Thomas Leigh Diary

How I meditate #8: gaining visions

At this point let's summarize what we know so far. You should know:

1. What meditation is and what would be its benefits?

2.What would be very helpful in meditating?

3. How to relax? And also how to achieve even deeper relaxation state?

From that point You know all the pieces You could need to meditate effectively. How to do that? In essence there are two possible approaches:

One - in which we perform the whole process: taking the most proper position, using some breathing and relaxation techniques. Then we focus on some specific attitude towards the surroundings and "Our Own" thoughts - and that will be the main part of the practice.

That part alone also makes the other, simpler way of practicing meditation which we can use wherever and whenever we want. In this case meditation becomes rather a particular state of being than a practice.

Besides all of things mentioned above we also know that we can use meditation as a background for our affirmative practice (performing so called "Affirmative Prayer"). Today we will reveal another, more advanced application of meditation - which is...

...gaining visions.

What are the visions?

If You carefully listen to Yourself, to Your "Inner Voice", and especially if You often visualize - at some point You may realize that there is a difference between what You've imagined intentionally and consciously - and what emerged "by itself". Because it is possible to find those "pieces of information" which You know that they were not created by You. They rather "popped up", showed themselves in the light of Your awareness.

Those pieces of information I call "visions". I consider them as a way of communication between Me and My Higher Self and/or God/All That Is. They can be also provided by Your friends or guides who exist "on the other side" (the spiritual plan).

Regardless of their source I think it is highly valuable to be able to pick up those visions/messages, which I believe are send to us on purpose. Learning and practicing of gaining visions can also be very helpful in terms of our relationship with entities I've mentioned. In My opinion it is quite valuable because I believe we are not alone here, on our Paths (i.e. in this lifetime on Earth). Although sometimes we can feel that we are... - then it comes in handy to reach our Friends Who are present nearby and care about us. I guess an average person usually isn't aware of Them - but it can change. And once You change it - it may significantly extend and improve the character of Your experience in this lifetime.

So cut to the chase and talk about how You can learn to gain visions.

First of all - from My experience I know that it is not necessary to meditate in order to receive visions. They can be equally easily presented to You in other circumstances, for example:

- while You are just relaxing listening favorite music,

- when You are completely awake and engaged in whatever activity,

- while sleeping;

The most common form of visions is an inspiration - an idea You've just realized, out of nowhere - which often energizes You and moves You towards some particular direction. But they can take also more "classical" form which I could describe as "a movie" displayed "by itself" in the light of Your awareness.

What is the most important thing about gaining visions for Me is to be mindful, to be a careful observer - in order to be able to determine when You are dealing with visions.

What to observe?

Thoughts, feelings, "movies", pictures, sounds... - everything which emerges "in front of You" (in the space of Your awareness). Remember an independent/detached observer attitude described earlier? This full-of-mindfulness attitude can be significantly helpful now: when You intend to be ready for receiving visions whenever they come.

How to determine what is a vision and what not?

While observing You should know which thoughts (pictures, "movies", and so on) are created by You. For example while listening favorite music or meditating I could decide to think about some particular subject, for example I decide to imagine a girl. Maybe the girl I would love to meet in My life :) . Or maybe I decide to imagine that I meet someone who was very important and close to Me, but who left this plan of existence some time ago. Or maybe I decide to imagine that I meet My Guide or Higher Self. I can imagine what that meeting would be like. For example, I can begin with imagining how that person looks like. How we are welcoming each other. Where we are located... and about what we start to talk.

While imagining various elements of this meeting at some point I can discover that something happened not necessarily "by Myself" (I didn't imagine that). For example being a mindful and careful observer at some point I can realize that the person I'm meeting with said something (or did something) unexpectedly. Something which I Myself didn't create (I wasn't the one who "put those words into his/her mouth", etc.). Something "out of nowhere" which I am able to tell that I didn't make it up.

The matter is well explained in one of Bruce Moen's books, "The Afterlife Knowledge Guidebook":

"Sometimes I know for certain I'm making up both sides, and sometimes it might take an unexpected turn that I play along with. (...) This nonphysical experience may be a complete fantasy, or some of it may be real. Willingness to allow yourself to actively pretend is one of the keys to using imagination as a means of perception."

In "The Afterlife Knowledge Guidebook" Bruce explains this matter in very detail - so I highly recommend to read the whole description.

So on one hand it should be easy to determine what was made by You and what had its source somewhere else - if You were mindful and careful enough. Because in that case You should have more chance to know what You've created intentionally. All the rest (if present) will be Your vision.

But sometimes the distinction is not so clear - but rather subtle. Sometimes You won't be sure if You've imagined something or not. In that case You can use several ways to determine what You've just experienced:

1. Sometimes it is possible to verify information (doing some research, asking people who would have the knowledge, or browsing the Internet).
2. Sometimes it is enough to compare Your experience which Yourself - asking: "Could You really imagine anything like that?"
3. Sometimes it can be helpful to remind what You felt while experiencing. In one of Dolores Cannon's books, "The Convoluted Universe - Book Three" we read:

"How can we be sure if the thoughts that come through in meditation are our thoughts or coming from higher planes?

A: It is the amount of emotion and feeling that is connected with that thought. Random thoughts that occur and flit through your mind about things past, things desired, speculations, hopes and dreams, do not have the emotional impact that impressions from your larger self have. The feeling is your key. If you just think the answer in words, with no feeling, it needs to be critically analyzed. It seems that feeling is essential."

How to trigger visions

Another important thing about visions is that You don't have to wait for them not knowing when they'll come. It is possible to trigger visions. One way You can do that I've just described above: in that case the trigger is Your imagination, when You decide to begin with some concept/visualization and then to observe what will happen. It is like calling a friend - when You wait for His/Her answer. First You dial the number and then You wait and listen - of course without disconnecting. When You imagine something - it is exactly like calling: You hear those unique tones and wait until Your Friend pick up the phone. Sometimes You need to wait short, sometimes longer - and sometimes nobody will answer. But in order to check what happens this time You need to wait "on the line": by imagining, visualizing. Whatever You are imagining, visualizing or creating - those are Your "calling signals sent from Your phone".

If You will receive a vision - You will recognize it as "an interference" existing somewhere between all You've created intentionally. It will be something new - which You didn't create consciously but which You can discover, You can be aware of.

Another way of triggering visions is to use affirmation containing Your intention of receiving a vision. It could be a good idea to be more precise choosing that intention. For example, instead of just asking for a vision You can ask for an answer to a particular question, You can ask for help in some particular subject, or You can just ask for contact with Your Higher Self, Your Guide, etc.

When You have the affirmation done - in order to give it additional power You can perform the affirmative prayer described earlier on. And as a result You may receive a vision while this practice.