Congrats on your success!! I didn't know that a technique were to say that I am not dreaming but if I were then I could fly. Thats the opposite of what I have heard which says that you are dreaming and then you proceed from there. I assume that it is meant to keep you calm. I am not sure about why you have patches of black in your vision. Secondly, in terms of MILD I can tell you what mild is. MILD works by suggesting to your self that you will have a lucid dream and remember it upon waking. This suggestion is meant to carry on into your sleep and then influence the course of your dreams giving you a lucid dream. Hope this explananation is what you were looking for. If not don't heistate to let me know.