Thread: Hacktrix's MILD-1 Workbook

Ok, so it's half past 10 now. At 7:30 I started reading the chat log of the first talk that I missed - apart from a short break at 9pm I've been completely filling my head with anything lucid dream related.

I've typed up my entries for last night's dreams - I can't post working links yet because I'm a new member but you can find them here: dreamviews.com/blogs/hacktrix

I can't remember anything I was thinking about as I drifted off to sleep last night - I didn't realise it was important then but now having read the chat log I will start to think about it. I attempted a WILD last night at 3:30am but it only resulted in a quite long Non-Lucid dream - see my journal.

I'm not gonna try a WBTB tonight as I need to catch up on sleep; being in boarding school I can't sleep in after WBTB attempts. I tried a WILD going by Jeff777's sleep paralysis technique - I know it's not the standard way but i was interested about SP so I gave it a shot around 2:40pm - it didn't really work.

Tonight I'm gonna try a technique I read on the forums today - I can't remember who wrote it but it involves setting a custom alarm an hour or so before you usually awake; the alarm turns itself off and you WILD without having moved an inch; hence skipping the entire relaxation/SP phase of the normal WILD. I'll post my results tomorrow.

I'm feeling quite tired and my eyes are slightly screen-shocked from too much browsing :p
Activites Before bed - I have been browsing this forum since 7:30pm. I had a half hour break at 9pm and now it's 10:30 - time for sleep. Good night

Morning everyone

First off, i didn't have any lucids last night. What I did have, however, is the longest and most epic non-lucid dream I've ever had in my life. I've written down brief notes in my physical dream journal and will be typing up the full story later today. One interesting point is CrazyInSane's custom alarm technique. The alarm woke me up perfectly, in the middle of my REM period as planned. I didn't move my body at all (perhaps my eyes as a reflex), but I don't think I was mentally woken enough to become fully lucid. Within a minute I was back in my dream mentioned above, I was semi-lucid for about 5 mins but soon forgot about it and dropped back into the dream completely.

Next time I try this technique I'll make sure to wake myself up mentally a little before attempting a WILD.

As to what I was thinking about last night as I dropped off - I was very tired and don't really remember much. Usually, I have have a collection of random thoughts that enter my mind, and as they swirl around and become more and more meaningless I drop off to sleep. I don't really know much about MILD but I tried to give myself some kind of autosuggestion mantra - I don't know whether or not I managed to keep it up until I fell asleep.

Just finished writing up the huge dream I had last night - I still can't post working links but anyone interested can take a look at my journal here:
dreamviews.com/blogs/hacktrix/20-1-11-huge-non-lucid-dream-12016/

I'd like to share with you all my idea for forcing reality checks. Basically, I've wanted a new wristwatch for a while, so after a little researching I bought a Vibralite 3 off ebay for £10.50. The reason for buying this model was threefold:

1. It's not the most recent Vibralite model so was not the most expensive
2. It is a digital watch and so can be used for watch reality checks

3. The most exciting feature, and the one most useful for Lucid Dreaming. The Vibralite is so named because it can either beep or vibrate for alarms. It also features an auto-reloading countdown timer. So, what I have done is to set the watch to vibrate instead of beep, and then set the timer for three minutes. Every 3 minutes when the alarm goes off, I ask myself "Am I dreaming?" and do a quick nose-pinch reality test.

This is great because it draws no attention - only I can feel the alarm, and nobody notices a quick pinch of the nose. The idea here is that after a few weeks I will be so used to doing reality checks that I naturally do them all the time, all day. Once it becomes a habit, it will happen in dreams, and voila - the kind of maximal DILD success seen here:
luciddreamingrobertwaggoner.blogspot.com/2009/03/dear-dreamers-why-do-some-dreamers.html

Please post any comments or suggestions?

Hacktrix

It's the morning of the 22nd. Here's my entry (thanks to Juven for the format )

Morning of 22nd January

Pre-Sleep:

Watched some TV on the computer but stopped over an hour before sleep. Started browsing DreamViews, and around 9:50pm came across some links to a set of videos (Link). The videos seemed to have some pretty good reviews on the thread I saw; they promised to use NLP to subtly influence your unconscious mind so you have a lucid dream. I watched the first video three times and the second video once, and then feeling pretty confident, went to bed. Before sleep, I tried to focus on the mantra "I am lucid, the world is vivid" (it's from the videos), but random thoughts came into my mind again as they usually do. I also had a song in my head by The Prodigy - it had been there all day and despite trying to replace it with the music from the videos it's most likely I went to sleep with The Prodigy playing in my head.

In-between Sleep:

I woke up at 4:35 am for a WBTB. Despite being in an REM period (or very close to one) I didn't have any recall, due to the sudden awakening and getting up to turn off the alarm. I sat down at my desk and opened up Dreamviews - I browsed around here for about half an hour, and found some interesting stuff. I found a thread on Sythix's SILD technique (Subconsciously Influenced Lucid Dream) and downloaded the programs that he reccomended. I watched them for about ten minutes, and then after watching the 2nd NLP video from above I went back to bed.

While going to sleep this time I had the mantra in my head nicely, and the video I just watch flashing in my head. I sidetracked a little thinking about what I would do in the lucid I was about to have. Unfortunately, it took me quite a long time to get to sleep after the WBTB, about 20 minutes of tossing and turning. Whether this affected my dreams or not I don't know.

Post-Sleep

I woke at 7:10am due to my alarm under my pillow. I turned it off and lay there for a while feeling very tired, but could not recall anything. I remember dreaming something as I woke up, but it had gone by the time I had turned off my alarm. I went to breakfast slightly disappointed with my lack of memory, but during breakfast fragments kept coming back to me. I don't have enough to call it a full dream, but I'll post a dream journal entry anyway.



I still don't think I'm doing WBTB or MILD quite right, so I'm looking forward to the lecture on Monday. I will try and wake up for the 3:30am start, but will not stay longer than an hour; certainly not 3 hours like the last class took.

Percy, I'm dutifully updating my workbook and my journal and I'd appreciate some feedback? Everybody else seems to have some.

Hacktrix

Alarms sometimes kill recall. They are horrible. Have you even attempted to wake yourself up after a REM?

Where is that Sythix's SILD technique?

When I gave feedback yours was still untouched, and I had no time yesterday

By the way, Monday's lecture will have a ton of information, so I am sure it will help you out a lot!

Originally Posted by Hacktrix

P.S. Links:
The NLP videos: world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/videos/lucid-dreaming-subliminal-video.html
Sythix's SILD thread: dreamviews.com/f49/sild-%2Asubliminal-technique%2A-25455

It's in the last post, in the links section
Could you use your mod powers to allow me to post real links? It would make life a lot easier.

Hacktrix

P.S What do you think of my reality test forcing idea? Would love some feedback.

You can also

I edited your thread.

Click on edit and you will see how I did it.

Originally Posted by PercyLucid

You can also

Sure, I know how to, but I've been a member for less than 7 days so the system's not allowing me.

I pushed back a little bit your registration day. I time-walked back five days on you You registered since 10 days ago It should work fine now.

Brilliant Percy, thanks

Ok, time to catch up on the last few days:

Saturday 22nd / Sunday 23rd January

Pre-Sleep:
Ok, I'll admit it; I watched an episode of Friends just before going to bed. Sorry Percy - I know it's bad but I couldn't resist doing it this time I also watched the subliminal video mentioned in the last entry just before going to sleep.

Mid-Sleep:
I naturally awoke during an REM period; I got myself up to do a WBTB and found the time was 6:45am. Having not woken up to an alarm, I had excellent recall and recalled elements of four dreams, some more substantial than others. I stayed awake for about 20-30 mins writing my journal and browsing; I watched the subliminal video again and then went back to bed.

Unfortunately, I had trouble getting back to sleep, I lay there for almost an hour in a kind of semi-sleep mode, but only really fell asleep at about what I guess to be 8 o'clock. The reason for the trouble getting back to sleep is that on weekdays I usually get up at 7:10 anyway, and that's when I went back to bed.

Post-Sleep:
I woke up to my 8:25 alarm. I was just beginning to have a dream but it dissappeared as soon as the alarm went off. Not a great WBTB.

Hacktrix
P.S My Journal Entry

Sunday 23rd / Monday 24th January

Pre-Sleep:
I stayed up pretty late on my computer, working with some pictures I took earlier on in the year. I watched the subliminal video before going to sleep - I was quite tired due to the time.

Mid-Sleep:
I didn't attempt a WBTB due to the shortened sleep I was going to get (6:30 hours) and faliure of the last two attempts over the weekend.

Post Sleep:
I awoke about 20 minutes before my alarm was due to go off, and so I spent my time lying in bed piecing back together my memories of the night's dreams. When my alarm did go off I got up and wrote them down in my diary.

Hacktrix

P.S. It looks like I won't be able to join you guys in the chat lecture tonight, not because I don't want to but because of a larger problem - my school blocks all IRC clients I have tried, both web-based and program-based. I guess filtered internet is one of the drawbacks of living at boarding school, but it's not one I can do much about. I have yet to find an unblocked web proxy that works with a client like Mibbit.

My Journal Entry for today

Monday 25th / Tuesday 26th January

Pre-Sleep:
I read the chat logs from last Monday's session over lunch, but only really had time to re-read and digest them about 5pm. I did some incubating about the concert but I had the feeling that it was too little too late. I also tried to go to sleep with thoughts of the party in my head, but I can't remember whether I succeeded or not.

Post-Sleep:
I awoke at about 6:30am from a dream which I could recall pretty vividly. I've posted it and another I remembered in my Dream Journal. I had to get up for school in around half an hour anyway, so I just went back to bed and dozed until my alarm went off.

Hacktrix

Journal Entry for today

The reason for the trouble getting back to sleep is that on weekdays I usually get up at 7:10 anyway, and that's when I went back to bed.

That can trigger a lucid dream!

It is never too late to incubate! The little you incubate and visualize will be more than nothing! Do not forget in trying to silencing the mind as well! Good job!

Wednesday 26th / Thursday 27th January

Pre-Sleep:
Ok, I tried to incubate today, but I'm sure I can do more than I did. Last year I went to a live concert, one of the most exciting experiences of my life - so I've got the setting and senses pretty much mapped out. Do I incubate the song I expect to hear or just the surroundings of the concert? I find I almost always have a song in my head when I go to sleep, so I incorporated that into my incubating last night. I was very tired and tried a little of the chest technique, but found myself wandering off after the first two bubbles. I tried to think of the concert as I dropped off; I can't remember whether I succeeded or not.

Mid-Sleep:
I awoke from a non-lucid dream. I lay there for five minutes or so recalling everything that happened, then got up to write some notes down in my dream journal. I'll post links to the DV copy later when I've typed it up. The time was 5:57am. After writing the notes I went back to bed, trying to think of the concert.

Post-Sleep:
I awoke to my alarm at 7:10 from another non-lucid dream. I lay there recalling it and then got up to write it in my journal. I'll post links later. Does anyone else get really annoyed at themselves? The successful dreamers in this forum always realise where they are, yet we have the most ridiculous dreams and just go along with it

Hacktrix

Do not incubate the song. Just the concert itself. However, if sounds works better for you, then incubate the song with the crowd on the background.

I would not advise you to get annoyed... you will piss yourself off! If you do get annoyed, say something, "I will f...ing dream it tonight, you dumb brain...you better dream the concert and turn me lucid!!!" Get in an argument with yourself but always assuring and forcing yourself to dream it. That will work.

Thanks Percy; I'm not angry with myself though, just mildly exasperated - when I'm in my dreams it's like all my memories just disappear and I just accept whatever's happening. I guess being critical of your reality is just something you learn as you go along. Anyway, here's today's entry:

Thursday 27th / Friday 28th January

Pre-Sleep:
Tried to incubate the concert more during the day, and as I fell asleep. Not much else to say, really.

Post-Sleep:
I awoke a few minutes before my alarm from an REM period. I remembered most of my dream quite vividly, but did not have the time write it down. Unfortunately it was nothing to do with a concert, but nevermind; I will post links when I've typed it up.

Hacktrix
EDIT: Link to the Dream Journal Entry

Friday 28th / Saturday 29th January

Pre-Sleep:
Well, today I went to a concert. A real concert in London in the Royal Festival Hall. As such I have now switched my incubation to this concert; I know it is a bad idea to switch but I have really clear memories of this concert in all the senses, so it will be a lot easier to incubate than an imaginary rock concert. Unfortunately as a result of this concert I got to bed very late - 1am.

Post-Sleep:
I slept solidly until 7:10 when my alarm went off. I had no recall, probably due to the short sleep I had. Not much else to post here, but I'll keep you posted during the coming days.

Hacktrix

Saturday 29th / Sunday 30th January

Pre-Sleep:
I was very tired yesterday due to the 6 hour sleep the previous night. I spent the evening watching a theatre play my sister was in, then went back to my house. I posted the last two messages just before I went to bed. I knew I should try to think about the concert, but being tired I let my attention settle on a summer camp I went on last year and a girl I met there.

Post-Sleep:
I had a MILD That's the most important news; but I'm not sure whether to count it or not. From what I understand, a successful MILD involves focusing on the dream you want to have as you go to sleep; you then have the dream and become lucid. Well I did it all perfectly, except I wasn't actually planning to MILD at all I'll post the dream below. I haven't included this in my signature yet because I didn't know if accidental MILDs count as MILD or DILD. You can decide, Percy.

Accidental MILD

Non-Dream Dream Lucid

I've been taking PercyLucid's class on MILD dreaming, and one of the points he's taught us is to focus on what we want to dream just before we go to sleep. Well, I sidetracked a little and ended up falling asleep while thinking about a music summer camp I went on last year.

I arrive at the orchestra rehearsal with my cello. I sit on the third desk back with another cellist and play some of the piece that is on the stand in front of me. On second desk is my cello teacher, and on first desk is a girl I met on the summer camp the previous year. After the piece ends I pick up my cello and move to sit next to her. She smiles at me and the conductor brings us in again for another run through the piece. Something happens though - some younger violins have arrived and take my friend's seat. I look where she was sitting and there are now three short violinists playing there. I find this a little odd as violins usually sit opposite the cellos, not with them.

I look to the left and my friend is putting her cello away; I notice that her hair is a whiter blond than I remember it from last year, and also a different style. I then remember that it's January, and wonder why we are having the summer camp now. I then remember that this summer camp and this girl are one of my dreamsigns, so I hold on to my cello with my right hand and pinch my nose with my left. I can still breathe - I become lucid. I don't feel any great rushes of emotion like I used to with my first few lucids, but nevertheless the deram begins to fade. As my vision is turning white, I realise I should rub my hands together, but I am holding my cello and don't have time to put it down. The dream fades completely and I wake up.

Hacktrix

Sunday 30th / Monday 31st January

Pre-Sleep:
Not much to report - I was doing homework for most of the day. I did watch an episode of Family Guy on my iPod shortly before falling asleep; I know it's meant to hinder chances of a lucid but it was only a 20 minute episode and I felt I deserved it.

Post-Sleep:
I woke up about 10 minutes before my alarm from an REM period. I could remember details of a very weird dream - I was lying on my bed watching a Inception on my iPod. Only it wasn't inception; it was a movie I'd never seen before, but with dreaming as a main plot feature. I was a character in the movie but viewing from the third person, from the camera. I may post it later in my journal, but the details I remember sound really weird by themselves, and only make sense if you know the entire subtext of the dream; I can only remember some of it.

Also a fragment: Earlier on this week, I set aside a bag of Butterkist Popcorn for myself as a reward for beating the Concert Challenge; I remember eating it in a dream and thinking, "damn, this was meant to be a reward for the concert dream".

So my recall was more limited than usual, possibly as a result of the TV show before bed, or maybe because of the limited sleep I had a few nights ago. I have been going to bed later than usual, I'll try and remedy that tonight.

Hacktrix

I didn't post yesterday because there was nothing much to post - due to watching TV before bed I had severely limited recall.

Tuesday 1st/ Wednesday 2nd January
Pre-Sleep:
I watched an hour long documentary on the computer around 8pm, but then stopped TV until sleep. I was working from about 9-11pm, when I went to sleep. I tried to do the mantra but I'm fairly sure I didn't do it terribly well.

Post-Sleep:
Well, my dream recall is back
Probably as a result of not watching TV directly before sleep, I had an amazingly vivid non-lucid dream; the sort where it still seems like it really happened, even after waking.

During the dream I remember having the passing thought of reality checks, but remember thinking the setting was "too real" to be a dream. Now I know to always question everything
In the last scene of the dream, I was getting quite intimate with a girl I know from waking life. This had two effects:
1. My subconcious didn't really want it to be a dream so dispelled any reality-check thoughts.
2. Upon waking, I just focused on the last scene instead of the entire dream, and so ended up with limited (but still detailed) recall.

So the somewhat limited recall was due to not really trying to remember until it was too late. I'm sure I could have remembered the rest of the dream had I tried, but I was enjoying the last scene too much

Hacktrix

Nice job on the lucids. Do not feel back of instant awakening. It is normal until your mind gets used to them.

How are your WBTB and meditations going?