Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Synesthesia-translating sensations and feelings into images

Translating sensations and feelings into images 
By Jimmy Henderson (MA psychology, FRC)


Many inner psychic experiences relate to the ability to translate impressions, sensations and feelings into colours, forms and images in our minds. This is not supernatural, or the stuff of fairy-tales. Look up ‘synesthesia’ in any good encyclopedia and you will see that this skill exists, although it is usually not well-known outside of metaphysical circles. 

Due to the electro-chemical nature of our nervous system, our bodies are surrounded by an envelope which is extremely sensitive, much like the electromagnetic atmosphere of the Earth. As we know, disturbances in this atmosphere, such as that caused by sun-spots, can affect the conditions on the planet. In a like manner, subtle outside influences are able to bring about sensations, sense-impressions and ‘feelings’ in our bodies, which, by means of synesthesia, can be translated into images.

I am sure that many of you have experienced a sense of danger or discomfort in the past. Imagine this feeling giving rise to impressions of ‘spikiness’, or the colour red, or a vision of thorns flashing briefly in your mind. Similarly, consider the sensation of comfort or safety spontaneously producing a brief image of a ‘safe’ colour such as blue, or even objects such as ‘bubbles’ or ‘cotton puffs’. You will see that these images can all be symbolically associated with their particular feelings, and have simply been generated by your subconscious mind in response to your experience. 

As mentioned before, the actual images you see in response to the feelings are personal, shaped by your own background, beliefs and views of the world. For example, if you were bitten by a dog as a child, you may associate danger with a nasty-looking dog, and this image could flash into your mind if you experience a sensation or feeling of danger.

Obviously being able to automatically translate impressions and feelings into images requires some training and your mind will have to be in a very relaxed state and sensitized to pick up the subtle cues, but it is possible during meditation or other altered states. 

With practice, this skill can be further developed to the point where sensations and feelings can produce images in your minds which superimpose themselves on your normal consciousness (something like a daydream), and become even more complex, resembling humanlike figures.

Understanding that energies outside of ourselves can produce these sensations and feelings,and that these can be translated into images, explains the psychic visions that are often seen during meditations. 



Jimmy Henderson is a cognitive scientist and metaphysician and the published author of a number of books and e-books on inner self-development. His books can be viewed and purchased from his website, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. 
www.jimmyhendersonbooks.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jimmy+henderson