Clairity's WILD Technique!

[Clairity]

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 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!! .

[Snowy Egypt]

Your way of pulling off a WILD is very cool, Clairity, and very easy. Although, if I'm going to try it, I'd have to stay in my room, seeing as my parents would freak if they found me asleep on the couch. Then I'd have to explain why I did it...Bleh. Anyways, the 3 to 4 hrs is MUCH better for me and my sleep schedule. The only thing is I'm not sure what I could do to alert my subcon that I want to LD. And seeing as I don't want to steal your way of relaxing ans mental preperation, I think I'll try to create my own mantra, and think of Pokemon names in alphabetical order. (ex. A=Abra, B=Bulbasaur, C=Camerupt, ect.) I'm a Pokefreak, I know.... Anyways, thanks for the tips!!

[Kromoh]

loved the touch you added to the description. this for sure will help many people out about being confident and mentally "happy" (to put it that way) is something people end up forgetting as time passes really nice Clairi (by the way, try going to the sauna before a WILD attempt, and do it just as you go to sleep.. it helps incredibly :O)

[Clairity]

Snowy Egypt and Kromoh, I appreciate the positive feedback! Thanks so much!! Snowy Egypt, I totally understand staying in your room.. you can't really try for a WILD if you're worried about your parents freaking out! (and if pokeman works for you.. go for it!!) Kromoh, oooh a sauna! I bet you are soooo relaxed.. but by the time I went somewhere that had a sauna and then drove home... .

[Clairity]

Snowy Egypt, if you 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. Maybe this will work for you as well! .

[Moonbeam]

Thanks for the tips Clairity. Since DILD is so unrelibable, I have figured for a while that I need to learn to WILD. It is very hard for me. I usually just stay awake, or just go to sleep. Rarely I will have a DILd then, but I'd like a more reliable method.

[Oneironaught]

...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. Maybe this will work for you as well! . I'm "pretty good" at WILD. It doesn't work for me as often as I like but it is one of the more successful methods for me. I like your tip about changing sleeping position. I will definitely try that. Thanks.

[Clairity]

Moonbeam, I hope you find some or all of what I've written helpful! Here's wishing you a successful WILD! .

[Adrenaline Junkie]

Clarity, i forgot to post my results this morning, sorry, i tried your technique, i tell you what, it worked wonders for me, i managed to get a bit further into SP, this is the second time i've ever been able to do this, thanks alot, i got bored after a while of being numb so i just moved. It worked though Thanks!

[Clairity]

I like your tip about changing sleeping position. I will definitely try that. Thanks. Please let me know if it works for you! Clarity, i forgot to post my results this morning, sorry, i tried your technique, i tell you what, it worked wonders for me, i managed to get a bit further into SP, this is the second time i've ever been able to do this, thanks alot, i got bored after a while of being numb so i just moved. It worked though Thanks! I'm so glad! With practice.. you should progress further and finally into lucidity! Thanks for letting me know how it went! .

[Goldney]

The changing postitions and alphabet method sound interesting. I'll be sure to practice them when I'm not so busy.

[Clairity]

The changing postitions and alphabet method sound interesting. I'll be sure to practice them when I'm not so busy. Thanks and please let me know if they help in any way! .

[Goldney]

I'll try and remember to do them tonight. I'll also try the shorter sleeping time.

[Clairity]

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!! .

[Goldney]

I tried your technique, but for some reason I woke up in a really active awake mood and couldn't keep still no matter what; I stayed awake for about an hour without ever coming close to Wilding. Will try again tonight and see if the same results occur.

[Harrycombs]

The other day I tried to use this method before sleeping, and I think I almost got it to work! After trying it for about 10 minutes or so, my right foot start to really hurt, and then my left foot started to hurt alot too. So I stopped and the second I did my foot stopped hurting. I'll give it a try with falling asleep first and then waking up this weekend.

[Clairity]

The other day I tried to use this method before sleeping, and I think I almost got it to work! After trying it for about 10 minutes or so, my right foot start to really hurt, and then my left foot started to hurt alot too. So I stopped and the second I did my foot stopped hurting. I'll give it a try with falling asleep first and then waking up this weekend. I'll be very impressed if anyone can WILD before sleeping first! I can only WILD using WBTB and after having slept 3 or 4 hours. I hope it works for you this weekend.. please let me know! .

[Bushido]

Great tech!! one question should i time it so i wake up during REM, so its easier to enter back into the dream, or as soon as its finished? Thanks a lot Bushido.

[Clairity]

Bushido, thanks, I'm glad you like it! If you know when your REM period begins.. I would time it so that I would wake up slighty before that REM period, then go back to bed so that you will enter into REM quicker. If I'm interpreting your question correctly. .

[Bushido]

Yes you did thank you. That makes sense it was probably why i couldn't get past SP last night because i started at the end of REM. I'll try again tonight!! Thanks again Bushido

[Clairity]

I'll try again tonight!! Thanks again Bushido You're so very welcome and I predict that you'll have a lucid dream this weekend (or at least get closer than you ever have before)! *clairity crosses her fingers, arms, legs and eyes!

[Snowy Egypt]

Question: There's a part in your original post about how you would wear socks to both keep you warm and alert your subconcious that you want to WILD. (And you also went to sleep on the couch, but like I said in my previous post, I can't do that) Is there something I can do to tell my subcon that I want to WILD, besides sleeping in a different position? (thank you for that tip, by the way. ^__^) And how would I be able to convince my subcon that I will wear this or do that, because I want to WILD? Hope that's not too confusing...

[Clairity]

Question: There's a part in your original post about how you would wear socks to both keep you warm and alert your subconcious that you want to WILD. (And you also went to sleep on the couch, but like I said in my previous post, I can't do that) Is there something I can do to tell my subcon that I want to WILD, besides sleeping in a different position? (thank you for that tip, by the way. ^__^) And how would I be able to convince my subcon that I will wear this or do that, because I want to WILD? Hope that's not too confusing... LOL.. I wear socks just to keep my feet warm (I don't have "wilding" socks). (but you know that might work if you believe it strongly enough) As for your subconscious, all I can recommend is that you mentally talk to it (i.e., yourself) about what you want to do/achieve. There was a posting a while ago about a member who actually gave his subconscious a "name" and he would carry on conversations with his subconscious in that way (i.e., "Steve, I really need to have a lucid dream this morning. Please help my mind stay awake as my body falls asleep so that I'll realize that I'm dreaming and become lucid."). .

[Adam]

Right I tried this, ok not to the exact extent of your instructions; which might be why I failed. But this is what I did. Woke up 3 and a half hours after going to sleep Got up, had a glass of water, got back into bed Lay on my back, arms by my side and rather than having my eyes closed and just being closed i put visualisations into the back of my eyelids so I could see the dream before getting there; this is what I usually do if i want to dream about something specific After 20 minutes I was still awake, and not dreaming so rolled over and went to sleep I think I might just have been too uncomfortable, or maybe I should re-read your tehnique and try again?

[Clairity]

Right I tried this, ok not to the exact extent of your instructions; which might be why I failed. But this is what I did. Woke up 3 and a half hours after going to sleep Got up, had a glass of water, got back into bed Lay on my back, arms by my side and rather than having my eyes closed and just being closed i put visualisations into the back of my eyelids so I could see the dream before getting there; this is what I usually do if i want to dream about something specific After 20 minutes I was still awake, and not dreaming so rolled over and went to sleep I think I might just have been too uncomfortable, or maybe I should re-read your tehnique and try again? Sometimes when I get the feeling that it's just not going to work and I decide to roll over to go to sleep, I find that since I fall asleep so quickly that I if can just keep lucid dreaming in my head while I fall asleep, I may still manage to get lucid. Sadly no technique or combination of techniques can guarantee you lucidity.. unfortunately it's all just one big crapshoot! All you can do is keep trying and hope that with every failure, you learn a little bit more about yourself and about what works (or doesn't work) for you. .