Thread: Senses Initiated Lucid Dream (SSILD)

Hey I've recently started Lucid Dreaming and found that your technique works great! I've had 14 or so Lucids in a around a month. The only problem is that when i started out, i had super vivid and long lucids but recently all of mine are very blurry, and fade out in less than a minute. My dream recall seems to be suffering too. I keep a dream journal and everything and i've tried everything during the dream to try and stabilize it, like spinning, staring at my palms, crawling, telling the dream to be more clear, rubbing my palms etc. but nothing seems to be working. What do you think could be the problem? Thanks in advance!

Stevano. Your first problem is likely because of your second. When you increase recall, you increase awareness and vividness as well. With bad recall don't your dreams seem more blurry and shorter?

Of course you should stabilize as well. that can counter blurry and short.

i have the same problem with stabilization, i think it will just get better with time. after all this is a skill. if you had super vivid and long lucids i can definitely understand that you think there's some problem now. but you are doing the right techniques, ya, and it takes time to have some kind of regularity, as far as i know

by the way, 14 lucids in a month is very impressive, im sure this technique is for you ! do you use another technique besides SSILD ?

Originally Posted by Stevano

Hey I've recently started Lucid Dreaming and found that your technique works great! I've had 14 or so Lucids in a around a month. The only problem is that when i started out, i had super vivid and long lucids but recently all of mine are very blurry, and fade out in less than a minute. My dream recall seems to be suffering too. I keep a dream journal and everything and i've tried everything during the dream to try and stabilize it, like spinning, staring at my palms, crawling, telling the dream to be more clear, rubbing my palms etc. but nothing seems to be working. What do you think could be the problem? Thanks in advance!

Sounds like you are on the right path. Frequency is up, and you understand the stabilization techniques. Are you doing anything unusual with your sleep schedules? Such as going to bed late? Getting up earlier? Are you well rested and in good physical condition? Are you under stress? These are the questions you should ask yourself as they all may impact your dream recall and vividness of your LDs.

Another suggestion is to take a couple days of break. 14 LDs in around a month is quite an achievement already so no need to stretch it. You might also consider taking some supplements. After all, many of which are "brain food", and you don't want to starve your brain!

Originally Posted by CosmicIron

Are you well rested and in good physical condition?

Hey! Am I not the only one that thinks that being in good physical shape makes LDing a lot easier? It just seems like most real oneirontauts are in good or great shape.

Originally Posted by BrandonBoss

Hey! Am I not the only one that thinks that being in good physical shape makes LDing a lot easier? It just seems like most real oneirontauts are in good or great shape.

Well, I guess you are not the only one

Thanks for all the responses guys!
VagalTone: Nah i just use SSILD + WBTB. I tried MILD and WILD before trying SSILD for a few weeks succeeding in only 1 short WILD.
BrandonBoss: Yeah i guess it could be the recall, the thing is that i used to be able to remember around 2 dreams every night, now it seems it's lucky even if i get a couple of fragments.
CosmicIron: I'm in pretty good shape, not amazing but fit. I have been getting a lot of tests and homework lately though so stress might be a factor.
Question: What stabilization techniques works the best for you? Also what do you do during WBTB, is there certain activities you should avoid like surfing the web etc. ?

Originally Posted by BrandonBoss

Hey! Am I not the only one that thinks that being in good physical shape makes LDing a lot easier? It just seems like most real oneirontauts are in good or great shape.

For what it's worth:

I'm in lousy physical shape; I always have been. I'm not fat or sickly, mind you, but definitely not ready for 15 rounds. Am I the exception, or could mental good shape trump physical good shape, at least sometimes?

I haven't read this thread, but I think it needs to be said that physical condition, and action, ought to be secondary considerations at best in LD'ing... sorry if I contradict!

I suspect people who are in great shape have a strong sense of being able to control their own destiny - their physical condition is a testament to that. Also many of them are into martial arts, which does wonders to improve self esteem and empowerment. Plus the endorphins etc as a result of exercise..

I don't think it's the physical condition itself that does anything, or very little anyway, but the underlying sense of well-being and self esteem. And you don't have to be in great physical shape to have those things.

^^ Or people in good shape have nothing better to do with their time... or they're driven to beautify/purify their physique for purely narcissistic reasons ... or they just want dates... or... hell, I think you get my point: excellent physical condition does not equal improved mental condition every time, and people in excellent physical condition do not always have that "underlying sense of well-being and self-esteem;" indeed, very often their efforts stem from very opposite underlying senses. There are simply too many variables to make such assumptions, I think.

I do agree, though, that physical condition has little to do, proportionally, with LD'ing.

For what it's worth, I'm not sure that's exactly what CosmicIron meant when he asked his question.

I only use SSILDs when i know i am being tricked in a dream so i use 6th sense to come across and figure out the purpose of the dream and sometimes it continues next day to solve the mystery.

Originally Posted by Sageous

^^ Or people in good shape have nothing better to do with their time... or they're driven to beautify/purify their physique for purely narcissistic reasons ... or they just want dates... or... hell, I think you get my point: excellent physical condition does not equal improved mental condition every time, and people in excellent physical condition do not always have that "underlying sense of well-being and self-esteem;" indeed, very often their efforts stem from very opposite underlying senses. There are simply too many variables to make such assumptions, I think.

Well, there are a lot of "beef-heads" in good shape, and I doubt they would be much good at LDing seeing as it is a mental thing.

My idea behind it is that if you should control your whole body. From your physical prowess to your mental well-being. I know that to succeed in this world it is easier if you are smart and well... not in bad shape. Easier to get a job and easier to keep it. If all else fails at an office, you can always go to a job (like mine) that doesn't take any mind work, but takes the physical endurance to walk 8-10 miles a day in all weather.

I do what I need, and I do it confidently. There are many paths to a lucid dream. My path is through my confidence, my belief in my abilities, if someone else in the world can "always be lucid" than so can I. My confidence is a type of confidence most easily gotten from succeeding in many sports (mostly basketball for 9 years). If I fall it is because I didn't practice enough, didn't study enough, didn't think through it enough. So I can just try again, this time knowing that I could have done it last time thus I can do it the next time. A weird way of thinking, but it applies to all parts of my life now.

Another random point: active body = active mind

I think that being in a position like mine makes it easier, but is still a long and arduous road and many fall by the waysides even if they have it easier.

Hi, i have 2 questions regarding SSILD, which i will be focusing more in the future, as i need to spend less time with induction techniques. ( i have been having great sucess with an extended time WILD technique, sometimes 3 hours, and i higly suspect i am just doing a long version of SSILD )

this is from your most recent tutorial available on your blog. is it just a recommendation for better chances or is it a necessary step ? also, what do you mean by few extra medium-paced cycles ?

Real Awakening: You wake up again after doing SSILD. You do a reality check and this time it is real. Do not despair. You still have chances. Try to stay still, and immediately relax your head, allowing the back of it to sink into the pillow. Then you need to perform a few extra medium-paced SSILD cycles. At this stage it is quite possible for you to encounter strong hypnagogia sensations. If not, just finish the cycles and go to sleep. You will have a much higher chance to succeed this time

my second question is : i have an app on my phone which helps me with SSILD. after each quick and long cycle it makes a quick sound so i can do it each cycle with more efficiency. do you see any inconvenience ? i feel like psychological time and real time are really different in the middle of the night, is it better to choose psychological time and just go into the trance?

Originally Posted by VagalTone

Hi, i have 2 questions regarding SSILD, which i will be focusing more in the future, as i need to spend less time with induction techniques. ( i have been having great sucess with an extended time WILD technique, sometimes 3 hours, and i higly suspect i am just doing a long version of SSILD )

this is from your most recent tutorial available on your blog. is it just a recommendation for better chances or is it a necessary step ? also, what do you mean by few extra medium-paced cycles ?

Real Awakening: You wake up again after doing SSILD. You do a reality check and this time it is real. Do not despair. You still have chances. Try to stay still, and immediately relax your head, allowing the back of it to sink into the pillow. Then you need to perform a few extra medium-paced SSILD cycles. At this stage it is quite possible for you to encounter strong hypnagogia sensations. If not, just finish the cycles and go to sleep. You will have a much higher chance to succeed this time

my second question is : i have an app on my phone which helps me with SSILD. after each quick and long cycle it makes a quick sound so i can do it each cycle with more efficiency. do you see any inconvenience ? i feel like psychological time and real time are really different in the middle of the night, is it better to choose psychological time and just go into the trance?

That sound will get you out of the trance.

I think the fact that it is alerting your mind instead of just you thinking that it is time to switch will cause you to snap out of it. That is why he says not to count in the first place I believe.

Hi, I just wanted to sincerely thank CosmicIron and everyone involved in developing/sharing this technique. This has worked amazingly well for me right off the bat, as opposed to DILD, MILD, WILD (just couldn't get the hang of those ). So a big THANKS!

Hello everyone, this is my first post ever on this forum and was motivated by my very first lucid dream as a result of this method. I've been trying to have a lucid dream for what seems like almost 2 months now trying different methods such as MILD and WILD but it never seemed to work.

I read this method on the forum LITERALLY 2 hours ago, decided to test it out and it worked successfully the FIRST TIME??!! I became lucid via DILD midway into a normal dream but as soon as I realized I was dreaming I thought "oh my god I need to stabilize the dream" and started rubbing my hands together. However unfortunately the dream faded a few seconds later because I assume I became too excited.

Anyways big thanks to CosmicIron for developing and explaining such a straightforward and simple method that worked for me personally on the first attempt!

Always avoided this (not sure why, seemed too good to be true. Bad reason, I know).

Anyway, last night I did a few short cycles and a few long cycles, I definitely entered trance state and experienced some cool hypnagogia, I'm well versed in the hypnagogic state from WILD attempts ad nauseum.

Resulted in a semi-lucid dream that was very vivid before I even became semi lucid. Recall seemed improved, too. I'm quite experienced at MILD so that may be a factor.

I'm gonna stick with it and report back here

Originally Posted by Scizorist

Hello everyone, this is my first post ever on this forum and was motivated by my very first lucid dream as a result of this method. I've been trying to have a lucid dream for what seems like almost 2 months now trying different methods such as MILD and WILD but it never seemed to work.

I read this method on the forum LITERALLY 2 hours ago, decided to test it out and it worked successfully the FIRST TIME??!! I became lucid via DILD midway into a normal dream but as soon as I realized I was dreaming I thought "oh my god I need to stabilize the dream" and started rubbing my hands together. However unfortunately the dream faded a few seconds later because I assume I became too excited.

Anyways big thanks to CosmicIron for developing and explaining such a straightforward and simple method that worked for me personally on the first attempt!

Congratulations! Isn't it great? I am so thankful for finding this technique. Has worked wonders for me.

I found this method about a month ago, tried it, and the very first night had a wonderful lucid. I held off though immediately attributing this success to SSILD on the off chance that it was a placebo, but sure enough, after repeated successes with this method, wanted to give thanks where it was due.

Always avoided this (not sure why, seemed too good to be true. Bad reason, I know).

Anyway, last night I did a few short cycles and a few long cycles, I definitely entered trance state and experienced some cool hypnagogia, I'm well versed in the hypnagogic state from WILD attempts ad nauseum.

Resulted in a semi-lucid dream that was very vivid before I even became semi lucid. Recall seemed improved, too. I'm quite experienced at MILD so that may be a factor.

I'm gonna stick with it and report back here

Good luck! I hope all goes well.

I'm not too great (not great at all, actually ) with the MILD technique, but this technique was laid out so concisely for me as a step-by-step, that it took all the guesswork out of inducing this or that, and has consistently helped me with lucid dreaming.
I hope it does the same for you!

Oh, and when it hasn't worked for me it was because I was doing it wrong. Not cycling enough, going to sleep too fast.. etc.

Couple of lucid FAs last night. I can see why this is a powerful beginner technique.

The FA's kill me. And my RC's aren't the best. I've tried pushing my hand through the walls, no luck. Looking at my hands, nothing unusual, I haven't tried nose plug RC's so that'll be my next try. Seems a lot of this is trial and error for some people and we just have to keep practicing different techniques/methods that work best for us. While others, luckily for them , are naturals.

Fully lucid this morning after WBTB and SSILD:

23/05/13 - Attempted three step task for competition thread - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views

Also had extremely vivid FA

I have been an on-and-off lucid dreamer for the past few years. Never finding true success with any method I've tried. I have tried SSILD a few times with no success. I like the simplicity and sustainability of this technique and would like to master it. I have a few clarifications to ask. For anyone who has had repeated sucsess with this method, what is your typical SSILD attempt like?

I usually WBTB for X amount of time, lay down and relax for a few minutes then cycle until my random thoughts start to take over. I then fall asleep. Never had any results.

If anyone is willing to help me improve my SSILD I would greatly appreciate it, as lucid dreaming is a huge interest of mine but it has been on the back burner for quite a while with life getting in the way and this method seems promising without taking to much time out of my daily life.

Thanks

If anyone is willing to help me improve my SSILD I would greatly appreciate it, as lucid dreaming is a huge interest of mine but it has been on the back burner for quite a while with life getting in the way and this method seems promising without taking to much time out of my daily life.

This is where you're going wrong. There is no silver bullet that will replace the work of training in self-awareness. Yeah we all wish that there was some sure fire trick that requires no work, but lucid dreaming does take work and dedication. Real life gets in the way, we all have to deal with that. The mistake is in drawing a dichotomy between real life and dream. Lucid dreaming should be part of an adaptive practice of lucid living, and lucid dreaming provide many waking life benefits.

I believe that SSILD has the potential to train awareness otherwise people wouldn't have success with it in isolation, but be prepared to put the work.