Experiences during SP

Up until last night I had always assumed I had achieved sleep paralysis before, but couldn't yet reach a full lucid dream. Usually I just start to feel numb all over and feel as if a force is pulling me upwards through my head. Last night, however, I think I really experienced the hypnogogic state for the first time. I felt numb like ussual, but the numbness was more...complete. Aside from my breathing, I could hardly sense my body. I also saw one, very bright flash of light that I almost mistook for lightning. It really made me jump (you know, as much as you can while paralyzed). Finally, I felt a great pressure bear down around a single point on my shoulder, as if someone was pressing on it as hard as they could. It was a thrilling experience; I think I'm on the verge of breaking into a full lucid dream! :D

Was it like this for anyone else before their first lucid?

^ _ ^ I called some things SP too before I really experienced it. Fascinating experience right?

Usually for me I never get flashes of light or other visual hallucinations, but I (nearly always) get disturbingly intense vibrations in waves, high or low pitch electrical buzzing sounds, a very fast heartbeat and shallow constrained breathing, and finally, I usually get a feeling of doom and terror (I don't ever let this bother me though, because I know it's not my real feelings). Once I heard beautiful singing, once I got an intense flush of heat, once felt like my body completely disappeared.

And only once I experienced The Hag, which, besides a few nightmares, was the scariest experience of my life. If you don't know about The Hag, you should ask, so you know what is going on if you ever meet it.

Anyways, your are very very close to actually achieving a WILD, congratulations :D

Next time you are in the throes of SP, try and see with your inner eye. You might see strange patters of light, or funny tunnels in void space, or cartoon animals, or full blown dream scenes. Watch these, whatever they may be, and then try to move into them, or within them, with your dream body. This can be tricky to get the timing right and the images may suddenly fade away, but don't worry if they do, just hold still again and they will come back and you can try again.

If this all fails and you suddenly find yourself laying in bed feeling normal (and disappointed that you failed) DON'T FORGET TO RC! You may actually be dreaming.

(keep in mind there are dozens of methods and hundreds of tips and thousands of WILDers and you will hear many different things, and I am by no means the expert on everything)

Thanks! I plan to keep practicing every night. After all, if you aren't dreaming it's just wasted time, right? Hopefully I'll break through SP into an actual LD soon, but either way, I'm still fascinated by all of the hypnogogia.