Entoptic Phenomena and Astral Dimensions

[enoch]

Entoptic phenomena experienced during the onset of trance is known to be universal. One such phenomena is the closed-eye perception of approaching a grid which has, in each of its squares, a further entoptic pattern such as a diamond or a swirling vortex.

I wondered...does this not sound remarkably similar to the reported visuals which occur during approach of astral realms? Could this universal entoptic phenomena be the "gateway" as it were, to the astral?



Lewis-Williams and Dowson finally define three stages in the progression of mental imagery during states of consciousness in which entoptic phenomena are experienced:

Stage One

In stage one, subjects experience entoptic phenomena alone. These can be perceived either with the eyes open or closed and tend to be located at reading distance. The images cannot be consciously controlled and are characterised by varied and saturated colours. Sometimes a bright light obscures all but peripheral images.

Stage Two

In stage two subjects try to make sense of entoptics by elaborating them into iconic forms. Thus, the same ambiguous round shape can be 'illusioned' into an orange if the subject is hungry, or a breast if he is in a state of heightened sexual drive.

Stage Three

In stage three many subjects experience a vortex or rotating tunnel that seems to surround them. There is a progressive exclusion of perceptual information. Iconic images appear to derive from memory and are often associated with powerful emotional experiences. Subjects tend to assert that the images are actually what they seem to be, without discrimination between the phenomenon and the construed object.

more info on entoptic phenomena, from whence the above quote came, can be found here: http://www.pd49.dial.pipex.com/pockets/ ... toptic.htm

or: http://www.ravenfamily.org/ffetch/comments/entoptic.php

[/img]http://www.mineralarts.com/artwork/INKentoptics.jpg[img]

drawings copied from: http://www.mineralarts.com/artwork/phosphenes.html[/img]

[CFTraveler]

Could entopic images be archetypal in nature, as opposed to neurological (if not some of them)?

[Dais]

These patterns i feel in most cases are gate ways. I also think they have thier own type of archtecture made of geometric shapes. That I also belive have to be sysmetrcal for some reason.
But this can also be visualy displayed to us in many forms.
In cases of forever hall ways and doors. Because of the old engrained human logic and the mind forming preset notions of gates, doors and windows.