My first lucid sleep, but no dream

Hi, I'm new to this forum, got here by google...

I had some strange experience just last night.

It was my first shot at Lucid dreaming, and I wasn't even trying. As I layed waiting for sleep I was just concentrating on the fact that I would remember my dreams (which I usually never do). Concentrating on this fact I started to turn my focus inwards on what was happening with my body (much like I'm used to do in yoga practice). I felt my body and mind relax, I focused on my breathing, and then I fell asleep but remained conscious. It was very shocking.

I could consciously feel what was happening to my mind, how it fell deeper into sleep, but as I was about to go into dreaming (or t least I think I was, it felt like I was being pulled down into darkness) my heart started to race, and I kindof feared that I would lose my mind completely.

So then i drifted back up into lighter sleep, experienced some REM (I could feel my eyes twitching) almost fell back one more time, but didn't make it. In the end I started to experience some trippy feelings, I felt a dread, from what I couldn't tell but it frightened me to death. That's when I decided it was time to wake up.

So no dreams for me, but I clearly experienced what it was like to sleep...

Welcome to the forum!

Excellent experience, that to me sounded like classic sleep paralysis, a state where your body becomes paralysed allowing you to dream without running around your house :). The feelings of falling and dread are commonly complained about at this stage. Its hard at the time but as you're probably aware there's no reason to worry, its a natural process, the only difference being that you're concious instead of the usual unconcious.

This type of experience always fascinates me, how the body and mind dont necessarily have to fall asleep at the same time...

Keep up the good work