Mental Formations: A Fantasy World
Now that you have been properly welcomed, let’s get started.
Today, I want to discuss the faculty of imagining, as it is one of the brain’s most powerful capabilities. Italian poet, Giovanni Pascoli, beautifully described the imagination as an ability to “evoke worlds”.
I’d say he had it all figured out.
Our mind possesses the dexterity to conjure up perceptions of full sensory experience even without the projection of actual, visual elements. We are able to create seemingly physical environments, detailed imagery, and whole story-lines by simply closing our eyes and summoning it by thought.
It’s a wonderful thing to be able to make these mental formations. But to articulate these thoughts? A fantasy world made real? Wouldn’t that be something?
Much of the world’s innovations are a result of such imaginings. But… the art behind capitalizing on the value of such capabilities is much more complicated than it seems. Unfortunately, not all of us possess the aptitude to articulate our imaginative processes into words or symbols. Organic, artistic expression is not easy to come by or else we would all be prized and skilled authors, poets, composers, movie directors, product developers, designers, craftsmen, artists, engineers, architects…you name it. For the average person, these wonderlands often vanish into the empty spaces of our brain within seconds. But, those who have the competency — that is — those of us whoare skilled enough to hold on to our visions and reproduce the metaphysical within the physical realm, we deem as creative, inventive, and masterful. We paint them with colorful words and marvel at their genius.
When I was younger, I told my parents that I wanted to be such a person. I wanted to make sense of all my dreams. They asked me if I wanted to be a visionary. “Well, what is that exactly?,” I asked.
My Father responded and told me, “A visionary is someone who has the ability to see the reality of their possibilities.”
Everything changed.
All things are born through our imaginings.
My job is to bring life to fabrication.
Stay tuned for my next post…it all connects!!!
-L. C. Staten
