The 5 Wh’s of Visualisation; Who, What, Why, When en How

1. Who does Visualisation?

Visualisation is used by a lot of different kind of people with their different goals, for example in Psychological, Medical, Religion and also on Spiritual level. In general everybody can do Visualisation! Though I added this subject to Tarot, because it is an aspect very good to use for this, I will keep it to this level.

2. What is Visualisation?

To Visualize =
1. visible or as image creatable => to represent

To give a good explanation of Visualisation is quit complicated though it is used in a lot of different ways, but also each of that different goals.  Every method of Visualisation on each level has his own extensive contents and fore that it own meanings and understanding. Speaking in general Visualisation is creating an mental image with our memory and closed eyes. This image could be something that we are not happy about and that we would like to see it differently. Or it could be an image just simply to be able to relax, a kind of method of meditation. Visualisation with Tarot is a way to enter a card and to learn what is happening inside of the card. If we visualisizing in a card then for every individual the way can go differently and that makes it very interesting. During the Visualisation we create our own feelings with/in the card therefore we create our own (unique) meanings. So this is also a very good and usefull way to get more and more acquaintance with the cards. Also in this there are different goals for entering a card. You can for example visualize a card and let yourself go with the way where you prefer or where you are leaden to, both can happen. When you have practice some more then you can try to get along with the this that are happening in the card. Do you prefer to have somebody with you then this person can guide your Visualisation. This will create a situation for you and he guides you into this situation.

3. Why Visualisation?

Like written in point 2 Visualisation with the Tarot is a good method to study and learn well the meanings of the cards, but also to create your own feelings and meanings of the cards. Which improves you more to do a reading in your way and a way that makes you feel good and comfortable.

4. When can we Visualize?

I think that there is not time connected at all to Visualize, you can do it in general speaking anytime you like. I think also that with any kind of method, to connect yourself, your conscious or onconscious, with the memory or intuition that a silence is really required and concentration so that we can not be distracted to fast. After practicing a phew times you will be able to control it and decide when is the perfect time for you to Visualize.

5. How can we Visualize?

There are several excersizes to Visualize. If you never have done this before then I recommend you an easy excersize. Before you begin there are some important aspects that only you can judge. It is very important before you stare to Visualize that you are completely relaxed, further it must be possible for you to concentrate good, also to have your mind empty, without any thoughts and further what is very important is a good motivation. Be prepared to really let yourself go in the Visualisation. Don’t you feel relaxed? Are you too much restless? Then before starting the Visualisation you can try to do a Grounding excersize to loose of the disturbing energy and to load yourself with new, fresh energy which make u feel better to start with the Visualisation excersize.

A simple excersize to learn to Visualize, to keep an image in your mind with eyes closed;

1. Find yourself a peacefull place where you can feel comfortable and able to concentrate

2. Take a seat on a way you feel comfortable, but also on a way where you back is straight up, for example on a chair o on the ground with your legs crossed.

3. Close your eyes and breath a phew times calmly in and out, through nose and mouth

4. Open your eyes again and search for a object and take it in your hands, it doesn’t matter what it is.

5. Take a good look at the object, all (small) details, shapes, colors

6. Then after you close your eyes again and try to imagine the same object in your mind

7. Don’t you succeed to do this then open your eyes again and take another look at the object and try again

It can be really so that in the beginning you will have to repeat this a several times, because for sure in the beginning this is not easy to do. Often our thinking takes controle over our brains on moments that we prefer not to think, but be patience, like always said; Practise will reward you!
If you do have this excersize under controle, then you can try to do the same thing with a Tarot card and then you replace the object for the card. You can choose any card you like which you will like to study and learn about it more. If you are reading for yourself every a card then you can choose one out of these. Are you capable of to succeed the same excersize also with the Tarot card then you can take the Visualation a step forward.

1. If you took a good look at the card then close your eyes again and visualize the card again.

2. Take a step forward in the card and in try to find out where the way is leading you

3. Take a walk nicely and try to notice some details that you see on your way, for example the water, a lake, a sea, is it quit? Or restless? Or maybe its just a bit in motion?  Does it has a nice blue colore or is it more sadly grey? You see a tree? Is it beautiful green? Does it has nice leaflets or is it bare?  Is there a house? What kind of shape it has? Stands it far away or close? Shapes, colors, what does it do. This way you can go by step by step to see every detail and go more into the card.

4. Did step 3 went well for you and you feel still good and comfortable enough to go forwards then you can maybe find out if there are any persons present.

On every card of Tarot you can see a person but in a visualition it doesn’t mean that you will always notice and see this person. Don’t try to search for it then and let it all come over you how it has to come.

5. You see indeed the person then try to study also the details of him/her. Is it a male or female? Long or short? Happy or sad? Is he or she just by him/herself or is there somebody or something with him/her?

7. If this is also going good for you then you can maybe try to start a conversation with the person.

For myself personally I believe that this step is best to taken when you are more experience in Visualisation and more controle. The conversation you will start, like all other conversation, can go diverse ways, positive way but also negative way and this could be quit heavy, you have to know what you do and start. Though if you are indeed ready for it then it could be a really beautifull experience.

7. This rules for both excersizes; When you are finished Visualizing then walk back calmly how you came and at the end of the road you get out of the card again.

8. Open your eyes again and breath a phew times in and out

9. If you like then after the excersize you can write everything down what you have seen and what you remember.