Notes

Step 1 – Visualisation

This is a concept not easily explained. It involves you ‘seeing’, clearly and in detail an object, an outcome or a scene (or sequence of scenes.) But much more than seeing alone is involved. The Western Mystery Tradition uses this technique extensively, which means that many of those who
offer themselves to Abode are already experienced and skilled. If that is the case you need do no more than review your skills and pass on to Step 2.

Exercises in Visualisation (1)
Take a single flower. Sit comfortably and relax. Study the flower in every detail for a couple of minutes and then close your eyes and ‘see’ it in full detail in front of you. Open your eyes and see whether the reality is the same as the picture in your imagination. If not repeat the experiment. If you are new to the skill, do this regularly, for just a few minutes a day, for a week or two.

Exercises in Visualisation (2)
Progress on to a picture. A Tarot Card is ideal, because the images are archetypal, but an illustration cut from a magazine will do. Relax and breathe deeply. Calm your mind. Study the picture in every detail. Close your eyes and ‘see’ the picture in every detail. Open your eyes and check your mental picture against the original.
If you’re having problems ‘seeing’ the detail, try copying the picture onto a blank paper first – you possibly aren’t seeing the picture in detail in the first place.

Exercises in Visualisation (3)
Go for a short walk somewhere. Have clear starting and finishing points and between them remember every detail. What does it look like? What does it sound like? What does it smell like? What does it feel like – windy or calm, uphill or level, raining, snowing or sunny. After your walk, come back inside, go through the relaxation etc and then close your eyes and relive your walk in every detail. This is an important skill, because the journey up to the astral gate starts with a familiar visualised walk. Make sure you can do this!

Exercises in Visualisation (4)
You will need to create a visualisation at will and (in spite of the name of the technique) it should include the sound, smell, feel and taste of reality. For the last of these try taking a slice of newly baked bread or cake, a cream bun or something equally enjoyable at a personal level. Eat it slowly and mindfully, then relax as before and recreate the experience.