Awakening the Seer

Is it appropriate to ask for a vision?

         I have only asked for a vision once.   That was of the birth of the Savior.  I was hoping for a movie version.  What eventually came to me was way different than I expected, but much more. Instead of just viewing like a movie, I "became" a participant and "felt" what it was like to give birth in a stable.  I am still in awe of that experience.

      

           Mel Fish talks about our "two sets of eyes" in his book, Healing the Inner Self.  "What you see is what you get.  There is much more to this than people realize.   We all really have two sets of eyes.  Physical or outer eyes…and inner or mind's eye.  With our inner eye, we view the pictures or images in our mind.  It is the inner eye which leads us to use the expression, "I see" when we suddenly understand something.  It is much the same way with inner eye.  We do not always choose the images that pop into our mind.  But we can choose to focus our attention upon that image and dwell, or focus on something else.  Mel gives an example of listening to the radio as a boy.  The same stories viewed on TV were disappointing.

He also discussed why seeing terrible things which have a bad effect is the result of the inner eye.

It is seen only once by the physical, but the emotional breakdown comes when the same terrible scenes are seen over and over in the mind's eye."

          Kirk Duncan talks about "imagining" your higher power.  Seeing  as having a body…a really good loving Dad who really cares, answer questions, is fit, laughs, looks good…a loving Dad, who really cares, clear eyes, big smile, smells good, hands soft, gentle but thick hands.  Creating all the details.

 He says that if you go to pray and  don't feel connected, it feels shallow.  You know it's shallow if you fall asleep. 

   What goes on in the mind is REAL. He gets bigger results, tangible proof that things are happening in his life

Do you imagine Him Far Away on a shiny glass throne?  Do you sit on a throne?  No, hardly ever.

Watch him walk through a field with a bunch of kids.  He's interacting, touchable, relatable.  The image comes of playing, smiling.  Create those moving pictures in your mind.  Kirk says if He is not moving, then I am not moving.

 Where does He live?  How about the coolest castle ever?  Front door lined with flowers, animals, a moat…or  a cabin in the mountains with an incredible view over the lake.  If Kirk needs one on one close connection, he goes to the cabin, smells the cookies.  There's mom, who welcomes with a plate of cookies. There He is in overalls, red checkered shirt, hiking boots, scruffy beard, bandana around neck.  Thanks for loving the people he says.  Tight hugs.  Safe.  Just melt.  God in his cabin is watching over.   (Kirk Duncan, notes from CD, Seeking a Higher Power)

          To stay active, the Seer in us requires creativity that pushes our visionary senses into expression as Kirk talks about in the previous section.   Visualization, art, writing, composing, building, sewing, designing all tap into and activate those senses.

          Countless hours of TV and video games dull those senses.  These days the only time many of us feel visually fulfilled is when we are sitting in a dark theater with popcorn on our lap.  We crave car chases, explosions, gunfire, sharp obnoxious images hurled into our brain.  A tree is not enough.  We want an angel to come blazing through the air, a pillar of light to knock us off our feet.

          Most of us have forgotten that this life is an adventure, a challenge, a saga.  We will spend hours playing Myst on our computer, decoding symbols to solve the game, but won’t give our own journey the same attention.  

          The author of the Pure Revelations blog asks and tells the following:   "What is a vision?

Have you ever had a daydream where your mind drifts off into a fantasy and you see something that isn’t really there? Sometimes we experience this as we read a book, listen to someone talk, or do a mundane task. We see in our mind what our eyes cannot. The difference between a daydream and a vision is that the Holy Spirit directs the “vision.” It is holy, it has purpose, it is vivid, and anything is possible…

I teach art classes in Provo Utah and often I am asked, 'What is the most important ability an artist can acquire?' … my answer is that the ability to visualize and create a unique concept is the greatest aspiration of any artist; to see beyond the earthly realm, to behold the 'artist’s vision.' How can this relate to us in our quest to draw closer to God? As we open up our minds to such things, the Spirit can teach us beyond anything we have experienced.

…I suggest my students do two things to help them develop this skill. One is to gather images that inspire them. Study them and try to figure out why they are meaningful. For those on a spiritual quest, this could be to ponder upon subjects that are meaningful to you. …

     The second exercise …is to hold a photo of someone they love; perhaps a picture of a famous painting. Stare at the photo for a couple of minutes. Not just gaze at it, but really examine the shapes and tones and colors and study what you see. After a couple of minutes close your eyes and try to remember as much as you can. You’ll be amazed at your ability to remember details. For those on a spiritual quest, do the same exercise, but in addition to that, allow the remembering part to flow into a vision. If one were to practice this exercise for even a few minutes daily they would be amazed at the results.

      As a seeker of “vision” you will improve your ability to formulate images in your mind. Your dreams become more vivid and your ability to remember images improves. Our brain is like a muscle that can be enhanced with exercise—and so is our spirit. You will learn to receive the Lord’s gifts as you reach out for them. Each of you is like an artist in the making."

…

“And there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according to their faith.” (Jarom 1:4)

 The word, “stiffnecked” implies that they will not bend or look or do things they are unaccustomed to doing. Like a child who learns as they grow up that certain things are senseless (Santa, Easter Bunny, etc.), often the Gifts of the Spirit are placed in this category by the “older and wiser.” If you can’t touch it, feel it, or see it, don’t believe it. Is it no coincidence that Christ said we are to become as a little child?

Can we open our minds to receive overflowing visions?  YES.

…

I have put together Ten Steps that I believe will facilitate a vision to those who are prepared to receive it.

STEP ONE: Have a purpose. Are you seeking answers regarding a particular question, topic, or problem? Have you sought it out and come to the conclusion that only the Lord can help you? This is an appropriate reason to seek a vision from the Lord.

STEP TWO: Get comfortable. Honestly, a vision can happen anywhere and anytime, but when going out of your way to seek a vision, it may be a good idea to sit down and relax. Relax your mind and body. Breathe deeply and remove the stresses that may inhibit the Lords Spirit. I like to sit on the ground, but you can be most anywhere that it is quiet and where you can concentrate.

STEP THREE: Ask the Lord if you can shield yourself from the Adversary to prevent deception. If you hear the affirmative, say in your mind, “In the name of Jesus Christ, by His authority, I command that a shield be placed around me to shield me from any unclean spirits that would try to deceive me or cause harm.” Ask the Lord if you did it correctly. I would suggest reviewing “Pure Revelation.” https://purerevelations.wordpress.com/2014/12/01/pure-revelation/

STEP FOUR: Ask the Lord if he will share a vision with you through His Spirit. Be specific and ask with faith. As with any revelation, you must pray for what you desire. I would suggest reviewing “Four Steps to Powerful Prayer.” https://purerevelations.wordpress.com/2014/12/01/four-steps-to-powerful-prayer/

Art by Amberle Stoffers

STEP FIVE: Be patient. It may take some effort on your part. We often expect the Lord to just drop it in our lap. When Lehi had his vision of the Tree of Life he had to wander in the wilderness of his mind for three hours before the vision unfolded. (1 NE 8:8) Nephi sat pondering for an unknown amount of time and others often have to wait, but perhaps YOU won’t.

STEP SIX: Begin the vision. Learn the art of visualization. (Refer to exercise below.) Visualize yourself, from your vantage point, walking up to a door. Try to see it as vividly as possible. Open the door and look where it leads. Do not be startled by what you see, do not retreat. Simply let this self-imposed vision go wherever it will. Continue to pray as you experience the vision. At some point, the Spirit will likely begin to control the vision and it will reveal the Lord’s will to you.

STEP SEVEN: Don’t be hasty. Explore the surroundings of your vision. Look at details. Think of colors and smells and feelings. When there is nothing more there, look on, move forward, and keep asking.

STEP EIGHT: Immediately after your vision ask the Lord if it was from Him. Get a confirmation. You may already know it is, but perhaps only part of it was. If nothing happens it may be that you need to follow the steps on the “Praying with Power.” It may be that your thoughts are too cumbered with stress, worry, or the Spirit hasn’t been able to reach you for some reason. If you struggle, fasting may be the solution to open the door. But more than likely you will have an amazing experience to ponder.

Art by Amberle Stoffers

STEP NINE: Write down the vision. Think of as many details as possible. Remember feelings and impressions. Allow the Spirit to guide your writing. This is personal scripture to you and may be seen by your posterity. Much of what you will receive will be answers to direct prayer, prophecy of future events, and what the Lord wants you to know personally.

STEP TEN: Express gratitude to the Lord in prayer. Review with Him what you have written. Ask Him if there is anything false in your writing. Ask if there is anything else he wants you to know and understand. Don’t be surprised if another vision opens up to you. Expect the unexpected."

           Pete Sanders gives ideas on dream interpretation:

"Dream images are seen with the mind, not the physical eyes.

Focusing in the forehead region is the best way to activate 3rd eye.  This skill has atrophied because we have been trained over the years to use the physical vision exclusively.

…  Dream impressions tend to be more symbolic than literal.  You can use your other senses to help interpret symbols.

Art by Amberle Stoffers

…  Dreams are messages encapsulated like mental crystals.  You can go back and interpret any dream at any time.  All you need to do is remember the dream, shift to your third eye, rescan it and tune in while you review the images.     Write down your sense of the meanings of the images as you review them.  Write down all meanings as they come to you.  Continue scanning and reviewing until you feel complete about the interpretation.  At some you will feel a click of certainty.  The only limiting factor is how well you remember them.  Record them as soon as you awaken.  Interpret it later as part of your morning meditation.

The same process applies to visions received when awake.  They are equally as valid and important.  …

           Some people fail to make full use of seeing abilities because they look for the wrong quality of image, expecting brilliant, intense pictures that block out everything including physical senses.

Trying to force it, won't work.  Take the pressure off by giving up any preconceived notions of what you should see."

Andrei Ridgeway in Psychic Living, gives some excellent detailed information on interpreting and using dreams:

"First, write it down…  Act out the dream in your mind's eye.  Place yourself in the psyche of the main character.  Insert yourself as the third person.  'I am the man with the fishing pole in Andrei's dream.' Pause and allow the symbol (the man) to talk to you telling you what it represents.  You go back to the character and ask how it feels or ask why it is doing something in the dream.  Travel through the other symbols one at a time  Take the role of the fishing rod.  Imagine it can speak to you.  Make it come alive.  You may at this time remember other details in the dream that will aid you in doing this.  Each component talks to you and each symbol or action is a word or sentence that the subconscious is trying to impart to you.   …  

So, you would say, 'I'm the little critter.' Ask the animal what it symbolizes to you.  …  What are the dominant issues on my mind?  Eventually you can unravel things for others by asking the same questions of them.  Watching life's symbols is important.  Write down, remember and analyze.  If you can't unravel it right away, put it aside in your notebook for later.

 Imagination and day-dreaming are not the same thing. Creative imagination is different than ego pleasing.  TV deadens the imagination.  We don't have to imagine Niagara Falls or the plains of the Serengeti, we can watch it all in living color on TV.  Trivial chatter, same stuff over and over, machismo violence and crud..making the broadcasters rich and the nation ill.  Concepts that disempower people and make them easy to control.  There are those on this planet…that seek to control ordinary folk by getting them hooked on debt, drugs and dysfunction and by desensitizing them.  Most people day dream a lot yearning for a lottery win or for someone to come save them.  They wait passively, often pathetically, for an oversized dollop of good fortune to fall on their heads from the great goo-goo bird in the sky,  Plop, I am rich.

The goo-goo bird is cool, for it creates instant millionaires.  The problem is its bowel movements are few and far between.  You're more likely to be hit by lightning.  You can ruin your life wasting time, energy and money for something that might never happen.

Daydreams are ego pleasing…Imagination allows you to see a future for yourself, but for it to make any sense, and to be real, there has to be a path from today's circumstances…"

Art by Amberle Stoffers

          Teresa Brady says Dreams are sources of inspiration and information.  She advises to use knowledge from your own life to interpret dreams.  Don't rely too heavily on dream interpret books.  Go with your own feelings, thoughts, experiences. And don't forget to write it all down.  Keep dream journals. 

Ultimately, ASK God for an interpretation.

          Some of us may feel that our "third eye" doesn't work or is blocked.    I have "seen" people with energetic blocks or devices that have hindered this gift.  I have seen "walls" and blocks that look like "silly putty cement."  Here I would advise much prayer and fasting and asking for heavenly help to remove these spiritual blocks that are put there by the adversary.  Often a blessing is in order.  And always remember to "ask" for permission. Spend fewer hours in front of the TV and more time in nature, attuning vision to what is seen through the physical eyes. Be aware of the subtle beauty of flowers, trees and running water.

           

References: 

Pure Revelations Blog

Brady, Teresa, Ignite Your Psychic Intuition 

Duncan, Kirk, CD of Seeking a Higher Power

Fish, Mel, Healing the Inner Self

Ridgeway, Andrei, Psychic Living

Sanders, Pete A., You Are Psychic