Thread: Visualization

I have no visualization ability.

Not a very weak ability, not a fleeting ability. None.

My hypnagogic visuals are extraordinarily vivd and detailed, as are my dreams; but I have no ability to close my eyes while in a waking state of consciousness and visualize ANYTHING: not myself on a mountain top, not the face of friends I haven't seen in years (or even hours), not my long lost cat (), not even a shape or color or light against the black of my eyelids.

How does someone who's so visually-impaired (I have 20/10 vision with my eyes open, but nothing but a void with eyes closed!) go about developing the ability to visualize? I'm sure it must be possible, but I don't know how to begin. I know that it comes naturally to many people, and I'd like to hear from you, but mainly I would like to hear from people who were in my position and how they learned to visualize.

Originally Posted by ZotC

I have no visualization ability.

Not a very weak ability, not a fleeting ability. None.

My hypnagogic visuals are extraordinarily vivd and detailed, as are my dreams; but I have no ability to close my eyes while in a waking state of consciousness and visualize ANYTHING: not myself on a mountain top, not the face of friends I haven't seen in years (or even hours), not my long lost cat (), not even a shape or color or light against the black of my eyelids.

How does someone who's so visually-impaired (I have 20/10 vision with my eyes open, but nothing but a void with eyes closed!) go about developing the ability to visualize? I'm sure it must be possible, but I don't know how to begin. I know that it comes naturally to many people, and I'd like to hear from you, but mainly I would like to hear from people who were in my position and how they learned to visualize.

You do know that not everyone is able to produce hypnagogic imagery right? And even still there are those who seriously lack any ability to produce an image with their eyes closed. If you are in this boat I would suggest using other methods to induce your lucid dreams that do not require hypnagogic imagery. Sadly this is just the luck of the draw.

Well my HH are INTENSE! No problem hynagogically... but simply closing my eyes to visualize something on the back of eyelids seems impossible.

It's not so much for dreaming purposes that I want to learn this (though it'd certainly help) but for meditation purposes.

Ah I see what you are saying now you experience hypnagioic imagery you just can't create anything visually on the back of your eyelids like a mountain scenery or something of the sorts.

Well I can only speak for myself when I say this, but when I see myself on a mountain top it does not necessarily mean that you will see it on the back of your eyelids it's more of like you can see it in your mind not necessarily, but you can imagine it if you catch my drift.

Once again I can only speak from my personal experience. But if this proves to be the case from other people it may be that what you are asking is impossible without the use of some form of legal or illegal substances if you catch my drift.

Yep, now you got it.

I hear what you're saying. I can easily imagine things, as you say, easily. I was always under the impression, however, that when people said they visualize things, it's more of a visual-thang than an imaginary-thang.

Maybe I'm mistaken, though, but I was expecting "visualization" to mean the kind of things you see against the void after eating a couple of those special sugar cubes...

No, the causes of such things are the effects that said things have your brains such as S4 receptors and the likes. Whilst sober such things cannot occur.

>_> Maybe some meditators would say it's possible, but I would know nothing about that seeing as how I do not medtate.

Originally Posted by ZotC

I was always under the impression, however, that when people said they visualize things, it's more of a visual-thang than an imaginary-thang.

The term does confuse people and set unrealistic expectations, as basically what most people are referring to when they say "visualize" is "imagine".

Some people do have the ability to see actual images; when I was a child I was able to actually see images pretty clearly and easily, but as I went through school that ability atrophied. I still think that if anyone practices consistently enough, they can get themselves to a skill level that is a lot closer to actual "visualization" rather than vague imagination.