What Is The Difference Between Imagining and Visualizing ?

Question:   “Carla can you explain the difference between what my imagination is and what is visualizing?  They seem like the same thing to me.”

Answer:  Great question and I get this a lot in my “Manifestation Acceleration” Workshops.  The terminology seems to get people into a confusion dilemma in trying to figure out what the different between imagination, visualization and fantasizing are.  The short answer – it is all intent that determines the difference.  The techniques are the same.

By definition, imagination is the power act of reproducing images in the mind towards a specific goal of something that is not actually present to the physical senses.  Fantasizing is to conceive ideas or images that are considered to be extravagant (who determines what extravagant is?).  The definition of visualization is a technique that focuses positive mental images with specific goal of achieving it.  The technique is the same in all three definitions.  The difference is the focused intent.

The definition that I share in my workshops is :  Regardless of the terminology, create a constructive thought form (which is energy) and allow the cultivation of that thought form to lead you into the creation of your desired reality.  How do you do this?  The cultivation process is an exercise that must be nourished every day in order to grow and flourish just as any living thing.

How does all this visualization stuff work?  Imagination and visualization all arise in the same exact way that perception does.  The difference is that perception comes from an external object or event that has already occurred.  Visualization or imagination is projection of how external events may occur.  The mental process for each to occur, however, is identical.  Descartes’ gives an account in his Treatise of Man that the pineal gland (which is a gland that is located in the middle of the head) is where the imagination and visualization process occurs.  He also states that this is where memory is stored, sensations felt, and what causes any part of the body to move.  Interestingly Madame Blavatsky (she was the founder of Theosophy) believed that the pineal gland was the “third eye” or “eye of Shiva” which allows for spiritual vision and spiritual visualization.

So we know what it is and where it happens but do we still do not understand how it works.  Let’s look at a few other things.  We have already determined that imagination and day dreaming are different in nature only in intent.  Day dreaming is really simply a way for mental thought energy dissipation.  In other words, day dreaming is away to let go of extra mental energy.  While imagination is constructive in nature and is created on purpose to precede an action.  The power behind it the imagination is that the mind moves with a force of energy that vibrates out to attract what is necessary to achieve the desired result.

Another important definition to understand in figuring out the difference in terminology that resonates with you is that knowledge is simply the result of a person’s ability to think.

Thus, if you can think and you can day dream, you can do visualization to create your desired reality.  The vital key is your intent,  Are you fantasizing to escape your reality or are you visualizing to create your reality.