(This is probably an inner sanctum thread )

My answer is multi-part, because there are different reasons why people visualize. One, when you're doing a meditation visualization it's not necessary for the visualization to be life like. It's okay if you can't see the red of the apple or taste it. A lot of visualization meditations are just about engaging in an idea.

But, I do know that other types of visualization meditations specifically ask you to engage in all of your senses and experience your visualization as if its reality. Such as visualizations for manifesting something you want.

There are two reasons why you could be struggling to engage your visualization with all of your senses. The first problem is your in the wrong brain wave state.

I recently read an article about athletes that practice intense visualizations. In the past we assumed that all meditations happen in theta (which is before dreaming) or in an even deeper state of mind. We were wrong! When they examined the brains of the athletes, who were able to imagine the beads of sweat, the throbbing of their hearts, the roar of their fans, the joy of winning - they discovered that focused visualizations happen in BETA.

Beta is a state of high concentration and focus. It's ABOVE normal waking consciousness. The article went on to describe just how active and engaged the brain is in these visualizations - they were calling it peak intensity.

The article I read gave some suggestions how you can learn to engage in intense visualizations. Rather than practicing visualizations - what you need to practice is mindfulness instead. Learn to quiet and still your mind. Your mind needs to be emptied first before you can fill it with your imagination . Two, practice engaging in all of your senses in the present moment. Do so daily! By engaging in all of your senses you take your brain waves out of alpha (relaxed) to beta (focused). So you'll have an easier time going into beta again when you need to.

There is nothing wrong with your visualization skills. You're just in the wrong brain wave state! Once you achieve the peak focus of athletes, you won't have any trouble visualizing what ever you want to.

UNLESS. . . . . And this brings me to number two reason why you could be having problems with visualizing. You're trying to visualize something you don't care for!

For months I was trying to visualize myself at a new job. I was struggling to imagine what my working space looked like, what it sounded like, or anything. Then one day I woke up and realize the reason I can't visualize myself at this new job is because - I DON'T WANT IT! So my subconscious just kept drawing up a giant blank.

On the other hand, I love nature so much, that if I imagine myself in nature - within moments I can hear the singing of the cicadas or the glowing green of leaves under sunlight.

The visualizations that happen in Beta are focused visualizations. These meditations are ideal for the law of attraction. (if that's your thing)

But there is another kind of visualization. After all, we have the VILD technique. And Beta doesn't take you into the dream state. So there must be another brain wave state closer to dreaming that is prime for visualization meditations. Like the VILD, these visualization meditations happen in the in-between state of dreaming and sleeping.

Unlike the focused visualizations, in these dream like visualizations you enter a subconscious landscape while awake. They are great for contacting your subconscious! With these visualizations, you can offer the seed idea for the landscape. But you don't 'control' everything.

Here is my advice for having this kind of visualization (an over glorified HI really!):

1. You can't be too alert. Or the visualization will just be fuzzy. You have you to fall into a deeper state of mind

2. You can't be too sleepy! Or you'll just fall asleep! If you are sleepy, then sleep, and try the visualization afterwards.

3. Relax your body, starting from your toes to your head, slow down your breath

4. It helps to first focus on a single point of light. Imagine the point of light within you, and you're going deeper and deeper into yourself

5. When you feel ready, INSPIRE the visualization with your seed thought. Maybe it's an ocean, or a forest. But let your subconscious fill in the details, all you have to do now is soak it in

It's okay if you're struggling to do this kind of visualization. Try listening to a guided meditation instead. A good one should have you relax your body and mind before visualizing anything. Hope this helps.