Visualization is not a foreign word to anyone in the new age community. We see it pop up in instructions for meditation, pathworking, spell work, and a great number of other things. How many times have you heard the phrase “now I want you to imagine in your mind’s eye…” in a self help CD or even at yoga class? It sounds easy, right? Just imagine it in your head and POOF, you just practiced what is called “intentional visualization”, also called “creative visualization” or “mindlight”. Though people don’t talk about this very often, most people find that it’s not as easy as you may think.

Just as anyone with experience in meditation can tell you, it’s a concept that’s so simple yet can be a pain in the butt to get right if it doesn’t come “naturally”. Anyone can sit still and breathe, but can everyone keep their mind clear, their soul focused, and their brain-chatter quiet? Usually not. The same goes with visualization. If I tell you to imagine a bright red apple in your mind, what happens? OH, right there, you just did it! Now I want you to imagine the apple and only the apple. Now background, no thoughts associated with it, and no other meaning to it. Gets a little harder, doesn’t it.

For visualization to be effective and powerful, we need to do more than just “imagine it”. We had good practice with this by playing make-believe as kids, but as our hardened adult minds grew, our ability to see things in the mind, in the astral, shrank. Let’s try the apple again, but this time give it a little more “oomph”. When you see the apple, imagine how it would taste to you. Let your mouth salivate as if it’s right in front of you. How does it feel when you hold it in your hand? What does the crunch sound like when you take a big bite? By doing all of these things, we are engaging all of the five senses (plus our 6th) to bring the apple out of our mind and into the astral. And what happens in the astral, takes formation on the material. Speaking of that, don’t be surprised if you find you crave apples for awhile after doing that exercise! Remember that when we visualize, we are putting a thought into the universe, an energy that has a body. A prayer would be like the “soul” of the visual body. It helps move it forward and creates change in a tangible way much quicker. Next time you pray, visualize the intended outcome while you do so. See it happening in your mind like a movie. You can stop, rewind, and fast forward. Just remember to not let images of doubt, fear, or failure cloud your work or you’ll be putting road blocks up that your work will have to drive around before it can reach its goal.

Now that you have a basic understanding of the inner working of visualization, try it! If you find it’s difficult for you to imagine an image you’re not alone. Practice makes perfect. If you can’t clearly imagine the movie scenes, go back to the apple, or any simple image. It will come to you.
Meanwhile, remember to keep your thoughts in good order in your day to day life. Just as we can visualize things for our benefit, we can do so for our hindrance as well. When we imagine negative things, we’re essentially sending curses. And it would be silly to curse ourselves, wouldn’t it? When you see something negative, try thinking to yelling “cancel, clear!” and imagining a big red X. This can help cancel out your thought.

Do you have any tips or tricks for creative visualization? I’d love to hear them!
Blessed Be,

David