Wild vs DILD: What’s the Best Lucid Dreaming Approach for You?
- The Lucid Guide
- May 10, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 26
If you’ve been learning about lucid dreaming for any length of time, you’ve probably come across the terms WILD and DILD. They get thrown around a lot, but they’re often misunderstood, even by seasoned dreamers. So what exactly do they mean? Which one’s better? And do you even need to choose?
Let’s clear things up.
What Do WILD and DILD Actually Mean?
WILD stands for Wake-Initiated Lucid Dream, and DILD means Dream-Initiated Lucid Dream. The key word here is “initiated”, not “induced”. This distinction matters because these terms don’t refer to specific techniques, but rather how the lucid dream begins.
A WILD happens when you consciously fall asleep. Your awareness carries over into the dream.
A DILD happens when you become aware within a dream after it has already begun.
In simple terms, WILD is about maintaining awareness as you fall asleep. DILD is about regaining awareness once you’re already dreaming.
That’s it. No mystical categories. No rivalry. Just two different ways into the same experience.
Where Did These Terms Come From?
Despite how common they are now, WILD and DILD aren’t ancient ideas. They were coined by Dr Stephen LaBerge in the 1980s in his book Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming. These are just linguistic tools. Nothing more.
They were invented to help describe different routes into lucidity, not to define strict categories or to create camps of dreamers. There’s no objective boundary between them. And yes, lucid dreamers do sometimes argue about whether a dream counts as a WILD or a DILD. But the truth is... it doesn’t really matter. These are just terms, not laws of nature.
Why the Distinction Can Be Useful
Even if the terms aren’t set in stone, they still point to real differences in how dreams begin, and that can be useful.
How you enter a lucid dream will influence:
When in the sleep cycle the dream begins
How much REM time you get
How long the dream might last
How stable your lucidity feels
A WILD usually places you into a dream at the start of the REM phase.A DILD might drop you in midway through a dream, or just before it ends.
That doesn’t mean one is better, but it does explain why your lucid dream might be short, long, vivid or fleeting.
WILD and DILD Are Not Techniques
This is one of the biggest misconceptions in the lucid dreaming community.WILD and DILD are not techniques. They are outcomes.
They're the result of techniques. They are what happen at the end of a method, not the method itself.
So if someone says “I’m doing the WILD technique,” they’ve misunderstood.That’s a bit like saying “I’m doing the sandwich.”
To give an example:
Meditation or breath-focused methods might lead to a WILD.
Reality checks and habit training often lead to DILDs.
But again, those aren’t WILD or DILD in themselves. They just increase the chances of either happening.
Do You Need to Choose Between Them?
No. And you probably shouldn’t.
There’s no need to choose between WILD and DILD. Any lucid dreamer worth their salt should be working toward both. The goal is lucidity, not allegiance to a category.
Some techniques do lean more toward one than the other. But smart lucid dreamers use both.
In fact, it's often worth aiming for a WILD, and if that doesn't work, you might naturally fall into a DILD anyway. Many techniques that aim for a WILD also increase your chances of a DILD if awareness slips.
That’s not failure. That’s just being adaptable.
A Practical Strategy for Real Dreamers
Think about it like this:
If you wake up during the night and want to fall back asleep consciously, you’re in a perfect spot for a WILD.
If you sleep through the night and hope to become lucid within a dream, you’re aiming more toward DILD territory.
On most nights, your best approach is to prepare for both.
WILD relies on maintained awareness.DILD relies on regaining awareness.
And both rely on memory, metacognition, and the ability to notice what’s happening.Skills you should be developing anyway.
Stop Worrying About the Labels
At the end of the day, "WILD" and "DILD" are just made-up terms.They were useful for Stephen LaBerge to explain things clearly, but they weren’t intended to become rigid boxes.
They are not different species of dream. Once you’re lucid, it’s just a lucid dream.
You don’t need to identify as a "WILD dreamer" or a "DILD dreamer". You’re just a lucid dreamer, full stop.
Which Is Better?
Neither.
Both.
It depends.
WILD and DILD are just two doors to the same room.
Your job is to train your awareness, develop your memory, and know what tools to use in the moment. Use your circumstances. Use your biology. If you wake in the night, use that moment. If you drift into dreams naturally, make sure your mind is primed.
The key skills for lucid dreaming support both types. Prospective memory. Present-moment focus. Critical thinking. Pattern recognition.
And yes, awareness. Always awareness.
Final Thought
Don't waste time arguing about whether your dream was a WILD or a DILD.It’s like debating whether you got into your house through the front door or the side gate. You’re still home.
Lucid dreaming is about being conscious within your dreams.WILD and DILD are just the ways in. Train for both.
And keep dreaming.
