Exploring the Fascinating World of Aphantasia

My life changed when I discovered aphantasia at the age of 38, a condition I had never even heard of before.

What is Aphantasia?

Aphantasia, a term coined by Adam Zeman in 2015, essentially means "lacking imagination." It doesn't imply that I have no creativity or imagination but that my mind's eye is blind. Unlike most people who can conjure vivid mental images, I see nothing when I close my eyes and try to visualize something.

Discovering Aphantasia

My revelation came in an unexpected way. I stumbled upon a quiz on Facebook that was designed to measure one's "mind's eye" capabilities. As a person deeply interested in psychic phenomena, consciousness exploration, and all things metaphysical, I thought this quiz would reveal my hidden psychic abilities. To my surprise, it did quite the opposite.

The quiz presented scenarios like "visualize a horse" and gave multiple choice options ranging from a crystal-clear image to total darkness. I found myself selecting "black" for every question because, well, I couldn't see anything but the back of my eyelids. It dawned on me that maybe other people could actually see things in their mind.

A Shocking Revelation

After completing the quiz, I learned that I belonged to the roughly 2% of the population with aphantasia. For someone who had always been intrigued by metaphysical phenomena and had no idea that their imagination was fundamentally different from others, it was mind-blowing.

My Quest for Knowledge

In the months that followed, I delved deep into understanding aphantasia. I joined online aphantasia communities, asked my friends to visualize things, and discovered that even my husband and my son’s girlfriend had it. This realization made me really start to question how our minds work and whether our brains' unique features influenced our learning processes.

Aphantasia's Impact on Learning

I began to notice that not having the ability to visualize had influenced my learning style throughout my life. For example, note-taking in school was not my strong suit, and I eventually lost interest in classes dominated by heavy note-taking. It turns out, I learn better through engaging in conversations, as they tend to stick with me more effectively.

Creativity in the Mind of Aphantasiacs

As a creative professional who has worked extensively in the design and publishing industry, I've never felt disadvantaged due to my lack of mental imagery, that is until I discovered that other people have mental imagery!! Now I’m always wondering how other artists and designers can conceptualize intricate ideas in their minds and then translate them into reality. I'm also interested in discussing how creative minds, both with and without aphantasia, approach concept meetings and creative problem-solving. What I’ve truly discovered through learning about myself, and asking questions to others, is that, WE ARE ALL SO DIFFERENT.

Sensing Emotions

One unique ability I've observed is my capacity to feel the emotions of others without them verbally expressing themselves. This empathic sensitivity is something I took for granted but now understand not everyone possesses. It's almost as though I've become finely attuned to the subtle energetic frequencies that surround us all. This heightened empathy allows me to sense joy, sorrow, anxiety, or tranquility in those around me. Empathy, often defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, takes on a whole new dimension in this context. While I've always been empathetic, my expanded sensory perception deepens this connection. It's as though I can step into another person's emotional world, experiencing their feelings in my own body.

Looking Forward

This blog marks the beginning of my exploration of aphantasia, and I hope to dive into more related topics in the future. I plan to talk to people with aphantasia and those with hyperphantasia to understand the full spectrum of human experiences. I'll delve into how our unique brains impact our strengths, weaknesses, and individual learning processes.

To those with aphantasia, I believe we possess an unexplored superpower, and I'm determined to uncover it. For those without it, I encourage you to appreciate your mind's visual abilities. Let's keep this conversation going because understanding the complexities of our minds is one of the most important quests in our lifetime.

Stay tuned for more blog posts and discussions. Until next time, keep exploring the wonders of your own mind.