curiosity...

[witchscauldron]

Close your eyes for a while, and watch the backs of your eyelids.

What colour(s) do you see? Is it solid? Does it move?

Always wondered that. I wonder if what I see is unusual.

For the record, I see violet and gold, in swirling patterns that leave trails.

Comments

[kayucian.livejournal.com]

Much too restless at the moment, but you're not the only one. Usually it is color alone, swirling or pulsing, washing over or other. But sometimes there are shapes, textures as well. Even landscapes and living beings, but that seems to come with a particular state I'm in, say after a long hike or sometimes after sex.

If in a brighter place the patterns tend to be more complex, geometric. Animated mandalas. Always in motion. A very bright place, face to the sun.

[kayucian.livejournal.com]

It's just the darkening of one sense. But I am reminded of how sensory deprivation in isolation tanks is thought to open up any human to "hallucination" with only our own internal chemical concoctions to bring us there. Usually within three hours, I think it is.

Entirely different scenario, of course. When I relax enough I'll try coming back and actually answering your questions. I don't see definite colors every time I close my eye. Right now, for instance, it looks like faint static waving down over and over, and causing the eyes to twitch rapidly despite not squinching the lids shut.

[kayucian.livejournal.com]

Phosphenes! That's the word I was looking for. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphene

Finding a word can reveal troves of info in this place, yup. Off to research it myself now. Sorry for the mess, if you perceive it as such.

[morgandria.livejournal.com]

It's ok - I wouldn't have known to look for that word. I'm familiar with the "prisoner's cinema" from being blindfolded for periods of time.

I've tried to recall other colours or patterns than the one I gave in before, but I can't. I almost always see that gold-purple pattern, or just a darker-lighter purple-violet-indigo. I wonder if it's an overactive crown chakra?

Curiouser and curiouser.

[kayucian.livejournal.com]

It is interesting that you have a distinct pattern there. Hmn.

I haven't archived or even focused enough to detect one in my own mindscape. That could be an entertaining project!

Perhaps actively watching for phosphenes would keep me above the sleep threshold that I commonly encounter when remaining so still. Except when I want to sleep, of course. Pfft.

Thanks for the brain sparks, as inadvertent as they may be. ;>

[korakthesavage.livejournal.com]

Graham Hancock's book, Supernatural,, goes into great detail on phosphenes, relating them to primeval shamanic trance. There's far more there than I could ever explain here, so borrow the book from your library and enjoy. I don't agree with some of his more far-out conclusions (the UFO-faery connection, for example), but his book is still a facinating and very detailed and researched read.

As for my own experiences, I've wondered about the "kaliedescopic" patterns I see with my eyes closed (or open in a dark room) for years. The colors are quite variable, ranging all over the spectrum, but almost always, I see the Duality- a hypnagogic Yin-yang design, pulsing and spinning. It's often a very small spot, hard to see, unless you're looking for it. Then it seems to rush "forward" towards you, becoming large and obvious. I believe this pattern resides inside all things, the universal dynamic that drives creation, at least at this level of existence. Please let me know if you see anything similar- that would be facinating!

[kayucian.livejournal.com]

Excellent, thank you for another direction. The link these patterns play in ecstatic trance and the inspired artwork is a definite curiosity. So, yes, I probably will snoop for that one.

There was a link on the above wiki page that had some interesting bits in it you may be interested in: http://www.oubliette.zetnet.co.uk/Three.html

As for the Yin-yang design, I haven't seen this in the past, or the memory is lost. I'll see if I can tease it out. One day in particular, on the way down the mountain out of Sequoia National Park, I saw amazingly complex geometric patterns in mandala-type forms. It was beautiful. I wish I could translate them to paper, but I'm no artist. Besides, I would have had to have a photograph to recall even a segment of the richness in form.

Interesting stuff. Oh, and I'll let you know. Maybe it'll be twelve years later, but if I can find you!

[korakthesavage.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'll be here on LJ, most likely... and with the same name. Have you seen Alex Grey's art? Or Pablo Amaringa's?

One of the pertinent points about phosphenes in Supernatural was the universality of the phenomenom... as per this quote from your link: "Because these form constants and phosphenes are derived from the human nervous system, "all people who entertain altered states of consciousness, no matter what their cultural background, are liable to perceive them" (Eichmeier and Höfer 1974; Reichel-Dolmatoff 1978)." I can't recall everything in the book, but I'm pretty sure Hancock mentioned Reichel and Dolmatoff's research.

[kayucian.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, my brother introduced me to both of these artists once upon a time. I'm partial to the colorful visions of ayahuasca serpents. Both attention teasing though! The first Grey work I saw was "Dying" on the cover of DMT: The Spirit Molecule, by Rick Strassman. Love my bruv.

That quote reminds me of Jeremy Narby's The Cosmic Serpent. Another interesting book.

Thanks again - Eat it up, yum.

[lonewylfe.livejournal.com]

If I'm sick, I see muted colors; if my body is stressed, it goes to muted tiny dots. If I'm angry I see reds. If it's night time, I see light, like looking at a moderately lit grey "room". If I'm tired, I see circle waves of deep blue, shrinking into themselves.
But normally? I see nothing, there's just a void.

[frostymaii.livejournal.com]

I always see geometric shapes. Kind of like Q-bert towers. Colors depend, but usually orange and purple. Sometimes I see all my blood veins. (branching patterns of red) Depends on my mood.

[azhure.livejournal.com]

Just saying hi (I may have previous, I don't remember) - Sophia Morgan from wildspeak here :)