As children, we used to be able to imagine anything we wanted, we could make up objects, create imaginary friends, or visualize ourselves as adults, accomplishing fabulous things, and changing the world. As we age, many of us stop dreaming, stop making up unreal images, and stop showing ourselves the future we want. Funny to say that those who never stopped dreaming are the ones who have changed the world, made a difference, whether just for themselves, or for humanity. Imagination has this strong of a power. Combined with an appropriate action, it is the freeway to our brain, it ignites the brain’s ability to make nearly anything possible. That ability includes giving you the eyesight of your dreams.
Now, we are not talking about visualization, which is related to imagination and often leverages its power. We are talking about your brain’s ability to create visual images on demand. If those images have been seen before, we refer to them as visual memory. If the they’ve been fully created by your mind, or if the real images have been altered, we call them imagination.
Memory and imagination are the master skills that are heavily relied upon in vision improvement.
ROLE OF MEMORY AND IMAGINATION IN VISION PRACTICE
Here are just a few superpowers of memory and imagination:
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Expansion of the field of clarity, learning to see movement when objects seem to be static, showing the eyes what correct fusion looks like, those are just a few examples of when memory and imagination are used.
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Once the eyes succeed to see the imagined image (even for just a split of a second), the memory of it helps to deepen the experience and to create a more permanent neuropathway in the brain. In this context, memory (a recollection of an event of seeing something in a certain way) is a confirmation of an event (i.e. a flash of clarity at a certain distance) that has happened.
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In situations when one eye acts differently from the other, when one leads and the other barely follows, the ability to transfer images between the eyes is a priceless tool for one’s vision improvement journey. What one eye sees is then used, with the help of memory and imagination, as a guide for the other eye to see.
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In your mind you can imagine your vision being perfect, exactly the way you want it to be. That on its own breaks out the boundaries of limited vision and sets you up for success. If you can show your brain what to see, then guess what … it is much easier for it to oblige.
With the help of visual images you can expand your vision, align your eyes, start seeing movement, get rid of the fear of seeing into the distance and much more.
So, look around, then close your eyes and check to see how much you can remember and what you can do with the recalled images. Are they clear? Can you see any details? Can you alter them as you wish? Give it a go. Try it a few times. If seeing things with your eyes closed does not come easy to you, practice the below techniques to get better.
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND SEE
THE CAMERA TECHNIQUE
This technique practices visual memory
Close your eyes
Then open and close your eyes for just a split of a second, just like a shutter of a camera would do
Now wait. What has your mind registered? What is it showing you?
Repeat this many times, until your brain shows you what you saw
Practice Lenses: none
Tips & Watch outs:
Only keep your eyes open for a split of a second. Prolonging the time will not give you better memory
If this is too difficult to do with the real world images, practice the technique first by looking at any of the Contrast Charts found below.
Printable Resources:
High Contrast Images
THE VICTORY SIGN TECHNIQUE
This technique practices visual imagination and can be practiced once basic visual memory has been established or in conjunction with the camera technique
Look at your hand as you make the V sign with your second and third finger
Close your eyes and remember the hand and the fingers
Now imagine the two fingers coming together
Move the fingers together to help your mind alter the image
Once you can see your fingers open and close (with your eyes still closed) move your hand away from your vision field and continue imagining the two fingers opening and closing
Practice Lenses: none
At one point in time our program director Irena Castle found herself unable to recall what she saw. “I closed my eyes, and there was nothing there”, she says. Well, she was not alone. Based on a survey conducted in 2022, about 2/3 of all vision students struggle with mastering, and therefore leveraging these important skills in their eyesight routine.
“I relearned the skills, then I created a special workshop to teach those with an experience similar to mine how to ignite their visual memory and imagination. ”
If you have dreams when you sleep, you know that your mind can create visual images. Hopefully the techniques taught in this section of the program have helped you do so at your own will. If you have practiced for some time (at least a few weeks) but have not been successful, and if you would like some help, check out the 4-week class here. It is called Ignite Your Visual Memory and Imagination and it is offered periodically based on student interest.