Specific Question about MILD

I have determined that the MILD technique is the best place for me start, but I had a question or two regarding its execution.

I have tried doing it on my own, but I find that, even if I meditate, my mind gets bored and starts thinking about other things. However, I got the idea that I could write out a rough script for my wife to read to me as I am going to bed. This would include a relaxation exercise, going back into a dream, and then the suggestion mantras.

Has anyone tried this, or does anyone have an opinion on the validity of this? My thought was the this: #1. I don't seem to have the focus to keep my mind on one thing purely with my own will (I've always been this way. My mind races throughout most of the day.). #2. I believe that I probably trust her more than I trust myself, so I figured the suggestion may actually work better if she was doing the talking, plus it would give me something to focus on rather than just my own thoughts.

One other question: Is it best to stick with one sentence for the suggestions, or is it okay to say one several times and then switch to another?

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Take care.

I'd stick to a couple of mantras would be best. Do keep them short though.

I prefer the WBTB - WILD technique since it 'guarantees' a result.

Okay, thanks. So how short are we talking? As in - You will have many lucid dreams tonight? or something even shorter than that?

Short and sweet is always nice. And it's good to just have one or two that you focus on if you're just starting out. But you can always make more if you find yourself getting bored of the current one or want to focus on a different aspect of lucid dreaming.

Quote:

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You will have many lucid dreams tonight

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Now there is a lot of debate on using the word 'will' or making a mantra certain. Some argue that is better remember the suggestion part of autosuggestion. Instead of saying 'I will have many lucid dreams', trying something like 'I can have many lucid dreams'. This is because if you fail, then you undermine the meaning of the mantra, and you will become frustrated with yourself. If you say that you will have lucid dreams, then don't. Then you get into a rut, because no matter how much you say you will lucid dream, you know that it failed you before.

I prefer suggesting that I will lucid to stating it. My favorite mantras are 'Lucid dreaming is easy.' and 'I am a good lucid dreamer.'.

You can form your own opinion on what works better. Just a suggestion.

I think that mantras are useless. It works only on suggestible people. What is crucial in mild is visualization. Your idea with script is great, focus on guided imagery by your wife and after some time when the imagery is more vivid, include some dreamsigns. I experimented with guided imagery this week and went from ~1 recalled dream to long 7 dream, just after one guided imagery.

Wow, I never would have guessed that the word 'will' would have negative effects, but that does make sense. I am living proof that it is easy to get frustrated with this kind of thing. It is extra frustrating because I know that I have gone to sleep with a solid intent, believing to the fullest of my abilities that I will have a lucid dream...then nothing. I've gotten to the point where I've even doubted whether or not is was even possible. Thank you for the suggestion, I definitely give it a try. ;)

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Originally Posted by Nfri

I think that mantras are useless. It works only on suggestible people. What is crucial in mild is visualization. Your idea with script is great, focus on guided imagery by your wife and after some time when the imagery is more vivid, include some dreamsigns. I experimented with guided imagery this week and went from ~1 recalled dream to long 7 dream, just after one guided imagery.

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I have felt the same to some degree. I've tried doing mantras, but I have found that they can help with my mood. I'm generally a very moody person, and sometimes it helps to repeat to myself that I have the ability to control my emotions. However, I happen to agree about the visualizations. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at this on my own. I can easily follow along with others, but I'm not really that open to suggestion. Ie, I don't think I could be hypnotized. I am going to write out a script and give it a try. Thanks for the feedback.

Oh one more tip, if you are going to be using a technique and it doesnt work after 2 weeks, dont give up. Give it a few months so you can fully get used to it. This counts for all techniques (especially for WBTB since WBTB is just waking up earlier than normal you will get used to it if you do it everyday. 1-2 times a week would be fine though.)

I have never had a very controlling lucid dream, though using WBTB and WILD gets me just seconds away from entering the dream I could feel how vivid it was. So I recommend using WBTB WILD once in a while.

From what I've read, you can use the MILD technique and the WBTB sort of side by side. Is that correct?

Yes, though do not make it a habbit. If youre doing wbtb you ideally want to wake up in a rem cycle and stay awake for about an hour and then be tired enough go back to sleep directly into REM.

If you find wbtb + wild to disturbing or ineffective it is also quite common to do wbtb + mild.

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Originally Posted by ToukieToucan

Yes, though do not make it a habbit. If youre doing wbtb you ideally want to wake up in a rem cycle and stay awake for about an hour and then be tired enough go back to sleep directly into REM.

If you find wbtb + wild to disturbing or ineffective it is also quite common to do wbtb + mild.

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Thanks for the tips. I've read a bunch of different things with the WBTB with regards to how long you should stay up. I've seen some things that say you should only stay up long enough to go to the bathroom or something. I guess it's just that everyone is different...?

It really depens on how fast you come out of the "grumpy" stage.

For wbtb you want to be fully concious so get up, go to the toilet, walk a bit, read or watch things about lucid dreaming. But you do want to be able to go back to sleep so dont drink coffee or take a cold shower. It is a balance, although staying up for 5 minutes more than planned shouldnt be a big deal. Also keep in mind that youll be asleep for a few hours. So do plan carefully and take the "becoming" concious time into account.

Not many people become fully concious after 1 minute so I really do recommend getting out of bed preventing snoozing and going back to sleep. But if you can become concious after just going to the toilet then that'd be enough, though I do like to read about lucid dreaming if even you are fully concious so you get more interested. I also recommend setting multiple alarms a few minutes apart. I did this a few days ago and got awoken by the first alarm and couldnt remember why I set it so I nearly went back to sleep.

Okay, that makes sense. I haven't put a lot of effort into this technique, though I've tried it before. I don't understand how it's possible to stay conscious while your body goes to sleep. Plus, I have to admit that I'm a little anxious about the hallucinations. I don't have a lot of nightmares though, so maybe they wouldn't be that bad?

it might seem weird but I'll just write down what I did a few days ago:

I put the soundtrack of "In the shadow of the moon" on (great documentary about the apollo missions with astronauts like Buzz Aldrin narating it and telling their own story) and I just listened to the music and when I felt like I was drifting to sleep I shifted my attention on my closed eyelids and the floating blobs of colors (sometimes you can feel like youre going into a deeper state of consciousness) and focused on the music again. I heard some very soft noises and almost wanted to open my eyes (this was probably an auditory hallucination) but I kept them close and listened to the music. After what feels like 30 seconds I shifted my focus to my closed eyes again and then... I was emerged into a dream state and seconds after I felt my body paralyzing (which is an awesome feeling. It's nothing more than a few tingles but man it means you're close to lucid dreaming.) I dont know if youve ever seen star trek but its like the moment when you go as fast as light: as if an explosion of color occurred. The colors came closer and closer but I just didnt become one with the dream.

You might think that this was a failure, but this was more than a success. This was proof that if I practice more on dream control I could have an awesome lucid dream.


Dont worry about hallucinations, I never had intense ones (nor do I have nightmares). Stay relaxed and calm trough the hallucinations since the dreamscape is waiting for you.


Also note that I said "feels like 30 seconds" i don't recommend counting in your head since it makes you less relaxed and less focused on music/sight. Just shift focus when it feels right. If you think about anything during focusing on music or sight just let it slip by. Dont ignore it but just 'know' you thought of the thoughts and acknowledged it was there, dont think about even more either.

That sounds really cool. I wouldn't count it as a failure. At this point, it's been a while since I've a had one of those weird experiences, so anything would be welcome encouragement. I've read about people having the blobs of color and stuff when they are meditating and doing what you described. However, for me it can be very distracting, because most of the time when I have been meditating or practicing one of these kinds of techniques, or sometimes even just falling asleep, I hear various voices calling my name. The first few times it was scary, then strange, then distracting. I don't know why this happens. Sometimes the voices sound like they are just simply saying my name, but sometimes it's as if they are needing me for something. They have a tone that says, "please answer me" that kind of thing. Thing is, I don't know who or what they are, and I wouldn't know how to answer them even if I could. Or it may just be all in my head. I don't know. Another thing I've experienced is a number of tiny specs of light that vibrate in my vision kind of like coke fizz or something. Anyway, thanks for sharing. I'd love to hear about the lucid dreams you have had, and good luck getting some more!

What you experienced was a auditory hallucination. It's all in your head and if you try to just let it be you'll go into sleep paralysis pretty soon. Just as in my story I was distracted by the hallucinations but did come pretty far.