A DILDer trying to get a WILD - any tips?

So, I have had many lucid dreams through DILD, but had no real success with WILD. I think I was able to accidentally do it maybe once or twice, or maybe they were DEILDs. My goal is to learn how to WILD because it seems like a good technique. I tried it multiple times when waking up naturally in the middle of the night, but never really set aside a day or had an alarm wake me up.

I tried it properly for the first time last night, I set an alarm for 1am. I set it to turn off by itself after a couple of seconds because I was worried that I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep if I had to turn it off myself. I am pretty sure that I had been woken up in the middle of a REM cycle by the alarm. I didn't even move after I woke up, just stayed still and tried to go back to sleep while keeping awareness. I counted in my head, trying to imagine the numbers. I think I had a few dreamlets start to form, but every time I would snap out of them, they lasted only 1 second or so. I stayed like that for about 40 minutes but was too awake, so I just gave up and went to sleep normally. I did a reality check too, so I was sure that it wasn't a FA.

Anyway, I am mostly making this thread as motivation for myself to keep trying. I will update my progress and write what I did in my attempts. If you see that I am doing something wrong, or just have any general tips, please tell me! :nodyes:

Sageous has a really great series of threads on WILDs, so I won't go into too much detail, but if I were you I would try using a mantra rather than counting (this is obviously personal preference, but it's worth a try). I also found success with a running a fan in my room as I slept and using that as an anchor to concentrate on as I fell asleep. This is Sageous thread on 'doing the dive'. I think it's definitely worth a read.

Good luck! WILDs are great fun once you're comfortable with them.

Thank you for the tips!

I use DILD as well and have 1-2 LDs a week. I’ve been trying to WILD for just as long and have had about 10 in a year and a half having 3 of those in the last couple of months. Usually I just fall asleep when I try. What has worked was getting out of bed for 15-30 mins, take galantamine, visualize becoming lucid, then prop myself up uncomfortably on my back and then repeat to myself “this is a dream” for a few mins. I then try to stay aware of everything I think and feel while relaxing. At that point if I’m very lucky I’ll feel vibrations, hear noises, then after a few mins sit up and enter my dream room. Other times a dream has formed before my eyes and I somehow just sort of merged with it. I’m trying again tonight. I love the idea of keeping track of your efforts on here. I may copy you. Good luck!

I tried it again last night, but my alarm didn't go off so I did it when I woke up naturally. I fell asleep too fast though. Seems like I just have to find the right balance. I tried it in the morning too, but I was too awake by then, however I think I figured out the right direction to go in. A mantra seemed to work better than counting, and I also tried counting in Russian (my first language), which seemed to work better than English, even though I am fluent in English. I guess I will have to try again soon and see if it works :)

I've only managed a few WILDs, so I'm hardly an expert. The few times I have succeeded I did a WBT after waking naturally at about 4 am (I tend to wake after each sleep cycle). The problem is becasue of waking after a sleep cycle, the next period of REM is likely an hour away, I just have to be super patient. That also means it's not too good for sleep quality of course!
I just ended up meditating, concentrating on my breath, and observing the imgery that came and went. About an hour later I was able to get a brief lucid - not very efficient!

I suspect that a WBTB in the morning, but nearer to normal waking time, would be better.
I will try again and see how it goes.

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Originally Posted by Goldenspark

I've only managed a few WILDs, so I'm hardly an expert. The few times I have succeeded I did a WBT after waking naturally at about 4 am (I tend to wake after each sleep cycle). The problem is becasue of waking after a sleep cycle, the next period of REM is likely an hour away, I just have to be super patient. That also means it's not too good for sleep quality of course!
I just ended up meditating, concentrating on my breath, and observing the imgery that came and went. About an hour later I was able to get a brief lucid - not very efficient!

I suspect that a WBTB in the morning, but nearer to normal waking time, would be better.
I will try again and see how it goes.

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I should probably experiment with WILD a bit more before uni starts, maybe I will try that.