WILD Technique: Wake Initiated/Induced Lucid Dreaming - Explanation & Instructions

The aim of the WILD (Wake Induced Lucid Dreaming) technique is to keep your mind awake while your body is falling asleep. It is one of the more popular methods of lucid dream induction, but one that seems to cause new practitioners many problems. Indeed, WILD is considered to be the 'holy grail' of lucid dream practice for many oneironauts.

Although I have written on this topic before, I thought I should pen another article outlining what WILD is and how to achieve a lucid dream this way. The major advantage of using WILD for lucid dreaming is that you can essentially experience a lucid dream using this method whenever you want, as long as you are in the right frame of mind. It is sometimes called the Mind Awake/Body Asleep technique and has been said to produce the most vivid forms of on-demand lucidity, because there is no lapse in consciousness. The principle behind this technique is mind-body independence.

Basically, when using the WILD technique, the dreamer uses focus and concentration to keep the mind active, while allowing the body to enter sleep paralysis. This effectively bypasses the 'false awakening' stage or the need to perform reality checks in a non-lucid dream. One of the main advantages of this technique is that the dreamer is encouraged to relax and meditate, which is a beneficial end goal in itself. 

Step 1 - Preparation
The best time to try the WILD technique is after approximately 4 - 6 hours of sleep (depending on how much sleep you require - this is subjective, of course and make take trial and error to determine). It is essential that you are not deprived of deep sleep when you try WILD, because if you still need deep, restorative sleep, you are likely to experience less REM sleep, which is where dreaming occurs. Try the Wake-Back-To-Bed method alongside the WILD technique - wake yourself up after 4 - 6 hours of normal sleep and then,  during the period of wakefulness, practice the WILD technique, using the final 1 - 2 hours of sleep time for lucid dreaming (assuming that the average person sleeps for 7 - 8 hours in total per night). If you usually have 8 hours of sleep, perform WBTB after 6 hours, and spend the remaining 2 hours for the WILD technique. Hopefully, you will experience a lucid dream in the final 1 - 2 hours of sleep, before you wake up again for a second time. Research has shown that dreams occurring in the final part of the sleep cycle, near the time of waking, are most vivid and easily recalled. This is the best time for attempting a lucid dream, other than during an afternoon nap (if you have had your full quota of sleep the night before), which is my personal preference. Often, the brain will try to catch up on REM sleep during an afternoon nap (rather than going into a deep sleep), which makes this the perfect time for experimentation. You may wish to combine your lucid dream experimentation with binaural beats (for brain entrainment) of lucid dream supplements/dream-boosting foods, but these topics have been/will be covered in detail elsewhere. 

Some lucid dream researchers suggest that you should not eat or drink for up to an hour before bed. Even more importantly, you should try to limit use of any screens or other electronic/digital devices while preparing to sleep, and make sure that no light is being emitted from an active source of power (such as a computer screen or night light) or able to enter the bedroom through curtains/blinds. Light can have a detrimental impact on our ability to sleep and produce melatonin, a chemical known as the 'dream hormone'. Minimise any noise and make sure the temperature of your bedroom is comfortable. 

If you maintain a dream diary/journal, you may find it useful to read through some of your previous dreams before bed, to get into the right mindset and also assist your ability to recognise dreamsigns when you are in the dream state. 

Step 2 - Physical & Mental Relaxation

Once you are in bed, practice some deep and steady breathing exercises - yoga breathing exercises are perfect for this. You must then prepare yourself to be able to lie completely motionless. Make sure your bed is comfortable, your muscles have been stretched and any itches are scratched. 

You need to lay very still, with all your muscles loose and relaxed, Do not cross your ankles or your arms - let your body feel heavy an sink into the bed without resistance. Let your mind be free of intrusive or distracting thoughts - try to empty your mind. If thoughts do pop into your head, acknowledge them without interacting with them and let them drift away. Focus your mind on the blackness of your closed eyelids. This part of the technique may take a while, or it may come naturally - you need to persevere until you are able to meditate your way into the sleep state with a focused mind. If you feel the urge to move or readjust your body in any way, you should do so and then repeat this step of the technique. Some practitioners experience the 'swallowing problem' - where a build up of saliva in the mouth produces an urge to swallow and a concern that this will 'reset' progress (like when you make other movements when intending to be completely still). My advice is to just swallow and try not to focus on this action at all. It is simply a reflex and should not hinder your method if you pay no attention to it.

Step 3 - Stop, Drop & Roll
When your body has been very still for a long period of time, it is 'tricked' into thinking that the brain is asleep and begins to enter the process of sleep paralysis, in preparation for dreaming. However, it is not good for the body to be asleep while the brain remains awake, so the body sends a test signal - this is known as the 'roll over signal' - and presents itself as a strong urge to roll over. If you move - i.e. responding to the roll over signal - the body knows the brain is still awake, so the main aim here is not to respond to the roll over signal because this sends the message that you are still awake. There are 4 types of roll over signal:

1. Fast relax - This happens when you relax quickly and deeply and the body decides to go into sleep paralysis without sending a proper roll over signal. This is the best condition for the WILD technique because you enter the optimal state rapidly.
2. Slow relax - If you are tense, but tired and remain still for long enough, the roll over signal will build in strength until it cannot be ignored. This is known as a 'signal swell' and the body will not enter sleep paralysis because of the tenseness of the muscles.
3. Urge surge - The body sends a strong roll over signal at random. If you can resist the roll over signal, it will pass in a matter of seconds and the body will go into paralysis. This is a useful condition for the WILD technique, although if you are not sufficiently relaxed, you may only enter partial paralysis, which is not helpful.
4. Quick switch - This happens quickly and rewards you with a deep form of sleep paralysis. It tends to happen when you are very tried (not an ideal time for practicing WILD) or when you are in a deep state of relaxation (ideal time for WILD). 

The key is bringing on the roll over signal as quickly as possible. This can be achieved by the stop, drop and roll step of this method. It is essential that you are laying on your back and your legs are slightly separated and not touching. Some researchers suggest laying with your hands by your sides, while others advocate putting your arms on your pillow above your head. I opt for the latter because I have found that this sends the strongest signal. The feeling that you need to move your arms and place them across your body or cross them in some way is a subtle form of the roll over signal and this sensation is an indication that you are on the right track. Resist this temptation: when you toss and turn in bed, what you are effectively doing is resetting your internal sleep-timer. The roll over signal is a test to see if you are asleep, and moving (rolling over) is a reminder that you are awake. Continually moving around keeps you awake - hence why tossing and turning is associated with insomnia. Instead of haphazardly releasing small amounts of tension by continuously moving, the Stop, Drop and Roll step allows you to control the release of tension, by dissipating it in two intentional chunks. 

You need to get to the stage where the body is 'asking' to go to sleep and then tell it 'yes'. This sounds strange, but it is actually very easy to do! First of all: STOP. Relax in the position you have adopted, with your arms above your head. Once you feel as relaxed as you possibly can, purposefully DROP your arms from above your head down to your sides, releasing all the tension which has built up in your shoulders. The dropping of your arms will let the body think that it is ready to sleep and that the brain has prepared itself for this state. You should now experience the roll over signal strongly, which is the body's response to you dropping your arms and releasing tension therein. The stronger the roll over signal, the stronger the body's quest for sleep. If you reach a point where it feels that the roll over signal has plateaued, ROLL over. Once in this final position, do not move - let yourself fall asleep. If you do feel the need to move - do so - and go back to Step 2 and repeat again.

One trick is to build up a strong roll over signal before even getting into bed (or getting back into bed if practicing WBTB). Lay on a hard floor next to the bed. After a few minutes this will become uncomfortable, and your body will be grateful for you getting into a more comfortable bed, making it easier to relax and go to sleep. 

The Stop, Drop and Roll method is a form of sleep starter, with an implicit sleep trigger - if you ignore the roll over signal, your body is tricked into entering sleep paralysis.

Step 4 - Sleep Starters & Triggers (optional)
Ideally, this topic could be treated as an independent article in itself, but it is useful for me to summarise some of the sleep starters/triggers herein, as they complement the WILD technique.

• Sleep breathing (sleep starter 1) - Learn to breathe like you are asleep. Sleep breathing is a deeper and longer form of breathing than wakeful breathing, and you should pay attention to the rhythm of your breath as you fall asleep and try to mimic that pattern when trying WILD. You may detect your sleeping breath by laying completely still when you awaken and noting how your breathing is. 
• Stop micro eye movements (sleep starter 2) - If you close your eyes and try to keep them as still as possible, you will most likely sense a twitching. These are micro eye movements. If you are able to keep your eyes completely still, this is another way you can trick your body into thinking it is asleep. One way of stopping any eye movements is to relax your eyes before bed. Do this by performing wide eye rolls (both directions) until the eye muscles feel tired and then relax them. 
• Pause breaths (sleep paralysis trigger 1) - These are useful if your body is in partial sleep paralysis. While breathing deeply and steadily, as described above, exhale fully and then pause your breathing. During this 2 - 3 second pause, try to relax your body as much as possible. After continuing this for a short period, you should feel your sleep paralysis deepening, a tension is released from the body. Techniques such as 'blackout breathing' and 'narcotic breathing' have been advocated by some lucid dream explorers.
• Muscle twitching (sleep paralysis trigger 2) - Again, this is useful for when the body is in partial sleep paralysis. When you experience the partial paralysis, try to twitch just one muscle - the limbs are best for this - and you will feel complete paralysis onset. 
• Up and down/side-to-side micro eye movements (sleep paralysis trigger 3) - This is also known (in hypnotherapy) as 'eye movement desensitization and reprogramming' and is used as a trigger for sleep paralysis. While your eyes are closed and the rest of the body is relaxed, quickly move the eyes either up and down or from left to right for approximately 10 seconds. This should help partial sleep paralysis become full sleep paralysis.

Step 5 - The Hypnagogic State
This is one of the most fun elements of the WILD technique for me! At this stage - and all others in this technique - it is essential that you remain calm and focused and do not let fear overtake you or interrupt in any way.  I have experienced horrible hypnagogic imagery because I have let negative thoughts intrude into my mind at this stage (usually during a false awakening) and this can be off-putting and terrifying, as well as ruining attempts at nurturing lucidity.

After successfully performing the above steps, you should be entering the hypnagogic state, which presents itself when you are half asleep and half awake. During this state you will experience brightly coloured patterns and visual hallucinations, auditory hallucinations (sounds and voices) and physical sensations (floating or tipping are common). You need to embrace the hypnagogic state and let it draw you in. Allow the numbness and heaviness of your body to take over, and do not move. Observe the hypnagogia and tell yourself that you are entering the dream state and you are transitioning between wakefulness and sleep. Hypnagogia occurs during a period of 'threshold consciousness' which is ideal for lucid dreaming. Other terms for the hypnagogic state and the sensory phenomenon which occur are: presomnal or anthypnic sensations; oneirogogic imagery; phantasmata; praedormitium; dreamlets or pre-dream condition/sleep-onset dreams; or wakefulness/sleep transition (WST).

Hypnagogic imagery is usually static and lacking in narrative. The most common types are phosphenes, which are random speckles, lines or geometrical patterns, in either monochrome or bright colours, and may be flat or three-dimension. Some people - like myself - may experience moving imagery. The images may be fractals, form constants or figurative/representational shapes and movement through tunnels of light are also commonly reported. Often the images are fleeting and changeable, although some report elaborate imagery. I often experience a snowy landscape at night, where I am able to see snow falling against a dark sky. I have also experienced similar imagery during a conscious false awakening/sleep paralysis experience. Sometimes I can detect a small house and figures moving. For some - particularly those who have engaged in a repetitive (or new) activity before bed - it may be common to experience what is known as the 'Tetris Effect'. This is where the new or repetitive waking activity dominates their hypnagogic state and is not confined to visual imagery, but also sounds and physical sensations. 

The hypnagogic state can also cause strange auditory hallucinations, which can vary in strength from a whisper to a loud bang (exploding head syndrome). Common sounds like the dreamer's name being mention, buzzing, the doorbell ringing, snippets of conversation or simple white noise are all typical. These sounds may be the internal voice of the dreamer and perhaps (in terms of snippets of conversation) appear as apt summations or comments on their thoughts at the time. Gustatory (taste), olfactory (smell) and thermal (temperature) sensations have also been reported. Alongside the physical sensations of floating, being crushed or suffocating, tingling or vibrating and falling, these are all phenomena associated with sleep paralysis and transition from wakefulness into the sleep state. 

Try to engage with the hypnagogia - relax with it and 'perceive' it, but do not become so absorbed by it that you accidentally fall asleep.

Remember that if you get the roll over signal, or any other urge to move, you need to resist at this stage. If you do have to move, you will need to repeat this technique from Step 2 again.  

Step 6 - Visualise a Dream Scene
Once you are fully immersed in the hypnagogic state and feel sufficiently still and relaxed you are ready to begin visualising a dream scene. Some OBE enthusiasts use this stage of the technique for Out-of-Body-Exit. I am not a proponent (or believer) in OBEs, so the idea that this part of the experience can be used to induce an OBE is insignificant to me - indeed, several lucid dream researchers and popular sources for lucid dreaming material suggest that an OBE is just a very vivid lucid dream experience, where the dreamer actually wrongly believes they are awake, rather than realising they are conscious within the dream state. 

I will therefore concentrate on visualising a dream scene. You need to inject the most amount of realism and detail into your visualised dream scene as possible. Therefore, it may be useful to re-create a scene you have experience in a previous dream (whether a non-lucid, or lucid dream - it doesn't matter). Either 'programme' the dream scene into your hypnagogic imagery or recall the imagery from beyond your field of vision. Use your mind's eye to paint a picture from your memory (if using a previous dream) or to solidify and make concrete the hypnagogic imagery you are experiencing. Often, the hypnagogic imagery will come together to form a dream scene for you. Be aware of your field of vision expanding as increasing detail and depth is added to your mental dream scene, which will slowly become three-dimensional. It is essential that you achieve the right balance between passive observation and light interaction when visualising the dream scene.

Imagine yourself at the core of the dream scene you are visualising, all the time remaining focused on your goal. Keep reminding yourself that you are dreaming - you need to maintain your wakeful mind and lucidity and not lapse into a normal non-lucid dream state, which is highly probable at this stage.

Imagine stepping into the dream scene - or rolling/falling into it. You need to work out which method works best for you. It is important not to open your eyes at this stage - the visualisation process, like the hypnagogic stage, occurs when the eyes are shut. Your eyes should remain shut during this entire technique. At first, the dream world will seem faint, but you need to anchor yourself within it. Try and move your dream body - some dreamers like to imagine themselves sinking through the mattress of their bed into the dream world. You may gradually find yourself entering the dream world you have visualised, or you may discover yourself there in an instant. Remain calm and focused, reminding yourself that you are dreaming, but not allowing the feelings of excitement or exhilaration distract or overwhelm you. You may need to perform a reality check to make sure; and of course, if you find yourself waking up in bed, make sure you do that reality check to ensure you aren't in a false awakening situation (although this could be used as a springboard for a lucid dream!). Moving your dream body and using lucid dream stabilisation techniques are key once you are in the dream world and aware that you are dreaming. 

Below is a Youtube video I made to accompany this Blog post:

7 Day Dream Incubation Experiment - Marilyn Monroe Dream (4)

Dream 8 - Friday 28 November 2014

'Foetus'

I was laying in my bed in my home in Norwich and I was aware that I was a foetus. It worried me. I could only see my arm on top of the duvet, which was bright pink and transparent, with blue veins running through it. My mum entered the room and I slowly began to grow and solidify into an adult.

I was then at my nan's house in Sheringham - she was there, as was PS and DL. PS had to leave. As he got into his car, I went outside the house to see him off. It was daylight, but cloudy. PS said: 'I'm so tired' and indicated that he wanted to stay, but I told him that he had a long drive ahead of him and he should go.

I went back into the house and started performing squat exercises. DL presented me with a late birthday present, which was a new digital video camera. I was excited with this gift.

• Timing: After WBTB, during the last stage of a  hour sleep
• Lucidity: NO

Dream 9 - Saturday 29 November 2014

'Bad Holiday in France'
I was on holiday in France, with DL. We were staying in a posh hotel. One of the other guests - a woman, who I did not see in the dream - had made a complaint about me. She had written it down in a letter which was handed to me, but I cannot recall who by. The letter said that I 'screeched all night'. I denied this, saying I had been asleep all night and the bed had been uncomfortable. When I looked at the woman's handwritten letter again, it was written entirely in emojis, which I found odd in the dream, but I did not become lucid, as I should have.

DL and I were then eating breakfast or brunch in the hotel restaurant. A large, oblong pyrex dish was delivered to the table and placed on my right side. In it was a partially eaten dessert - a thick chocolate mousse with cream on top. It looked delicious, but I sent it back to the waiter because I was aware that the woman who had made the complaint about me had ordered it for me, then eaten some, making sure it would be me who paid for it on my bill. I told the waiter that the dessert was not for me and I would not pay. 

I was then dancing down one of the hotel corridors. 

• Timing: After WBTB, during the last stage of a 7.5 hour sleep
• Lucidity: NO

Again, France or 'French' is a dream theme which has been recurrent throughout this experiment. I perceived the 'screeching all night' to be a reference to sounds of sexual pleasure, and the denial that I made relating to the fact I had not have sexual intercourse, but was being implicitly blamed for it by the female hotel guest. Hotels tend to relate to a shift in identity or a new state of being/mind - the self is in transition and the dreamer needs to move away from the past. It may also be a sign of a 'loss of identity' and indeed, before this dream I had had a waking conversation where I told DL and BG (separately) that I feared I had no firm identity any more and did not know who I was under the surface. Desserts relate to temptation, celebration and pleasure, yet in the dream I did not accept the half-eaten dessert which was delivered to my table as a form of strategic harassment or with a hateful motive (by the female guest) - I perceived the half-eaten chocolate dessert to relate to the word 'desert' and the concept of abandonment. The letter which was given to me by the female guest may be a message from my subconscious, but in the dream, although I was able to read the letter, I could see that it was not written in my language, but instead in a form of visual symbolism (emojis). Imagery is the language of the subconscious mind in the dream state, so I wonder if this is how I should interpret this aspect of the dream.

Dream 10 - Sunday 30 November 2014

'French Homework'

I was feeding special biscuits (chocolate, but in the dream they were 'special') to a female who was a composite of my cousin, HM, and JG. While I was feeding HM/JG, I was hugging her and talking to her like she was a baby, although I cannot recall what I was saying.

I was then with some other persons - I think they were pupils from my old high school. We were in a dark room, sitting at a long, high desk. We had a forthcoming  French exam and had to revise. I was aware that I was very unprepared and needed to revise the entire year's worth of work. I opened a ringbinder file and saw that there were hundreds of pages of notes - many of which were written in green biro. When I tried to turn the pages to get to the front of the bundle, I found that the ring binder was stuck and the pages wouldn't turn. I could not access the majority of my notes. I felt frustrated and sure that I would fail the exam because I could not revise.

• Timing: After WBTB, during the last stage of a 7 hour sleep
• Lucidity: NO

Here is another example of France/French as a recurrent dream theme, as well as chocolate biscuits, which appeared in an earlier dream as well. The composite dream character of HM/JG may be a linking of my family (HM) with PS (JG) - both girls are younger than me - HM fractionally, and JG by many years. In the dream, I was treating this dream character as a baby, perhaps asserting my own maturity (as the older, caring person, feeding the younger girl) or maintaining my own youthfulness, by making them appear even younger. Homework relates to lessons you have learnt or are learning. However, I was unable to study/revise, so this may be an indication that I cannot or will not learn from past lessons. I certainly experienced anxiety about my abilities and performance and the fact that I was learning a foreign language may indicate that I am unable to comprehend how to use the lessons I have learnt because I don't understand how to apply them to my life. 

Dream 11 - Monday 1 November 2014

'Ethiopian Vodka'

I was in a strange house with PS. The house was very long and narrow and dimly lit, with an open-plan kitchen/dining area. There were high tables with stools to sit on against the walls. PS was telling me that I better leave because his new girlfriend would be coming round soon. I was refusing to go, but PS wasn't forcing me and seemed to be enjoying my company regardless. I kept walking up and down the long strip of linoleum in the kitchen, and dancing, clapping my hands.

PS and I sat at one of the high tables. A young black female with short hair (a dream character) came into the room and said she was going to get us all some vodka. She returned with a bottle of vodka which was called: 'Ethiopian Vodka'. I said I didn't know Ethiopia was a producer of vodka, and the girl told me that it was a speciality. This is all that I can recall about the dream, although my overriding feeling was that I was staying somewhere and asserting my will when I really should have left.

• Timing: After WBTB, during the last stage of a 6.5 hour sleep
• Lucidity: NO

I know exactly what this dream was telling me. It is because my subconscious knows more than my waking brain will let me see sometimes. Basically, I knew PS was seeing someone in real life. I am not sure how I knew, but there was an indication somewhere and my subconscious held onto that information and presented it to me in this dream. I had a conversation with PS a few days after this dream and he confirmed that it was true. My first fear was that I will never see N the dog again, and this made me sad. I also felt abandoned, although I do not have a legitimate reason for feeling so in the circumstances. This dream was telling me that I am clinging on to my past and refusing to let go and live in the present or look to the future, and this is having an impact on me. In the dream, I knew PS would let me get away with what I wanted, if only so as not to have to confront the situation and enter a conflict. I was asserting myself and testing my personal strength by refusing to bow down to the needs or desires of others and maintaining my precarious position to the detriment of others. Alcohol can relate to either celebration and satisfaction or escapism and anxiety. I think this dream was both a reflection of my futile tenacity and worries about moving on in life. The alcohol may have been brought to 'numb' my pain and offer escape, or it may have another meaning.

Dream 12 - Tuesday 2 November 2014

'Used Condoms'
I was in my nan's house in Sheringham, sitting on the floor in front of the sofa. I turned to see that my dog, Kelli (now dead) was sitting on the floor in the gap between the edge of the sofa and the armchair. She had a used condom in her mouth, which I was repulsed by. I called for someone to come and remove it (instead of doing it myself) and found we had a cleaner, who was a gay older man (I have a real life cleaner at my university home in Norwich, who is a lovely gay older man with whom I often sit and have long chats with). The dream character was about my height (so fairly short), with black hair (like my actual cleaner), but wore huge gold doorknocker earrings. He took the used condom from the dog's mouth and took it through to the kitchen, with me following. He went to drop it into the sink, but my mum was in the way, washing up. 

I then found myself in my former home in Sheringham (Pine Grove) where I was on the landing, outside my mum and stepdad's bedroom, where Kelli's bed used to be (so she could sleep there, or go into my parent's room during the night). I sat in her dog bed, hugging her (like I used to when I was young) and found we had both her and a male dog, who was also a German Shepherd breed, but pure white with piercing blue eyes.

There was some interaction with my mum - we were watching a very complex video about something (which I cannot recall). There were people moving in a strange way and the video was mainly blue in colour. These are the only details I recall about it. 

I then had a false awakening, and found myself in my own bed in Norwich. Everything looked and felt completely normal, so I performed a reality check to make sure, and found that my hand went through the palm of my other one. I got out of bed and left my room - everything still looked completely as it should in real life. I began walking down the stairs in the dark, thinking to myself that Marilyn Monroe would be at the bottom and I could finally meet her and have a successful Dream Incubation Experiment. I tried to stabilise my dream by shaking my hands. I called out: 'Marilyn?' and heard her answer in a soft voice: 'I'm down here'. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, my lounge/kitchen was now a huge grey hallway with many doors coming off it. I didn't know where Marilyn was, and the disappointment made me wake up.

• Timing: After WBTB, during the last stage of a 7 hour sleep
• Lucidity: YES

Dogs have been a recurrent theme during my experiment, and have been analysed elsewhere. I think the gay male dream character in this dream is a result of daily residue - as mentioned above, my actual cleaner is a gay man and therefore, this may explain why this element of the dream occurred. A condom is assumed to symbolise sexuality - either anxieties or frustrations. In this dream, the condom was used, but not by myself. The fact the condom was in the dog's mouth made me feel sick and I wanted it cleared away as quickly as possible, but did not want to be the one to have to do it. 

Sinks are a symbol of emotional control and instability. In this dream, my mum had her hands in the sink (perhaps an indicator that I burden her with my unresolved and uncontrolled emotions). I wanted some form of cleansing to take place - the removal of the used condom, but due to the washing up in the sink, this could not be done, as there was nowhere to put the 'filth'. I wonder if the washing up in the sink was a sign that my emotional capacity is 'full' and therefore I am unable to cleanse myself of my feelings and past regrets because there is no room for further guilt and shame to be added?

This dream also came the closest to my dream incubation goal - I really thought I would be able to achieve my incubated dream of meeting Marilyn Monroe as soon as I experienced lucidity in this dream, but unfortunately, the experience was too exciting or overwhelming and I was unable to stabilise it or control it in any way.

Dream 13 - Wednesday 3 November 2014

'Meeting Marilyn Monroe in a Lucid Dream!'

This dream took place during a 1.5 hour afternoon nap, before which I clearly set an intention that this time was to be used as an attempt at lucid dreaming and dream incubation. It felt as if the moment I fell asleep I 'awoke' in a false awakening. I performed a reality check and found that my fingers would not go easily through the palm of my other hand. I had to push really hard, and as soon as I thought: 'I must actually be awake then!' found that one finger (my index finger) slowly pushed through my palm. I turned to the wall and saw that there was a huge snow storm swirling on the white paint. My duvet was huge and not only covered me, but also all the furniture at the bottom of my bed. I saw a massive spider walking across the wall, which I squashed with my hand, but it scuttled off. I then saw severed limbs in front of my face and piled at the foot of my bed. I felt extremely annoyed that my subconscious brain was trying to scare me so much during what was supposed to be an exciting and enjoyable experience, and tried not to be afraid. I found that if I kicked the limbs at the bottom of the bed, my foot connected with nothing other than air and the visions went away. I tried to get out of bed, but I could not, because of sleep paralysis. This was frustrating, and I could not make the sleep paralysis disappear. I decided the best thing to do would be to 'go back to sleep' and try and wake up lucid again.

I did this, and found myself in a new false awakening. Again I performed a reality check and found I was asleep, leading to me becoming lucid. I could see the massive spider was now the size of a dog and crawling around my room in circles, about midway up the walls. I tried to blank it out and found that if I didn't look at it, it went away. I managed to get out of bed, but my duvet was stuck to me, like it was a dress I was wearing. Because it was thick and bulky, I was annoyed that I could not remove it. I noticed that there was no furniture in my room. On the floor, parallel to my bed was a dead person, covered with a blanket. A knife was pointing up out of what I assumed to be the chest area (it was stabbed through the blanket). I stepped on the dead body and my foot went through it. I opened my wardrobe door to have a look at myself in the mirror, but I had no reflection. The mirror was just misty. I noticed that I was wearing leggings and a jumper now. I left my room and walked to the bathroom, which is straight ahead. The light was off. I used my foot to kick open the door, saying: 'Is anyone in there?' Fearing the worst (knowing that my mind was trying to play tricks on me and scare me during this dream) I looked in, but could see nothing out of the ordinary. It just looked like my bathroom without any light. Between my bedroom and bathroom is a full-length cupboard. This was now a door to another room. I opened it and found that inside was a brightly lit gay bar, with loud music. There were several topless gay men, climbing on a climbing frame which was mounted on the walls, and dancing, generally having fun. I shut the door and left them to their party.

I then had another false awakening, indicating that I must have temporarily lost lucidity again. I woke in my bed, and did the reality check, which again, was a slow process and seemed like my fingers could not possibly go through my palm at first. I saw a big flesh coloured hole in the wall next to my bed - it looked like an entry/exit wound. I put my finger on/in it and rubbed it away. I got out of bed, this time easily. I left my room and saw that someone was using the bathroom. The light was (seen from the strip under the door where the floor does not meet the door frame) and I could hear water splashing. I knocked on the door. At this time, I was strangely worried that it might be my housemate in the bathroom (even though I knew she was not at home) and that I might be disturbing her. I heard a voice say: 'Yes?' I said: 'Is it Marilyn Monroe?' and the voice from inside the bathroom answered (in a strange English accent): 'Yes honey, it's Marilyn'. I said: 'Why is your accent so strange then?' to which she replied (in her normal voice and American accent): 'I'm practicing my lines for a film role'. I said: 'Can I come in?' I then added: 'I'm your long-lost sister'. I didn't mean to deceive her, but I was so keen to meet her, I wanted to give her a reason to let me in. She said: 'You already know you can come in!' so I opened the door. The unfortunate thing was, as soon as I entered the bathroom, my eyelids would not open properly. They felt glued together, and I could only force them open a tiny bit, so all that was visible was a tiny strip right in my line of vision. I could see Marilyn's pale skin and her platinum blonde hair just above the edge of the bath. I also found I was so nervous and excited that I could not speak. All I could say was: 'Marilyn, Marilyn, Marilyn' repeatedly, and the rest of my words stuck in the back of my throat. Marilyn was splashing the water with her feet and giggling at me because I could not see or speak to her properly. I woke up.

• Timing: During 1.5 hour afternoon nap
• Lucidity: YES!!!

There is not much I can say in interpreting this dream, as it was largely the result of my incubated dream and also my stabilisation and control of a successful period of lucidity following a false awakening. It was an amazing and inspiring experience to achieve this level of success in a Dream Incubation Experiment and have such a positive and accomplished lucid dream, given the problems I have previously experienced with trigger, stabilisation and control. I think it was easier to bring Marilyn Monroe into my own environment (my house) because I was already there, in a lucid state, after my false awakening, so it would have been too challenging to try and change my environment to Hollywood (where I had initially wanted to meet Marilyn) or make myself a Hollywood starlet. I know from my research that Marilyn used to spend hours in the bath because it was a luxury she had been denied as a child. This may be why it was relatively straightforward to find Marilyn in my bathroom and meant I did not have far to travel - only a couple of steps outside of my bedroom. At first, Marilyn spoke with an English accent - perhaps because I heard my 'own' voice coming from her, but because I was able to consciously question this, an explanation was provided which enabled me to 'believe' in the dream experience. In this dream, I wasn't presented with Marilyn Monroe per se, but rather the impression of her - her voice and just the slightest glance at her outline - it may be that my mind was unable to 'repackage' the complete Marilyn Monroe for me in this dream, so gave me hints and glimpses of her instead. 

Photographs Transforming the Horror of Sleep Paralysis into Beautiful Art

Known on his social media accounts as the Wickedend, artist and photographer Nicolas Bruno transforms his terrifying experiences and hallucinations of sleep paralysis (click on link to read my introductory article on this topic) into fantasy images through which he hopes to offer glimpses into the nonsensical world of nightmares. Bruno started to experience sleep paralysis at the age of 15, at which time he began to wake up paralysed with the sensation of hands grabbing his neck whilst he witnessed the presence of shadowy figures in his bedroom. Sometimes he would see the walls of his room shift and melt and the windows open and close on their own.

After experiencing several incidents of sleep paralysis, Bruno began to document them in a notebook, describing his hallucinations, moods and feelings of helplessness. After his mind had cleared from sleep he would analyse his dream records to make sense of his nightmare experiences. At this time, Bruno was studying photography and his art teacher encouraged him to experiment with his personal experiences to enrich his creativity. Bruno decided to combine his sleep paralysis experiences with his photography as a form of therapy, and what he describes as a 'bittersweet homage' to his nightmares. 

Bruno's photographic shoots are well composed and executed. He uses his written dream records whilst at his chosen scene and studies what he has recorded so as to connect his surroundings to his dream visions, using effects such as smoke or fog to create an atmospheric nightmare environment. Many of the figures which appear in Bruno's dreams are not human and are either expressionless, deformed or strangely attired, so he incorporates symbolic props and costumes such as bowler hats, gas masks and antiques into his photography. Bruno has confirmed that his ongoing photographic project has helped him conquer his demons and control his fears. Reliving the nightmare experience whilst awake and without the sensation of paralysis has been key to coping with the emotional aspect of his sleep paralysis experience. He states: 'Photography is a medium where you can express irrational and rational thoughts, even dreams, through image', He describes his work as being 'like an unsettling handshake with a stranger' through which his viewers can get to know understand him and the workings of his unconscious brain.