Is This Lucid Dreaming?

I've reasearched this a bit but thought I should ask the experts. I believe I have had some experience with lucid dreaming; I'll do my best to explain what I'm talking about.

I'm at the point now where I can almost tell myself that I'm going to have a lucid dream and it'll happen that night. I don't call it that but it's more of a technique I apply as I am falling asleep.

Essentially as I am trying to fall asleep I try to "push" myself away from my body, as if I am reaching for the area outside of my physical form. It's hard to explain. But as I do this things begin to tingle. At some point a transition occurs and I feel myself being "yanked" out of my body. That is how I know the dream state has begun.

At this point I have some control over myself and the environment; for example, I can run, then leap, and fly around, sometimes through locations that I know (based on memory, so it's not always accurate) and other times in places that I've never been (eg. space). It's always first-person perspective, for example, in a previous experience I attempted to move my feet as if I were doing some sort of shuffle and I was able to "look down" at my feet to see this.

During these experiences, I can still pick up on audio in my bedroom. For example, if I have the radio on, I can still hear it but it will be somewhat muffled or distorted. Same goes if there is a storrm outside and the rain is hitting the window.

For the most part these dreams have been short but positive experiences. Often I get so excited about the "cool" aspect of what I'm doing that I guess I lose my concentration and wake up (and become very disappointed!).

However, on at least two occasions, something has happened that freaks me out and I wake up immediately: One time, as I was feeling the pull away from my physical form, I felt as though arms grabbed me from behind, pulling me downwards as if I was no longer in control. The second time, I heard maniacal laughter coming from behind my head (in this dream I was still lying in my bed).

So is the above lucid dreaming?

I know this post is long but I thought I should also mention that I believe I've had about a half a dozen sleep paralysis events. During these, I believe I am awake (first perspective, as if I'm lying in my bed) but I cannot move. Also, it feels as though there is a constant wind travelling along my body, much like a series of waves crashing onto the shoreline. These events are usually short because I panic and have to yell or make some other noise to "wake me up" out of this state.

Sorry for the long message! Your feedback is appreciated!

Brad

Yes, this is lucid dreaming. It sounds like you're doing a WILD. It would explain the sounds you hear, and the feeling that "arms grabbed me" is something that could be explained by the WILD technique, as you often hear, feel, and see weird stuff as your body falls asleep, but your mind stays awake.

Its sounds like your doing WILD into NREM, I say its into NREM because you say "I'm occasionally able to look at my feet" LaBerge touched on WILDing into NREM, he said his subjects were in an extremely dumbed down dream environment, the environment was past just imagining but it wasn't quite Dreaming.
Their experiences lasted about 20-30 seconds and though they did have control of their body and were conscious, it wasn't like real life control. It was more of a half thinking about moving their muscles and half actually moving them.

So pretty much you should get up after 6 hrs of sleep and use your spirit-from-body technique. Sure fire WILDs for you (if what your saying you can do with your technique is true anyway [Which I'm pretty sure it is ;)])

Anyway happy WILDs to you

Yes it is. I agree with those above, it's probably a WILD.

Hey Dude,

I would dissagree (sort of) with the notion that you were experiencing a Lucid Dream. What you discribed sounds more like Astral Projection. The hands pulling you is a common experience in Astral Projection and the sounds and wind are absolutely text-book. Perhaps when you get these sounds and the tell-tale vibrations cranking, sweep the electric frequencies all over you body and imagine your Astral body (which is always with you, just un-noticed) loosening from the physical. When you get to the crux of this feeling just roll out of bed. Do this with your thoughts, as thoughts create reality on the Astral just as they do in Lucid Dreams, which is why I don't fully dissagree with the idea that this was a "Wake-Induced Lucid Dream". The fact that you've had many sleep paralysis experiences points however to the opportunity and immerging of Astral Projection though, and you would be wise to give it a shot! Check out some web sites of Astral Projection and you'll be guaranteed to get inspired.

Dae,

Rob.

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond, but thanks for the replies.

Whatever it is that I'm experiencing, it's at the point that I don't seem to have one unless I tell myself as I lie in bed that I'm going to have a lucid dream (or whatever it may be.) Maybe I'm getting out of practice 'cause theres about a 50/50 chance it'll happen.

Again, thanks for the insight! :)

Brad