Visualization- What are we referring to?

[Dramolin]

The thread title might seem like a pretty dumb question. Actually, it does sound like a dumb question, but a question I find myself asking at 3 in the morning after forcing for hours and left a little bit confused with the results. I hate asking all of these questions and I want to say right now that I'm only posting this after over an hour of searching.

 

In regards to what I originally considered to be visualization, I thought I'd be quite decent at it. I'm certainly not proud to admit this, but I'm an avid daydreamer. In fact, I think "avid" may be an understatement. On a daily basis I imagine new characters, new places and new stories. Eyes open, pacing and/or even doing something like desk-work or house cleaning, I can vividly imagine pretty much anything I want and for long periods of time. Daydreaming to me is pretty much an addiction, now.

 

To the point: What exactly are we talking about when it comes to visualization and tulpae/wonderlands? At first I thought it was just like picturing an image, or an event. It might still be that, however I'm getting a strange suspicion there's more to it. When my eyes are open I can see my tulpa in places, doing things, or focus on specific parts of their form and try and define them. If I sit down and close my eyes and try to "visualize", movement seems a little more fluid. But, there's a serious issue when I do that. The first few minutes are generally fine when my eyes are closed, but then I lose control- quickly. Random images flash, the environment shifts and, lately, my tulpa begins to act strangely- or so it seems. They're not vocal yet (or I'm still deaf), so getting an accurate answer when I ask still proves to be difficult.

 

Is this some... different "realm" of visualization, the kind that everyone here talks about? A different creature alltogether that I can't seem to control? Or, should I just do what I'm used to doing and visualize my tulpa/wonderland as I would when daydreaming? That honestly seems too easy, and I want to do what's "right", I guess- or if anything, "right" in terms of helping your tulpa grow.

 

An also, a kind of side question- is it known, when visualizing, for young tulpae to get into a mode of doing nonsensical stuff? I mean, things that really don't make any sense, like: Spontaneously doing jumping jacks and NOT stopping, rolling around, melting into the ground or leaping around your point of view? It's a little unnerving when this happens, considering that they'll act rather different just before. I'm thinking perhaps that happens when I'm losing concentration and my unconscious is taking over, but I'm not sure. Again, this only happens when my eyes are closed.

 

 

 

Also, thanks for helping; even when I'm not posting these silly questions, lurking here has been very helpful.

[CreativeMind]

I feel that there are probably many of us have that have gone through this sort of thing. Perhaps not the exact same situation as you, but there are things in common.

 

The difference between a daydream and 'visualization', is that when you daydream, your thoughts directly create what you think of. The stories, environments, and characters all form to your field of vision as you think them. Now, I understand this sounds like a good description when talking about visiting your tulpa in the wonderland, but if you think about it, they're two different types of thought. One you're looking and imposing 'outward', the other you're trying to impose 'inward', which requires a different (yet similar) type of focus.

 

When you daydream, you give yourself complete control without second thought, why wouldn't you? When you are interacting with your tulpa in the wonderland, however, your tulpa also has some control, in how it moves, in how it looks, sometimes it will take you other places. (Not implying that your tulpa doesn't control itself as you impose, but with your daydreaming experience this would not come as difficult to you.) The wonderland is what visually gives 'life' to your tulpa, it exists within it's own unique world, you're visiting them in what will become their domain. It all does start with your thoughts, but taking the training wheels off, and trying to let the tulpa impose itself onto you instead of visa versa can be difficult. This tends to be the gist of how things become in the wonderland: You do not need to actively imagine them, your tulpa is there by it's own accord.

 

When you are communicating to and placing all of your maintainable focus on your tulpa, it's easy for the rest of your environment (in wonderland) to fog; or to be frustratingly unclear because otherwise your focus would be spread out too thin. When you impose your tulpa in this world, you only need to focus on the tulpa, when you have adventures in the wonderland, you have learned to (without thought) 'map' your environment (subconsciously or from memory) before you can place yourself inside of it, and be able to maintain that perfect state of mind. This requires a sort of self-induced state of passive focus, and enough practice to where it comes naturally. As in, you've been there so many times, you've put so much work into it, it has become familiar to you, and the transition from one way of thinking to the other (external vs internal) is much easier.

 

It's really a win/win:

The more time you spend in the wonderland -> You are familiarized with the wonderland -> not only do you see the wonderland better, but your overall ability to visualize closed-eye is increasing. Meaning, after you start to adjust to the wonderland, you can go on whatever adventures you please and they can be as realistic as you imagine them. Not to mention, your tulpa will bond with you the more time you spend with it, getting her 'practice' as well, so she'll be able to more easily contribute to your adventures.

 

I honestly think that this is as simple as experimenting with different focus-based exercises. Meditation is a great way to start, I highly recommend everybody start there, but if you find your mind trailing after a few attempts, self-hypnosis is another great and effective option. (Self-hypnosis is also helping me better my meditation, it can also be used to force, exchange emotions, and set (to achieve) certain goals.) I've noticed that some people really like meditating, others don't, it's a preference things, and there are many things that can help you with your ability to focus inward, you should just have fun with it and try a few different things.

 

What I feel is doing the most damage to your cause right now, would be the frustrations and doubts you are feeling. You're already carrying this preconceived notion that there is more than what you're able to achieve. You've set the stage for failure. When I am horribly stressed or cannot control my thoughts, my visualization isn't nearly as clear. It's not that you are incapable, it's just that you've reached a road block. Your experience lies within daydreaming, which is great and will help you really go deep once you've sharpened your focus.

 

The point of the focus exercises would be simple: To maintain control and to not get distracted by other thoughts (or in this case, your thoughts are so free that they ambush you while you're trying to make 'the connection'). When you have more control over your ability to relax and focus, it's 'easier' to train the type of thought needed to experience things vividly in the wonderland. In other terms: You'll actually be able to focus enough to make progress with practice without frustrating or overworking yourself.

 

Let's say that you've completely calmed down, you've kept your mind completely still for a minute or two, and now you're slipping into the wonderland with all of your focus capacity at hand. Things will become clearer now that you know where to 'aim' your efforts. Be sure to bring nothing but positivity with you, it sounds like your tulpa is still pretty young, they are highly influenced by their hosts while they're still being developed. I know that you don't want to make her uncomfortable, but perhaps that's why she's acted strangely. Go into every session with the mentality that you are going to be spending some time with your best friend, and racking up experience in the meantime.

 

Continue to spend lots of time with your tulpa, send it happy thoughts throughout the day. Involve it whenever you can. The more you grow, the more it will grow, so taking the first step in experimenting with potential solutions to your road block would really help your friendship even more.

 

If you are in the wonderland and you feel your focus slipping, that's okay, talk to your tulpa, acknowledge that it did a great job and that both of you will continue to move forward. Positive reinforcement has been shown to be incredibly motivating for employees, children, other human beings in general, why not your tulpa?

 

I wanted to add: If your tulpa is doing anything that makes you really uncomfortable, don't be afraid to say something about it. If it's not yet vocal, perhaps it's just 'acting out' some of it's emotions, perhaps it's just frustrated because of the recent stress. A kind chat about how you were frustrated with your methods, not your tulpa, will help it regain it's calm and a better understanding of what's happening. The happier your tulpa, the happier the host, the more productive and motivated you both are.

[Dramolin]

CreativeMind, these are all excellent points and a lot of what you said here makes great sense. I've been trying multiple angles to this whole visualization "problem" I seem to have and now I think I have a better idea of how to get a handle on the situation.

 

When you daydream, you give yourself complete control without second thought, why wouldn't you? When you are interacting with your tulpa in the wonderland, however, your tulpa also has some control, in how it moves, in how it looks, sometimes it will take you other places.

 

I've seen something like that before, but reading this now got me thinking. It sounds like the problem here is that, unlike daydreaming, when I'm interacting with my tulpa in wonderland I'm opening my mind to suggestion (and influence), which would allow me to see my tulpa doing things of it's own accord. Because of this, though, I think that I'm also open to errant ideas, distortions and images from my unconscious that don't belong anywhere near my tulpa or wonderland, and that may be causing the disparity in my focus. I could be missing the mark here, but I think by "focus", I need to work on filtering crap from my random unconscious and picking up on my tulpa's emotions/thoughts. Putting it that way, though, makes it sound very tricky...

 

Meditation is a great way to start, I highly recommend everybody start there, but if you find your mind trailing after a few attempts, self-hypnosis is another great and effective option.

 

I've seen the idea of self hypnosis thrown around these forums quite frequently, but haven't actually considered that as an option. I'm to the point now where I'd pretty much try anything, so I think I'm going to further look into this.

 

Be sure to bring nothing but positivity with you, it sounds like your tulpa is still pretty young, they are highly influenced by their hosts while they're still being developed. I know that you don't want to make her uncomfortable, but perhaps that's why she's acted strangely. Go into every session with the mentality that you are going to be spending some time with your best friend, and racking up experience in the meantime.

 

I had my suspicions about my emotional influences over her at this stage, but I hadn't actually yet considered that as much of a hindrance in this case. I really should of realized this. Thank you very much, I'll be to sure to try and do this as best I can.

 

If you are in the wonderland and you feel your focus slipping, that's okay, talk to your tulpa, acknowledge that it did a great job and that both of you will continue to move forward. Positive reinforcement has been shown to be incredibly motivating for employees, children, other human beings in general, why not your tulpa?

 

This is something I do quite often, because it's the truth. I constantly tell her the problem's on my end and that I'm just glad she's been trying and putting up with my shit. It's good to know that it actually helps.

 

 

So yeah, my tulpa is pretty young. We've just blown past the two-week mark and a lot of the reason as to why I'm trying to dabble in visualization (earlier than I had intended) is actually to help her become vocal, as I've seen a handful of guides focusing on visualization to help boost tulpa vocality (or improve the host's hearing, either way).

 

Thanks again for all of the insight!