A problem going from SP to a LD

Okay, so I've been trying to WILD for a while now, and getting into SP is pretty easy now. But I have a problem, I just can't seem to slip into a lucid dream. Lemme elaborate. Last night (technically this morning), I get into SP and everything is going good. I stay calm and don't let my mind wander off nor do I think too hard. I guess you could say I could stay in SP as long as I want. So there were two points where I thought I was in a dream (well I guess one and a half). the first time I remember hearing a metal gate opening over and over, so I kinda freaked and thought I had to open my dream body's eyes to fight someone, but I just didn't know if it was a dream or if it was just SP noises (although it was probably was SP). Anyways, I couldn't open them so I concluded it was SP. Now before I go into my second time, I just wanna say that whenever I'm falling asleep, I'll get random thoughts in my head (like a toy train, etc), and I'll see it, but not much more than I'd "see" any other thought in waking life, so I guess it counts as HI? Continuing, I was laying there in SP when outta nowhere, I got the image (though like I said, it was so very faint), of me making out with some chick. I think it could've been the beginning of a dream, because it was pleasurable, but still it was very faint so it could've been a random thought as well. But anyways, I just seem to have a problem where I can't slip into an LD. It feels like I'm in SP fooooreeever, because I'm just waiting for a dream to come to me. So after a long time, I just give up because nothing happens. So is there anything I could be doing wrong? Will I always feel myself slip into a dream? How long do I usually have to wait before a LD hits me? Any techniques I can do while I'm in SP to say, induce a dream?
Ha, thanks for taking the time to read all of this.

The noises and imagery you heard seems to just be part of hypnagogia, which means that you were getting very close to a dream.

There are a few techniques that could help you get to the dream state if you're already in full SP. Firstly, you can just try to see through your eyelids, rather than opening them. You could also attempt to roll out of your bed onto the floor, which seems to be very effective. Visualizing dream scenes can help as well.

If that doesn't work, try doing a reality check. You may already be dreaming!

Rolling onto the floor huh? what if i actually roll onto the floor and like break my hip or somethin? (lol no carpet in my room). and wheneer i do my reality check, what if im not dreaming, won't i have to start over becus I moved? Anyways. thanks. I'm still gonna have to try these!

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Originally Posted by BadZephyr

Rolling onto the floor huh? what if i actually roll onto the floor and like break my hip or somethin? (lol no carpet in my room). and wheneer i do my reality check, what if im not dreaming, won't i have to start over becus I moved? Anyways. thanks. I'm still gonna have to try these!

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Well, if you're in SP your real body won't be able to move, so there's really no chance of actually rolling out of the bed. :P

As for RCing, there are ways to do it without moving. For example, you can close off the muscle in the back of your throat (called your epiglottis) and try to breathe.

ah clever! thanks again! oh but i guess i have 2 last questions. 1) if i just wait there long enuf, will a LD eventually hit me? and 2) how long does it usually take before i enter an LD?

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Originally Posted by BadZephyr

ah clever! thanks again! oh but i guess i have 2 last questions. 1) if i just wait there long enuf, will a LD eventually hit me? and 2) how long does it usually take before i enter an LD?

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1) Most likely, but there are a lot of factors (outside noises, etc.) that could prevent you from reaching the dream state. What time do you usually try to WILD?

2) This can vary. Some nights you may enter a lucid dream within a few seconds, while other nights you may be lying in SP for nearly half an hour. I'm not really sure which factors affect how long it takes, but I have found that it's best to be pretty sleepy still for it to progress more quickly.

i have the same problem as BadZephyr. Its easy to get into sp but once i get there a lucid dream never forms.

i use it with WBTB. i get up at around 5:50, take the dogs out, take a leak, and go back to bed

Do you think that it wakes you up too much? It can be difficult to enter the dream state if your mind is too active.

if u are to awake i wud try staying up for about 15 minutes before trying, but keeping the lights off.