So Far, only two extremes when attempting a WILD

[oneironeer]

I find that I'm either TOO tired, and nothing seems to anchor me -- or I'm too alert, and I hardly even get fuzzy limbs, let alone SP. I tried counting, but when I'm tired I just lose track and you can only count 1, 2, 3... so many times before you're out like a light. I tried math, like... 1+1=2, 1+2=3, 2+3=5, 3+4=7... but soon I get confused as to where I'm at, lol. I haven't been able, for the life of me, to imagine I'm walking (I guess cause I'm lying down and feel that weight on my back). Then there's the flip side, where I have literally lain there for 2-3 hours, without barely even seeing hypnagogic imagery. I don't move a muscle, and still nothing. The closest I've come to a successful WILD, I basically concentrated so hard one the experience, but fell asleep (missing the change) and kept dreaming I was trying. I had several false awakenings, and never grasped that it was all a dream. I'm afraid a timer would just keep waking me up if I became successful, or I'd just stay awake in anticipation/fear of that blasted beep. Any ideas?

[iFatal]

Your trying to hard. Just lay back and relax. Let your mind wander don't thing about WILDING, SP or HI. If you think about it you can't fall asleep and if you fall asleep you can't WILD. If your interested, join my WILD group http://www.dreamviews.com/f11/lucid-...groups-111297/

[KingYoshi]

I agree with iFatal...I think you are trying to hard. I always find it best to WILD when you are really tired. The trick, of course, is not losing consciousness. While your eyes are closed, try to observe the darkness. Just watch the dark and passively search for signs of HI/HH. In the mean time, let your mind wander and imagine your thoughts as images in the darkness. Usually this will help HH/HI set in. Your thoughts will start to become fuzzy scenes/images. Stay calm and casually observe these images and any other HH you may get. With this technique, your senses collectively are the anchor. Your sight, and hearing especially. It is important to not focus on any particular HI/HH you may get. Your focus is on the entire process as it carries on. If you aren't tired, it will be hard to succeed. You can't WILD if you can't fall asleep. Good Luck to you and hope I helped out some. If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask!

[oneironeer]

Well, last night, I got up around 4 hours. I laid down, and thought of my sleep mask as "an anchor", and found myself INCREDIBLY tired. Falling asleep or staying awake isn't the problem, I do both and that's it -- that's the problem, lol. I felt myself instantly falling asleep, and couldn't focus on anything. I was falling FAST. I thought, "Oh, your toe, wiggle it. Remember you're mask is on... it is still there, right...?" and I was out like a light. :-(

[iFatal]

Well, last night, I got up around 4 hours. I laid down, and thought of my sleep mask as "an anchor", and found myself INCREDIBLY tired. Falling asleep or staying awake isn't the problem, I do both and that's it -- that's the problem, lol. I felt myself instantly falling asleep, and couldn't focus on anything. I was falling FAST. I thought, "Oh, your toe, wiggle it. Remember you're mask is on... it is still there, right...?" and I was out like a light. :-( This is one of the problems with me. I either fall asleep or I'm to awake. If your just getting up just to turn off you alarm, then your usually going to be really tired. Try to go to the bathroom (With the lights off so you don't wake yourself up to much.) Walk around or get up out of bed to right in your DJ or something. Don't stay up to long because you don't want to be too awake. Try to keep it at 2 minutes MAX. After you do this, you shouldn't be as tired so you wont fall back asleep right away.

[KingYoshi]

Yeah they key is finding that perfect spot between being too tired and being too awake. It is a sweet spot that is different for everyone. You will have to just experiment with it and determine how long you need to stay up during your WBTB.

[oneironeer]

Well, the irony is, I stayed up long enough to use the restroom, and eat half a chocolate bar (just a plain ol' Hersheys) because of the small amount of caffeine and that other chemical that's helpful for staying alert, and I still fell asleep! Haha Some people say 30 minutes to an hour. I really don't have the patience to NOT read, NOT watch TV, and NOT use the computer for 30-60 minutes, and NOT sleep. So I'm usually around 10 minutes. I really don't know what else I can do with another 20 minutes if I can't wake my mind up. Hmm, maybe I should get a book of art or photography, and just thumb through it by nite-lite? Gonna try 4 nights a week if I can. I'm up to 7 LDs since I re-started lucid dreaming in January, but THIS seems like the ultimate goal. Oh, and I think I will join your group, I just have to get around to reading the info and everything, lol. Off to bed I think!

[iFatal]

Well, the irony is, I stayed up long enough to use the restroom, and eat half a chocolate bar (just a plain ol' Hersheys) because of the small amount of caffeine and that other chemical that's helpful for staying alert, and I still fell asleep! Haha Some people say 30 minutes to an hour. I really don't have the patience to NOT read, NOT watch TV, and NOT use the computer for 30-60 minutes, and NOT sleep. So I'm usually around 10 minutes. I really don't know what else I can do with another 20 minutes if I can't wake my mind up. Hmm, maybe I should get a book of art or photography, and just thumb through it by nite-lite? Gonna try 4 nights a week if I can. I'm up to 7 LDs since I re-started lucid dreaming in January, but THIS seems like the ultimate goal. Oh, and I think I will join your group, I just have to get around to reading the info and everything, lol. Off to bed I think! Maybe reading some posts from DV when you get up for like 5 minutes because if you stay up to long then you will be too awake.

[oneironeer]

KINGYOSHI: Today, I attempted a WILD while napping in the afternoon, and even though I don't remember waking up or dreaming, when I finally gave up and opened my eyes, I looked around for a piece of gum I expected to be nearby, because I imagined and/or dreamed my wife offered me some (she wasn't even in the same town!). Ah! So frustrating.