Thread: Why You Fail at WILDs

I like the idea and had a good start with it, but same problem as always, I can't fall asleep and only get some weak HIs and SP. I tried it 3-4 times over 2 days and changed between counting in the back of my mind, repeating words or short sentences. I tried it at different times of the day, after a few hours of sleep and as a nap, but the idea might be ok, tried to Wild for many years now.

Originally Posted by samf

how do you remain aware while falling asleep? To me, falling asleep includes forgetting the conscious world.

I'll quote myself for this one.

Originally Posted by Mzzkc

There's a few good ways to do it: anchors, setting a 'reminder', straight-up willpower. and emulating thought patterns that occur when falling asleep are the ones I've found most effective.

Anchors are pretty straightforward and should be well known enough that I don't need to explain them here. Correct me if I'm wrong, of course.

The 'reminder' is something I developed awhile back when first experimenting with the idea. Essentially, you use prospective memory to set a 'sentinel of intent,' as I like to call it, to jolt you into consciousness the moment you feel the usual transition.

Using willpower simply involves going to sleep while forcing yourself to stay aware throughout the transition. For it work properly, you have to stop controlling the direction of your thoughts, while still keeping a close eye on your mental state. It's not the easiest thing in the world, and definitely not my method of choice. I usually only use it when I'm exhausted, but I still have my mental faculties performing well. Actually, my last two failures were accomplished using this one.

The thought pattern emulation actually evolved from my experiments with the willpower method. This time, you take full control of your thoughts, but direct them in such a way that each thought leads to a seemingly random associated thought, much like what happens when falling asleep. It takes some practice to get down, but I really like this one. The thought chains can be quite interesting at times.

Those are just what I use personally. Your mileage will vary, so I highly suggest you figure out what works for you. Unfortunately, that's something you've got to do solo.

Originally Posted by exileblue

I like the idea and had a good start with it, but same problem as always, I can't fall asleep and only get some weak HIs and SP. I tried it 3-4 times over 2 days and changed between counting in the back of my mind, repeating words or short sentences. I tried it at different times of the day, after a few hours of sleep and as a nap, but the idea might be ok, tried to Wild for many years now.

What's your mindset when making the attempt? What are you doing differently from how you normally fall asleep? Are you trying to recognize SP/thinking about it when you feel it? What were the times exactly, and how much sleep did you get on each day?

Originally Posted by Mzzkc

What's your mindset when making the attempt? What are you doing differently from how you normally fall asleep? Are you trying to recognize SP/thinking about it when you feel it? What were the times exactly, and how much sleep did you get on each day?

Normally I just go to bed and fall asleep in a few minutes, if it takes more time, then I listen to this weird whistling sound in my ears, it often speeds the whole thing up. When I Wild without your Idea in mind, I "try" to get SP and then I'm mostly stuck in my mind, I get short HIs but they disappear after a second. In the last days I started a new technique where I collapse every sensory information that I get, on a single point. After a short time of doing that, I come close do a dream-like state, but then I hit a wall, it's like I can't get more sleepy, but at the same time I can't fall asleep.
While trying a WBTB, I'll sometimes just lose conciseness, fall asleep, but mostly because I'm to careful not getting too awake, because then I maybe couldn't go back to sleep.
I never really think about SP, it just happens, especially because my Wild-tries often exceed 2 hours.
I slept pretty normal while trying your idea, 7 hours at night (wbtb after 4-5 hours) and than again a short nap 6 hours after leaving the bed.

edit:
1. I never had the feeling that I could really enter a dream, it just seems like I imagine to start dreaming, but it won`t really happen = HI, only for short bursts I sometimes had seemingly real images that just lasted a second. For me it's like trying to achieve the impossible, but that makes it so interesting.

2. It would be great, if you could explain your whole routine, what you do and think, so that I can better identify my problem. I never really read something like that from someone in this forum, who really "mastered" wilds.