Originally Posted by
gab
Here is the deal:
If you are not asleep yet and not dreaming when you try to move, then your physical body will move. But if you are dreaming, then your dream body will move. To me, I can easily tell which body would move if I complete the motion. When I sense the physical would move, then I stop moving. But when the dream body moves, you realize it right away and you go "yeeey" and you complete the movement.
But, I don't just simply move when trying this. What I mean by "complete the motion":
You can practice this during day. Lay down on your back and roll to the side, as if rolling over, or when you start to stand up from the bed. Pay attention how your muscles and your body feels when you do that. Now do the same without actually moving your muscles. Give them mental command to roll to the side. Initiate the movement, but don't move. Imagine your dream body as a duplicate of your physical body, that's inside you. Same shape, same size, everything. Only it's not physical. You will be trying to roll that body out. Try to wiggle it side to side, try to roll it out. Imagine it turning and rolling and standing up.
Then when you are WILDing, do the same. Mental command while imagining how you roll. If you don't move, you are likely still awake. If you roll out, congrats, you are WILDing.
You can try different motionless RCs. You can also practice these. Again on your back, or whichever position you WILD in, hands where you normally have them during sleep. Try to lift your hands in front of you to see them. In a dream, your dream hands will move.
It's good to repeat some mantra while doing this. Maybe something "when I roll (see my hands), I'm dreaming".
You could just wait for a dream to form. But they don't always form like that. Sometimes you transition (cross) into a LD via some sensation, and not a visual. Don't wait for anything specific to happen. Many different things can happen, all you need to do is to recognize it. Which is easier said than done.
Yes, your eyes would be closed. But when you are in a LD, you are not seeing with your eyes.
For me, hardest transition to recognize was when I started seeing my room. I didn't see anything suspicous about it. There were no sensations, except maybe some vibrations. But I waited for some bigger "sign". So don't wait for big signs, you may be already in a dream at any point. Do motionless RC, try to levitate up, roll out, stand up...
It may take a few tries, you may stand up a few times and ruin your attempt, but every time will teach you how things feel and you will get a better feel of it for next time. Trial and error, there is no other way around it. Good luck and happy dreams