What am I doing wrong?

[PandoraX47]

I woke up one hour before I usually wake up. I stayed up for like 5 minutes then went back to bed with my conscience awake. I entered sleep paralysis (i felt it) and my mind blank waiting patiently for something to come up. I did and nothing came up. What am I doing wrong?

[jarrhead]

You must have something to think about. Don't go blank, or you'll be blank. I achieved THREE lucid dreams last night as I'd wake up in the night and begin thinking about what I wanted. And, in light of your username, yes, I went to pandora three times.

[Lunalight]

That happens to me when I WILD sometimes. I find it helps to change position and try again. Also, I breathe slow and count on each exhale, and think 'I am dreaming' on each inhale.

[jarrhead]

No. I don't even pay attention to my breathing. I just replay the scene over and over. I stay in ONE position that's most comfortable for me. Laying on my back, arms over the crotch, left hand on top of right.

[PandoraX47]

I did think about what I wanted to LD about yet I didn't see any dream symptoms such as lighting or anything leading to a dream. How long until the transition to lucidity?

[jarrhead]

I see no symptoms. They come later in the night, but you won't remember the time beforehand cause you'll be asleep. What works for me is that I imagine where I want to go. I've never gotten Hypnogagic imagery so don't worry about that. 5-6 hours into sleep (I believe this is your first REM) I have my dream about where I started. My dream sign is that MY EYES ARE OPEN. If i'm imagining the scene all night, as soon as I see something I realize i'm dreaming and i'm instantly lucid. I also do RCs whenever I wake up and don't feel sleep paralysis within 30 seconds or so, so if I were to have a false awakening of sorts, I would check and maybe become lucid. That's how my first LD came around. The first entry into my dream journal.

[PandoraX47]

Isn't your mind awake when you have a lucid or you fall asleep first?

[jarrhead]

What?

[DepartedMember001]

Keep trying, PandoraX47. Different techniques work for different people, so just keep trying different things until you find one that works for you. Some people count, some focus on the noise; others watch the HI, and still others visualize. It's okay that you didn't see any signs - many people see nothing at all. What matters is that you keep trying, and you'll get it eventually. How long are you trying for? (To be grammatically correct, "For how long do you try?" ). When you're still new to lucid dreaming, it can take up to an hour, or perhaps even longer. Once you find the best technique for yourself, and with a bit of practice, you should be able to lucid dream easily. Keep trying, you'll get it eventually.

[jarrhead]

I may need to find a new technique. But no time soon cause I'm nowhere NEAR doing what I want to on Pandora.

[PandoraX47]

I tried once yesterday but fell asleep. I tried today after 6 hours of sleep for almost 30 minutes then tried in a different position. Nothing so far. How long does it take to get to lucidity after sleep paralysis?

[jarrhead]

After SP? Like a minute or less. DONT MOVE! That totally resets your SP. Your urge to move is your body testing you to see if you're asleep for SP. These involuntary actions are not controlled by your conscious state so tests like that must be done

[The Dreaming Zombie]

Different for everyone, but when you're in SP don't think about how far you are to getting to sleep and dreaming, just sort of clear all your thoughts and focus lightly on say your HI, or count your breaths if that works for you. You can probably ease your way into a dream or suddenly appear there instantly (I've only experienced the latter).

[jarrhead]

I do not get HI. I just keep replaying the scene. Keep replaying the scene. Don't think about anything else!!! And don't move. Both of those are key.

[PandoraX47]

I know not to move when in SP. I closed my eyes, and imagined my LD and patiently waited.

[jarrhead]

then tried in a different position If you knew not to move, why did you?

[jarrhead]

I know not to move when in SP. I closed my eyes, and imagined my LD and patiently waited. Don't wait, just keep replaying the scene OVER and OVER and OVER again! I suggest starting with something you've seen before, as a simple scene from a movie.

[PandoraX47]

I moved one time because the position I was in was uncomfortable and not working but it somehow gets me in SP faster than if I'm in a comfortable position. Then I tried in a different position.

[jarrhead]

Find a comfortable position. DONT MOVE. If you're already that close to SP, but in an uncomfortable position, don't worry. You'll be knocked out in 30 seconds, and LDing if you're visualizing the scene in your head.

[Gutts]

If you knew not to move, why did you? It's actually a legitimate technique to change positions after 10-15 minutes. It's called hypnotic fractionation. The theory behind it is that when you go into a trance, then come out of it, then go back back in, you go deeper and deeper into the trance each time. I don't personally do this, but I know it works extremely well for some people. You might want to give a try PandoraX47, check out Yoshi's tutorial http://dreamviews.com/community/showthread.php?t=82529 Also, I'm amazed you already have over 200 posts.

[PandoraX47]

What if you swallow or open your eyes for a second? Will that prevent anything?

[Gutts]

What if you swallow or open your eyes for a second? Will that prevent anything? Don't ever open your eyes, but at the beginning if you swallow that's fine, just to to keep it to a minimum.

[DepartedMember001]

How long does it take to get to lucidity after sleep paralysis? You don't need SP to have a lucid dream. Often, people will directly enter the dream without SP or they might experience SP, but not notice it.

[jarrhead]

What if you swallow or open your eyes for a second? Will that prevent anything? If you're physically fit, the only SP you will feel (like me) is in your strongest muscles. For me, it is my legs, as I am a soccer player. We run about two miles, five days a week. I believe this is about 2 miles, as it is 14 laps around the fence of a 118yd field, so like 120 yards long plus however many across. I feel it in my left leg, i don't know why my right leg isn't near as strong. It is probably because I play bass standing up and one leg is planted out. It will feel very heavy. Once you become very relaxed, flex your toes and calves for about 30 seconds, then go limp. Then your theighs, yer bunz, your back (arch it upwards hard), your abs, then your arms. Stay limp, don't move. Never open your eyes.