Actually ive found plenty of success just letting my thoughts wander. and then after a certain period of time I go back into focus to find myself very close to completing the WILD and I only keep my focus from then on, but everything before then, thoughts wander, heh. Sometimes I just get a certain feeling, I can't explain it, but it tells me when to go back into focus and all of sudden the hypnogogic imagery is real intense, and soon after that i go straight into the dream. As for itching, scratch a few, but try to ignore it to the best of your abilities, it will make the process longer and more irritating if you pay too much attention to it.