New and having trouble WILDing, help please.

[Johnbronze]

Before i joined this forum, i read nearly every article on how to WILD. I understand the concept pretty well and wanted to try it myself, but when i did, i achieved no apparent success. If you want to know what i did, here is a list, as that is the way most things are organized here by observance . -------------- 1. With the blinds closed there was a fair amount of light in the room, but that was the best i could do with my resources. It was the most peaceful room in the house (bedroom) and apart from a far away crow and small fan, it was completely silent. I thought i had the right place. 2. Having picked my 'spot', i proceeded to stretch and relieve myself before trying this. I did some basic yoga and used a wooden massager to loosen up my right shoulder, i was pretty relaxed. Since i knew that i couldn't keep my eyes shut with as much light that was in the room, i took a handkerchief and folded up so that it would cover my eyes if holding still (it could fall off). Then, i lied down on the bed with my clothes on (polo, shorts, socks, watch). 3. When i closed my eyes, the first thing i noticed was a squeaking noise sounding in sync with the ceiling fan's wobbling. I took off the handkerchief only once to see what was happening after that, but then it went away. I dismissed the sound when it came back after i put the handkerchief back on. After lying in the same 'hands by waist' position for a while, i started to feel my eyes moving rapidly, but no numbing of the body as i usually do. I also never saw and objects in my eyes (like i usually do), i just guessed that the changing from light to dark was what took place of that, therefore i saw it as a movie and stared straight on. 4. Then something strange happened, i heard a 'bleeooop' in my left ear which lasted for about two seconds. I had read about hearing bleeps during WILDs, so i kept staring. Later, i heard a voice start singing 'one of our submarines' and then drift off with a mob of other voices saying the same thing. I got kind of excited and thought that it was working, but that still didn't keep me from focusing. I then expected to feel an electric feeling in my body, but it never happened. I had also read of some people not feeling the sensation, so i pressed on. 5. Ten minutes later, my eyes felt like a stopped moving. I thought that this was strange because i figured i would see the first scene of my dream and step into it, but i never saw ANYTHING. I then opened my eyes and got out of the bed. I thought this was a false awakening at first because mt ears had bubbles (not actual bubbles, i just couldn't hear much) and things i saw looked like they were glowing. I got up, did some reality checks, and was sad to find out that it did not work. I checked the time to see if i had just forgotten the dream and woken up not remembering it, but it was only about 15 minutes after i started (2:00 after eating). ------------------- I came here to ask someone with 'experience' in WILDing what did i did wrong.

[Portalboat]

Well, I've heard that WILDing isn't the best idea for LD beginners...

[Penterwast]

Well it sounds like you got pretty close to a WILD, but for some reason, your sleep paralysis ended. Were you thinking about your breathing, or concentrating on what you heard? Those can cause it to end quickly.

[Johnbronze]

Well it sounds like you got pretty close to a WILD, but for some reason, your sleep paralysis ended. Were you thinking about your breathing, or concentrating on what you heard? Those can cause it to end quickly. Well, around the time it ended i couldn't hear my breathing or feel my chest that much, so i thought i was kind of close to the dream. I was really confused about what might happen though if i actually completed a WILD. I thought to myself that if i actually saw the dream scene and reached out to get into it, i would move my real-world arm and abandon the experience. I guess that is what threw me off my concentration, i was worried because i had never WILDed before. It sure felt relaxing though.

[Mzzkc]

It seems like you're on the right track in terms of focus, but I would suggest you put more emphasis on the falling asleep part of WILDing. All the conditions you set should be put in place in order to make it that much easier to fall asleep. If you normally sleep in less clothes or pajamas, then that's what you should wear. If you normally sleep on your side, then you should WILD on your side as well. Remember, all WILDing is is falling asleep while maintaining consciousness. You don't have to worry about anything except those two things. That should help you take your mind off of waiting for this to happen or that feeling to start. Because, really, when's the last time you fell asleep in anticipation for an electrical sensation to run throughout your body, or for intense hallucinations to occur?

[Dannon Oneironaut]

It just takes practice. You should be thankful for the experiences you have had, they are very promising. WILDing is just like meditation, you shouldn't have a goal or be disappointed if you don't reach it. Every session you do, whether resulting in a lucid dream or not, helps you to get better at it. I am only sometimes successful at WILDing even though it is my favorite technique. Most of the time I believe it helps me to DILD anyway. Only about 1/3 of my lucids are from WILD. Also, I find if you combine WILD with VILD (visualization induced...) is very successful. I visualize many things like all of my meridians glowing and feeling warm and I visualize every shade of every color. I visualize something repetitive like slowly climbing a spiral staircase infinitely upwards. This works well to keep the mind bored enough to fall asleep and engaged enough to stay conscious, or the right balance in between. That balance is hard to find. Also, I think since you only spent 15 mintues for the session you didn't give yourself enough time. It pays to be patient. I always think along these lines: Even if I don't fall asleep tonight I will stay aware and conscious. If your body is the utmost relaxed it WILL fall asleep. And you will be rested in the morning. I never actually stayed awake all night attempting to WILD but it helps to be willing to just to develop patience. 15 minutes probably isn't even enough time to fall asleep normally especially at 2 oclock (pm?). If at 2 am I would suggest going to bed earlier and not eating right before you go to bed. Your energy is busy digesting food thus bringing your chi (life energy) to your physical body rather than your dream body. Just keep experiementing and practicing. Even unsuccessful WILD attempts should be fun. It took me every night for a few months before I was successful at it, and now I have the knack for it.