Visualization is a key element in working magic. Here's a way to develop that skill
Being able to clearly visualize what one wants ones magic to accomplish is absolutely central to effectively doing spellwork, ritual work, and any other form of magic. After all, if you're going to cast a spell you want to be very clear on what you desire as an outcome in order for the magic to have a path to travel. Everyone can visualize, we do it all the time when day-dreaming. But being able to focus and hold a focus on a specific image is more of a learned skill that takes time and practice to develop. The following is an exercise that can be used to develop your ability to visualize a specific object/outcome clearly and to hold that focus at will.
Take an object and study it carefully. For the sake of this exercise lets take an apple. Hold it in your hand and feel the texture of the skin. Smell the scent of the apple. Look at the color. Are there any bruises? Holes in the skin? Discolorations? Keep studying the apple until you think you have a good grasp on what an apple looks, smells, and feels like.
Now, close your eyes and try to see that same apple in your minds eye. Don't worry if the image isn't really clear yet or if you cant hold it for too long. If you start to lose the image, open your eyes and study the apple again.
Don't strain yourself in doing this. Practice for five minutes or so seeing if you can hold the image a little longer and have it get a little clearer each time.
Continue to do this exercise repeatedly over the next weeks or months. As you become better able to hold the image try adding some changes to it. Now you not only see the apple in your mind...but perhaps you can also smell it or feel its skin.
Try rotating the image of the apple in your mind. So this time you're looking at the stem and perhaps next time you're looking at the bottom of the apple.
As you get more comfortable with visualization you can get more creative in the sorts of changes you want to make in the image of the apple. Try changing the color of the apple from green to red. See if you can make the ripe apple shrivel and dry up. Even try seeing the apple through the full course from bud to blossom to fruit to windfall.
I'm using an apple here as a teaching tool because its easy to work with. But of course you don't have to limit yourself to an apple. Once you begin to gain skill with visualization you can work with any image you want.
Its important not to rush things or to get frustrated if you're having problems. As I said before, visualization is a skill that takes time to learn. Each of us learns at our own pace. Like any other exercise it takes time to build up those mental muscles to do what we want and there are no shortcuts. Enjoy the process and keep at it on a regular basis and you'll be surprised how well you will be able to hold a visualization in your mind.
I find that when I'm using visualization to achieve my objective and I'm focusing on something complex over a long period of time I get very tired if I don't charge myself with energy first. Does anyone else experience this?
I very much appreciate this post and agree that its a fundamental aspect of bringing forth your will in the physical world. Nice job Lark. I often rely only on visualization techniques to gently send out my will to the universe.
I used to find myself tired after prolonged and intense visualizations as well. I then, however, visualized myself drawing clean, powerful natural energy from my surroundings and incorporated that in my visualizations so that I was like a filter for the flow of energy but while the energy flowed through me and into my visualization, I would imprint the particles with my will or intent. I find it help me to keep my energy up, it makes my visualizations much stronger and it keeps me more focused. I don't know if it works for others... I meditate and try different things that work and feel right for me now that I have what I feel is a good grasp on how magic works (at least for me) and this technique just made perfect sense to me so I use it often. Maybe it will help you out with regards to energy drain while doing visualizations. If it helps let me know :) Thank you Lark for a nice write-up on a very important fundamental in magical workings.
Thanks for your advice Tonkor, I will give it a go and let you know if it works for me. Theoretically I would imagine this should be a viable solution. This would fit with the hemetic philosophy that everything is energy in constant movement. Therefore we should be able to tap into it. Excellent!
Almost all of my work is done with this alone - a lot of the time I feel I have more energy than when I bagan maybe because what I visualize and send out is only positive? - If a spell asks for something I do not own or can not get I can visuslize having that item and have had much sucess in doing this. Good post :) .
Good day..This is one of the answers to my question for long time since when I was a kid.Visualization is not difficult for me,I can even visualize without closing my eyes but,after visualization I feel sleepy and a little tired.I can even add different kinds of things when I visualize,but I still cannot control it coz there comes a time that I am just focused I don't even close my eyes for seconds.weird,I really have to learn more.I am a beginner by the way..Thanks again for what you've wrote,Highly appreciated!blessed be..
I was just wondering, I can do visualization for years and I can turn things and make things move in my mind (etc), but I was wondering what type of spells usually need visualization as I hear visualization can help visit The Astral Plane, which is my goal. Thank you
All spells require visualization. As you cast a spell you must clearly visualize the result you desire. For instance, if you were doing a fertility spell for yourself then you might try to clearly see yourself smiling and with a baby in your arms. It is the visualization and intent that tell the spell energies where to go.
I can seem to visualize when i cast spells but, i can't seem to let the magic flow out when i cast it. I know how to do energy transfer butt i can't seem to throw my energy.
I want to learn how to throw energy so i can eventually throw fire or, lightning however, i don't intend on using that power to hurt innocent people or to try to be a hero.
Do you have any tips i could use?
We do not possess magick, instead we push our energy and intent out into the world hoping for a magickal result. No matter how hard you try, you cannot throw fire balls or lightning, that is pure fantasy.
