Improve my WILD technique?

**Schlachtfeld** · 01-22-2011 11:09 PM

I figured it would be easier to get a few opinions this way.

I've never achieved a WILD successfully, partly because I haven't had a lot of practice time lately, but also because my technique could use some refining.

My dream recall has been phenomenal lately and I've been remembering 3-5 dreams a night. This subconscious hot spot that I've hit hopefully will make it easier to WILD.

I've hit SP once, and it was because I woke up in it. I was having a dream and thought I heard my cell phone go off so I started to wake up but as the dream was going away, I saw this huge flash of bright light, then I was staring at the backs of my eyelids and these light patterns were floating around. (I knew I was conscious because of my thought pattern. long story there) But I just started getting these buzzing waves all over my body and I felt anchored to the spot. I felt heavy and though "I'm in SP! Guess I'll have to wait for it to pass before I check my phone." I didn't try to start thrashing around to see if I could move but I felt like I didn't have a body. When the buzzing went away I tried wiggling my fingertips. I thought I felt them move but I still felt rooted to the spot. Eventually I opened my eyes and got up. (And no, no one really texted me. I imagined that noise in my dream -_- I probably could've gotten into a DEILD if I didn't make myself get up...)

Anyway, when I try to WILD, I set my alarm for about 5 hours after I fall asleep. I get up (though sometimes I accidentally fall back asleep) and lie on my back, relax, and start counting and focusing on my breathing. I tend to count in German because counting in English doesn't keep me aware enough. After I start, one of two things happen: I relax and count for a long time with nothing happened. No HI, noises, feelings, at all. OR I fall asleep completely.

I was thinking about finding a new anchor to see if that will help. I did notice though that I feel the floating/sinking sensations sometimes but nothing else. Trying to visualize things put me to sleep fast so I prefer to focus on the physical sensations, but I can't seem to induce them.

Also, I noticed that out of all the times I've tried to WILD, I felt I got the closet to SP before bed, without any sleep. Do you think I should try it that way a few times in case I'm one of the few who do better that way?

If you can drop a suggestion or two, I'd be most grateful. Thanks very much.

**LikesToTrip** · 01-26-2011 02:22 AM

The way I learned how to WILD was a modified WBTB. After getting up and staying awake for a little bit I would then set an alarm for 30-1hr later(depending on how tired I was) and go back to sleep. Then when the alarm went off I would try to WILD. Doing it this way seemed to make SP hit much much faster and was a lot easier than doing it the normal way. Also I don't use an anchor. I found counting to be too distracting, and visualizing also puts me to sleep. So instead I just completely empty my mind and meditate, sometimes I focus on my body, but generally I try not to think at all. And you don't have to be laying on your back to WILD, I normally lay on my side or on my stomach. When I lay on my back spit tends to pool at the back of my mouth making me want to swallow which is REALLY distracting. Whatever position you normally fall asleep in would probably be best. Oh and after your first WILD (which probably won't last very long) try to do it again immediately after. It should be really easy to go right back into a dream as long as you don't move at all. As long as you stay dedicated and keep trying you'll eventually have one. Good luck! Let us know when you succeed!

**kitty200049** · 01-26-2011 03:45 AM

That's a really good idea! Do you think it would work if you set your alarm 30min-1hr after going to bed without prior sleep? If I'm getting this right, you would still be waking in the middle of REM but it might not last too long.

**Schlachtfeld** · 01-26-2011 04:59 AM

Interesting...
So wake up after 5 hours or so, go back to bed, then wake up and try to WILD? I never thought of that.
I've taken to focusing on relaxing one part of my body at a time, starting with my right calf and moving up. (though I've fallen asleep, so I'll have to focus better.)
Once the weekend comes, I can try again.

**LikesToTrip** · 01-26-2011 07:30 PM

@Kitty I highly doubt you would be able to wild after only an hour of sleep. From what I've read it takes ~90 minutes to enter REM and the first REM cycle is very short. Personally I have trouble WILDing with less than 7 hours (but I generally sleep ~10 hours a night).
@Schlachtfeld Don't get discouraged if it doesn't work out the first time. It took me months to be able to induce SP somewhat consistently, and then another month to be able to enter a dream, and yet ANOTHER month to be able to stabilize the dream and make it last more than a few minutes. It takes a lot of dedications, but long as you keep at it you WILL have a WILD.
Oh and another thing, the night before you are going to try to WILD you should try to WILD before going to sleep. It is very unlikely you will succeed, but you are at least practicing the steps and getting into the right mindset. I was practicing every night and every morning when I had my first breakthrough.
Good luck! You WILL eventually have a WILD, I promise.

**Schlachtfeld** · 01-26-2011 11:04 PM

It would help if I had more time to practice. I get up at 6am so I can only try on the weekends. Come summer, I'll have PLENTY of time, though.

I do try before I go to bed, only because (as I've said before) I feel I get closer to SP then. I've been trying to WILD for almost a month now, but I've been switching up my technique to see what works better. Eventually, I will have a good process.