How does a vision differ from imagination?

[ysa]

I was awake this morning and don't know if this was a vision because as far as i know i never had one.

I was lying awake in bed with my eyes closed, i was conscious but somehow i had this image or vison where i was walking straightforward (like i was walking towards my self) and i saw exactly how i was dressd, in a turtle neck and mini skirt with a small purse and heels (looked very vougish). This in my mind/imagination (i dont know) for about 1 1/2 to maybe 2 minutes, even when i tried to change my thought or the "image" it was still there. And i was just walking, and walking towards myself.

Was this a vision?

 

[gracechick]

I would say that you may have experienced a vision of some sort. Visions may come when your eyes are closed such as in prayer or when you are simply sitting at work..yes at work.
For me when I experience a mental picture what Im seeing isn't as pronounced & clear as some of the few visions I've had. Sometimes you may even experience a feeling of the Annointing presence of the Spirit...it can be quite powerful when He shows you something in this manner

I would think it would be wise to ask the Lord why you had that experience & what He desires to show you. It's always good to be aware that just as the Spirit uses His gifts to communicate with you the devil is rite behind Him ready to use them for evil purposes.

 

[Majestic_Decadence]

I was shouted down last time i said this but I shall say it again:

I get visions when I let my imagination just take over (with my eyes closed) and i can see things I would never imagine with my eyes open.
I still remember quite a few of my visions that seem ever so inspiring to me (these are not dreams, I was fully awake):
- Two old women holding up the front legs of a huge chair where a giant robot sat, asleep. The back legs of the chair were balanced against a rounded wall
- A man on a horse leaping over a low wall into a paddling pool
- A woman dressed in Russian Imperial Court Dress trying to climb out of a macabre crib - a padded wall she could just see over
- A clown on stilts posing for my viewing

I can let myself see these visions - i shall try now.
Here is what i just saw:
A constantly turning hourglass set into someones finger that they were using to pick their teeth with - then, as they sucked their finger - the hourglass moved away from their lips.

Does anyone else find it this easy to have visions?

 

[ysa]

See but the matter is this...

i did not "try" to imagine the image...i did not sit down and say hmmm let me try and project this certain image/vison, jus in the still of the morning, in darkness as i lay in bed with my eyes closed, i had the image or vision, and i was aware because i said to myself "this is me" as i saw myself in the vision. I did not lay trying to think up something

 

[Majestic_Decadence]

Yes..... I recognise that, neither do I, hence my saying: let your imagination take over...

 

[gracechick]

See but the matter is this...

i did not "try" to imagine the image...i did not sit down and say hmmm let me try and project this certain image/vison, jus in the still of the morning, in darkness as i lay in bed with my eyes closed, i had the image or vision, and i was aware because i said to myself "this is me" as i saw myself in the vision. I did not lay trying to think up something

Sometimes when I question what I've been shown or have experienced I have to stop & think...Wait a minute there is no way I could have had that type of message or experience all by myself.
But yes one does have to seek God & talk to others they trust when discerning when it is God or might be self or an evil counterfit.

 

[millerrod]

even Paul could not easily explain a vision. his words were something like: weather in the body or out of the body i dont know. when you have one you may not beable to explain it but you will no doubt know you have experienced it.

 

[Catherineanne]

I was awake this morning and don't know if this was a vision because as far as i know i never had one.

I was lying awake in bed with my eyes closed, i was conscious but somehow i had this image or vison where i was walking straightforward (like i was walking towards my self) and i saw exactly how i was dressd, in a turtle neck and mini skirt with a small purse and heels (looked very vougish). This in my mind/imagination (i dont know) for about 1 1/2 to maybe 2 minutes, even when i tried to change my thought or the "image" it was still there. And i was just walking, and walking towards myself.

Was this a vision?

Replay it. If the clothes change, it is imagination. If every detail remains the same, it is a vision. (Imo) If it does not replay, it is not a vision.

 

[Catherineanne]

I get visions when I let my imagination just take over (with my eyes closed) and i can see things I would never imagine with my eyes open.

Does anyone else find it this easy to have visions?

Imo, these are not visions. These are images from your subconscious, which you are allowing to emerge. Most people block these most of the time, in order to function. Mostly, they learn to do this so well that they cannot do what you are doing, and open the block to allow the images through, and so the images emerge into dreams instead.

I would say, therefore, that these are not visions, but a form of conscious dream. They are pretty well random, and pretty well meaningless, but may include elements of meaning to yourself if you unravelled them enough.

 

[Majestic_Decadence]

Thank you CatherineAnne, that makes a lot of sense to me, and am pleased, someone has finally recognised my not having to think to get these 'conscious dreams'
thank you very much
I feel utterly enlightened

 

[millerrod]

job 33 :15-16

 

[Catherineanne]

Thank you CatherineAnne, that makes a lot of sense to me, and am pleased, someone has finally recognised my not having to think to get these 'conscious dreams'
thank you very much
I feel utterly enlightened

If you want to be more enlightened, write down what you see, particularly recurring images, and investigate what they mean with a reputable dream interpreter or book.

This gift that you have is one which you can either choose to keep or to discard, depending whether it disturbs you or not. As long as you can control when you start and stop, I can see nothing to fear from it. What you see is nothing to do with the outside. It is your subconscious communicating with you. A great deal of psychological pathology (ill health) occurs because people stifle or repress these subconscious messages, so what you are doing may well help to prevent such problems in future.

If you do this, you are also, imo, very unlikely ever to suffer from nightmares. (Apart from the replay kind after trauma; nobody can really avoid them.)

Take care.

 

[Catherineanne]

job 33 :15-16

Care to save us all a trip to the bookcase?

 

[Majestic_Decadence]

It is the holidays at the moment so I have a dream every single night, and I write down what is in them in my dream diary - I rarely write down my visions - if I do, I usually draw what I see.
I like art so I intend to encorporate some of the dreams into some art some time.

Because of my constant dreaming I sometimes have horrible dreams - I also sometimes have horrible visions - frightening ones when I close my eyes at night.



I shall close my eyes now, and see if something appears.

Well, a rectangle is drawn, it drops down into a shaft, almost a laundry shoot, it curves and goes on for a while, then we come across a sort of animated red haired boy - he is looking to one side, then he looks at me, is surprised, his mouth opens wider and wider, his lips rippling as he screams, silently, then, perculiarly, a swarm of flies shoot from his mouth, and one of them cuts his lip, a flame then shoots from the cut, then I opened my eyes and finished the vision.

 

[ZionKnight]

It is the holidays at the moment so I have a dream every single night, and I write down what is in them in my dream diary - I rarely write down my visions - if I do, I usually draw what I see.
I like art so I intend to encorporate some of the dreams into some art some time.

Because of my constant dreaming I sometimes have horrible dreams - I also sometimes have horrible visions - frightening ones when I close my eyes at night.



I shall close my eyes now, and see if something appears.

Well, a rectangle is drawn, it drops down into a shaft, almost a laundry shoot, it curves and goes on for a while, then we come across a sort of animated red haired boy - he is looking to one side, then he looks at me, is surprised, his mouth opens wider and wider, his lips rippling as he screams, silently, then, perculiarly, a swarm of flies shoot from his mouth, and one of them cuts his lip, a flame then shoots from the cut, then I opened my eyes and finished the vision.

Ok, I hate to be the doomsayer, but you're dancing with some dangerous stuff here. I can see where they shouted you down, but I'll try to speak softly.

When I was practicing magic, (many years ago,) I remember that one of the things that one could do is trancing. Which is, in effect, the same princibles as using a ouija (wee-gee) board. Or, like you would see a medium do. Personally, I would "hypnotize" a volunteer, (not for any show, just to see what would happen,) which is just helping them slip into a different state of conciousness. And then ask them to decribe what they see. The difference from standard hypno-therepy, is that there is a specific goal or memory they are looking for, I would tell them to just let their mind go, and describe whatever 'popped' in.

Many of the things they described were very simmular to some of the stuff you did, which is what reminded me of it. My word of warning is that EVERYONE that I did this to, would wake up terrified. Knowing what I know now, that does not sound like any thing that would come from God.

 

[ZionKnight]

I was awake this morning and don't know if this was a vision because as far as i know i never had one.

I was lying awake in bed with my eyes closed, i was conscious but somehow i had this image or vison where i was walking straightforward (like i was walking towards my self) and i saw exactly how i was dressd, in a turtle neck and mini skirt with a small purse and heels (looked very vougish). This in my mind/imagination (i dont know) for about 1 1/2 to maybe 2 minutes, even when i tried to change my thought or the "image" it was still there. And i was just walking, and walking towards myself.

Was this a vision?

Is this a vision? I can't say. If it is, I can't think of any interpretation for it. Some important details might be what you were thinking before the image, and what kind of difference this 'image' of you has to the real you. Are you normally 'vouge'? Was the 'image' you happy, sad, indifferent? How did the image make you feel about your self?

As to your question, yeah, some visions are like that. Like a thought that's not your own, and you think "hey how did that get in here?". Others are like that is all you can see. And still others, are like you are transported to that place, and you see, feel, hear, and even smell, the stuff going on. But, bear in mind that I also believe that these outside thoughts can come from the enemy, remember when Jesus was being tempted, he was even transported to far away places.

So, also try to determine whether this image turns your eyes to God, somehow, or reveals something about your self that God wants you to know. Or if it puts you in a state of mind that is contrary to the word of God, like fear, lust, or err..vanity? (Probobly not, from the tone of your words, I don't think this image makes you 'puffed up', but it is still worth mentioning.)

 

[ysa]

I am led to believe that this was a vision from God, due to different experiences that i have had throughout my life. I am not trying to be vain or anything of that nature, but my i have a strong desire for fashion, designing, makeup, etc any and every aspect of it...not "i gotta have this or that"...but to me it is an art and i appreciate it in all it's creativity. Why i am more leening towards this is coming from God, i have had dreams about this and they never were rooted in lust, greed, vanity or anything of the devil-he cannot imitate love and holiness.

I even had a situation where i was "coming to" in between sleep and wake and it was like sort of a dream/vision/voice i dont know but the person in this scenario an italian whom i haven't seen in ages (since primary school) came to me in this vision/dream and said that "i am going to italy". I hate to divulge the details for fear of being laughed at or mocked but i will only tell you what is necessary for you to understand me. I also had a dream where i met with a well known designer to work on a project, and it was like God hid the identity from me, i know it was someone big, someone who's work and style i am familiar with, i hate to call names but everybody knows the brand.

What i have been experience especially over the last year is that things seem to be unravelling bit by bit...the Bible in 1st Corinthians 13:9-10 says: "for we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." I can attest to this because my "eyes have not seen, ears have not heard nor has it entered my heart the things which God has already prepared". I do not talk about this because of fear of ridicule, and people will think that i am making up stories-i am not. I know that i do not know everything God has in store for me, and he reveals it to me piece by piece, because he knows that i am not ready to recieve it...i myself question the validity of the dreams i dream, things i see, visions i vision. I am not caught up in "figments of my imagination"...i know what it is to have dreams from the abyss, and dreams of God...because God is always Love. I know that i need to trust God more with what he has shown me, and the fact that i get overwhelmed with fear seems to be more than from my "human nature"...i have recieve so much negativity, discouragement, and straighout attacks from satan..that this only leads me to believe that there is something in the fashion industry to do, some calling. Never once have i sticked my head out chasing my desire, i had this in my heart, but the mere fact that the enemy can bring such fear to something that cannot be seen by others, only felt by me seems to be confirmation. It is mybelief that God is giving me the go-ahead to step out on the water in faith, of my hearts desiree. I am so torn writing this, but i am the type of person who does not posess talents such as music, signing, speaking in tongues all of the "gifts" of the Holy Spirit and from God that people are familiar to recognize. I am discovering my talents are in my personality, and hospitality, i had always desired to have a beautiful voice, or be "good at something." And i as i am growing in God i am finding out, that i can be an influence to people for God, just by being myself, being easy to talk to, easily adjust to different cultures, people with different lifestyles. It took me all of my life to realize that i posess this talent...because it is something i do really well.

I guess wherever i go, wherever i follow my desire i will carry this with me, because God created me in a unique way for winning souls for Christ.

 

[Majestic_Decadence]

ZionKnight, this is very interesting, are you saying I am putting myself in a sort of trance and seeing things?

Because this does make sense because I can easily 'put myself under' and I can easily stop it, but when I open my eyes again, it's like I was asleep the whole time - it's like sort of waking up from a light sleep.

Your comment is very interesting - thank you.

 

[gracechick]

Zion Knight gave you some good advice.

The fact that you were concentrating on it & seem to have a good bit of fear & "ugly" visions makes me wonder who this source you tapped into is.
I would be very careful about continuing this practice & pray & ask the Lord to release this from you. If it's Him it will return if not I would cease opening myself up to this.
Bcasue no one wants to be messin' with ungodly things..the Bible says don't even give evil spirits a mere foothold, bcause he's tenacious & once he gets a hold like that the devil has to be shaken loose by the Lord.

 

[Majestic_Decadence]

Thank you.