Visioning

Visioning (taught to me by my spiritual mentor, Rev. Michael Beckwith) is a form of meditation that allows you to tap into an idea and manifest it. It’s based on the premise that the full potential of a thing, and the mechanism for its unfoldment, is already present in the idea itself, in consciousness.

Just as the entire oak tree is already potential in the acorn, so too is the mighty oak of your own being already within you. It simply requires the right conditions to grow. This is ultimately true of everything.

In the beginning, God (Higher Power, Universal Intelligence, the Unified Field) created everything out of Its own perfection. That means the universe, and all that is within it, is perfect. We can’t improve upon it. We can’t create something that isn’t already potential in it. What we do is “discover” it.

In fact, that’s the true meaning of “having a vision.” A real vision isn’t a prediction of a future event, it’s a moment when the curtain of the time-space continuum parts, giving us a glimpse of what exists right now in the invisible realm.

And the very act of “seeing” it starts the creative process of bringing it into form.

Everything we see, every person, place, and thing is an outpicturing of a spiritual idea. If the thing looks “bad” or “destructive” it is an aberrant expression of a perfect pattern. In other words, behind every human aberration is a spiritual aspiration. Or to draw a scriptural reference, “Man meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”

Plato talked about this concept in the Allegory of the Cave, where he depicted the notion that there are divine forms of everything outside the cave, in the light, but man lives in the cave, seeing merely shadows of these perfect prototypes — thinking they are the real things.

Visioning is a process where we tap into the perfect prototype of something and bring it into form.

Visioning is not to be confused with visualization. In visualization, a person is picturing something they want. If they hold the image in mind long enough, with enough intensity, they can use the law of creation to bring it into form. The problem with this practice is that the thing they’re manifesting may not be for their highest good.

I once knew a guy who visualized and manifested a Mercedes — then couldn’t afford the upkeep and, after a painful period of struggle, had to sell it at a loss! The problem was that he changed his world, but remained the same. He hadn’t attained “Mercedes consciousness.”

I’ve also known people who visualized their ideal mate, only to meet that person — and end up in a relationship from hell! From their limited thinking, they had a concept of what was best for them, but it turned out to be not at all what they wanted — although it could be argued that it was exactly what they needed!

I’ve seen this happen with colleagues in the entertainment industry, visualizing the perfect job, the perfect part — only to end up desperately trying to visualize their way out of the mess they got into!

None of these nasty side-effects happen with visioning. In visioning, you’re not using your limited perception of life to manifest. You’re using your mind for the purpose it was actually created — as an avenue of awareness, a receiving station to pick up the divine ideas being broadcast everywhere.

And once you catch this vision, it doesn’t just manifest, it changes you, stretches you, transforming you into a person who can handle the higher vibration and larger manifestation. You don’t just get the new Mercedes, you get Mercedes Consciousness. You “become the change you want to see.”

The process of visioning is really quite simple. While I go into more detail about it in my book, “There’s No Business Like Soul Business”, I’ll break down the basics here. Like Insight Meditation, you’ll want to get in a quiet place, undistracted for a period of time.

Start by watching the breath, to quiet the mind and calm the body. Then once you achieve a sense of peace, you can move to the next stage — setting your intention. Like meditation, the most effective intention is a desire for a conscious contact with your soul, a deeper connection to your Self. This is the most powerful purpose to intend every time you meditate, pray, or do any spiritual practice.

It doesn’t matter what human goal you’re going after, whether it be to manifest an acting job, script sale, movie deal, studio contract — whatever — if you consecrate it to having a sacred tryst with your spirit, with unconditional love, you’ll be tapping into the greatest power of your being.

This meditation is guided. You will be prompting your soul (or non-conscious mind) with a set of questions throughout. These questions can be added to or substituted for different ones, as long as they have the same basic purpose behind them.

Once you have become centered and established your intention, you can pose the first question:

1. What is the Vision of my life? What is the divine pattern of potential? What does it look like, feel like, what is its true essence? (You can substitute “my life” for whatever you’re visioning on; “this acting job,” “this script or film,” “the entertainment industry.”) You can also ask “What is God’s vision of my life?”

Now wait, watch, and listen. Become aware of whatever images, sounds, or sensations arise. Sometimes it will be literal; you’ll see specific pictures that relate to what you’re visioning on. Other times, it will be symbolic; you may not see any connection at all. Some people see things in Technicolor. Others are more kinesthetic. You might only get a feeling or a vibration.

It’s all good. Whatever comes up is part of the process. If you find yourself drifting, planning your grocery list, or thinking about what you’re going to eat later, gently bring your attention back to the breath. But don’t take anything for granted. Even the distractions might be clues from your unconscious.

Repeat the question as many times as you need. As insights come through, you can open your eyes and take notes or wait until after the meditation. In the latter case, however, you might forget what came up — just as you forget dreams moments after you’ve awakened. Once you’ve received sufficient input, ask the next question:

2. How must I change in order for this vision to come forth through me? How must I be different? What must I let go of or embrace?

This is probably the most important question. Remember, the thing you want is already here, in the unified field of pure potential. Everything you need to fulfill your greatest desire is already part of your being. But it can’t come out until you align with it, let go of the obstructions to it, and raise your vibration to the level at which it already exists.

And the final question:

3. Is there something that I need to do, some symbolic action I need to take, in order to step out on this vision and create the space for it to express?

Remember in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where Indiana had to cross an invisible bridge to get some potion that could heal his father? All he saw was a chasm, a certain drop to his death. But this was a bridge of faith. It required stepping out onto the invisible for it to appear. That’s what this question and the subsequent action is about.

It’s not about “making something happen” (because in consciousness it already has), it’s about making it welcome. Sometimes the actions you’ll be told to take won’t seem to have anything to do with what you’re visioning on. Sometimes they’ll seem only slightly related. But when you follow the guidance, you’ll often get surprising results.

I remember visioning early on in my writing and consulting career, where I was guided to get cards printed up with my name and the title of president/CEO. It felt so silly getting such cards when I wasn’t even an employee of my own company — let alone the president! Nevertheless, I followed through — and was shocked by how much negative self-talk came up.

I thought I had cleared most of that, but I was sorely mistaken. There was so much crud still lurking in the swamp of my soul, bottom-feeding off my spirit, sapping my vital energy, keeping me small — and I didn’t even know it! Taking this seemingly innocuous action brought it all to the surface where I could process and heal it.

That’s all you need to vision. However, there are many other questions you can ask to prompt the sometimes unwilling unconscious, such as: “If this vision was fully manifest in the world, what would it look like? What would I look like? How would I act? How would I feel?” This may sound similar to the first question, but it actually brings out a subtly different color. When the first question doesn’t elicit much, this one might create a cascade of insight.

You could also ask, “If this vision were a color, what color would that be?” “If this vision were a song, what would it sound like?” “If this vision were an animal, what would it be?” “If this vision were a symbol, what would it look like?”

You could even ask, “What other questions should I ask to realize this vision in its full potential?” or “Is there anything else I need to see, hear, know, or feel, to allow this vision to unfold in my life?” That’s a good one to finish with. It pretty much covers all the bases.

All of these are ways to bypass the intellectual, logical mind, and access the subjective realm where the real power, substance, and genius reside. Let your heart speak to you, stay open to new and creative questions that allow you to tap into the divine vision.

Not only are all the answers within you, but all the questions as well.

I’ll see you next month…

Until then, Stay Inspired!

To Your Soul Business Success!

Derek Rydall
Founder and President, EnlightenedEntertainer

www.EnlightenedEntertainer.com, derek@enlightenedentertainer.com

www.ScriptwriterCentral.com, derek@scriptwritercentral.com

© 2007 Derek Rydall

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