Question about the FILD technique.

[xFaithfully]

This was when I was trying to do the FILD (Finger Induced Lucid Dream) technique for the first time. Alright, so last night I woke up in the middle of the night as usual; and I just stayed in my bed from where I woke up. I tried to relax as much as I could (which takes about 5 minutes for me) and then I started tapping my index and middle fingers. I told my mind(or subconscious) that after 1 minute or so I was going to perform an RC and I would be dreaming. So I was focusing on my finger movements; and after about 2 minutes had passed, I felt a wave come over me, and for sure I thought it was sleep paralysis. But nothing happened after that, so I just ignored it. Then 1 minute later, I performed an RC, and it came back negative. I wasn't dreaming. Can anyone tell me what I did wrong? Oh and another question.. Are you supposed to not be able to hear outside noise after sleep paralysis has settled in? Because, after that wave came over me, the sounds got quieter..just a little bit..like muffled sounds. But not all the way. Help would be appreciated!!

[Robot_Butler]

Be patient when you feel that wave come over you. You are not there quite yet. Try to get deeper into a trance when you feel that happen. Let your awareness of your body fade away, and focus on whatever dream imagery is coming to you. It is a sign that you are almost falling asleep. You need a little more time, and a lot more relaxation before you can completely slip into a dream.

[Loaf]

Huh. I would recommend trying something a little more mainstream, especially since the FILD method is not officially recognized by the DV board. While methods like FILD may work, they are not the best way to approach lucid dreaming, especially if you are new to it.