Visualization and Memory Technique

Hey there guys, I actually stumbled across this when I was meditating one day but I've found it pretty helpful for dreaming, lucid dreaming etc. since then. I just thought I'd post it up in case someone somewhere would find it helpful. Cheers!

It's pretty simple actually. Start off in a relaxing position with your eyes closed (I was meditating when I found it but I ended up using this mostly before sleeping while lying down.) Visualize yourself sitting or lying wherever you are, getting up, and going to the nearest door or window or mirror. Imagine that this is a portal to another place and that after opening the door or walking through the mirror you will be in an entirely new place. The trick is not to choose where the door will lead, instead try to let your subconscious create somewhere for you. However, since the subconscious rarely does what we want it to, in the beginning you may decide to pick the first place that you can imagine. This is good too. Just try to imagine an entirely new place, somewhere you've never been or somewhere that doesn't exist. Stimulate your imagination and let your brain visualize it and flesh it out. I've ended up coming out the other side of my bedroom mirror on the top of snow covered alps! But after you explore the environment or whenever you really feel like it, let your mind create a new door, or a new 'portal' (could be a pond you jump in to, or a fog you pass through) it's a good idea to try and make every portal different but you don't have to if you don't feel like it. And then let your brain come up with yet another dream-like place for you to explore.

Now comes the memory part. Start off with as many places and 'doors' as you feel comfortable with. I only started off with three or so but I'm sure many of you can do much better than that. In any case, memorize these places and every day, or whenever you decide to practice with this method, and add a new place and a new door. This means that over time you'll be re-visiting that mountain top or library or starry sky again and you'll be memorizing every new place you visualize so that in the end you will end up with an ever expanding mental world to visit whenever you choose.

If your mind strays or gets distracted, which is totally normal and to be expected, simply start back from your room or wherever you are and retrace from the beginning.

The purpose of this isn't necessarily to see the places with amazing detail and vividness, but rather to increase your ability to visualize, use your imagination/subconscious creativity, as well as help with overall memory recall. In my case, it also helps focus my mind to keep it from wandering and block distractions or negative external stimuli. I'm also aware that this is quite similar to the WILD technique and has actually led me to have a few wilds but I still thought my experiences with it were worth posting.

Hope this helps somebody. If you guys have any other ideas to tag on that you think would go well with this I'd love to hear them. Or if there's any other techniques to help with lucid dreaming that you feel have helped you, I would appreciate any insight you could shed.

-Chris

Wow, cool technique, ill try today :D`

also, this should be in the lucid dream part of the site

THis is a very good technique - because its probably the only technique that has any practical application outside lucid dreaming (its always good to be creative and imaginative :P); I was going to post something like this but that won't be necessary now :). Its effectiveness will largely vary between people depending on their visualisation skills, so some people may not find that this is their cup of tea.

Oh and this is in the wrong section of the website.