Meditation Horrors: Why Do I See Scary Visions?

Meditation can sometimes lead to odd experiences, and it's not uncommon for people to see scary things when they meditate. This can include seeing swirling lights and dreamlike images, distorted body sensations, and even hallucinations. While these experiences can be unnerving, they are usually not a cause for concern and are often a result of the mind becoming quiet and creating odd sensations. It's important to note that these experiences are not signs of enlightenment or meditation superpowers. Instead, they are typically a result of a dreamy state of mind combined with mild sensory deprivation.

It's a common experience

It's not unusual for people to have odd experiences in meditation. In fact, one meditation teacher reports that he gets a lot of people writing to him about unusual and odd experiences they've had in meditation. These experiences can be consistent, or they can be one-offs. Some people worry about these experiences, while others hope that they're signs that they're enlightened or close to it.

These hopes and fears are understandable. However, these kinds of unusual experiences are usually pretty common and are not of any great significance. Sometimes they are good signs.

The Pali word "nimitta" can be translated as a "sign" or "hint." Unusual experiences (nimittas) can be helpful or unhelpful. Helpful nimittas are signs that there is something we should pay attention to in order to become more absorbed in our meditation practice. Unhelpful nimittas are signs or hints that there's something unbalanced about what we're doing in our meditation practice.

Unhelpful nimittas include swirling lights, dream-like images, distorted body sensations, involuntary twitching and spontaneous movements, and sensations of pressure.

Helpful nimittas include synesthesia, which is a state where sensory information in one form is perceived in another. For example, a common type of synesthesia is when people sense words or numbers as having colors attached to them.

If you're having scary experiences in meditation, it's important to remember that you're not going crazy and that these experiences are common. They're not signs that you're on the verge of enlightenment, but they're also not something to worry about. They're mild hallucinations, and we all hallucinate every night when we dream.

If you're experiencing scary things when you meditate, it may be helpful to try a different form of meditation or to seek guidance from a meditation teacher.

It's a form of mild hallucination

When you meditate, your mind is becoming quieter and is unused to being quiet, so it creates odd sensations. These are mild hallucinations, but there's no reason to be alarmed by that word. After all, we all hallucinate every night when we're dreaming.

The swirling lights and dreamlike images that people experience during meditation are quite common, especially in people who are new to meditation or who have been doing more meditation than usual. They tend to arise when people are starting to get calmer and are thinking less.

These experiences are nothing to worry about. They're also nothing to get excited about. They're not signs that you're on the verge of enlightenment. In fact, they're not even helpful, because they disturb or distract you.

If you experience these odd sensations, just note them, but be aware that they're not something you should get absorbed in. Instead, see if you can notice the actual sensations of your body and your breathing more clearly and vividly.

It's a dream-like state

When you meditate, you may experience a dream-like state, which can be a result of a dreamy, mild state of sensory deprivation. This state is characterised by mild hallucinations, which are similar to the ones you experience when you dream.

In this state, you may see swirling lights, dream-like images, and even hear voices. You may also experience bodily sensations, such as involuntary twitching and spontaneous movements, distorted body sensations, and sensations of pressure.

These experiences are known as "nimittas", which is a Pali word that can be translated as a "sign" or "hint". They can be either helpful or unhelpful, depending on whether they aid or hinder your meditation practice.

Unhelpful nimittas, such as the swirling lights and dream-like images, can be a hint that your mind is becoming calmer and quieter, but they can also be a sign that you need to ground yourself in the actual sensory experience of your body.

If you find yourself experiencing these odd sensations, it's important to note them but not get too absorbed in them. Instead, try to focus on the physical sensations of your body, such as the air in your nostrils or the movement of your diaphragm and rib cage.

By filling your mind with sensory experiences, you can prevent yourself from slipping into a dream-like state and go deeper into your meditation practice.

It's a sign of progress

It is quite common to have scary experiences while meditating. In fact, it is a sign of progress. The Pali word "nimitta" can be translated as a "sign" or "hint". These signs can be both helpful and unhelpful. Helpful signs will help you become more absorbed in your meditation practice. Unhelpful signs, on the other hand, can be a hint that there is something unbalanced about your meditation practice.

Unhelpful signs are usually nothing to worry about. They are often a result of a dreamy state of mind combined with mild sensory deprivation. In other words, your mind is becoming quiet, but it is not used to being quiet, and this creates odd sensations. These are mild hallucinations, and it is important to remember that they are not real.

If you experience these odd sensations, just note them and be aware that they are not helpful and you should not get absorbed in them. Instead, try to notice the actual sensations of your body, such as the air in your nostrils or the movement of your diaphragm and rib cage. Filling your mind with sensory experiences will help to ground you and prevent you from slipping into a dream-like state.

It is also important to remember that these scary images are not signs that you are enlightened or that you have special meditation powers. They are simply a sign that your mind is thinking less and is calmer than usual.

If you are experiencing scary images while meditating, it may be helpful to try a different form of meditation that is more body-based and less internal, such as mindful walking or hatha yoga. You could also try following a guided meditation that teaches you to pay attention to your body.

It's a blockage

The scary things you see when you meditate could be a blockage. One theory is that your mind is trying to communicate with you and that the scary images are being filtered through some rough mental terrain. This could be a form of "shadow work", where you investigate your mental architecture to find the blockage within.

One commenter on Reddit shared their experience of seeing a similar horror image during meditation. They spent years trying to figure it out and eventually realised that the dark feminine presence was a knot from within them that arose from their own suffering. They investigated it, worked things out, got help, and found out the origin points. The message gradually changed. Now, they have access to a female presence during meditation or quiet moments that shifts their awareness and is full of life and like a generous well of pure life energy.

Another commenter suggested that the scary images are your brain's way of processing something. It's telling that you don't react to the image in fear. By meditating or doing inner work, you may realise what it represents.

A third commenter suggested that the scary things you see are not human entities or nonliving entities, but something trying to communicate with you and being interpreted by your subconscious. They recommended that you try to see the image clearly next time, get a good look, and ask it questions. If you're not feeling any fear, it's likely that this thing has the potential to be helpful but is being interpreted by your subconscious in a scary way.

A fourth commenter suggested that you ask the scary image who she is, as it is probably you.

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