Visions during meditation

[violet81]

Sometimes when I go deep into contemplation I have some mental imagery that is intense and causes strong feelings. Sometimes those feelings are difficult to shake and make it difficult for me to focus on my responsibilities. Things like praying the rosary might cause them because it is a meditative prayer.

I am not looking for a psychological diagnosis…I am just curious if anyone else has the same issue and has successfully dealt with it.

I probably could medicate it away but I am not sure that I want to, because sometimes the visions are pleasant or arousing of spiritual enthusiasm.

(P.S. I do not associate the visions as coming from God or as some kind of gift…I think it is more like a lucid dream. Nothing more than a biological reaction to meditation).

 

[Monica4316]

I guess the question is, do they help you spiritually? Are they always related to the meditation and never disturbing in any way?

(sorry I can’t help much because I dont have this happen to me. Have you asked your priest about this?).

 

[violet81]

I guess the question is, do they help you spiritually?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Are they always related to the meditation and never disturbing in any way?

Sometimes they are disturbing because they deal with other people.
They are usually related to the meditation but often in a very indirect way.

(s.orry I can’t help much because I dont have this happen to me. Have you asked your priest about this?)

I have not mentioned it to a priest. I am embarrassed.

 

[Monica4316]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

in that case it does sort of sound like something psychological… at least partly.

Sometimes they are disturbing because they deal with other people.
They are usually related to the meditation but often in a very indirect way.

From what I read of the Saints, it seems the most common suggestion is to simply ignore them and keep focusing on your meditation…

I have not mentioned it to a priest. I am embarrassed.

There’s nothing to be embarrassed about here

God bless.

 

[DebChris]

Don’t be embarrassed to talk to a priest about them.
If the visions are about people in your life, it may mean that there is an issue that you need to deal with concerning those people.
I don’t want to psychoanalyze, especially as I don’t know you. Basically I would say (1) don’t worry about them too much, and (2) don’t give them too much credence, for the most part.
If you are praying the rosary, are the visions related to the mystery? Consider it a form of prayer if your are able to put yourself in the scene upon which you are meditating.

I know people who have visions much more often than I. With some visions, I have learned to pray about a certain situation. It is generally a matter of safety.
At a time when I was having difficulty obtaining plane tickets, I prayed the rosary before Mass. I saw a scene from The Waltons in which the oldest girl had trouble getting a train ticket and ended up missing the train. The train she missed crashed.
My immediate response was to call my mother. I also asked other people to pray for the safety of the plane. It was a time when plane crashes were common. I did not know until it landed whether or not my daughter would be on the plane. I knew only that plane was scheduled to crash, but God had surrounded it with his angels so that it would arrive safely.