can't seem to achieve hypnogogia

**freedomdreamer** · 06-01-2016 11:48 AM

It's been about 2 weeks since I've been trying to achieve lucidity, and have begun my attempts with the FILD technique, which I've had no results with. Since two days ago, I've tried WILD, but I can't seem to reach sleep hypnogogia. I usually try WILD at night when going to bed, as opposed to waking up in the early morning. FYI, I live in a place where I can hear traffic all the time. Please provide some input, advice or opinions. Thanks in advance

**oneian** · 06-02-2016 02:52 PM

I would suggest getting earbuds to drown the traffic noise.
Also deep breathing and relaxation is a must. Are you relaxing your facial and body muscles ?
Is your mind clear? Or full of thoughts?
You must be fully relaxed and peaceful mind state when attempting a WILD.
Hold on to that thread of consciousness ...it's an art. Takes practise.

**Sageous** · 06-02-2016 06:21 PM

First, Freedomdreamer, there is no need to achieve hypnagogia. The thing you are trying to achieve in WILD is sleep and the dream, and not the stuff that may or may not occur along the way. Experiencing hypnagogic imagery (HI) is not necessary for successful WILDing.

Next, WILDs are best attempted after several hours' sleep, and not at bedtime. Though they can be done at bedtime, they are very difficult to complete because you must navigate a long period of NREM sleep before you can get to the first REM period, and your dream. So, though I do recommend eventually trying to WILD at bedtime after you've gained some LD'ing skills because it can be an amazing experience, I suggest that you do not learn to LD that way. Instead, attempt your WILD's after 5 or more hour's sleep, when your REM periods are very close together and hard to miss.

All that said, I also suggest that you do a bit more research, and consider starting your lucid journey with attempting DILD's using the MILD technique. DILD's are a bit easier to achieve in the beginning, and by learning MILD you will acquire many of the important tools you will need for both DILD and WILD transitions. If you haven't already, you might find a copy of LaBerge's Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming, which is sort of a LD'ing bible, and that you take some time to read through the tutorials here at DV for both DILD and WILD. I also humbly suggest that you look at my DVA WILD class, which goes into all of this in a bit more detail.

[As an aside: WILD and DILD are not techniques, but descriptions of the two types of transitions to lucidity, with WILD being a transition from wake to sleep to dream without losing waking-life self-awareness, and DILD being a transition to lucidity during the dream. Also FILD is a technique for inducing WILD's]