How Can a Blind Person Practice Visualization?

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Jean-Louis de Biasi, author of Secrets and Practices of the Freemasons, The Divine Arcana of the Aurum Solis, and the forthcoming Rediscover the Magick of the Gods and Goddesses. Jean-Louis is also Lifetime Grand Master of the Ordo Aurum Solis and Kabbalistic Order of the Rose-Cross.

Visualization is key for anyone involved in self development, self empowerment, and magic rituals. This is the first skill to learn and to practice. Of course, visualization is not the only component of a successful ritual, but it is the essential to it.

There are many ways to improve our ability. We can practice alone and in group. As Grand Master of the Aurum Solis, I have often taught visualization techniques during sessions and workshops. A common question and concern from students is regarding vision. Visualization is an ambiguous word. I have become progressively convinced that even if this is the right word for this ability, it has to be explained in a different way.

Let’s say it in few words: a good visualization is not necessarily a mental picture! You can build a very efficient visualization without visualizing, or mentally seeing, anything.

Building a clear, strong, and precise mental image is difficult. It is also a challenge to maintain this mental focus for a few minutes. Of course, we can be trained to do this, but it is not necessarily the best way to learn.

When someone says to me that he or she has difficulty with this, my answer is often a new question: how do you think that someone who is blind from birth can visualize? Do you think he will use visual representations? Do you think he will draw a kind of mental picture? Certainly not! He will create a mental construction composed of sounds, feelings, odors, etc.

This is the same for us. We don’t all memorize the same way. Some will clearly remember a picture, others the smells, others the sounds, etc. Even if we are not blind, one of our senses is often dominating. An interesting first step is to find which one. If it is sound, for example, you will build your inner representation composed with sounds. Then progressively you will associate other sensory elements, such as odors, feelings, and visual memories.

In order to visualize and experiment I suggest that you, for a time, forget the visual image itself!

Try this process:

1. Remember a moment from your day. Don’t try to build an image—ust think about it. Then be aware of which sense is the most involved in this recollection. Is the sense of smell? Or touch? or another?
2. When this is done, think about something you want to achieve tomorrow. Focus on it mentally using the sense you fond the most important for you. Progressively, now or the days after, begin to consider the other senses in this way.

Our thanks to Jean-Louis for his guest post! Visit Jean-Louis de Biasi’s author page for more information, including articles and his books.