Okay, I'm having a hard time with the idea of "seeing."  When I do the visualization exercises, it is really easy for me to imagine seeing, hearing, smelling, and touching in my mind.  BUT, here's the rub for me...when I "see" fleeting images during my meditation, it's as if I don't see it with my mind (like when I'm imagining), but with my eyes instead.  This is what has me confused. 

For instance, I was meditating the other day and was imagining walking through a forest toward a lake (all in my mind), then I suddenly got a fleeting image before my EYES of a woman in a large brimmed hat and 1950s style bathing suit sitting on a lounge chair by a pool.  What is going on?  Do I use my mind or my eyes to "see?"  Is this what Bruce is talking about when he says to "prime the pump?"

Thank you

That makes sense, but explain this one to me...

This has happened a couple times in the past two weeks.  I was meditating and doing some visualization exercises (in my mind) and what appears before my eyes?  I guess it's what people would call "grays" or ETs and it was very real.  The first time it happened, it frightened me because it is not what I was expecting AT ALL...the second time it happened, I invited them to stay, but they faded after a couple seconds.  A few strange dreams occured following those encounters.

What is going on when THAT happens?  Am I too deep?  Did I overshoot my mark?  Now that I think about it, I don't think I even had a mark, I just wanted to see where I would wonder off to...

Has this happened to anyone else?

Hi Bets,

Okay, they were definitely 'grays' (as per pictures of them).  It's just the faces staring at me and they fade after a couple seconds, although they are very clear right away.  It's not my imagination because I'm not even thinking about that sort of thing when it happens.

Frankly, I'm so new to this that I have no idea what to take from it.

The night after that meditation session, I had a dream where a blinding white light came from the sky and engulfed my body (I instantly became lucid at that moment)...it was so bright, I had to close my eyes and I tried to send PUL (probably a veiled attempt) and screamed, "I LOVE YOU!"  I just felt a need to do that.  Then I woke up.

Keeping an open mind here.

Hi Rebecca, Only you know the experience you had, but let me just put out there ...If someone or some thing (?) from out there was trying to communicate with you, how would they let you know they had made contact? I am thinking something like this picture or vision of the Grey you saw when you were having your experience. If in your mind you see ETs as looking like Grays then how better to acknowledge your connection and to let you know you have contact. Now them fading out after a short bit could be (I say could be) that they succeeded in contact, or they weren't getting anything back from you, or they didn't want to freak you out. What is the more important thing is what you received and what you picked up from the experience.
From a personal view point...I assure you that the contacts I have had are very real. The most difficult thing I have encountered is in real communication back and fourth.
Keep it up. It becomes easier with experience.

Rebecca,
If you are not keeping a journal of your experiences I suggest that it would be of benefit to you to begin one.

I know that my memory can change after only a week or so, but reviewing written entries can help with the recall of the feeling of the experience.  That feeling can often bring an individual back to the same location as the initial event.

Good travels to you,
robert