Advanced imagery

Advanced imagery

BY Jimmy Henderson 

Hons BA (phil) MA (psychology) FRC

These advanced techniques all require a prior mastery of meditation as well as psycho-interactive (spontaneous) forms of imagery, a process in which unsolicited changes to a re-enacted scene in the inner visual field take place as the unconscious mind becomes a more active participant in the process.

Once accessed and activated by subjective or altered states resulting from contemplation or meditation, the unconscious mind will respond to new imagery that is introduced and it will be possible to introduce entire imaginary scenarios into one's inner visual field. 

The effect of this mental skill can be enhanced by also adding other sensory modalities such as tactile impressions (touch), sounds and even scents to the enactments to increase their multi-dimensional nature and efficacy. A simple example of such an enactment would be consciously moving oneself through a series of visualised doorways and stairways with the intention that these are portals to higher realities or levels of reality. If applied correctly, it will be found that the unconscious responds accordingly and corresponding changes in consciousness and perception will be noted. 

Another method of applying complex imagery involves creating scenarios specifically designed to facilitate inner growth. This would include introducing metaphoric dramatizations that encourage the unconscious mind to act on its own initiative and complete a metaphorical re-enactment. For example, imagining oneself in an (imagined) chrysalis and requesting the unconscious to respond and open one to an inner transformation as would be experienced by the emergence of a butterfly.

Another possibility would be the formulation of pseudo-realities involving complex and bizarre dramatisations such as a visit to a strange planet with zero gravity in which rocks are floating suspended in the air. This would radically challenge one’s perceptual schemata, current beliefs, thinking and understanding of reality, even more so if one is able to accurately reproduce an experience of interacting with this (mentally created) environment and be able to shift one’s perception back and forth between the world of floating rocks and everyday reality.   

This same principle can also account for ‘visions’ which spontaneously occur, in that the (blank) envelope of consciousness (inner visual field) created during highly subjective states, can become the staging ground for communication with one’s own archetypes and other unconscious content, as well as for external communication with archetypal personalities from higher levels able to ‘imprint’ on the field. 

When working with this inner field of vision, personal differences will often be reported in what subjects see (or imagine) under highly subjective conditions, and one therefore needs to bear in mind that anything seen is being constructed in the mind using processes of symbolic interpretation. Any images will thus only be representations formulated from a series of impressions or sensory cues that are being experienced and can differ based on one’s existing framework of beliefs and ideas. 

These ideas will contain, (or be linked to) prototypical images of how things ‘should’ appear in reality, and these images will be activated by the different sensory impressions and presented within the inner visual field. In other words, activities, cues, characteristics from the external (or internal) environment which are ‘humanlike’ in any way, will be categorized as such, and result in the image of a person.

As in the case of dreams, some powerful drives and instincts could also emerge from the unconscious and assume the form of images in one’s inner visual field. In fact, there are many anecdotal cases when these ‘projections’ have even been reported as being seen by other persons, especially those with a highly-developed sense of intuition. This phenomenon could account for the reports of (superimposed) reptilian-like images associated with some persons. In these cases, what is actually being detected and symbolically interpreted is most likely the presence of a primitive emotion or instinctual drive relating to an earlier stage of human evolution.

In some cases, due to a lack of development of the relevant brain centres, visual images may not be properly formed. However, it is possible that, in these cases a ‘presence’ could be felt, which can be an equally powerful experience, as these feelings can be quite disturbing, suggesting that the ‘energy signatures’ of impinging personalities are of an unfamiliar nature.  

As stated earlier, the unconscious also provides a protective function to the human mind by filtering out unnecessary information or any input which could present a sensory overload. In addition to this, research has shown that the contents of one’s schemas also have the ability to influence one’s perception to the point of the human mind being able to ignore or disregard that which does not conform to existing values or beliefs or framework of possibilities, and would therefore form a threat to one’s emotional or psychological well-being.

This means that during advanced imagery using created inner visual fields, one would have to produce imaginary scenarios that would be acceptable to the unconscious and also find methods of bypassing the protective mechanisms (mental blocks) set in place by one’s moral or religious convictions. A conflict of conscience will therefore be experienced as a stumbling block to a positive, directed state of mind. For this reason, sincere students or metaphysical practitioners will often have to enact a series of ‘rituals’ in order to satisfy any ethical requirements. 

These rituals can take the form of restating (good) motives, making new commitments or adhering to certain ‘protocols’ which will satisfy the needs of a distrustful unconscious mind. To rephrase this, mental practitioners may have to unlock a series of 'psychological gates' in order to gain the co-operation of the unconscious in moving deeper into the recesses of the mind.

Jimmy Henderson is a metaphysician and the author of a number of books and articles on inner self-development. He has an Honours degree in philosophy (metaphysics) and a Masters degree in Psychology. His books ‘Multi-Dimensional Thinking’ (2007) and ‘Multi-dimensional Perception’ (2010) are available on Amazon.com and can also be ordered via his website www.jimmyhendersonbooks.com