Wake Induced Lucid Dreams:

The WILD Technique

Wake Induced Lucid Dreams, or WILD, was formally named by Dr Stephen LaBerge but has been used by Tibetan monks for a thousand years. It is one of the most powerful lucid dreaming techniques. Once you master it, the "Mind Awake / Body Asleep" method can help you lucid dream on demand.

Some people find WILD lucid dreams hard to master at first - it depends on your experience of meditation and entering altered states of awareness. To boost your chances of success, try using lucid dreaming CDs. These lower your inner brainwave frequencies, inducing deeper altered states in minutes. I particularly recommend the Lucid Dreaming MP3 by Unexplainable.

I also recommend this detailed instructional video which explains how to induce controlled sleep paralysis, pass through the vibrational state comfortably, gain your dream vision, and separate your dream body from your physical body. From that point you can explore a lucid dream world with total clarity and awareness.

The aim of WILD lucid dreams is to fall asleep consciously. It is not that hard if you practice the right steps. In time, it will allow you to lucid dream on demand (although you do need to be in a relaxed state for it to work).

How to Have Wake Induced Lucid Dreams   The best time to practice WILD is in the early hours of the morning when your REM cycles become longer, and your dreams are more vivid. So make sure you get 4-6 hours sleep before you begin. (Hint: set your alarm for 5am, or tell yourself "I will wake up at 5am" as you get into bed while looking at your alarm clock. This really works!) Otherwise, try this during an afternoon nap, when your brain becomes naturally tired. Step One - Total Relaxation Close your eyes and lie on your back. Focus on your breathing and your intention to control your dreams. Keep your body totally relaxed and still. Repeat over in your mind: "One. The next scene will be a dream. Two. The next scene will be a dream. Three..." etc. This will set your intention and keep your mind alert while your body slowly drifts back to sleep. Step Two - Hypnagogic Imagery After 5-10 minutes you will see hypnagogic imagery. This is the beginning of the dream state! Blobs of color will swirl around behind your closed eyelids. Observe them if you like, but also be aware of other sensations beyond your field of vision. Let your inner voice go quiet. As the dream state deepens, you will be aware of voices and sounds. This is normal - they are coming from inside your own head! Hold on to this state of blissful relaxation, while focusing on your intention to recognize the dream state when it occurs. Step Three - Fall Asleep Consciously The hypnagogic images can develop quickly, depending on how relaxed you are. Remember you are tricking your body to fall asleep consciously, while remaining consciously alert. Don't let any stray thoughts or worries get in the way; just focus on keeping a clear and empty mind. This is the great secret of meditation. It is not easy at first, but practice makes perfect. When your body is asleep, you might hear a loud vibrating or humming sensation in your head. Don't be afraid - this is the point of transition: from waking to the dream state. You may also realize that your body has entered REM sleep paralysis. These are unusual sensations but you will get used to them. They are totally natural protective mechanisms that happen to you every night (you just aren't normally aware of it). Step Four - Enter The Dreamscape By now, if you remain focused, you will be conscious of a dream playing out in front of you. There are two ways to enter the dream from here. You can simply step into the picture, so that it becomes 3D. This is a very exciting way to jump into another reality and become lucid. Alternatively, you can climb out of your physical body. In your mind's eye, imagine you have two bodies; a physical body and a dream body. To transition into your dream body, you can roll, sink, or float off the bed, but be careful not to move your physical body by accident. Or simply imagine yourself in a different location. This movement out of body is what finally releases you from the waking world to a lucid dream world.

Falling Asleep Consciously

The hardest part of Wake Induced Lucid Dreams is staying awake while your mind and body become completely relaxed. If you lose focus for just a few moments, you can fall asleep for real. However, with practice you will learn to maintain this mental state on the very edge of consciousness.

The hypnagogic state can be fascinating: the longer you observe the images, the more complex they will become. You will also feel peaceful and relaxed. You are literally watching your dreams take shape while you lie consciously in bed. The deeper you go, the less you will notice your body. Eventually, the dream will snap into being, like someone switching on a light. The images will no longer be behind your closed eyelids - but right there in front of you! Lucidity will be yours.

Wake Induced Lucid Dreams: FAQ

Where do hypnagogic images come from?

There are a few theories on this. Some people believe that even in very dark conditions, light still penetrates the eyelids, which makes the patterns of blood flow visible. This is interpreted by the brain as geometrical patterns and objects. Dream images (explained by Freud) or spontaneous memories will later join in.

How do I enter the hypnagogic state?

The key is to relax completely. Don't move a muscle; just allow your busy mind to clear. Practice with guided meditation CDs or binaural beats for lucid dreaming. The binaural beats CDs I have listed are specifically for practicing Wake Induced Lucid Dreams. They can completely relax your mind and body in just 8 minutes, giving you easier access to the conscious dream state direct from waking.

Once you are deeply relaxed, focus on your closed eyelids and mentally drop deeper into a trance. It may help to imagine doing something active, like riding a bike or swimming. Pay attention to what you see, feel and hear internally during this visualization, without necessarily staring at the hypnagogic images. These are important but the real shift in awareness comes from outside your field of vision, from an imaginary plane. This is explained very well in the Salt Cube video, which is packed with tips to lucid dream on demand.

How do I get rid of annoying itches?

When you focus on keeping your body absolutely still, you are bound to notice itches and distractions. Feel free to scratch them - otherwise they will continue to bother you and make you lose concentration. Just return your mind to where you left off and pretend it never happened. If you get the urge to roll over, ignore it. This is the body's final call before going into sleep paralysis!

How do I leave my dream body after entering sleep paralysis?

The trick is to separate the dream body and physical body in your mind, which can be tough at first since they are laying in the same position. Since you can move your face during sleep paralysis, try opening your mouth and peeling your head away first. Or imagine sinking slightly into the bed. Again, the Salt Cube videos present many separation techniques and answers to common problems.

How long do WILD lucid dreams take to initiate?

Don't set yourself a time limit, otherwise you won't be able to completely relax. It can take anything from 10-30 minutes to induce a WILD. Remember, you are trying to fall asleep consciously - so how long does it normally take you to fall asleep? If you feel frustrated and can't relax any more, it's probably not going to happen. So try again later when you have less on your mind.

Why wasn't my WILD very vivid?

Like false awakenings, Wake Induced Lucid Dreams are usually extremely vivid. However if you do lose focus, you can shout "clarity now!" in your lucid dream or concentrate on an object close-up (like your hands) to enhance the details. I have written an article about how to stay lucid, including expert techniques which improve your ability to control your dreams.

Having Wake Induced Lucid Dreams can be very rewarding. They can be extremely realistic and enable you to lucid dream on demand...

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