'Pictures' in my head

[docdoo]

Ok...the thread on Seers gave me the courage to ask about this.

Ever since I was a child I've seen 'pictures' in my head. Snapshots of random people doing random things. Examples of this are when I talk to the cashier at Wal-Mart, I may get a picture in my head of her on a boat. Or when I make eye contact with a random person in a bar. The images range from mundane to sexually explicit.

As a child I pretty much assumed that they were simply manifestations of an overactive imagination. However, I have since gotten the courage to actually ask people if they had recently experienced the scenarios in my head. Many times the images are right on the money, other times they happen within a day or two.

The problem with this is that when I go to a bar or to a crowded place I simply cannot make eye-contact with people. This seems to open a direct link to the images and, quite frankly, some of them are pretty disturbing. Many times images will come unbidden into my head in a situation like this, though the figure(s) will remain shadowy and indistinct. Invariably when I look around the room I find someone is looking at me and the image will come back but the shadowy figures will then be in focus.

For the most part I don't like to share this type of thing with people, namely because of the 'crazy' factor involved. I have talked to my SO about this and he seems to think it's another form of empathy and, while he's never actually 'met' someone who sees pictures, he has heard of it. The reason I post now is to ask if anyone else has this problem and, if so, how the hell do you shield successfully in crowded places?

Sunglasses are my best friend as it really seems that direct eye contact makes it worse. I can't tell you how troubling it is to walk into a Wal-Mart and get an explicit sexual picture in my head and not know where it's coming from. Many times *I* am featured in these images doing things that I would most assuredly NEVER do.

Anyway, does anyone else deal with this? And, if so, how do you shield effectively against it? It's times like this that I'd LOVE to be an empath!

[Nighthawk]

I wonder if perhaps you are an empath.... not too sure. I wm rather glad I cannot do this. It would be unsettling.

[docdoo]

No, I never actually 'feel' anyone's emotion. I have no trouble discerning *my* emotions from those of people around me. I'm not sure what the definition of empathy is but I think it hinges on feeling emotions. In my case the only emotion I feel is my OWN emotion when I recoil from some of the unsolicited images in my head.

Though they do deal with varying things, most of them as mundane as an image of my SO reading the back of a cereal box, it's the explicit ones that hit me hard. I can remember as a child getting sexually explicit images in my head and not even realizing *what* the people were doing. At one time I asked my mother about it (I kind of assumed that everyone had this happen to them) and she recoiled and looked at me as though I was from another planet.

I think that I've learned to filter through the mundane ones, but the explicit ones I have alot of trouble with.

The troubling thing is that it seems to be getting worse...My theory is that as my metaphysical *muscle* is being worked out and getting stronger the 'other' stuff is too.

[Nighthawk]

Well, wow... that really is different. I do not think it is bad, just different. I sure hope you find an answer here.

[Lilith79]

I wouldn't call what you are experiencing empathy. It does seem to sound like telepathy, perhaps seer. Have you read any books on this sort of thing?

[docdoo]

No, I'm afraid I haven't. For the most part I haven't really told anyone about it (again, to avoid the 'crazy' factor) the other problem is that I don't even know what this would be called. I have looked for books at metaphysical bookstores and the like and either Im not using the right term for it or else there just isn't any information. Of course, there IS a 3rd option...I'm hopelessly insane and should be instuitionalized at once :bouncybob

[PAGANFILES]

Everyone around us carries a large "bag" of memories and hopes. Sometimes it leaks.

Terry

[Lilith79]

Ok, this is a long shot here. Buy the book The Way of the Shaman (http://www.shamanism.org/) by Michael Harner. It may help..it may not. It can help explain See-ing(?). You might also want to check on some books on telepathy. I can try to run this by a friend of mine..he might know what it is, but it may be a bit before I can talk to him.

[aftershocked]

Ok, I rememered reading about this somewhere: This article on Aeclectic.net's Tarot Learning (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/process_two.shtml), about halfway into it, discuss these things (they call them 'flashes'). I myself get them sometimes, although I've learned to shield them from myself along with other's emotions. I do consider it a sign of empathy, but I'm no expert. Just wanted to peek in to let you know you're not alone :hugz:

[Lilith79]

I was just reading this article (http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/t/telepathy.html) on telepathy and it include a definition of clairvoyance. (http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/c/clairvoyance.html) This sounds like what you are experiencing, it's worth the read. I hope you find an answer soon.

[Seren_]

If it's becoming a problem and you want to try and control it, try drawing in your aura (visualise it shrinking closer around your body, so its a couple of inches around you...then visualise a mirror reflecting everything coming at you bouncing back before it gets to you). This might help filter more stuff out.

[Shanti]

You sound 100% telepathic to me! If I were you I would start studing there. :)

[Phi]

You do have the ability to not see when you prefer to not see. You only need to realize it.

It is sort of a matter of finding which way to go about it and how much you want to shut down and when. Also, how to open back up at will.

I think it is a bit different for each person who has this sort of input. I think of it as "static" in a way, like when you can't quite get the radio dial tuned in to hear what you want to hear without hearing some other thing too?

My shielding didn't used to be so effective and I recall breaking down and bawling like a baby one time in a "strip joint" that my then BF and his sister and her hubby wanted to go to for a lark. They thought me silly and babyish and naive. They didn't have the sight. Too many images of too many horrors and too many sadnesses there. Quite a few of incest/memories from the dancers that broke my heart. Many more current images of rapes, bludgeonings, perversions and worse from spectators. I never went to places like that anymore.

For me after so many years, it's automatic. My shielding, I mean. But for particularly pesky things my banishment word is "begone." Sometimes with a small wave and flick of the wrist for emphasis and to remind me that it is a small thing, like a pesky fly. Quite effective for me. You may want to try that.

I hope this is of help to you.

As far as the eye contact thing, I used to be afraid that others could read me as well as I them, so I became fearful about looking directly in their eyes. Then I realized it wasn't true, at least not for most people, after looking into the eyes of someone who could see. I knew that person could, there was no doubt, but only as much as I was willing to allow. That I immediately knew it allowed me to shield at will. That I knew it allowed me to relax knowing that I would sense any probing as long as my faculties are clear enough. No drunkenness nor heavy drugs for me, then.
I think this is part of the law of free will, and unless you relinquish your will, no other can see in your mind's eye if you will it not to happen.

[PAGANFILES]

No drunkenness nor heavy drugs for me, then.
I think this is part of the law of free will, and unless you relinquish your will, no other can see in your mind's eye if you will it not to happen.

One or two pints of Guinness a week. Wine at a special dinner. The last time I got drunk, 'til passing out and blanking it all, was after 9/11...couldn't handle it. Touched then couldn't turn loose.

Terry

[Erebus]

Wow, doc, you're getting some great advice here!

If anyone I knew told me about a similar problem, I'd have them use a shielding visualization shaped like a big fancy dark-ages style armored helmet. With a visor that could be lifted if you, for whatever reason, wanted to take a look around.

[docdoo]

Thanks for the advice folks.

I've actually had some success in 'charging' certain necklaces and bits of jewelry to act as a shield but I think that reinforcing my own shielding specifically to deal with this sort of thing is a better alternative.

At least I have a few links to follow and a place to start researching this stuff. :D

Thanks again to everyone!

[fay]

that sounds really interesting but im kinda glad its not happening to me. youre getting a lot of good advice so i hope it turns out ok.
blessed be

[Jeleia]

Anyway, does anyone else deal with this? And, if so, how do you shield effectively against it? It's times like this that I'd LOVE to be an empath!
I have to deal with this. But my gift is not as intense as yours. It only happens every once in awhile, and it might just be my mind imagining things, I've never gone as far as to test to see if I'm right or not.

Its disturbing at times though yes.