Originally Posted by
Seeker
Phase 3: Relaxation
This phase has been reported by many as perhaps the most frustrating part of the whole WILD experience. You will usually be all hyped up and ready for your WILD. This in turn makes it more difficult to relax so that you can WILD!
Little things will annoy you as you try your hardest to force yourself to relax.
If you are having problems relaxing, it is recommended that you review and practice one or more relaxation techniques. The following are links to some techniques that work well:
* The 61 point Relaxation Technique
Relaxation Technique
Breathing Technique
The most important thing is to relax. You must let it come naturally and unforced. Forcing yourself to relax is about as effective as putting out a fire by throwing gasoline on it!
It is also helpful to daydream a little at this point. Imagine yourself floating on a raft out in a calm ocean. Can you feel the waves rocking you gently? Can you smell the salt air and feel the sun warming your body? Can you hear the gulls in the distance and feel the light breeze blowing through your hair? The more relaxing and realistic your daydream becomes, the quicker you will find yourself relaxing.
One very important thing is to find a position from which you can relax. You can WILD from your back, front, side, it does not matter as long as you can be comfortable and relax.
Please note that everyones experience is different. Some people experience very vivid imagery and sensations, others experience nothing at all. Some people experience these sensations for a few minutes, some only for sseconds.
As you relax, you may experience one or all of the following:
Light patterns. As you begin with your eyes closed, you may begin see light patterns behind your eyes. These might points of light that change and move around, or they might be more like curtains of light that float across your field of vision. Watch them passively as they float and evolve. Do not stare too intently; this will wreck your relaxation. If possible, just lie there quietly and pretend you are watching a movie about light patterns.
Hypnogogic Imagery. As relaxation progresses, you will begin to see images or dream sequences. At first, these will be fleeting and will evaporate if you focus on them. Again, try to view them passively. As you become more relaxed, they will become clearer and will last longer, however, keep vigilant! If you let your attention get caught up in the hypnogogic imagery, you will most likely fall into a non-lucid sleep. Alony with images, you may experience sounds. It might be a mild and soothing sound, or it could become quite scarey. I've have heard loud sounds like the screeching of tearing metal. Just remain passive and watchful, do not allow it to scare you into full conciousness.
Physical Sensations. In the final stages of relaxation, just before your body begins to enter sleep paralysis, you might feel like you are floating or that your body has become numb. Everything will feel a little fuzzy. Hypnogogic imagery can increase in vividness at this point. Just go with the flow and observe these in a relaxed state.
You are now entering the transitional stage.
As the hypnogogic imagery and physical sensations increase, begin to count and repeat over and over that you are dreaming:
* “1, I am dreaming”
“2, I am dreaming”
..
..
Try to stay focused enough so that this does not just become an automatic thing. If you find that you are losing your place, concentrate a little harder on what you are doing. If you find that you are spending too long counting, then drop the numbers for a little while and just repeat “I am dreaming” until you relax some more.
Continue this as you enter into the transitional phase.
