One that i remember reasonably clearly was published as an Astral Travel technique, in an early 1960s publication. The principle was to visualise a rope above your bed,when the rope visualisation because vivid, you would attempt to pull yourself up by it. Not identical, but close enough to prove that the basic idea has been around a long time. The rope technique by the way is quite effective. The author suggest actualy hanging a ropefrom the ceiling and getting used to the feel of it in real life, so that when in right state of mind to perform a WILD, the physical feeling is easier for you to recall (and for your brain to recreate.)
As a good deal of early lucid dreaming literature borrowed heavily from Astral Travel techniques (as its basically the same thing interpreted differently) it's no suprise that this principle has been around along time.



Actually I read that from "Out Of Body Experiences". How to have them and what to expect by Robert Peterson.