Again, WILD question

[Denise]

So yesterday, I downloaded one of those subliminal message-music thingies, with comforting music, and a message that you can't really hear, saying "You are lucid Dreaming" etc etc. So I put it on my iPod, and went to bed, while listening to the comforting sounds, and subliminal messaging. I figured I should try to WILD, I had tried it a few times before, and I think I'm getting better at it. After a while, I felt at ease, and I noticed not really... 'feeling' my legs anymore, so I realized it must be sleep paralysis? Then more of my body became kinda numb, and then I had this twitch. Which surprised me. I think I read something about it before, and it had something to do with 'Your mind checking your body to see if its still awake' or something? o.o Anyway, then after a while, I felt 'ticks' on my chest. Not as in heartbeats though. I can't really explain it well. I focussed on the visions I had, and yet another twitch came along. Eventually I got so uncomfortable, I changed my position, and noticed I had screwed up because of it. So what do you think? Did I make progress?

[Naiya]

It sounds like you were getting close. Usually, during the WILD process, you experience some type of hallucinations. They can be auditory, visual, or even tactile. They're known as HI. This often comes before (and usually overlaps with) sleep paralysis, which is normally the final step before the actual WILD. So it does sound like you were in that rea somewhere which is definitely encouraging. Sometimes when you WILD, you'll have some major body twitch, or you'll feel uncomfortable. The hard thing is to keep still and try NOT to focus on your body too much. When you start getting those hallucinations, pay attention to them and begin to imagine the dream you want (just be sure to keep reminding yourself it's a dream). That might help distract you from your body. Because yeah, once you move, it does set you back a lot. It doesn't mean that it's ruined--if you're able to keep relaxed, you may be able to go back into the state again quickly--but essentially you are going back to square one. It sounds like you've made progress and gotten close though, so that's something to be happy about. I'm sure you'll be WILDing in no time.

[Denise]

Alright Thanks for replying ^_^ I'll keep on practicing Also.. While trying to be completely still, I found it difficult not to swallow, and move my face and stuff >< Like.. does your face have to be completely motionless as well?

[ExoByte]

If you need to swallow, swallow. Trying not to would be more detrimental to the technique than actually doing so.

[Denise]

But stuff like that puts you back to the start again doesn't it?

[ExoByte]

Not at all. Swallowing by reflex has very little effect on the process. Even so, as I said, forcing yourself not to swallow is more likely to set you back to the start than simply swallowing.

[Denise]

Alright ^^ (Sorry, wasn't sure what the word 'detrimental' meant ) Anyway, I'll try it again tonight ^^ Let you know tomorrow morning how it went =)

[ExoByte]

Sounds good! Good luck

[Denise]

I'm back! I must say, I think I had some progress again last night! I went to bed, again with the calming music, and just kept swallowing and stuff, which made things alot more comfortable, not feeling guilty everytime I swallowed, affraid I'd have to start over >< And pretty soon, SP kicked in. I was surprised of it, so I accidentally moved. x_x After like.. 15 minutes, SP kicked in again. This time GOOD. I was lying on my side, with my arm on my body, and all the time I was aware that my arm was on my body. (Duh.) You just feel it. And at a certain moment, I just didn't notice it being there anymore, and found my whole body to be numb. I let it kick in for some more, and I noticed that even if I WANTED to move, it would be hard to do. Then hallucinations came in... And I fell asleep. I did not have a LD, but I sure made progress. Guess it's kind of a.. feeling you need to grow. Also, other good news! My dream recall is getting better again. I'm kind of ashamed to tell xD But.. When I wake up, I put my alarm clock half an hour before I actually get out of bed. To simulate a feeling of 'Ohh, I've still got half an hour ' and stay in bed for a while. During that time, I only smash my alarm clock and close my eyes again. Then, half an hour later, when I should actually get up, I find myself surprised I didn't remember any dreams at all. X_X;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; But ofcourse, those dreams have already faded half an hour ago. I feel so stupid. Every downside has its upside though, cause from here on, it can only get better, and I'm more motivated than ever! I have also set my alarm clock on my cellphone so that it'll go off every hour of my (wake) day, to make me RC. Im out! xx

[TheWeirdnessSymposium]

After like.. 15 minutes, SP kicked in again. This time GOOD. I was lying on my side, with my arm on my body, and all the time I was aware that my arm was on my body. (Duh.) You just feel it. And at a certain moment, I just didn't notice it being there anymore, and found my whole body to be numb. I let it kick in for some more, and I noticed that even if I WANTED to move, it would be hard to do. Then hallucinations came in... And I fell asleep. If you read Clairity's WILD tutorial you will read that there's a possibility you succeeded when you reached the numbness stage. There are reality checks that can be done at that stage. Apparently, a lot of the time when people think their WILD has failed, they are actually lying in bed dreaming but don't realise it.