WILDING: post SP

[psychology student]

I am trying to learn to WILD. I have had little success. However, I am consistently able to achieve sleep paralysis. This is what usually happens in chronological order: -I start with a WBTB (five hours or so) -I try to WILD -I reach SP -Sometimes I feel this spinning sensation -But I never get any further than this.............. Could anyone give me some insight as to how to proceed and successfully WILD.

[Budster]

I wish I could help, but I'm about at the same place. (Without WBTB, so I suppose I could try and add that...)

[Dizko]

Are you sure its SP? SP shouldent normally last very long. Infact, almost as soon as it starts i try to stand up. If im unable to, then im still paralysed, if however i do stand up, im dreaming =]

[psychology student]

^ Well, small vibrations are consistently happening for say 30 seconds resulting in paralysis. I think its SP. Budster, you should try it with WBTB

[Robot_Butler]

I often get the same problem you're describing. I feel intense vibrations, do not fully fall asleep, and can't progress. I'm still working on figuring this out, because a lot of people have this problem. When I use a body focused WILD mediation, (such as counting breaths, imagininig light at certain body parts, 61 point meditation ect) I seem to feel vibrations, paralysis, and sometimes get stuck. When I use a more VILD based technique, or a dream reentry technique, I do not feel any of this 'WILD ride' at all. I just pop into a dream. The problem is, I have a lot more success with body focused meditations. So I've tried to combine the best of both worlds. What has worked for me, is trying to get my consciousness directed away from my real body in bed at the last minute. I try to induce tactile hallucinations to get my attention away from my body, and into a dream. I do everything normally until I get to the point where I feel the paralysis. Then, I start to imagine something easy and familiar that has lots of tactile sensations or movement through space involved. Like walking around my house opening doors, or doing a familiar activity with my hands. I'm still trying to figure out if this is true for most people, or just something I made up.

[psychology student]

So Vild is the way to go, at this point? What are tactile sensations?

[Robot_Butler]

Tactile sensations are physical feelings. Like you imagine the feeling of movement. Or the feeling of a cold metal dorrknob in your hand. You want to really imagine the physical feeling of it and how it makes your imaginary body feel. I think you can still do what seems to be working for you. When you reach SP, you are 99% there. Don't start a new technique if you have one that works so well. When you find yourself stuck try to do the tactile thing. This is what people mean when they talk about separating from their body. You've got to get your consciousness out of your body.

[psychology student]

I will try this tonight, tactile sensations, thanks.

[Robot_Butler]

Just focus on one for tonight. Something you can imagine easily. Running down a familiar street, or rolling side to side on your bed, or bouncing on your mattress. Anything you come up with thats easy for you to really get into. Do it over and over until it becomes real (well, as real as a dream can be).

[psychology student]

Will do. Keep it simple.

[i make it rain]

ya i would guess that your mind is too conscious or aware. what i mean by that is you are probably focusing too much on the feeling of SP, instead you should focus on something else through visualization. counting can work also but for some it is too simple a task to totally occupy their mind.

[Dizko]

Oh just a side note. Im yet to WILD after waking up during the night. It only seems to work for me after about 9 hours of sleep, like during a lie in on a saturday morning. I used to be afraid to lie in cause i would always get SP and didnt know what it was.

[Robot_Butler]

ya i would guess that your mind is too conscious or aware. what i mean by that is you are probably focusing too much on the feeling of SP, instead you should focus on something else through visualization. counting can work also but for some it is too simple a task to totally occupy their mind. When I use counting, I try to see each number turning into the next. Like an old car odometer where the drum rolls the numbers by in sequence. Again, helps me stay less focused on my body.

[psychology student]

I tried it but didn't succeed. I will try again.

[Robot_Butler]

Another classic visual one is to use a chalkboard and write each number, then erase it and write the next in the sequence. I think Clairity describes it in her WILD tutorial http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=40684

[psychology student]

Have you tried this yourself? Normally, how long does it take you to WILD?

[Robot_Butler]

I don't do the chalkboard, but I know lots of people do. Honestly, most of my WILDs just turn into MILDs. That is, they fail, but then I end up recognizing the dream anyways as soon as I enter it. Just thinking about it so much while falling asleep triggers a DILD. Not very helpful, but my successful WILDs take anywhere from 5-60 minutes. Most only take 5-15 minutes. Either I've timed my Wake Back to Bed right, or not. The 60 minute ones are rare, but pretty frustrating. Normallly I can't keep my resolve past 45 minutes. But normally time does not feel constant. When you get into that trance state, time seems to get all messed up.

[psychology student]

I normally lie there for 50 minutes with no success?

[Firewalker]

I wouldn't worry or concentrate on sleep paralysis. I suppose I have been in it but I don't really know it. I just try to relax my body, contracting then relaxing each muscle group, one at a time beginning with your toes and going all the way to your head helps. Then try to quite your mind while remaining aware. I find doing the MILD method statements, after waking from 4 or 5 hours sleep, but trying not fall asleep works well, if all goes well you will have a WILD, and if you fall asleep you may have a MILD. It has worked for me though. Also if you experience sounds, I've heard voices, pots banging sounds etc. or feel yourself floating out of your body, you have likely WILDed. I usually will myself to float towards the ceiling, and if I time it right, and don't get excited I will do so. Not getting excited or scarred is the key here. I believe some people have already WILDed, but they don't realize it. No dream scene has yet materialized for me, I am awake but with closed eyes, I float out of my body, and have to open astral eyes to see, then I can fly or walk around inside my house, this is getting frustrating for me, I want to do more than walk around a dark house at 4 or 5:00 in the morning, but I usually wake up before I can do something else.

[Robot_Butler]

If you're just lying there awake for 50 minutes, you probably need to try to let your mind wander a bit. Remember you do actually need to fall asleep. You just need to keep a small part of your consciousness aware while you do it. You're not trying to keep yourself awake, you're trying to just pay attention while you fall asleep. Given the two options of lying in bed unable to sleep, or falling asleep during your WILD, I would choose the sleep any day. It is less frustrating, more restful, and gives your WILD a chance to become a DILD. Think of the counting (or whatever focus meditation you are doing) as a way to give your mind something to focus on while you let yourself fall asleep.

[psychology student]

Thanks guys, I try again tonight.

[Dizko]

How awake do you make yourself after thw wbtb? My advice is to try and wild after 7-9 hours of sleep. The longer the better. Then when you wake up to turn off your alarm, stay in that groggy, sleepy state and lie down and go to sleep straight away. To quote from another DV member, the aim of a WILD is not to stay awake, but to fall asleep. The only difference is that you stay half-concious during it. Very weird concept to get your head around...even thinking about it now is giving me a sore head.

[Shady]

I have similar problems on most nights, I can personally hit SP in about 5 minutes without trying, but I rarely make it to the dream. I have a feeling that its just because im not.. "deep" enough in SP. My fingers/hands/arms get tingly and go numb after no more then a few minutes, but I always seem to be very aware of my chest and legs/feet.. They just don't seem to give out. I really cant explain why some nights it works and it doesn't, all about finding that tipping point i guess.. Just barely conscious enough to fall asleep, but remain aware.