people can 'see' things clearly in their minds eye with
their eyes actually open. In other words they see what
is in front of them but they are also' seeing' what they
are visualizing. When I ask people where it is they are
actually 'seeing' the thing they are visualizing, they
normally point to a spot about four to six feet away.
Many people can only visualize with their eyes closed.
Many people can only 'see' still and not moving
pictures. Others can' see' only in black and white not
color.
My preferred method of visualizing is this. I know
the words, which I use as cues for the pictures. I relax
myself, deactivate the RAS. Although I am lying
down, I prop my head right up so I am not likely to
fall asleep. Then I close my eyes and I concentrate very
hard until I actually create the picture. (In case you
haven't gathered, I find it very hard to visualize,
although I know I absolutely have to).
I must have absolute silence as well, because I find
that it takes lots of concentration to visualize and
create the pictures that I need. If there are noises or
interruptions I can't visualize and I will put off my
session until it is quiet. Why waste my valuable
energy, doing something that is extremely important to
me, competing with the guy next door who's trying to
cut out a massive root from his lawn with a blunt axe
or trying to cut the grass when it's wet. (Yes, you've
got a neighbor like that, you probably have one that
plays drums as well, right!)
I find that when I have managed to actually create
the image that I want, I can hold it there for quite a
long period of time. I try to hold the image there as
long as possible. The image is inside my head. Very
clear, although the colors are not all that bright. I find
that I can brighten up the picture and get the people
and event to actually move, but I have to create a static