First attempt at WILD

As I had my first DILD two days ago, I have been studying lucid dreams diligently. I learned what a WILD was, and I desired to experience one. About an hour ago, I layed down in my bed, became comfortable in a position (flat on my back, hands palm down against the bed at my side, head slightly tilted back) and made my attempt at a WILD. After struggling not to swallow my built up saliva, giving in once or twice, I began to feel numb and began to feel distracted. I was counting my breaths slowly in my head, starting from one if I lost count. At some points, I wanted to perform a reality check because I could have sworn my bed was being swayed by the wind I could hear blowing outside. I resisted this urge and layed motionless. I then felt like my feeling of existence was entirely gone I eventually saw a bright, yellowish-white aura take over my entire line of vision. After this, I felt a strong, solid vibration and it felt like I fell hard onto my back. Once I felt this, my eyes opened widely and my body shivered hard, breaking my trance. Did I do anything correctly/wrong? Was my experience unique? What could I have done to get past the white aura and why exactly did I crash out of this trance?

I don't have much experience with WILDing, but during the one I did have, I felt vibrations and then went right into the dream. I think you were very close to entering the dream. You just needed to stay still and keep your eyes closed.

I attempted for the second time to have a WILD last night. After counting my breaths to about 200, I began to have audio/visual hallucinations. I saw many colors, saw myself in a car going around a sharp turn with a car coming head-on towards me with realistic headlights, and saw many colorful lights. I then began to hear a drum beat and a thumping bassline, as if I were at a concert. My body was entirely numb, more so than my last attempt. I attempted to make images out of my hallucinations of lights. Then, I saw a face with shining, bright eyes, the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. I then saw a hooded face with long, flowing robes riding a horse. I could not tell if I was having a hallucination or if I had begun to enter the dream. I gave up, because I did not attempt the WILD after awakening before my next REM cycle. I attempted this at 10:00 before I was trying to go to bed. I rolled over to get true sleep. I experienced a very INTENSE vibration that felt like I was a blanket being shaken out of wrinkles. Is it possible to have a WILD without even being on your REM period? Both times I've tried a WILD, they've just been spontaneous at random times (5:00 PM and 10:30 PM).

yep it is possible to have a WILD without REM, but its very hard.

i can only WILD during REM cycle but i've been trying to do it at all times

I have tried it a few times. Once I got really close (I think), I could see imagery but soon after I got this searing pain going up my left hand thumb. It was so bad I had to stop and go to the bathroom because it felt like it was burning.

Dammit, anyway I'm going to try again and hopefully something stupid won't stop me. :?