First WILD = epic failure

[agent509]

so I decided to try a WILD last night, and it didn't work... at all. First I decided just to try for a little bit of practice. I tried for about 20 minutes, then gave up. I set my alarm for 4 hours later, and went to sleep. I had a couple of short lucid DILDs that only lasted a few seconds because I realized I was dreaming, and woke up (although I'm not sure if the dreams were REM sleep because they weren't very clear, and they were both within the first hour of me going to sleep) Anyways, I actually woke up 40 minutes before my alarm, so I turned it off, stretched a little, found a comfortable position and started relaxing. I first tried rolling my eyes back (although I just found this uncomfortable, so I gave up on it) I concentrated on my breathing, and after 5 minutes, no signs of sleep paralysis, or hallucinations. I kept trying for 20 minutes, with similar results. I then woke up a few minutes ago, and tried again, with the same results, I'm really not sure what I'm doing wrong.

[Rathez]

You're trying to look for sleep paralysis. This conscious effort is enough to make it not come. You have to try to fall asleep to trick your body to induce SP, but have to stop yourself from going over the edge and losing consciousness. This will take a lot of practice; it isn't easy.

[agent509]

okay, ugggh, if only there could be an easy, foolproof way to get lucid. DILDS are easy, but random. WILDS take a lot of practice!

[Indeed]

There is no such thing as a foolproof method, but one of my favorites is CDFILD.

[agent509]

There is no such thing as a foolproof method, but one of my favorites is CDFILD. I'll have to try that one tonight.

[Rathez]

okay, ugggh, if only there could be an easy, foolproof way to get lucid. DILDS are easy, but random. WILDS take a lot of practice! Actually, there is. Full nights sleep, WBTB, dream journal, and constant awareness practice will make you lucid dream almost every night without trying.

[agent509]

Actually, there is. Full nights sleep, WBTB, dream journal, and constant awareness practice will make you lucid dream almost every night without trying. on the subject of WBTB, how long should I stay up before going back to bed? and what should I do while up?

[Rathez]

on the subject of WBTB, how long should I stay up before going back to bed? and what should I do while up? How long you need to sleep for WBTB is different for everyone. A good place to start is to set your alarm for 5 and 1/2 hours from when you go to bed (the 30 minutes is included as the time to fall asleep). However, the trick is to wake up just before an REM cycle, or in an REM cycle. You'll need to experiment to see whats a good time for you! If you wake up out of a dream, you were in an REM cycle. There is information on the internet about average cycle times for different ages, you could also look at that too. While awake, you want to get your critical faculty working. I personally play sudoku on my ipod touch (btw its a million times harder this tired haha) because I find it really makes me analyze and think. One time I got up and studied statistics for an hour before going back to sleep lol! Just don't do any 'mind melting' activities, like watching tv. You want to be thinking and using your brain! It has been said that staying awake for an hour is optimal for lucid dreaming, but it varies person to person. Personally, thats too long for me as I already have trouble falling back to sleep. I usually stay awake until the groggy mind feel leaves, but my body still feels like a drag. Hope this helps!

[agent509]

How long you need to sleep for WBTB is different for everyone. A good place to start is to set your alarm for 5 and 1/2 hours from when you go to bed (the 30 minutes is included as the time to fall asleep). However, the trick is to wake up just before an REM cycle, or in an REM cycle. You'll need to experiment to see whats a good time for you! If you wake up out of a dream, you were in an REM cycle. There is information on the internet about average cycle times for different ages, you could also look at that too. While awake, you want to get your critical faculty working. I personally play sudoku on my ipod touch (btw its a million times harder this tired haha) because I find it really makes me analyze and think. One time I got up and studied statistics for an hour before going back to sleep lol! Just don't do any 'mind melting' activities, like watching tv. You want to be thinking and using your brain! It has been said that staying awake for an hour is optimal for lucid dreaming, but it varies person to person. Personally, thats too long for me as I already have trouble falling back to sleep. I usually stay awake until the groggy mind feel leaves, but my body still feels like a drag. Hope this helps! okay, thanks. I'll start with 30 minutes, and study some calc. while I'm up.