Quote Originally Posted by oolally View Post
When you do SSILDs, would you practice MILD before that, i.e mantras + visualisations for a bit and then switch to SSILD? Or do you mix mantras with your SSILD somehow?

I think I am reluctant sometimes to do SSILD on a WBTB as it doesn't feel like it's addressing my intention to LD and I don't want to waste the opportunity.
I'm still working all this out but my SSILDs work best when I do not mix in other techniques. If I decide to use SSILD I just go through the cycles and then try to go back to sleep as quickly as possible

I always go through a mantra when I first go to bed, even though I know I won't be getting lucid right away. That's when I fix my intention, though. I wake up naturally every night after around six hours of good sleep so I guess that's not a true WBTB because I am not interrupting the REM cycle. I get up and sit in the dark for a bit.......collect my thoughts and decide what technique will be best for how I am feeling. I have just now awakened from last night's journey. I had set a very strong LD intent but when I got up I could feel that it was not going to happen. I did my SSILD cycles anyway and then just let myself drift into a nice hypnagogic state until it was time to get up.

One thing I have learned is that you just can't push this river.