I'm having a little trouble.

I'm having trouble with Lucid Dreaming, last night I was very close because I started to see Hypnotic imagery like in the WILD technique. I couldn't hear anything in the outside world. Then right when I started to " Noitce " it, it completely vanished and my hearing returned. This is my question, is there a more effective way of Lucid dreaming, I tried a few techniques like the FILD. The only side effect it caused me too have was a short dream that I thought about for a while. I am getting very frustarted. And the only thing I can think about during the day and looking up is Lucid dreaming. Thanks, and I hope this is in the right place.

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Originally posted by Chaos Theory
And the only thing I can think about during the day and looking up is Lucid dreaming. Thanks, and I hope this is in the right place.

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Reading about it before bed would be a good idea too, if you aren't doing it already. Also, you should check out Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LaBerge.

Don't get frustrated, as it can be counterproductive. Just try different techniques, and practice. And make sure you're journaling your results in your DJ.

Seeing hypnogogic imagery is a sign that you are on the right track.

If you want to "speed up" your lucid dreaming progress pick one night and carry out the following experiment: pick one night and sleep for about 8 hours or so. Your body must be pretty rested, but you should still be quite lazy and sleepy. Use an alarm clock to wake you up after this certain amount of time (about 8 hours). As soon as you wake up, use the "snooze" or "nap" function. This will give you 10-20 more minutes of sleep. There's a great chance that you will fall asleep again. After the alarm clock wakes you up again check if you were dreaming and press the snooze button again. What you will get is a bunch of rather short and light dreams, but you will be very aware of the fact that you are dreaming.
If you will ever find yourself "on the surface" of the dream - that is passively observing the dream from your bed, you may "dive" into the dream by releasing your awareness of the real life while focusing on your hands or some other detail in a dream.

If you ever try to do this thing I just told you about, take some time to familiarize yourself with the way your body behaves during these short dreams - you may be slowly fading in a dream or experiencing a WILD, or feeling something else...

One should consider that one has options.

When you are awake and are about to lay down, then the most expeditious option is to go for Astral Projection or Out of Body Experience. One lifts out of the body that has become relaxed. This is NOT the right time for Lucid Dreaming. You see, Lucid Dreaming is still Dreaming, and Dreaming is connected to the REM Cycles. Early in the night REM cycles occur every 90 minutes. That is a long time to lay there. Yes, as the night progresses the REM cycles shorten up. But even then, the choice one should make when laying down to relax is to Astrally Project.

What about Lucid Dreaming? Well, that can wait for when one is Dreaming. When you are in a Dream, just realize it -- "Oh, this is a Dream." And then recall one's pre-programmed Lucid Dream Checklist. Nothing is worse then going Lucid in a Dream, where one only has a minute or two before the Dream is over, and have absolutely no plans as to what one wants to do. You finally have a Lucid Dream and you use it to stick your thumb up your ass.

What about Astral Projection? Well, yes, it can be deadly dull if one only uses it to flit about the house and garden. The Key word in Astral Projection, then, should be "astral". First, one should put some distance between one's self and the 'body', so you do not get sucked back in. The body is like a magnet to the spirit, and so you need to get away from it so that the attraction is diminished. But after that, don't waste the opportunity by poking around the kitchen or the yard. Will yourself to a Higher Astral Level. Do a Mantra. Think of a particular Spiritual Archetype. If successful, then you will arrive to a place that seems almost exactly like a Lucid Dream Scene.

You see, in this regards Astral Projection and Lucid Dreaming are indistinguishable. However, where the distinctions are important between Astral Projection and Lucid Dreaming are in the induction phases. It is conceptually so much easier to Astrally Project when first laying down. One simply lifts up from the body. But to Lucid Dream when one is still awake -- it fights against simple intuition. Astral Project from Waking and Lucid Dream from Dreaming. it is just easier that way.