WILD: Wake Initiated Lucid Dreams

WILD stands for Wake Initiated Lucid Dreams. If you are a beginner you may want to save this page for later. It is one of the more difficult lucid dreaming techniques to master - so only attempt it when you feel you are ready.

Having said that, some people find this technique easy to induce lucid dreams at will. It really depends on the person and their experience.

The aim is to stay conscious while your body falls asleep. It will allow you to control your dreams on demand, although you should be in a relaxed mood for it to work.

With WILD, you will fall asleep consciously. That may sound like a contradiction in terms but I promise it is possible! If you are familiar with techniques for astral projection you may find this sounds very familiar...

Wake Initiated Lucid Dreams

The best time to practice WILD is the middle of the night. So make sure you get 3-6 hours sleep before you begin. Otherwise, try this during an afternoon nap, when your mind is naturally tired.

Close your eyes and repeat in your mind: "I will lucid dream tonight". Focus on your breathing and your intention to control your dreams. Keep your body relaxed and still.

After a few minutes you will see hypnagogic imagery. This is the beginning of the dreamstate! You will see blobs of color swirling around behind your closed eyelids. In time they will develop into snippets of dreams, which include sights and sounds. Simply relax and enjoy the sensation, but do not fall asleep. Focus!

If your body is totally relaxed and you are aware of the hypnagogic images (without paying too much attention to them) you will be in a deep, trance-like state. Try to deepen that sensation. Let your body go. Feel it sinking into the bed. Be aware of thoughts or images occurring just outside your field of vision. Your mind will drift even further...

When your brain is "asleep" you may hear and feel a loud vibrating or humming sensation in your head. Don't be afraid - this is the point of transition: from waking to the dreamstate. You may also realize that your body has entered REM sleep paralysis. These are unusual sensations but you will get used to them, and are no cause for concern.

Your conscious brain is now entering new territory. There are two ways to enter the dream from here. You can simply step into the picture in front of you, so that it becomes 3D. This is a very exciting way to jump into another reality and control your dreams!

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 the dream body, simply roll, sink, or float off the bed. Or you can just imagine yourself in a different location. This movement "out of body" is what finally releases you from the waking world to a lucid dreamworld!

The hardest part of this lucid dreaming technique is staying awake while your mind and body become completely relaxed. If you lose focus for just a few seconds, you can fall asleep. 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 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!

WILD: 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 on the fun.

How do I enter the hypnagogic state?

The key is to relax. Try some meditation techniques. Once you are completely 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.

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.

How long does WILD take?

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 essentially falling asleep consciously. 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. Hemi-Sync and other lucid dreaming CDs can encourage altered states.

Why wasn't my WILD very vivid?

Wake initiated lucid dreams are usually extremely vivid. However if you do lose focus, you can demand "clarity now" or concentrate on an object and enhance the details. There are also special techniques for how to stay lucid, which improve your ability to control your dreams.

Having lucid dreams using the WILD technique can be very rewarding. They can be extremely realistic and create lucid dreams at will!

Lucid Dreaming Techniques
Keeping a Dream Journal
Reality Checks
Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams - MILD
WILD
Cycle Adjustment Technique - CAT
Meditation
Self-Hypnosis