis in general. You can read up on it here.

[Sherleon]

Thanks for the advice. I had no idea about the misunderstanding with sleep paralysis. I will definitely experiment more.