Clairity's WILD Technique!
First some background, I have been LDing since 1998 and have discovered that 99% of my LDs are from WILDS.. I rarely DILD (i.e., I'm already in a dream and suddenly realize "hey.. I'm dreaming!").
With the above in mind, I came up with the following WILD technique.
I have PM'd this technique to members who asked how I WILD and they found it helpful.. so I've decided to take the plunge and post my technique so that it might help others. Enjoy!
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I find that I can only WILD after sleeping at least 3 to 4 hours. I have yet to WILD after 6+ hours (though I've read that it works well for others). I also have yet to have an LD from an afternoon nap.. though there are some who do.
I wake up around 3:30 am*. For WILDs to work for me, I must physically get out of bed and I stay up only long enough to go to the bathroom and move to my living couch. If I stay up too long.. I get TOO awake and then it takes me FOREVER to get back to sleep. The longer it takes me to get to sleep.. the greater the chance that I will simply fall asleep or give up altogether.
I go to sleep on the living room couch for my WILD attempt as I find that leaving the bedroom (and my husband's movement and occasional snoring) is simply necessary (plus it lets my subconscious know that I am serious about my intentions).
For those of you who can't move to a couch, different room, etc. what I have done is to change the position that I sleep in my bed. For example, sleep sideways across your bed or sleep facing the opposite direction. Since you're not sleeping the way you normally do.. you should sleep lighter (less deeply) and therefore you should have a greater chance of mind awake/body asleep.
I ensure that I am not too warm or too cold. This includes wearing socks as I find that making sure my "feet" are warm is helpful (I don't know why).
I put in my earplugs** to ensure that I'm not disturbed by any "external" sounds and I dim the lights or, if I want perfect darkness, I put on a sleep mask***. I then lay face up on the couch (arms at my sides).
I begin by mentally repeating the following protection mantra: "My mind, my body, my soul and my spirit are protected by pure white light. May only those of pure white light come near me, may only those of pure white light touch me." I realize that some feel that there is nothing that can harm you astrally.. but this mantra comforts me.
I then close my eyes and, for at least five minutes, repeat "I am dreaming, this is all a dream" or "I will realize that I am dreaming and I will roll out of my body" or "Am I dreaming.. am I dreaming now?", etc.
Next I relax my eyes and my body by slowing my breathing. I mentally talk to my subconscious asking for its help with realizing when I am dreaming so that I can become lucid. I ask for help in reminding me to do reality checks and for help remaining within the dream until I wish for it to end and for help in remembering my experiences.
As to how long it takes for my body to "fall asleep".. that varies wildly.. sometimes 20 minutes.. sometime 40.. sometimes never. I wish I knew so I could figure out when it's just not going to happen so I could just give up for the morning and go to sleep!
For me the hardest part of WILDING is keeping my mind occupied on things that won't keep me wide awake (worries, projects, etc.) but on things that are not so boring I fall asleep!
To help keep your mind on mundane things instead of things that will keep you awake.. try counting "1-I'm dreaming, 2-I'm dreaming, etc." or use what I call the alphabet method:
I'll think of the letter "a", then picture my picking an apple from a tree (or simply picture an apple), think of the letter "b", then picture a balloon floating on the wind (or simply picture a balloon), etc. until "z" and then start at "a" again picturing something different.
I also sometimes try to envision/daydream something tactile.. such as horseback riding.. i.e., feeling the reins in my hands, the wind on my face, my legs gripping the saddle, etc. Heck now that I type this, I think next time I'll envision myself playing jacks (throwing the jacks on the ground, tossing the ball in the air, scooping up a jack or jacks and then catching the ball).
I continue doing the above while slowly breathing until my mind starts to drift and I try to think/direct it back to only positive thoughts.
NOTE: I think it's ok if your mind wanders as long as every so often you bring it back to lucid dreaming. You also want to say to yourself, "I am dreaming.. this is all a dream" while becoming involved with the daydream.. this way hopefully you will realize you're dreaming if your mind falls asleep along with your body.
HINT: I also realize that my body will TEST me to see if I'm awake.. my arm will itch or my leg will want to move, etc. The thing is to IGNORE all these sensations.. even keep your eyes still if possible!! If you react to the sensations or move in any way.. your body will know that you are NOT asleep! If you can remain in one position and breathe steadily as though you were indeed asleep, you will TRICK your body to actually going to sleep while you are still aware!
If all goes well (and I don't just fall asleep), I feel a familiar "shift/falling" sensation (which alerts me that my body is falling asleep while my mind is still awake). I wait until I feel it ONCE MORE and, though I seem to fall asleep, I immediately sense that I'm dreaming and I do a reality check (be it plugging my nose and seeing if I can breathe or looking at my watch twice and seeing if the time changes).
If the reality checks fail, I'll slip into lucid dream.
NOTE: Sometimes after feeling the "shift".. I will simply roll over and stand up as I just KNOW that I'm lucid. I can't recall if I open my lucid eyes or see "through" my eyelids. I do know that if I wait TOO long, the shift window closes and I can't stand up/become lucid. Once I feel the shift TWICE.. I attempt to stand up or do a reality check whether I feel like I'm lucid or not (as it may just be that I'm having a false awakening)!
When I say "attempt to stand up" what I mean is that, since your "physical" body is paralyzed (hopefully) .. try rolling your body to the right or left and standing up. It will feel as though you are actually rolling your physical body.. but it will only be your astral/dream body that will be rolling.
BIG P.S.: Since you are waking up so much earlier than normal and because there is a good chance that you could slip into normal dreams or simply fall back asleep, you need to write down your lucid dream as soon as it ends because if you wait, it's possible that you may not remember most of it!
************************************************** **************************************
I hope my technique answers some of your questions! Please use what you want and ignore the rest!
Below are some items that I use but I am in no way affiliated with any of these companies.. I just like their product!
* If you're married (or have to share quarters) and, if you can afford it..(and you think "vibrations" would wake you).. I highly recommend getting an "Invisible Clock". This small clock can be set to vibrate or beep or both. There are three vibration levels and you can set up to 12 alarms! I often use the vibration setting on the highest level, wrap the small clock in a face towel and simply lay the clock so that it's pressed against my body. The vibration isn't "jarring" and another plus to a vibrating clock is that it doesn't disturb anyone else when it goes off (not even my husband who is laying right next to me)! Below is one of the websites that sell the Invisible Clock: http://www.buddhasplace.com/Merchant2/merc...ory_Code=Clocks
** I highly recommend "Joe's earplugs" (http://www.joesearplugs.com). They're cheap but more than that they're COMFORTABLE and they work. You can also go to Target, Walgreens, Eckerds, etc. and get some ear plugs by "Mack's". They are made of foam and are shaped like small cylinders.
*** I also recommend "Hearos Deeps Sleep System" as it's a very comfortable eye mask and has an "eyes open, total blackout effect" (i.e., there is no fabric touching your eyes yet if you open them your still in darkness). You can purchase them online http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/hedeslsy.html) or I found mine at Walgreens.
Here's wishing you all lucid dreams!!
.
Revised Edition.. Wouldn't Let Me Edit Original Post! NEW info in DARK RED!
First some background, I have been LDing since 1998 and have discovered that 99% of my LDs are from WILDS.. I rarely DILD (i.e., I'm already in a dream and suddenly realize "hey.. I'm dreaming!").
With the above in mind, I came up with the following WILD technique.
I have PM'd this technique to members who asked how I WILD and they found it helpful.. so I've decided to take the plunge and post my technique so that it might help others. Enjoy!
************************************************** *************
I find that I can only WILD after sleeping at least 3 to 4 hours. I have yet to WILD after 6+ hours (though I've read that it works well for others). I also have yet to have an LD from an afternoon nap.. though there are some who do.
I wake up around 3:30 am*. For WILDs to work for me, I must physically get out of bed and I stay up only long enough to go to the bathroom and move to my living couch. If I stay up too long.. I get TOO awake and then it takes me FOREVER to get back to sleep. The longer it takes me to get to sleep.. the greater the chance that I will simply fall asleep or give up altogether.
I go to sleep on the living room couch for my WILD attempt as I find that leaving the bedroom (and my husband's movement and occasional snoring) is simply necessary (plus it lets my subconscious know that I am serious about my intentions).
For those of you who can't move to a couch, different room, etc. what I have done is to change the position that I sleep in my bed. For example, sleep sideways across your bed or sleep facing the opposite direction. Since you're not sleeping the way you normally do.. you should sleep lighter (less deeply) and therefore you should have a greater chance of mind awake/body asleep.
I ensure that I am not too warm or too cold. This includes wearing socks as I find that making sure my "feet" are warm is helpful (I don't know why).
I put in my earplugs** to ensure that I'm not disturbed by any "external" sounds and I dim the lights or, if I want perfect darkness, I put on a sleep mask***. I then lay face up on the couch (arms at my sides).
I begin by mentally repeating the following protection mantra: "My mind, my body, my soul and my spirit are protected by pure white light. May only those of pure white light come near me, may only those of pure white light touch me." I realize that some feel that there is nothing that can harm you astrally.. but this mantra comforts me.
I then close my eyes and, for at least five minutes, repeat "I am dreaming, this is all a dream" or "I will realize that I am dreaming and I will roll out of my body" or "Am I dreaming.. am I dreaming now?", etc.
Next I relax my eyes and my body by slowing my breathing. I mentally talk to my subconscious asking for its help with realizing when I am dreaming so that I can become lucid. I ask for help in reminding me to do reality checks and for help remaining within the dream until I wish for it to end and for help in remembering my experiences.
As to how long it takes for my body to "fall asleep".. that varies wildly.. sometimes 20 minutes.. sometime 40.. sometimes never. I wish I knew so I could figure out when it's just not going to happen so I could just give up for the morning and go to sleep!
For me the hardest part of WILDING is keeping my mind occupied on things that won't keep me wide awake (worries, projects, etc.) but on things that are not so boring I fall asleep!
To help keep your mind on mundane things instead of things that will keep you awake.. try counting "1-I'm dreaming, 2-I'm dreaming, etc." or use what I call the alphabet method:
I'll think of the letter "a", then picture my picking an apple from a tree (or simply picture an apple), think of the letter "b", then picture a balloon floating on the wind (or simply picture a balloon), etc. until "z" and then start at "a" again picturing something different.
I also sometimes try to envision/daydream something tactile.. such as horseback riding.. i.e., feeling the reins in my hands, the wind on my face, my legs gripping the saddle, etc. Heck now that I type this, I think next time I'll envision myself playing jacks (throwing the jacks on the ground, tossing the ball in the air, scooping up a jack or jacks and then catching the ball).
I continue doing the above while slowly breathing until my mind starts to drift and I try to think/direct it back to only positive thoughts.
NOTE: I think it's ok if your mind wanders as long as every so often you bring it back to lucid dreaming. You also want to say to yourself, "I am dreaming.. this is all a dream" while becoming involved with the daydream.. this way hopefully you will realize you're dreaming if your mind falls asleep along with your body.
HINT: I also realize that my body will TEST me to see if I'm awake.. my arm will itch or my leg will want to move, etc. The thing is to IGNORE all these sensations.. even keep your eyes still if possible!! If you react to the sensations or move in any way.. your body will know that you are NOT asleep! If you can remain in one position and breathe steadily as though you were indeed asleep, you will TRICK your body to actually going to sleep while you are still aware!
If you should see patterns, images and/or hear sounds (with or without vibrations), do NOT move but continue with your steady breathing and just go along casually catching glimpses of the patterns/images and/or listening to the sounds. With luck, a dream scene will appear that you may simply "be pulled into" or instantly just become a part of.
If all you're experiencing is vibrations, you could wait until you feel that the vibrations are at their strongest point and try to roll out/stand up.. or you could wait until you also feel the "shift" and then trying to roll out/stand up. The best way I can describe the "shift" is that I'm suddenly aware that my consciousness is different. I may realize that suddenly I've jumped into some random thought from where I was.. or I feel like my mind has "blinked".. or I feel a slight sinking feeling in my head and/or body.
When I first began WILDing, I experienced vibrations and the loud *fingernails on the chalkboard*, but sadly now I no longer feel vibrations, see patterns nor hear sounds. I miss them as they confirmed to me that I had entered mind awake/body asleep.
All I experience now is the subtle but distinctive shift in my consciousness, I simply wait until I know that I can roll out/stand up. The knowing of "when" I can move is something that has come from practice and from trial and error. I've missed many opportunities to be lucid due to waiting around for vibrations, scenes or sounds to either start or grow stronger.
Unfortunately it's a very fine line between reality checking or moving too soon (and not totally being in body asleep) and reality checking or moving too late and missing that exact moment and simply falling asleep and winding up in a non-lucid dream.
If all goes well (and I don't just fall asleep), I feel a familiar "shift/falling" sensation (which alerts me that my body is falling asleep while my mind is still awake). I wait until I feel it ONCE MORE and, though I seem to fall asleep, I immediately sense that I'm dreaming and I do a reality check (be it plugging my nose and seeing if I can breathe or looking at my watch twice and seeing if the time changes).
If the reality checks fail, I'll slip into lucid dream.
NOTE: Sometimes after feeling the "shift".. I will simply roll over and stand up as I just KNOW that I'm lucid. I can't recall if I open my lucid eyes or see "through" my eyelids. I do know that if I wait TOO long, the shift window closes and I can't stand up/become lucid. Once I feel the shift TWICE.. I attempt to stand up or do a reality check whether I feel like I'm lucid or not (as it may just be that I'm having a false awakening)!
When I say "attempt to stand up" what I mean is that, since your "physical" body is paralyzed (hopefully) .. try rolling your body to the right or left and standing up. It will feel as though you are actually rolling your physical body.. but it will only be your astral/dream body that will be rolling.
BIG P.S.: Since you are waking up so much earlier than normal and because there is a good chance that you could slip into normal dreams or simply fall back asleep, you need to write down your lucid dream as soon as it ends because if you wait, it's possible that you may not remember most of it!
************************************************** **************
I hope my technique answers some of your questions! Please use what you want and ignore the rest!
Below are some items that I use but I am in no way affiliated with any of these companies.. I just like their product!
* If you're married (or have to share quarters) and, if you can afford it..(and you think "vibrations" would wake you).. I highly recommend getting an "Invisible Clock". This small clock can be set to vibrate or beep or both. There are three vibration levels and you can set up to 12 alarms! I often use the vibration setting on the highest level, wrap the small clock in a face towel and simply lay the clock so that it's pressed against my body. The vibration isn't "jarring" and another plus to a vibrating clock is that it doesn't disturb anyone else when it goes off (not even my husband who is laying right next to me)! Below is one of the websites that sell the Invisible Clock: http://www.buddhasplace.com/Merchant2/merc...ory_Code=Clocks
** I highly recommend "Joe's earplugs" (http://www.joesearplugs.com). They're cheap but more than that they're COMFORTABLE and they work. You can also go to Target, Walgreens, Eckerds, etc. and get some ear plugs by "Mack's". They are made of foam and are shaped like small cylinders.
*** I also recommend "Hearos Deeps Sleep System" as it's a very comfortable eye mask and has an "eyes open, total blackout effect" (i.e., there is no fabric touching your eyes yet if you open them your still in darkness). You can purchase them online http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/hedeslsy.html) or I found mine at Walgreens.
Here's wishing you all lucid dreams!!
.
