Guided Imagery involves concentration and focus of attention but strictly on
internal sensory images which are created to help with very specific problems or ailments. Meditation is usually broader in scope with more spiritual goals involving self discovery and deeper awareness of God. Guided imagery is used
for more specific short term goals such as the alleviation of a disease or an emotional problem.
Guided Imagery can produce a very peaceful calming experience because it puts you into an altered state of consciousness. It is less
difficult to learn and the benefits are more accessible than with Meditation. Guided Imagery can usually be mastered in a very short
period of time.
The Images are not confined to visual effects but include the senses as well. Taste, touch, sounds, smells and visual impressions
are all perceived as a sensual image. For example, when recalling the snow fall from a cold winters day, we may experience the taste of the snow on
the tongue, the feel of it on the skin, and the smell of it in the nose, all coming together to construct the complete sensual image we have of snow.
The memory of the sound of our mother's voice as she called us to dinner as a child and the associated feelings that accompany that sound
create a composite image in our mind.
This parade of sensory images in the mind is the original language of the mind. Theses Images are the language the mind uses to communicate directly
with the body. To the body these images are absolutely real, the body can not distinguish between the reality of the image and what we would term outer
reality. This is true whether the images are in the mind from a past memory, a present event, or an imagined future event.
Although present events have more of an intense effect on mood, emotions, and blood chemistry, recalled events or imagined events can have the same
overall effect on the body physically and psychologically. Smells are most evocative of associated feelings and sensations provoking strong psychological
and physical responses.
The power of Imagery is built into to our psyche. The body is totally gullible to suggestions and the language of images coming from the mind. The body
will respond to a metal image as if to an actual real event, this fact is at the heart of the power behind Guided Imagery. We can deliberately change
the condition of the bodies blood chemistry, its mood and emotions, its ability to heal and produce energy by invoking healthy, peaceful, positive life
affirming images. The body is persuaded to heal itself through suggestion and imagination.
The second reason that Guided Imagery works is because it puts us into an altered state of consciousness and in altered states of consciousness we
are able to accomplish so much more. We can more easily access our natural healing capacities, our ability to learn, to prepare our bodies for future
actions or behaviors. With Guided Imagery we also have more direct access to the higher part of our consciousness that part which unusually informs us through our
intuition.
By altered states I mean a state of relaxed but alert focus, as for example, when we concentrate on a single idea or subject. This is a common state of
mind that we may find our self in many times during the day. When we become totally absorbed in a thought or train of thoughts and end up staring out
blankly into space not really seeing or hearing anything around us is indicative of this altered state of mind. We can easily fall into and out of this
state of mind quite frequently but usually it lasts only for a very short period of time so we tend not to take too much notice of it.
Guided imagery attempts to put the power of this altered state of mind at our service to help us with specific problems whether these
problems are psychological or physical in nature. In an altered state our capacity for any number of things is vastly enhanced. We feel more self confident
and capable as we use the power of our mind to change the condition of the body and the mind.
Guided Imagery can give us back a sense of control over our bodies and over our overall destiny. We always feel better when we have a sense that we
have mastery and control over what is happening to us.
So if we introduce positive images in the mind that the body believes are actual events and we do this in an altered state of consciousness then we
will have a very powerful and effective tool at our command to help us achieve whatever goal or outcome we desire.
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Guided Imagery is a form of Meditation. By meditation I mean the deliberate focus or concentration of our attention. In Meditation we attempt to focus
our attention on an object or objects, this clears the mind and calms it down Sometimes the object of meditation is the breath or actual objects or
thoughts or it could be a focus on an activity. We have many Guided Imagery Cds planned for release soon