Visualization 2

Q: I took your classes 14 years ago, in Cleveland, Ohio, when I was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer. It took only four months for me to go into remission. I had chemo and practiced the Silva System every day.

I then went to work six years ago and stopped practicing the Silva System, which I now regret. I have unfortunately been diagnosed last week with a brain tumor.

I have tried practicing the Silva System relaxation techniques again, but the medicine that they are giving me, anti-seizure, seems to have taken away my ability to visualize. Every time I close my eyes, it is black.

Could you please try to help. Am I not relaxing myself enough? What can I do to bring back my visualization? What part of the brain helps you visualize? I really need you help. Thank you.

A: Visualization is just remembering what something looks like. Some people report that they have beautiful images when they close their eyes. Many people only "see" black. Mr. Silva was the same way.

Thinking about what something looks like is all you need.

The most important thing for you right now is to practice the Silva Centering Exercise (the Long Relaxation Exercise).

It is best to practice on your own, not with a recording. If you need a script, we have one. Send your address and we'll email it to you.

Remember the instructions, practice for 15 minutes once a day, for more serious problems, 15 minutes twice a day, for the most serious problems, 15 minutes three times a day. That's what you need right now.

Use your previous success as a point of reference when doing your programming. At your level, recall everything about the prior success, especially how you felt -- how you felt when programming, how you felt when it worked for you.

Let us know if you have any specific questions. We'll program for you.

By the way, we've heard lots and lots of stories of brain tumors simply disappearing. Doctors always say it was a "mis-diagnosis."

Q: Thank you very, very much for your quick response. I am trying very hard to visualize myself as I was before I was diagnosed with the brain tumor. I am doing the relaxation exercises five to six times a day, but again, everything is black, because of the anti-seizure medication they have put me on.

I am trying to picture the tumor shrinking, with the help of my immune system. At times, I can feel something on the part of the head, right side, where the tumor is located, like tingling, and I also am trying to picture the veins and arteries that are feeding this tumor, to stop, so that the tumor will shrivel up and then be eliminated from my body.

I picture myself as I want to be, healthy. I did this when I had cancer 14 years ago and it worked for me then. But I am worried that I cannot visualize enough, because everything is black. Even though I cannot visualize, could it still be working? Thank you.

A: Please re-read what we wrote to you about visualization.

*Visualization is memory - remembering what something looks like.

*Imagination is thinking about what something looks like that you've never seen before.

*Picturing is something else.

The whole problem with this visualization thing stems from the fact that most of the people who write these books have great mental images, and they think that all the rest of us do too. Most of us - 80 percent - don't!

What we mean by visualizing is memory...simply remember what something looks like. Eventually it becomes easier, and sometimes you begin to get those good mental images. Each of us is different, and we function in our own way. Mr. Silva didn't have good mental images...he used memory.

When visualizing numbers, you might want to first look at the numbers with your eyes -- get a list of numbers, or write them down. Then when you close your eyes, remember what they looked like.

Originally, back in the 1950s and 1960s, Mr. Silva said to recall (or think of) what a green neon sign looks like when displaying those numbers. These days, many people tend to use either a stadium scoreboard, or an LED display, like on a digital clock.

Just close your eyes and remember what it looks like, and you will be successful with all of the techniques we teach.

There are some things that are even more important than visualization. One of those things is desire.

Remember too that the more you work on other people, the more benefit you receive.

When you are at your level and working on your desire, remember that Mr. Silva said anything we program for should help at least two or more people.

The more people who benefit, the stronger your desire will be.

Anything we program for should improve conditions on the planet. These kinds of things are more important than having "mental pictures."

Also remember Mr. Silva's instructions:

Practice for 3 times a day for 15 minutes each time. You don't want to spend the entire day at alpha - you need to allow time for the corrections you have made mentally to take place.

His research established that 15 minutes three times a day is ideal.

Good luck with it. We've been programming for you.

We'd love to hear about your successes, especially if you will allow us to publish them on the Support Group Web Site. Silva students and graduates love to hear about how others are using the techniques and benefiting from the System. You can Contact me through the SilvaCourses.com web site.

Thanks again, and please feel free to call on us any time we can be of service.