What Is Visualisation?
Visualisation is the art of 'seeing' something in your mind's eye. Essentially, it is almost like imagining something; however, we aim to make it as real and as 'tangible' as possible.
Many people think that when it comes to visualisation you need to focus on seeing the image behind your eyes, as if you were actually viewing it as you would anything in the physical realm. This is not the part to focus on; it's not important for someone starting off with visualisation, and the strain of trying to do this can lead to headaches. Just let it come as if you were daydreaming, and let the image play out in your head. You don't need to focus on 'seeing' them from a particular area (such as your eyes or third eye) at first; this is something you will naturally pick up with practice, until it does feel like you are seeing these things with your own eyes!
Why Visualisation?
Visualisation is a great skill to have when it comes to magick. Being able to effectively visualise an object or a desire helps make your intent stronger. It can help the universe, deities, spirits, etc., pick up on exactly what it is you are asking for as opposed to delivering some vague likeness of it. There is plenty you can do with just a bit of visualisation and energy work as opposed to having to cast a full on spell or ritual! Off the top of my head things which I have successfully cast using a bit of visualisation and some energy work includes finding lost items, weather manipulation, glamour's to make me seem more approachable, glamour's to make me seem less approachable, and generally obtaining things I need.
Visualisation is also a great first step into work such as hedge riding, astral travel, etc. It helps us release our mind and learn to 'see' without using our eyes.
Getting Started With Visualisation:
When we visualise something, whether than be an object, a landscape, etc., we don't just see it. We incorporate all of our senses to bring the image to life.
Touch: How does the object feel? Is it solid, liquid or gas? Is it hot or cold, hard or soft, rough or smooth?
Sound: Does the object make a noise at all? If you were to drop it on a concrete floor how would it sound? If you shake it, does it make a noise?
Smell: Does the object have a particular smell? Does the material it is made of have a particular smell, or does it even remind you of a particular smell?
Taste: It's not one we consider often as a lot of objects we don't tend to taste, but consider it anyway. Does the object you are visualising taste of anything specific?
Sight: The obvious one! What does the object look like? We will be focusing on not only what the object looks like as a whole, but also close up - any cracks, imperfections or blemishes worth noting?
Visualisation is the art of 'seeing' something in your mind's eye. Essentially, it is almost like imagining something; however, we aim to make it as real and as 'tangible' as possible.
Many people think that when it comes to visualisation you need to focus on seeing the image behind your eyes, as if you were actually viewing it as you would anything in the physical realm. This is not the part to focus on; it's not important for someone starting off with visualisation, and the strain of trying to do this can lead to headaches. Just let it come as if you were daydreaming, and let the image play out in your head. You don't need to focus on 'seeing' them from a particular area (such as your eyes or third eye) at first; this is something you will naturally pick up with practice, until it does feel like you are seeing these things with your own eyes!
Why Visualisation?
Visualisation is a great skill to have when it comes to magick. Being able to effectively visualise an object or a desire helps make your intent stronger. It can help the universe, deities, spirits, etc., pick up on exactly what it is you are asking for as opposed to delivering some vague likeness of it. There is plenty you can do with just a bit of visualisation and energy work as opposed to having to cast a full on spell or ritual! Off the top of my head things which I have successfully cast using a bit of visualisation and some energy work includes finding lost items, weather manipulation, glamour's to make me seem more approachable, glamour's to make me seem less approachable, and generally obtaining things I need.
Visualisation is also a great first step into work such as hedge riding, astral travel, etc. It helps us release our mind and learn to 'see' without using our eyes.
Getting Started With Visualisation:
When we visualise something, whether than be an object, a landscape, etc., we don't just see it. We incorporate all of our senses to bring the image to life.
Touch: How does the object feel? Is it solid, liquid or gas? Is it hot or cold, hard or soft, rough or smooth?
Sound: Does the object make a noise at all? If you were to drop it on a concrete floor how would it sound? If you shake it, does it make a noise?
Smell: Does the object have a particular smell? Does the material it is made of have a particular smell, or does it even remind you of a particular smell?
Taste: It's not one we consider often as a lot of objects we don't tend to taste, but consider it anyway. Does the object you are visualising taste of anything specific?
Sight: The obvious one! What does the object look like? We will be focusing on not only what the object looks like as a whole, but also close up - any cracks, imperfections or blemishes worth noting?
Exercise One: Getting Started
For this exercise I want you to pick a fairly simple object such as a stone or a plain item of jewellery. Try and pick something which is the same inside as it is out. For example, if you choose an apple, you will only see the skin on the surface but there will be the actual fruit, pip, core, etc., that you won't see underneath. Try to avoid objects like this for now to keep it as simple as possible.
We are going to focus on each sense, one by one, to help us build up an overall picture of the object to help us in our visualisation.
Touch: Close your eyes and hold the object in your hand. Run your fingers over it; how does it feel? Rough, smooth, warm, cold, etc.? Are there any cracks, or any spots where it doesn’t feel like the rest of the object, etc.?
Do this for a couple of minutes. When you are done, put the object down, and close your eyes again. This time, try and remember exactly how it felt, right down to the smallest blemish. Can you ‘feel’ it in your hand, and how it felt as you ran your fingers over it? Try to recreate the cracks and other oddities you felt when you actually held it in your hand
Smell: With your eyes closed, pick up the object and give it a sniff. Does it smell of anything? Maybe not, and that’s OK. If it does, try the above again; put it down, and now try and recreate that smell using just your mind and your power of belief
Sound: Take your object and shake it, tap your fingers against it, maybe even drop it on the floor so long as it isn’t breakable. Does it make any specific sounds? Repeat this until you have a good understanding of the different pitches and tones it makes. Then, put the object down, close your eyes, and again try to recreate these different sounds just using your mind; really try to hear every pitch and every vibration
Taste: I’m hesitant to recommend this one. There aren’t too many things aside from food I would recommend licking, so unless you’re using something food based, then please move on. If you are using something food based, then you have probably worked out what to do next - give it a taste! Then, give it a moment, maybe drink some water or brush your teeth quickly to get rid of the taste, close your eyes, and try to recreate the taste just using your mind.
Sight: The most obvious sense we use when it comes to visualisation. What does it look like? You may just wish to focus on one part of the object at a time, or you might want to try the whole object, depending on who complex it is. There is nothing wrong with just focusing on a small part of it. Don’t get too hung up if you can’t see every little bit in your mind's eye, or hold the image for long; for now, we are mostly focusing on incorporating all of the senses into our visualisation. Again, once you are happy, place the object down, and with your eyes closed, try to image this object exactly as you saw it with your eyes open.
I used this technique when I first started with visualisation, and it has stuck with me. Twenty years later I can still visualise the ring I first performed this with (and I have a terrible memory generally). I found it difficult at first, so please don't feel discouraged if it takes a few tries before you are able to engage each sense. Especially when you first start out, visualisation can feel tiring; your mind is like a muscle that probably hasn't been used in this way before, and so just like with physical exercise, you need to build up to it.
Once you have the hang of each sense, try putting them together and visualising the whole object as one; how it feels, sounds, looks, and if applicable, smells and tastes.
You may find one sense is stronger or weaker than the others; maybe there is just one sense you cannot get at all, or maybe there is only one sense you can. That is absolutely fine - the 'trick' is to find what works best for you, to maximise your own ability.
For this exercise I want you to pick a fairly simple object such as a stone or a plain item of jewellery. Try and pick something which is the same inside as it is out. For example, if you choose an apple, you will only see the skin on the surface but there will be the actual fruit, pip, core, etc., that you won't see underneath. Try to avoid objects like this for now to keep it as simple as possible.
We are going to focus on each sense, one by one, to help us build up an overall picture of the object to help us in our visualisation.
Touch: Close your eyes and hold the object in your hand. Run your fingers over it; how does it feel? Rough, smooth, warm, cold, etc.? Are there any cracks, or any spots where it doesn’t feel like the rest of the object, etc.?
Do this for a couple of minutes. When you are done, put the object down, and close your eyes again. This time, try and remember exactly how it felt, right down to the smallest blemish. Can you ‘feel’ it in your hand, and how it felt as you ran your fingers over it? Try to recreate the cracks and other oddities you felt when you actually held it in your hand
Smell: With your eyes closed, pick up the object and give it a sniff. Does it smell of anything? Maybe not, and that’s OK. If it does, try the above again; put it down, and now try and recreate that smell using just your mind and your power of belief
Sound: Take your object and shake it, tap your fingers against it, maybe even drop it on the floor so long as it isn’t breakable. Does it make any specific sounds? Repeat this until you have a good understanding of the different pitches and tones it makes. Then, put the object down, close your eyes, and again try to recreate these different sounds just using your mind; really try to hear every pitch and every vibration
Taste: I’m hesitant to recommend this one. There aren’t too many things aside from food I would recommend licking, so unless you’re using something food based, then please move on. If you are using something food based, then you have probably worked out what to do next - give it a taste! Then, give it a moment, maybe drink some water or brush your teeth quickly to get rid of the taste, close your eyes, and try to recreate the taste just using your mind.
Sight: The most obvious sense we use when it comes to visualisation. What does it look like? You may just wish to focus on one part of the object at a time, or you might want to try the whole object, depending on who complex it is. There is nothing wrong with just focusing on a small part of it. Don’t get too hung up if you can’t see every little bit in your mind's eye, or hold the image for long; for now, we are mostly focusing on incorporating all of the senses into our visualisation. Again, once you are happy, place the object down, and with your eyes closed, try to image this object exactly as you saw it with your eyes open.
I used this technique when I first started with visualisation, and it has stuck with me. Twenty years later I can still visualise the ring I first performed this with (and I have a terrible memory generally). I found it difficult at first, so please don't feel discouraged if it takes a few tries before you are able to engage each sense. Especially when you first start out, visualisation can feel tiring; your mind is like a muscle that probably hasn't been used in this way before, and so just like with physical exercise, you need to build up to it.
Once you have the hang of each sense, try putting them together and visualising the whole object as one; how it feels, sounds, looks, and if applicable, smells and tastes.
You may find one sense is stronger or weaker than the others; maybe there is just one sense you cannot get at all, or maybe there is only one sense you can. That is absolutely fine - the 'trick' is to find what works best for you, to maximise your own ability.
Visualising Environments:
Often when we perform visualisations and guided meditations, we are told to ‘imagine we are in a forest’ or ‘imagine we are on a beach’. This is usually at the beginning, and then progresses to us walking along and looking at the sights around us. If we can build a strong mental image in the beginning then this will set us up for the rest of the visualisation.
To practice this, choose an environment local to you. Try to keep it simple. You may choose a local park, a pond, a beach, etc. Or you may even just want to try a room of your house or garden.
Go to wherever this area is, and take a notebook and pen with you.
Spend some time just sitting in your chosen environment. Remember to use all of your senses to really experience it; what does it look like? Is there anything you can feel, such as grass, pavement, or even just a breeze around you? Can you taste anything in the air? What sounds are around you?
Make a mental note of these, but also write them down. Writing has been proven to help imprint things into our memory, so make sure you jot down every little thing. How does this place make you feel overall, is it calming, rejuvenating, etc.? You may even want to take a picture to help you capture the memory.
Once you feel satisfied you have committed this all to memory, go home. Immediately, sit, close your eyes and try and visualise the place you just were. Again, remember to employ all of your senses. You don’t need to do this for long, but long enough that you can capture the essence of the place.
Now wait, and try this again several hours later. You will likely not be able to recreate it as easily, but really try. Keep doing this every few hours. You might want to revisit the place to ‘recharge’ the memory, but don’t do this too often or it will make it more difficult to learn to recreate this just using visualisation.
Often when we perform visualisations and guided meditations, we are told to ‘imagine we are in a forest’ or ‘imagine we are on a beach’. This is usually at the beginning, and then progresses to us walking along and looking at the sights around us. If we can build a strong mental image in the beginning then this will set us up for the rest of the visualisation.
To practice this, choose an environment local to you. Try to keep it simple. You may choose a local park, a pond, a beach, etc. Or you may even just want to try a room of your house or garden.
Go to wherever this area is, and take a notebook and pen with you.
Spend some time just sitting in your chosen environment. Remember to use all of your senses to really experience it; what does it look like? Is there anything you can feel, such as grass, pavement, or even just a breeze around you? Can you taste anything in the air? What sounds are around you?
Make a mental note of these, but also write them down. Writing has been proven to help imprint things into our memory, so make sure you jot down every little thing. How does this place make you feel overall, is it calming, rejuvenating, etc.? You may even want to take a picture to help you capture the memory.
Once you feel satisfied you have committed this all to memory, go home. Immediately, sit, close your eyes and try and visualise the place you just were. Again, remember to employ all of your senses. You don’t need to do this for long, but long enough that you can capture the essence of the place.
Now wait, and try this again several hours later. You will likely not be able to recreate it as easily, but really try. Keep doing this every few hours. You might want to revisit the place to ‘recharge’ the memory, but don’t do this too often or it will make it more difficult to learn to recreate this just using visualisation.
