A Very Profound Experience with Questions

I've read on the topic of lucid dreaming before and have attempted, but failed on many occasions months ago. The other night I accidentally had some sort of experience. I was really tired, laying in bed meditating before sleep like I usually do. I began to notice that I felt very strange and was having a hard time controlling my movements and had tiny spastic fits in my feet and hands. I realized I was falling asleep and aware of it. I also realized if I was aware that I was falling asleep I'd be able to have a lucid dream. I became afraid, for no apparent reason, thinking of having a bad dream. I was so afraid I woke myself up(this happened several more times). Still feeling a little afraid, I continued to meditate and drift back to sleep, still aware. I then noticed I had no control of my body at all, but was aware of the movements I was making involuntarily(I.E breathing, knees bending, even rolling over at one point). I could even hear what was going on outside my room (I.E my brother waking up for school, cars outside). I noticed that if I tried to say something I would only mumble it and that my eyes felt like they were flickering. I was then able to move again, but things were very hazy. I had a suspicion that I was dreaming, and after performing a reality check I knew I was. I was then again consumed by fear and closed my eyes and continued to meditate until, there was a gap of time after I don't remember, and woke up as if everything had just happened a minute ago, but in reality happened hours ago.

I wasn't actually able to have a lucid dream ,except for when I believe I had a false awakening. I heard the term sleep paralysis and I'm sure that's what I was experiencing the majority for what I can recall. I believe I've found a routine for myself to have a lucid dream, but I have some questions.

Am I correct on what I believe my experience was?
If so:
How can I calm myself down and not be fearful while in SP?
How can I transition from SP into a LD?

Hey sinognap.
Yes, sleep paralysis was what you were experiencing. Infact you're right, Lucid dreams can be induced this way - it's know as a WILD (Wake-Initiated Lucid Dream).
It's common to be afraid of SP as it's such a strange experience, but i think you will probably get used to it after a couple more tries. Now that you actually know what it is, and that it's completely normal, you should find it less scary anyway.
To make the transition into an LD from SP, you could try a number of things. Try to imagine a scene in your mind, or if you've just woken up from a dream, reinvent that dream in your mind until the images become clearer and clearer and you find yourself lucid. You could also try, (whilst imagining a scene or whatever) "rolling out" of your body. As your physical body is effectively paralyzed, it should be your dream body that actually rolls out, and you should find yourself in that dream.
If you have difficulty with the above just simply lie there, watch any hypnagogic imagery that might be flickering past your eyes and try to focus on it until it eventually turns into a dream.
Just some ideas :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sinognap

Am I correct on what I believe my experience was?

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YES. LD & SP.
Congratulations :boogie::bravo::goodjob: Sinognap, you have just had your first LD experience. I know it wasnt much but its a start and should be the foundation of more to come. Now you know that LDing is possible for you.

The fright you experienced in normal and now that you know that you wont get hurt etc, it will diminish. You should tell yourself this repeatedly, (affirmations) whilst going to sleep.

Now you need to learn how to control your LD and you have already been given some good advise above. Keep cool and enjoy.

Welcome to the forum!

Hrm that sounds interesting, it sounds like you started off with sleep paralysis ( the spasms was just tension being removed from the muscles ).

It looks like you has a WILD too, if you went straight into a dream and did a reality check and had it pass, then yeah it was a lucid dream caused by a WILD.

With SP, just try to be calm, relax and know that nothing can harm you. It's kind of difficult seeing as you feel like you have no control, but after a while you'll feel more better with it.

When in SP just stay there and focus on being lucid, really want it and go for it. Try to visualise a scene that you can dream into and then "phase into it".

Thanks a bunch you guys. A lot of great advice that I plan on taking with me on my next trip. I'm going to keep working on it and I'm sure I'll have a story to tell afterwards. Thanks a lot again for your help.

-DP