A study published in Psychological Science reported that it can, if it is a form of yoga called Deity Yoga.
Straight form the journal of the Association for Psychological Science, 20 minutes of this imagery focused yoga practice can dramatically improve visuospatial abilities.
How many of us could benefit form the practice of Deity Yoga?
But I will side track just a bit here. Now, as many of you know, I no longer like to "claim" ailments. That practice seems to enhance their presence and consequences in my life. Yet, denial can truly be deadly. So I strive for a balance of the acknowledgment of a health condition and then supporting its release, physically, mentally, especially emotionally and spiritually. I believe that is why I no longer have fibromyalgia. Yeah, it did take me a few years to comprehend and apply my approach there.
So the new condition I am confronted with is probable long term carbon monoxide exposure. Circumstantial evidence and physical symptoms support the probability, as well as the observation of friends upon more acute exposure. That came to a head on March 23rd.
My lethargic and apathetic behavior have shifted in these last weeks, and my retention of readings for classes has greatly improved. I love walking again, something I dreaded several months ago.
Ok, so what does this have to do with the Deity meditation?
Well, the one thing I still really struggle with is short term memory. "I just had my keys in my hand, where did I put them?" I mean often it is really short term. There is clearly more healing to be done and I have been open to finding ways to support the process.
Voila!
Deity Yoga employs highly refined techniques of creative imagination, visualization, and photism in order to self-identify with the divine form and qualities of a particular deity as the union of method or skillfull means and wisdom. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, "In brief, the body of a Buddha is attained through meditating on it".
While this is a traditional Buddhist practice, can it be applied across the cosmos to all belief systems?
Different from the more common Open Presence meditation where focusing on anything is discouraged, Deity Meditation asks you to clearly see in your minds eye an image/concept of the Divine and with complete entourage and merge with that Divinity.
I am approaching the practice with an expanded view, and suggest that we use our own imagery/concept of our Divine Source/ Deity/ God/ Goddess/ Spirit Beings, and their entourage and visualize ourselves merging with that Divinity. Now this can be a challenge if you do not associate a persona with your Divine Source. But I see no reason that you can't visualize a clear abstraction with all supporting concepts in attendance, abstracted as well. You could use color, sound, music, sensations, well your imagination is the only limitation.
It is too early for me to see long term effects, but I will report at a later date.
I welcome fellow experimenter. Can this practice be applied to your Spiritual Path?
Let me know if you find this practice useful. I would love to hear from you all.
Blessings from Voice to Spirit
KiP
