TheOnerous's blog of failures

[TheOnerous]

Attempts

Despite lots of prep work before bed I didn't get into the phase last night. I tried to separate to a different location but it didn't work. Will use same approach tonight.

[TheOnerous]

Attempts

Saturday night: Dud! Nowhere near getting in the phase.

Sunday night: One definite conscious waking. Tried to separate then cycled techniques but they didn't work.

[TheOnerous]

Looking forward to a weekend of attempts and experiments.

Tonight I will attempt to separate into another location. I am thinking that the location could be distinctive, so that if I fail to enter the phase with indirect approach, I may still dream about the location in a non-lucid dream and realise it's a dream. I am hoping to do some written preparation today, which I didn't really do last weekend (no phase entry last weekend). I am still struggling to remember to try to enter the phase on waking. I am toying with the idea of experimenting with FFA (which I think I have successfully done accidentally some time ago, before I learned of MR's techniques).

[Summerlander]

I may still dream about the location in a non-lucid dream and realise it's a dream.

Sometimes this turns out to be the best method for some people.  In fact, just thinking about the phase during the day and getting into the habit of performing reality checks can yield some great results.  Stephen LaBerge's MILD method can be quite effective.

The thing about entering the phase via dream consciousness is that it may even help you with practising indirect techniques later.  Imagine that you are dreaming and you suddenly become lucid... 

Logically, the phase is experienced henceforth.  You carry out a plan of action or have a great adventure.  Then, you foul.  But upon wakefulness, your brain is still close to the phase state or it may still be in it so you should immediately try to separate from the body.

If there is real physical movement or you see that you have undoubtedly woken up, then those indirect techniques will come handy in helping with your reentry.  You will definitely remember to separate or perform indirect techniques after having fouled from the phase.

It is harder, however, to remember the indirect procedure upon awakening from an ordinary dream but not impossible. 

[TheOnerous]

Hi Summerlander.

For some reason, as soon as I heard Mr Raduga's techniques they appealed a lot more to me than the LaBerge approach (I'm thinking specifically MILD and WILD). It would seem that you have more chance of controlling your thoughts (remembering to try to separate) on waking than you do when you're dreaming (remembering to ask "Am I dreaming?") I still have a lot of experiments to try. Anyway...last night:

Attempts

A difficult night - my daughter didn't have a great night (which, of course, means that WE didn't have a great night either!) I managed two separation attempts. At the first attempt I realised I needed to use the toilet, so aborted the attempt after I'd failed at separation. At the second attempt I couldn't ignore the pain in my arm - I was sleeping on it and had a mixture of pain and pins and needles, so I aborted that attempt.

Today I will experiment with some ideas on how I can reinforce my intention to awaken consciously.

[TheOnerous]

Attempts

Despite lots of written preparation for phase entry attempts, I was unsuccessful last night. It seems that the transition from sleep to wakefulness is so gradual for me that it is hard for me to pinpoint a moment to attempt entry and cycle techniques. The way ahead is to attempt separation as soon I remember it, but that isn't happening at the moment.

[TheOnerous]

Attempts

Similar problems last night. Will break now till weekend.

[TheOnerous]

Attempts

I made a mental affirmation at bed time last night. I only made one attempt, but it was made long after I woke up so wasn't successful. Perhaps I have fallen into the trap (again) of deciding that some awakenings have been too alert and thus not attempting separation?

[Luna]

Perhaps I have fallen into the trap (again) of deciding that some awakenings have been too alert and thus not attempting separation?

YES!!! Don't believe your thoughts!!! This has reminded me about something that I haven't added to my latest blog entry. After I attempted my roll out this morning I actually opened my eyes for a brief second thinking that I had ruined my attempt....I then went on and got the phase although I couldn't follow through...I still achieved it.

Don't listen to the 'voice' telling you you can't. Cause you can. (teaching myself a little lesson here too lol)

[TheOnerous]

Hi Luna

A couple of times I have thought I had ruined entry attempts by opening my eyes or moving, then realised I was in the phase.

Attempts

No success last night, though there was a degree of experimentation in that I wanted to see the results of mental affirmation alone. For my next experiment I want to try some written exercises. Hopefully I will find the time!

[TheOnerous]

Attempts

Tried to separate on waking but was unsuccessful. Trying to analyse what I was doing a few weeks ago (when I had a good spell) that I'm not doing now.

[TheOnerous]

Attempts

Night of the 26th April:

Strengthened intent with written exercises before bed. Failed to capture awakening. Should've tried separation and cycled techniques but didn't.

Night of the 27th April

Several attempts at separation but none worked. Cycled techniques. Saw an image of a cat and tried to intensify the image but it didn't change and faded away. When I fell asleep again I had a dream where I was walking along the road telling myself, "Stay still when you wake up"!

Maybe tonight I will try the same approach but tell myself to stay still on waking (I usually manage to do that anyway, but maybe it's a better focus than immediately trying to separate?)

[TheOnerous]

Attempts

Another disappointing night. I had only two awakenings and both of those were caused by noise in the house. Very disappointing after spending much time yesterday diligently planning and rehearsing the actions I would do on waking.

[TheOnerous]

Attempts

Have tried the SSILD technique for the past two nights. Dream recall has increased, but the technique hasn't given me any LDs yet.

[TheOnerous]

Tonight I will try the SSILD technique again. Maybe if I get some HH during the technique I will try to amplify the sensations.

[TheOnerous]

Attempts

I tried the SSILD technique again last night. No LD though.

[12padams]

Try getting up at 4am then going straight back to bed minutes later and attempt a wild... Don't do it how it's supposed to be done though! Do it wrong! Mentally repeat in your head that "I will pinch my nose upon awakening" and don't move for as long as you can while continuously repeating this.

After 30 minutes to an hour you will become very uncomfortable... Give up! Get angry and disappointed that your incorrectly performed wild attempt failed then roll over and fall asleep. You should have multiple false awakenings once going to sleep again and the idea of performing a reality check during these will be embedded in your mind!

Just try it because that's what I do to enter the phase these days and actually that's how I have been doing it in the past without even noticing a failed wild and heaps of intention = a false awakening!

Hope it helps

[TheOnerous]

Thanks 12padams. I shall add that to my list of experiments to try.

[TheOnerous]

Attempt

I woke at 4am to attempt SSILD. I managed a couple of cycles then fell asleep. There was no LD, but there was still an increase in dream activity, with one vivid dream with good recall.

[TheOnerous]

Attempt

I didn't set my alarm for WBTB last night but decided to try SSILD if I woke up after 2am. I woke about 2am and attempted SSILD but I must have been too tired because I fell asleep again in the first cycle.

[TheOnerous]

Attempts

Attempt 1

Success! Difficult to pinpoint exactly what happened, but I entered phase in first REM period it would seem. I was kind of aware of my bed but also in a dream at the same time. I was in a shop and was pinned down by someone or something. It was very scary - and would've been terrifying if I didn't know about the phase, SP etc. I reasoned that I didn't need to stay pinned down because it was a dream, so I kind of separated and stood by a door in the shop. I did a nose pinch and could breathe. Next I was in bed. I felt I was still in the phase, so I attempted separation and pinged out towards my bedroom door and nose pinched again. Then I woke up.

Attempt 2

Woke about 3.45 (alarm set for 4am but I was already awake). Tried the SSILD technique. Managed to complete the cycles but was still quite awake at the end. I drifted off to sleep but didn't experience LD and this time -for the first time - I didn't experience improved recall when I did SSILD

[TheOnerous]

Have had a break for a couple of days. Tonight will get back to LDing, but give SSILD a break and try indirect techniques, combined with some experiments I've been working on.

[TheOnerous]

Attempt

Success! Managed to get LD, probably in first REM period. Not sure if I separated or just realised I was in a dream. The dream was of poor quality and I couldn't control it.

Going forward: Will now go back to trying to achieve LD using deferred approach/WBTB. Dreams in first REM period are poor, but I'm fairly confident I can make them happen if I need to (say, to end a dry spell).

[TheOnerous]

Attempt 1

Was surprised to catch myself having an unintentional conscious awakening, so I tried to separate but couldn't.

Attempt 2

Woke at about 3.55 (just before alarm was due to go off!) and tried the experimental indirect/direct/incubation technique that gave me two LDs in the first REM period in my previous attempts, but I was tired and I drifted off to sleep. Not too worried about that. Sleep is nice too

[TheOnerous]

Attempt 1

Tried to get into the phase at my first REM period (managed to succeed on two previous occasions) but no luck this time.

Attempt 2

Deferred/WBTB attempt at 4am. Did not succeed.

[TheOnerous]

Had a cold for a couple of days so thought it wise to use it as an opportunity to take a break from thoughts on Lding. Will try some dream incubation experiments tonight I've been toying with for a while.

[TheOnerous]

Well, the experiment was interesting. I was toying with the idea yesterday that it's easier to incubate a dream about specific people than it is to incubate a dream about events/scenarios etc. I made a list of people who used to be in my life who I don't see anymore, then affirmed that I'd like them in my dream. I didn't dream about anyone on the list, but did have a dream about some folk I haven't seen for twenty years. Not sure this approach will help me to become lucid, but it was interesting and I'll try it again.

[Summerlander]

Hmmm...  I suppose you could incubate conspicuous dreamsigns that would help you to become lucid.  Lately, I've been trying to avoid the phase (as it always inspires me to write and produce art - I have to after an experience - it's a curse ) but the phase just comes to me like a lech.  I find myself becoming lucid without needing any obvious dreamsigns.  Sometimes I notice that I am rationalising like a brain damaged person in an ordinary dream and then bang: "Shit! I'm dreaming!"

Then there is the dilemma:  Do I force myself to wake up because I want to avoid being inspire around such a busy time in my life or do I stay and enjoy it?  the excitement that comes with the phase state never fails me.

[TheOnerous]

I used to spend a lot of time working on dreamsigns but gave up after a lot of consistent effort and no results. Will I go back to that way? Time will tell...I change my mind a lot! 

That's a really nice problem to have Summerlander! I'm hoping to find inspiration for songs in the phase at some point.  Would you consider yourself to be a natural, or have you just put in a lot of effort over the years and now have it "sussed"?

[TheOnerous]

Tonight I'm going to go by the book and use indirect techniques. I'm trying to piece together thoughts on why I've stopped having conscious awakenings and tonight I want to try some experiments.