Many mind enhancement techniques include some sort of visualization, but because of the use of the word visualization, we often forget to incorporate more than just our visual sense when we practice these techniques. Even though it is called visualization, it should involve all of your physical senses.
Most people find it difficult at first to involve all five physical senses in their practice. The technique described in this article is something that helped me considerably and might help you to learn how to easily and comfortably involve all your senses in a visualization session.
Instead of trying to cover all the senses at once, try working on each sense individually, one at a time.
Every day for a week or two, spend ten to fifteen minutes solely on working to develop your sense of smell. I’m not implying you should physically pick things up and smell them. Instead, use your mind to create that sense of smell, just as you would do during a full visualization session. Smell the scent of freshly baked cookies. Smell the scent of salty ocean air. Smell the scent of newly mown grass or the scent of the forest after a heavy rain.
Don’t just think about what it smells like; imagine it so intently you actually begin to smell it. Don’t worry about the other …Continue reading
As promised, here is an easy exercise to help you develop expanded awareness. I call this technique "practicing opposite behavior."
For one week, try performing all your everyday tasks in reverse. If you always put on your right shoe before your left, force yourself to stop and think, to become aware of what you are doing, and to put on the left shoe first instead. If you always step into your pants with the left leg first, try it in reverse instead. If you always take the milk out of the refrigerator before you get the cereal out of the cabinet, force yourself to stop and deliberately do it in the reverse order.
While you're performing the actions in reverse, take note of any resistance. Does it feel odd to perform the action in the opposite way? Do your mind and body seem to rebel?
Keep up this reversed behavior throughout the day. Pay attention to the actions while you do them and consciously make an effort to do them in reverse. Obviously not every action …Continue reading
Basic awareness and energy sensing are part of the foundation of nearly every mystic path. It is impossible to master any advanced techniques without first acquiring a certain degree of skill in the techniques that make up that foundation. Attempting to practice advanced techniques without developing a proper foundation is like attempting to run a marathon without first learning how to walk — you won't get very far.
To provide you with a solid foundation from which to work, I'll start by covering the basic topics of awareness and sensing energy and will work up to more complex techniques later.
In the beginning, people usually have the most luck using a combination of visualization and physical sensation, so this exercise will involve a bit of both. …Continue reading
