Using darkness behind closed eyes as a visual anchor for WILD — experiences?

Hello,

I’ve been testing a minimalistic WILD method that uses the visual field behind closed eyes as the sole anchor. The process is as follows:

I wake up naturally after several hours of sleep (no alarms).

I remain completely still, keeping my body relaxed and motionless.

I close my eyes and place gentle, passive attention on the darkness — the internal visual field.

I avoid visualizing or forcing imagery. Even when no hypnagogic visuals occur, I maintain a soft focus on the dark space.

After some minutes, the transition into the dream sometimes occurs spontaneously, often with a seamless “fade-in” effect.

Success rate so far: ~20% (1 in 5 attempts).

I’m interested in others’ experiences with this type of approach. Specifically:

Have you used the closed-eye darkness as a primary anchor?

Do you combine it with any auxiliary techniques (e.g., upward eye positioning, breath focus, affirmations)?

How do you manage attention — do you keep it steady or allow a drifting focus?

Appreciate any insights, especially from those working with minimal-anchor WILD methods.

Thanks in advance!