Imagery
What Lies Beneath
In simple terms, we ‘think’ in two ways: mental talk and mental image. People in the modern world experience most thought in terms of near-constant mental talk, which is more ‘left brain’, linear, logical and time-based. This is encouraged by educational systems that prioritize verbal and abstract thinking.
Mental image is more ‘right brain’, non-linear, non-logical, creative, (w)holistic and heart centered. We underestimate the power of the images that constantly flash on our mental screen. They anchor our memories and belief systems, and drive our self-image and identity. When we reclaim our ability to see and discover mental images constructively, we find a world of expanded possibilities, timeless wisdom, and integration.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
Albert Einstein
Practice: Clear past troubles
Sit in a comfortable upright position. Close your eyes. Breath out 3-5 times with a slow extended exhale and a normal inhale. Feel relaxed but alert. Turn your mind’s light inward to your inner world, where everything is possible.
Imagine you have a special video camera and you point it at your heart. It captures everything that happened in your heart over the last year, all the feelings, emotions, troubles. When everything has been captured by the camera, you remove the recording and throw it far and high into the sky. It floats off and vanishes. Put the camera away and know you can find it whenever you need it again. With the tossing away of the recording, all your troubles of the past year were wiped clean.
Repeat the imagery 2-3 times daily for a couple of weeks, or until you feel you’ve cleared and let go. Good times of day for the exercise are mornings just after you wake up, just before dinner, and just before going to bed. Repetition allows the imagery to take root and become a seed that blossoms. This exercise can be done once a year, or whenever you feel the need.
Why Imagery?
Imagery can help you relax, release stress, and boost a weakened immune system. It can also help you reverse beliefs and emotions that limit and deplete you. The more specific the imagery and the more earnestly and diligently it’s practiced, the deeper the potential impact. At its most profound, it can help you experience other levels of consciousness to integrate you into a greater wholeness.
Many imagery exercises can be found online and are free for you to practice and explore. For additional guidance, you can purchase a book at a low cost and go through the exercises yourself or with a friend.
Some imagery can be lengthy, but it doesn’t have to be. You can get a lot done in focused 1-2 minute sessions.
No significant barriers, for most. At a basic level, your inner world is there to explore whenever you feel the need.
“The man who has no imagination has no wings.”
Muhammad Ali
Resources
Imagery was the bread-and-butter of many healing and spiritual systems throughout human history, aided in part by practices using guided visualizations, dreams, poetry and metaphor, and ‘plants of the gods’. Its use waned in the modern world with the rise of a radically materialistic worldview as well as increased reliance on surgical and pharmaceutical medicine for physical and emotional healing.
The revival of interest in imagery over the last 50 years has been spearheaded by several medical doctors including Michael Samuels, Gerald Epstein and Martin Rossman, who all published books for the general public. Other well-respected teachers and practitioners have included Colette Aboulker-Muscat and Jeanne Achterberg.
“Once you let your imagination work for you, you will find yourself feeling more hopeful and positive because of the inner light of imagination shining into your existence.”
Gerald Epstein, M.D.