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Valley of the 23rd Psalm

December 6th, 2011 by Admin | No Comments | Filed in Brain & Perception, Inspirational Stuff

Today more than ever as a society and as individual we need to have and share a vision of hope and truth.

Back in 2007, when many of the ideas in this blog were originally posted, I was thinking about time in my life, and in the lives people I’ve known, when we individually dealt with the loss of a loved one, sickness and financial hardships.  Today, we share in a recession including the many layoffs and unemployment, the foreclosures and the financial problems that are now also faced by a great deal of the world.

In the 23rd Psalm, the words translated as, “As I walk through valley of the shadow of death” can and is also translated as, “As I walk through the valley overshadowed by death.”

This may seem a slight distinction, but to me, the overshadowing of a valley seems darker than “the shadow of death.” That overshadowing seems total. Darker. Plus, the image evoked is more real.

Yet the description is of a shadow, a kind of darkness that can actually touch and “cover” us, as shadows do, but is not really a part of us. We can step out of a shadow.

Apparently there is another Hebrew version of the text, which translates as: “the valley of deepest darkness.” This seems worse yet, as it would be the darkest.

There are times in life where we feel that we are going through a valley of deepest darkness. When it is difficult to even marshal up any hope for the future, no less find some good in the current moment. For me, these were the times when I have also felt very alone and diminished in some way,  such as by the loss of someone very close to me.

There is always some light that may seem hidden but that can be revealed in any darkness that is either perceived with the eyes or the soul.  That physical light can be detected by instruments, and you can also easily learn to see more of it.  For many people, this special physical light is symbolic of the very words and ongoing presence of The Divine.

The theory of Post Conceptual UnGraven Image art grew out of Judeo-Christian theology that begins with Genesis 1:3, “Let there be light.” Light is vital to our universe and without it there would be no colors, paintings or art. For Jews and Christians without the words of The Divine there would be no world.

The symbolism of the dark valley of the Psalm 23, suggests Genesis Chapter 1, when “darkness was on the face of the deep.”

Prior to the portion about the valley, the psalmist wrote that “He leads me in paths of righteousness from the sake of His name [or His name's sake].’ Following entering the dark valley the psalm continues, “I shall fear no evil, for Thou [The Lord] art with me.”

Back in January 2007, I was reading about studies of famous creative by neurological scientists. One dealt with how music affects our brains. Another study is researching a finding that the creative visual place in the human brain is close or coincides with the area that also deals with insanity.

For me, insanity would be the darkest place and we all — to some degree — deal with our own neurosis or illogical fears and concerns. Coping with the discomfort of believing lies (denial), unwanted emotions and fears leads to behavior that is out of control. A severe amount of this would be catatonia while the mild everyday –I can-cope-with-it variety leads all manner of behaviors that we resolve change repair every New Year.

It struck me as amazingly “coincidental” that the brain area that deals with area is near or coincides with the creatively visual area.

Ninty percent of (90%) of vision happens in the brain as it decodes impressions of light sent by the eyes. To see is to discern darkness from light. That kind of decoding (discernment) also occurs when we have a sudden inspiration or understanding and “see the light”. Think of all the cartoons that indicate the character getting an idea through the now universally understood symbol of a bright light bulb by the cartoon character’s head.

Inspiration, a new idea of vision can be understood as:  light suddenly coming out of darkness.

Of course, that was before I realized in the spring of 2008 that when one sees enough (enough varies for individuals) of my artwork, one gains Awakened Vision thanks to the memories of that art, which the brain uses to decode more visual information. People who have gained Awakened Vision experience seeing more.

When we do not turn towards The Divine and follow our inspiration, our unique revealed path before us, we will inevitably go in a different direction. We stray, even for the moment, when we allow negative emotions to control us  saying a few “deserved” but demeaning harsh words (which will make us feel better somehow) or tell a small, seemingly harmless white lie so our lives will be more convenient or acceptable to others, or pretend that a situation that we do not like does not exist, we turn away from what we know is true.

Instead, sometimes simply trudging along in the valley of deepest darkness, even somewhat blindly, serves to take us to a new place of inspiration where suddenly a “feast” is found, our cup runs, which moves us toward the fulfillment of our greatest needs and hopes. We see light come out of darkness.

Two watercolor pencil paintings, Psalm 23 (Male Cardinal and Psalm 23 (Female Cardinal) are created using strokes that are the original Torah font letters of Psalm 23.  They are separate works but also form a set of two cardinals in at the time of a winter sunset. Male cardinal
Psalm 23 (Male Cardinal

They were the first paintings after the tsunami, when coincidentally my area was engulfed by a blizzard.

The wild animals of the tsunami almost all “knew” to head for high ground just as the wild creatures in my area, where forage is otherwise generally plentiful managed to find food and shelter when a blizzard simultaneously hit my area and the snow was a foot and a half deep.Thus these bird paintings began my painting series entitled, Written on the Wind.

Like the sheep in Psalm 23, the cardinals outside my window somehow managed to find food and shelter, after also somehow remaining safe during the blizzard.  As I listened to the tsunami reports and watched the birds outside my window, it was clear that they “saw” and followed the prodding of some divine staff and rod that despite dire circumstances kept them safe.

According to the Psalmist, even in deepest darkness the Lord is with us. I paint using the Hebrew letters from original Bible texts to represent the smallest essential pre-particles (also known as strings and membranes). This is basic Judeo-Christian theology applied to fine art.

As we learn to actually see more, what is called Awakened Vision, we become more aware of the energy, which for many are (or symbolize) the words of The Divine.  If we can remember and even picture the very Words of the Lord surrounding when we are in a time of a dark valley, then we can know that we are loved and not alone.

In the darkest times we can “see” our next step if we can envision that we are surrounded by the very words and promises of the Lord. All we need to do is ask for and take one small step forward with The Divine and we will “fear no evil for thou art with me.”

People who have *Awakened Vision can see this and gain that comfort, hope and peace.

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See all of Judy Rey Wasserman’s Prints at her estore. Invest in fine art that will inspire you, your friends and family. Change how you see the world to change your life. See more. Share the vision.

And, you can also find these artworks at Judy Rey’s Zazzle store on cards and mugs and other merchandise for you and your loved ones. Judy Rey’s Unique Zazzle Products for You

*Note: to discover more about Awakened Vision and how you can easily gain it sign up for the free 50+ page color ebook in the purple rectangle at the blogs at either ungravenimage.com or artofseeingthedivine.com]
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Judy Rey Wasserman is an artist and the founder of Post Conceptual Art theory and also the branch known as UnGraven Image Art. Download a free copy click: Manifesto of Post Conceptual Art– A Painting’s Meaning is Inherent in its Stroke.

Check out the limited and open edition prints in the estore.
Follow her on Twitter at @judyrey .]

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The Divine Transformation – Blessings of Passover & Easter

April 18th, 2011 by Admin | 1 Comment | Filed in Inspirational Stuff

The spring festivals of Passover and Easter are about the transformation that occurs when one completely follows The Divine*, which for monotheistic Christians and Jews is the One God.

There is a rebirth that occurs not by the decision – but by the actualization or enactment of that decision. The decision is easy, but carrying it out is almost always fraught with difficulties.

The adversities can be understood as tests in which one proves ones determination, probably more to oneself that to the Divine. Persistence and endurance will overcome any of the adversities; they will also bring a miraculous new life.

Our adversities and troubles can often be understood as blessings in disguise as they often inspire us to redouble our efforts and focus on The Divine through prayer, meditation and study. It has been said that, “There are no atheists in foxholes.”

Often, when in good times we celebrate, even pat ourselves on the back for our victories and focus less on The Divine*. We grow closer to The Divine, and thus become more of our true selves when we are desperate for help. We learn to focus on The Divine through prayer, meditation and study, because we really need help and may have nowhere else to turn for relief. As Aristotle said, “We learn by doing.”

Cherry Tree
by Judy Rey Wasserman

Strokes are Psalm 46

See this image larger and discover how you can own the  Fine Art Print

Embarking on the journey of following The Divine means leaving behind anything, and even anyone, that is not a part of the journey. Whatever we must leave behind is always something that is only necessary to support our ego or our false pride and diverts us from being our true selves. What and who we surround ourselves with helps us keep or lose our purpose and chosen vision.

In Exodus we learn that although the Israelis were not affected by the twelve plagues, they were subject to the wrath of those around them, which considering they were slaves must have been horrible. Yet, Moses persisted and returned again and again to Pharaoh asking that his people be allowed to leave Israel .

Finally, the Israelis were allowed to leave Egypt but they had to hurry! The Israelis needed to surround themselves with visions of a new life of riches and splendor, not the old life of poverty and slavery, both physically and metaphorically as shown by the Bible’s description of the Egyptians giving them precious gold and jewels.

The Bible does dwell on the obvious: what they had to leave behind, such as their homes, which were meager havens but filled with precious memories, including the wonderful recent meal they had shared on the night the Egyptians lost their first born sons. It was a hard life, but it was what they knew and had, but now they had to embark on the unknown.

Strokes are Deuteronomy 6

Spring Tree
by Judy Rey Wasserman

See this artwork larger and Discover how you can own it as an investment quality limited edition Fine Art Print print

Transformation always involves willingly entering the unknown and wandering around in it for a period of time. Birth itself represents transformation when we leave the known security of the womb and wander through the birth canal until we become a new viable human being who can breathe freely.In Genesis, The Divine blows His breath into Adam, which makes him alive. Every other living thing is spoken into life but Man, who is formed and then given the breath of The Divine. Thus according to Genesis, our breath shows that we live and metaphorically indicates The Divine in us.

The minute the Israelites left Egypt they were breathing as free people. Their behaviors and activities were no longer slaves who were subjected to the will of others. Experiencing their new freedom they immediately lacked ego, which in scripture is represented by yeast, which puffs up bread and is a metaphor for false pride and willful behavior. Thus initially during their journey in freedom, they ate matzoh as they turned fully to The Divine.

According to Thomas’ account the transformed and risen Jesus spoke to him. The act of speaking proves a person is alive as no one can speak without breath.

For both Jews and Christians and everyone else spring brings a new vision. We celebrate the transformation of the trees and perennials that come into bloom, plus it is a natural seasons of birth and beginnings. We are transformed by what we see and then by what we do.

Wishing you and your loved ones the freedom and blessings of transformation and meaningful holiday this spring.

* The Term “The Divine” is used as a general term and the reader is invited to substitute their own best and theologically correct term whenever it is used. Given the many names for God or the higher power, this prevents misunderstandings.

Judy Rey Wasserman is the Founder and an Artist of Post Conceptual Art theory including the branch called UnGraven Image. Discover more at http://ungravenimage.com<br>

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<strong>Judy Rey Wasserman is an artist and the founder of Post Conceptual Art theory and also the branch known as UnGraven Image Art. Download a free copy click: <a href=”http://ungravenimage.com/images/ManifestoofPosConceptualUnGravenImageArt.pdf” target=”_blank”>Manifesto of Post Conceptual Art– A Painting’s Meaning is Inherent in its Stroke.</a> </strong>

<strong> <a href=”http://store.artofseeingthedivine.com” target=”_blank”>Check out the limited and open edition prints in the estore.</a> </strong>
<strong>Follow her on Twitter at <a href=”http://twitter.com/judyrey” target=”_blank”> @judyrey </a>.]</strong>

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How Awakened Vision Transforms Grief and Mourning

November 11th, 2010 by Admin | No Comments | Filed in Brain & Perception, Inspirational Stuff

Grief is a normal and healthy expression of loss.

Infants cry in grief when they lose something or someone precious to them, which can be as simple as someone they love walking out of the room. Young children can grieve over losing a favorite toy, but no longer consider it a possible irrevocable loss when someone they love walks into another room.

We fear the loss. It threatens us. We feel diminished. The future we envision seems threatened.

Our understandings about loss changes as we mature and what we value most can also change.

Although unexpressed or stuffed and denied grief can lead to emotional problems, including depression, grief itself is not depression.

Depression involves hopelessness. It also tends to lack the passion a grieving person feels, including a passion for getting over the grief!

When a loved one, such as a cherished parent, child, close friend or mate dies grief is normal and natural. Generally the strength and love in the relationship determines how much grief we experience. The general rule of thumb is that for someone close it takes at least a year to grieve. Each new holiday, each experience that normally would have been shared with the lost loved one, brings a new realization, recognition and experience of the loss.

The irony is that anyone who suffers the death of someone near and dear to them and has experienced grief, even overwhelming feeling grief, is truly blessed. Blessed because of having a wonderful parent, spouse, child or friend, which is a blessing that others lack. All of the experiences that were shared remain as memories that may feel sad now, but in the future will be cherished, uplifting and encouraging in the future.

As an artist, I am concerned with the visual aspects of grief. We visually project and make memories of a future we intend or intended to have with our loved ones, such as holiday events. Plus, we have visual memories of experiences that we have shared with our loved ones. The world we see around us can remind us of our loss.

These memories of imagined futures and real pasts pop up to us, thanks to our brains, when we experience (especially including see ), people, places and/or things that are a part of these memories. When this happens we again feel our loss.

For example Thelma, who is your much older second cousin, a sweet lady who lives far away but always attends weddings, funerals and the annual family picnic, passes away. Thelma enjoyed the blueberry pies you brought to the picnic, and always told you how good your pie was. This year as you prepare a blueberry pie to take to the picnic, you will pause as usual to think of Thelma’s appreciation of your pies. But this year that usually pleasant moment of remembrance will immediately tow in the memory of Thelma’s death, and the understanding that she will not be appreciating this pie you are baking. This new understanding will probably include feelings of grief and loss. Although there is little in your daily life to remind you of Thelma, at the picnic itself she will also be missed.

Mourner's Prayer by Judy Rey Wasserman

Mourner’s Prayer by Judy Rey Wasserman
Mourner’s Prayer is one of the earliest Post Conceptual UnGraven Image painting by Judy Rey Wasserman. The image is of a memorial candle that is traditionally lit at sundown but lasts throughout the day. Thus the candle’s light, reminding us of the light the loved one brought into our lives, continues on as bright as the light of the day, as represented by the sun. To see a larger version of this work and details about the reproductive print, Click: Mourner’s Prayer

When someone we are close with on a daily basis passes away, especially if it is someone we lived with or worked with, our daily lives are filled with visual items that trigger memories of that person. The more time and interaction we have with someone, the more memories we have of them in places we know, using items we recognize, interacting while we do the things we normally do.

People who have gained Awakened Vision, and so see more energy, usually do not experience negative or unwanted emotions that are associated with people, places or things that they see, especially when what is seen is not actually any real current threat. However, grief can seem to alter that.

Something seen can seem to trigger the grief, which is an unwanted emotion. Actually, the grief is not an old memory of emotion, but a new experience in relation to a very wanted and cherished memory of a loved one, which then turns into grief and mourning when it is realized that the loved one will never use the item, attend the event of be here in that same way again.

The brain is always set to survival and survival enhancement—that is basically its job. Survival enhancement means what gives pleasure or promotes survival, even when survival is not threatened. What we choose to enjoy the brain remembers, and we can enjoy that again and again.

Previous to Thelma’s passing she may have been thought of whenever a blueberry pie was made or even purchased or eaten. The memories of her happiness and appreciation of the pies you made was pleasurable and affirming – these are the kind of memories we choose to enjoy.

During the grieving process these enjoyable memories remind us of loss – the loss that we will never again experience in real life the company and affirmation from the loved one. Yet, these are not full unwanted memories or emotions—we want to keep the memories of the happy times and experience those emotions, but we do not want to experience the pain of the grief.

Later, when the grieving is successfully completed, there will once again only be the happy memories, without the grief.

Awakened Vision helps transform the grief and mourning by instilling an awareness of the presence of The Divine, and the words of the Creator in each moment of our live, whatever is happening and whatever we are doing. This can dramatically transform life, including the experience of grief and mourning.

For instance, returning to the example of the loss of Cousin Thelma above at the point making this year’s blueberry pie and realizing that Thelma will not be at the picnic to enjoy it. Although all of the types of memories indicated previously may be experienced, including the grief, following that is the sure visual recognition of the presence of The Divine, especially the energies, which are understood as the Creator’s words surrounding us and creating everything in the physical universe. That understanding, in a moment of grief, offers comfort and peace and hope, which can transform grief and mourning into a process of a closer experience and relationship with The Divine.

To discover more about Awakened Vision, plus discover more about the vision changing Post Conceptual UnGraven Image Art of Judy Rey Wasserman, get your free copy of the 50 + page color illustrated e book, The Art of Seeing The Divine, Introduction, which includes 2 full visual brain game experiences, Click: http://artofseeingthedivine.com/FreeBook.htm
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Judy Rey Wasserman is an artist and the founder of Post Conceptual Art theory and also the branch known as UnGraven Image Art. Download a free copy click: Manifesto of Post Conceptual Art– A Painting’s Meaning is Inherent in its Stroke.

Check out the limited and open edition prints in the estore.
Follow her on Twitter at @judyrey .]


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Does Your Mind Use You?

August 10th, 2010 by Admin | 3 Comments | Filed in Brain & Perception, Inspirational Stuff

Many people are more used by their minds, than actually consciously use them.

People believe that the thoughts and ideas that come to them are somehow authentic and relevant. However, most of the ideas that a person has are memories that are triggered by what they are experiencing.

For the average person the perception that triggers the most memories on a continual basis is vision. Vision is our predominant sense. Over 65% of the average person’s brain space is dedicated to the sense of vision in one way or another.

We see through our memories. In other words, our brains decode the data received from our eyes to it meanings that seem to make sense.

As a child your brain learned that illustrations often depict people, places and things. Even the most realistic painting is somewhat abstracted since it is two dimensional. Your brain learned how to use its memories so you could see art.

The first time you saw some of Picasso’s highly abstracted faces, you experienced the phenomena of your brain decoding visual memories, including using the information it had about how to see art — to see in a new way. Your brain can now can use that new way of seeing, those memories of abstracted faces to decode more visual experiences that you encounter every day and also easily see more abstracted art.

Normal adults are experts at decoding visual information. Yet, there are often tag-along ideas and emotions that are attached to our visual memories that we fail to notice.

A baby’s eyes do perceive after birth, however it takes a couple of weeks of the baby gaining visual memories before the brain begins to have enough memories to decode the impressions . After about two weeks the baby can recognize the basic caregiver visually to a degree.

As the child grows more visual memories are gained. Along with these memories of shape and color are memories of emotions and decisions. For instance, someone who has been mean or taunting to a baby is not only recognized but as a part of that memory the babe recalls that she does not like this person!

As adults we continue to experience these undercurrent or subconscious data of our likes and dislikes, repressed emotions, linked memories, etc. as we navigate through our days that are filled with perceptions of people, places and things. However, usually we are not actively aware of this undercurrent of emotional memories and decisions — we are just effected by them.

When we are aware of our memories, we try to steer clear of people, places or things that stimulate our memories of emotions that we wish to avoid. For instance, I lost a baby within a couple of days of his birth due to his medical problems. For several years I avoided the area of a stores that held newborn baby clothes because thus reminded me of my loss.

But avoidance is usually not possible. Adults have so many memories that are tagged to simple shapes colors, sounds, etc. If we live or work with difficult people soon that environment will have many negative or unwanted emotional memories that are subconsciously triggered by the objects associated with that location.

This partly accounts for why a vacation that involves a real change of scene — especially going somewhere new, or the first days on a new job, in a new living environment, or even going to a new restaurant can life our moods. Of course, we also gravitate to places and things that are associated with good memories. We all have mementos and personal treasures that are associated with people we love, our achievements or experiences that we recognize make us feel good.

Tag-along thoughts and emotions can be misunderstood by a person to be relevant or to somehow belong to them at the moment. This is a mistake that can have many repercussions, especially when the thoughts or emotions have negative content.

Some people continue to experience thoughts and emotions that are unwanted because they do not know how to let go of them. The first step is to recognize that any negative emotions or unwanted feelings that have no apparent basis at the moment may simply be subconscious memories that are really irrelevant but were triggered by sensory perceptions.

If you suddenly feel a negative emotion for no apparent reason ask yourself three questions:

1. “What emotion am I feeling?” (Use whatever word or words pop up from your subconscious, such as, “angry”.
2. “Did something in my environment cause me to have this feeling of__________?” (If yes proceed to #3)
3. What in my environment caused me to have this feeling of _________?”

Simply looking at the object and acknowledging the memory will bring relief. This will also put you more in charge of your mind, rather than being the effect of your subconscious perceptual memories.

Emotions are energy. Scientists have shown how though and emotions are energy and produce energy since the early experiments at Yale University over 30 years ago.

A great deal more relief from unwanted emotions that are triggered by common visual perceptions is now easily and effectively available by simply training your brain to see in a new way, called Awakened Vision. You can learn to actively see more of the energy around you through art images that depict more energy. Your eyes already perceive this energy. Your brain generally fails to decode the energy as it seems to be irrelevant since the energies are everywhere always. What we perceive as matter is simply more condensed energy.

Since emotions are energy the brain learns to discard this emotional content of memories it uses to decode perceptions, once you can see with Awakened Vision.

To learn how you can gain more control of visual memory, and discover how you can be free of unwanted and usually unconscious visual triggers of unwanted or negative emotions through Awakened Vision and Judy Rey Wasserman’s Post Conceptual UnGraven Image Art SEE The Art of Seeing The Divine.
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Judy Rey Wasserman is an artist and the founder of Post Conceptual Art theory and also the branch known as UnGraven Image Art. Download a free copy click: Manifesto of Post Conceptual Art– A Painting’s Meaning is Inherent in its Stroke.

Check out the limited and open edition prints in the estore.
Follow her on Twitter at @judyrey .]


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How to Increase Your Visual Intelligence

August 6th, 2010 by Admin | 5 Comments | Filed in Brain & Perception

Visual intelligence can be easily increased. The ability to quickly recognize more of what you see, including more nuances, distinctions and meanings is visual intelligence.

Although we need our eyes to see, all that our eyes perceive is impressions of light. Our eyes account for only 10% of our perception of vision. People who have 20/20 vision, with or without corrective lenses differ widely in their visual intelligence.

Easily and effectively you can learn to see more by, well, seeing more. See people, places and things that are new to you.

We see through our memories. The more visual memories we have that are of different people, places and things, the more we are able to perceive.

Science has discovered that 90% of vision happens in our brains. Our brains decode the impressions of light sent by our eyes into meaningful data. We experience the brain’s translation of this data as seeing.

People can be blind, or partially blind when specific areas of the brain that relate to specific types of visual recognition, such as faces, is damaged. We are all also relatively blind to what is radically new to us.

There is a documented story of a European medical doctor who was working with a tribe in Africa over a century ago during the colonial period. He became good friends with the chief who was very intelligent and they spent many off hours together. The doctor was introduced to the tribal culture, which included sculpture and other visual artistic expression, but not painting.

When a show of good European paintings (this predates the acceptance of Modern Art, so these paintings were realistic) traveled to a colonized town within a day’s journey, the doctor invited the chief to accompany him so that he could share his culture’s art.

After they walked through the show, the doctor asked the chief how he liked the paintings of the people and places in Europe. The chief asked what he meant.

It turned out that when the chief looked at the paintings all that he saw was colors, not people, places or things, which were wholly unfamiliar to him. The chief lacked the idea and experience of visual information being conveyed through paint.

They returned to the show, where painting by painting the doctor pointed out what was in the painting until the chief actually had enough new visual memories of paintings depicting people, places and things, that he could see them on his own. Then the chief became delighted with the art and new experience!

The above story explains how we gain greater visual intelligence. Being able to discern images that are comprised of paint, ink or pixels is something normally sighted people in the industrialized world learn to do by the time they are toddlers. But the average toddler, no matter how intelligent, cannot see everything in a detailed painting, such as a Rembrandt, that an adult can. The toddler lacks the many visual memories and encounters with works of art that are necessary to view the subtleties of Rembrandt’s work

This is why young children especially enjoy books where the illustrations are simple and brightly colored. Bright, basic colors are the first ones we learn to see. Yet it is important to introduce and point out more complex shades and color variations to children as the focus it helps them acquire new visual memories and understandings.

Travel, meeting new people who are not of our own familiar racial groups, seeing art and going to movies that include new and different visual information, such as people, places and things created by special effects allows us to increase our visual memories. This means we can recognize. This increases our functional visual intelligence.

So, take the time to break out of your daily visual rut of the places you go, and the environments and people you see. The more different people, places and things you learn to see, the more you will be able to see. Increase your visual intelligence!
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Judy Rey Wasserman is an artist and the founder of Post Conceptual Art theory and also the branch known as UnGraven Image Art. Download a free copy click: Manifesto of Post Conceptual Art– A Painting’s Meaning is Inherent in its Stroke.

Check out the limited and open edition prints in the estore.
Follow her on Twitter at @judyrey .]



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You Only Need Your Brain to See

July 16th, 2010 by Admin | 1 Comment | Filed in Brain & Perception, Inspirational Stuff

Most people think that they see with their eyes. Actually ninety percent of vision takes place in the brain.

Basically, what the eyes see are impressions of light. About two million optic nerves are required to transmit visual signals from the retina—the portion of the eye where light information is decoded or translated into nerve pulses—to the brain’s primary visual cortex.

The brain uses memories to interpret what the impressions of light mean. This process is much like decoding a message into meaningful information.

This is a recent discovery. It led to scientists being able to stimulate certain areas in the brains of volunteers so that the volunteers” saw” images that their eyes were not focused on.  It has also led Paul Bach-y-Rita, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. to a new way of helping people see using their tongues via a device called BrainPort, which device uses the tongue to send the impressions of light to the brain. Paul Bach-y-Rita, has devoted much of his career to a single, revolutionary concept: that our senses are interchangeable, and they may be. The big difference as to how we perceive what we sense occurs in our brains.

There are medical cases of people who suffer various kinds of blindness due to brain injuries, although their eyes are fine and able to transmit impressions of light. One of the most interesting is that of a man who cannot see faces. He can see landscapes and objects and bodies, but due to a brain injury that affects the portion of the brain where facial memories are stored, he cannot distinguish faces, even of his own family.

The more varied and different visual memories a normally sighted person has the more that person is able to experience seeing specific people, places or things. This includes people who use corrective lenses to achieve better vision.

You know how easy it is to recognize a person that you know well, like a close family member within a crowd, such as at an airport or train station.

You would not need a photo to spot your closest friend, partner, mate, etc.,You would not even need a description of what they would be wearing to easily recognize the people closest to you.

Next, imagine this same crowd, but this time you are going to find someone new to you, but basically normal looking, that you only met briefly yesterday.  Can you remember the face of the person who you chatted briefly with in a line, the clerk at the check out, the taxi or bus driver, the person you rode with in an elevator, or asked for directions? Could you pick them out from a moving crowd?

It is almost impossible to accomplish the above task of picking a stranger out from a crowd. To easily to this the stranger would need to have a physical characteristic that visually sets them apart from most people, for instance their hair is dyed a bright green.

The reason we can easily recognize people we know well is that we have many, many visual memories of them. We have learned to distinguish them. We notice when something changes, such as they got a haircut, new eyeglasses, if they look tired, seem upset although trying to hide it. Do to our many memories we are mini visual experts on the people who are close to us.

Yet our eyes see the stranger as well as they see the person we know well.  What makes the difference in our ability to see and recognize happens in our brains.

Until recently improving vision only meant correcting what the eyes could perceive, such as through corrective lenses.

Now you can also radically improve your vision by consciously gaining more and special visual memories to change how your brain sees. You can increase your visual intelligence, which will change how effective you are in life, plus increase your enjoyment of your life.

See www.artofseeingthedivine.com to discover how you can add special visual memories to actually change the way you see the world and easily improve your life while you have fun!
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Judy Rey Wasserman is an artist and the founder of Post Conceptual Art theory and also the branch known as UnGraven Image Art. Download a free copy click: Manifesto of Post Conceptual Art– A Painting’s Meaning is Inherent in its Stroke.

Check out the limited and open edition prints in the estore.
Follow her on Twitter at @judyrey .]


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Landscapes Can Improve Cognition and Short Term Memory

January 9th, 2009 by Admin | 1 Comment | Filed in Uncategorized

Businesses, schools, homes for the elderly, and many offices could benefit the people who visit or work in them by having images of natural scenes decorating their walls. Is it possible that we can all improve our cognitive performances by displaying images of natural environments on our homes?

New studies again show that vision, and what one sees strongly impacts memory and cognitive ability.

At two studies conducted at the University of Michigan , Marc G. Berman and colleagues tested the effect of a walk’s scenery on cognitive function ( Berman, Jonides & Kaplan, 2008 ; PDF ).

In the first study participants were given a 35 minute task involving repeating loads of random numbers back to the experimenter, but in reverse order. After this special task in cognitive psychology the subjects went for a walk. One group walked around an arboretum and while the other walked down busy city streets. Both groups were tracked with GPS devices.

The memory tests were repeated upon their return.

The results showed that the test group which took a walk in the tree lined natural surroundings improved in memory performance by almost 20% The subjects who walked in the busy urban scene did not improve to a reliable extent.

The arboretum is located in the City, near the university as the selected urban street. Thus the traffic sounds, sirens and noise were similar. Being outside on the same day within walking distance the groups experiences the same weather, and many of the same scents.

Judy Rey Wasserman’s
Summer Tree Aleph

What differed significantly was what each group perceived visually.

Judy Rey Wasserman’s
Fall Tree Aleph

The second study honed in on that difference. This time participants remained in the lab. One group of participants was shown images of natural scenes of trees and fields while others looked at urban images of lampposts and streets.

Then they were again tested in relation on short term memory retention using random numbers.

Once again the study subjects who were exposed to the images of natural environments of trees and fields showed marked improvement over the other study group; however, the improvement was slightly less.

In the second study participants weren’t even allowed to leave the lab but instead some stared at pictures of natural scenes while others looked at urban environments. The improvements weren’t quite as impressive as the first study, but, once again, the trees and fields beat the roads and lampposts.

These results replicated a previous study by Berto (2005) , which concluded that just viewing pictures of natural scenes positively effected cognitive function. This study noted that an individual’s performance was soon restored by picture of trees, fields and hills, but not by streets, industrial units or even complex geometric patterns.

Clearly, our environments influence us visually. We can influence our own lives, and those of our family, friends, clients, customers and teammates by displaying images that do more than decorate. Once again, proof that art can change lives. Art can enhance brain functioning.

For information on how a new kind of art can easily and effectively change your life click here to download a free booklet.
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Judy Rey Wasserman is an artist and the founder of Post Conceptual Art theory and also the branch known as UnGraven Image Art. Download a free copy click: Manifesto of Post Conceptual Art– A Painting’s Meaning is Inherent in its Stroke.

Check out the limited and open edition prints in the estore.
Follow her on Twitter at @judyrey .]

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How Awakened Vision Can Transform Your Life

January 3rd, 2009 by Admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

If you can read this message on your screen you can easily and painlessly transform your life.

Imagine if instead of having experiences of past upsets, (negative emotion) flit below your consciousness — or come up to consciousness these feelings were simply understood as basic, benign energy by your brain. Imagine the freedom of experiencing less negativity, doubt, fear, anger, etc.For spiritual and religious people, imagine if you were aware of seeing the Words of God, everywhere, now and always – not theoretically, but because you are actually seeing more energies! How would you feel? More peaceful? Inspired? Happier?

These results can easily be yours. While it may seem or feel like a miracle, there are actual scientific explanations for how you can easily gain enhanced vision and how that will transform your life.

Several amazing discoveries occurred when ancient spiritual wisdom (that is also Bible based ) was applied in a new form of art known as Post Conceptual UnGraven Image. This new art has an impact on vision and how one actually sees the world. This then impacts one’s visual memories resulting in greater emotional freedom from unwanted negative feelings and thoughts.

These discoveries were then found to be science based, according to neuroscience, medical science, and elementary physics.

While the results for one’s life may seem like a miracle, they can be gained by “normal” people easily and effectively if they can read this text (in English) on a screen. [Note: "normal" means people who have medically termed normal eyesight with or without corrective lenses, and who also have healthy brains and eyes. Currently the information is only available in English, through an e book and booklet, and artwork that can be collected.]

A normal person’s vision can be actually enhanced — changed — to see more of the energies in the physical universe. These energies, or essences are everywhere.

Basically, the new Post Conceptual UnGraven Image Art depicts more of these energies, which are revered by many spiritual people as the very words of the Creator. The art is a new vision for the brain, which is always eager to gain distinctly new perceptual memories.

We have all experienced looking at someone or something and thinking it reminds us of something else. That is being conscious of the brain’s decoding process.

The brain uses visual memories to decode the impressions of light received from they eyes. Ninety percent of visual perception occurs in the brain as it decodes impressions received from the eyes by using visual memories.

The eyes already see more energies, but the brain has few if any memories it can use to decode or make relevant sense of the information. The understandings of how visual perception can change and brains can expand with additional information comes from recent scientific discoveries about neuroplacticity and vision.

The experience of seeing more of the energies is especially relevant for spiritual people. Many faiths, including Christians and Jews of all branches and denominations, believe that the basic energy and pre-matter of the world (as in string, M, and quantum theories) are the words (actually the letters of the words) of the Creator. These original letters are also binary (again a scientific corollary) and as such also refer to important concepts in most of the world’s faiths and paths.

For spiritual people seeing more of the essences — the energies, which are the Words of the Divine, everywhere always is an immensely comforting, inspiring and life transforming experience.

And God said, “Let there be light…”

Yet, there is more. Possibly the best is yet to come.

Neuroscience has proven and can now measure how emotions and thoughts are energy.

Something more amazing and wonderful occurs after you have fully gained the ability to see more of the energies whenever and wherever you look. You begin to experience far less negativity and unwanted feelings and thoughts in daily life.

Here is why:

The brain continues to collect more visual memories of the energies through both the images of art that continue to be purposefully used and from one’s daily experience. Finally the brain has enough visual memories of the energies (essences).

Next, the brain begins to simply decode memories of emotions (including unwanted, unresolved and negative emotions) as energy. These emotions are associated or attached to visual memories that the brain uses to decode impressions of a daily basis. [Note: more about how this works is explained in both the book and booklet. ]

Finally, you can easily experience greater freedom from unwanted or negative emotions and thoughts as you go through your days. Of course, anyone can always decide to be upset or focus on things that seem upsetting. But, at least it upsetting memories from what is seen will have lessened or ceased. Sixty percent of the brain is dedicated to the perception of vision, to this can be quite a relief!

Through easy and fun Visual Exercise/Experiences that are in The Art of Seeing the Divine Introductory Booklet, you will gain visual memories that your brain can use to decode the impressions of more of the energies that your eyes already see. You do not experience seeing these energies now as your brain has not built up specific memories of them.

Judy Rey Wasserman’s Post Conceptual UnGraven Image Art helps people to see the world—actually see it — in a new way. You’ll see everything that you see now. You’ll just see more. This is enhanced vision.

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. ~Aristotle

There has never been a program or information like this before. This is a brand new discovery. It is the result of how a new kind of artwork (Post Conceptual UnGraven Image) impacts human vision.

This new way of seeing compliments your faith, consciously held beliefs and other personal motivation and improvement programs.

This special 30 + page booklet includes bonuses of the unique Visual Exercise/Experiences. These help you create and build new visual memories by looking at art.

There is only one way to discover if it you can change how you see the world, easily and effectively. Try it out. That’s why this 30 + page booklet is free. So you can try it out without cost or obligation.

Simply fill in your primary email address in the purple rectangle in the left hand column. A link to the download of the exciting, life transforming and easy to do e booklet will quickly be sent to you. Begin today! [Note: we will never share your info. The newsletter is sent about once a month. You can easily opt out.]

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How Do Older Brains View Memory Differently Than Younger Ones?

December 22nd, 2008 by Admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

A study by neuroscientists from Duke University Medical Center reveals differences in how older and younger people use their brains when it comes to storing memories, particularly those associated with negative emotions.

Older adults, average age 70, and younger adults, average age 24, were shown a series of 30 photographs while their brains were imaged in a functional MRI (fMRI) machine. Some of the photos were neutral in nature and others had strong negative content such as attacking snakes, mutilated bodies and violent acts.

While in the fMRI machine, the subjects viewed the photos and ranked them on a pleasantness scale. Following that they completed an unexpected recall task following the fMRI scan to determine whether the brain activity that occurred while looking at the pictures could predict later memory. The results were sorted according to the numbers of negative and neutral pictures that were remembered or missed by each group.

The scientists believe that the study showed that the older adults have less connectivity between an area of the brain that generates emotions and a region involved in memory and learning. But they also found that the older adults have stronger connections with the frontal cortex, the higher thinking area of the brain that controls these lower-order parts of the brain.

“The younger adults were able to recall more of the negative photos,” said Roberto Cabeza, Ph.D., senior author and Duke professor in the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience. If the older adults are using more thinking than feeling, “that may be one reason why older adults showed a reduction in memory for pictures with a more negative emotional content.”

“It wasn’t surprising that older people showed a reduction in memory for negative pictures, but it was surprising that the older subjects were using a different system to help them to better encode those pictures they could remember,” said lead author Peggy St. Jacques, a graduate student in the Cabeza laboratory.

Young adults employed more of the brain regions usually involved in emotion and recalling memories.

The emotional centers of the older subjects were as active as those of younger subjects — it was the brain connections that differed.

There are various possibilities as to why there are these differences.

Older people have more visual memories of unpleasant images, such as snakes, than younger ones. This is especially true for the current generations thanks to photography, film and video access that other generations lacked.

“If using the frontal regions to perform a memory task was always beneficial, then the young people would use that strategy, too,” Cabeza said. “Each way of doing a task has some trade-offs. Older people have learned to be less affected by negative information in order to maintain their well being and emotional state – they may have sacrificed more accurate memory for a negative stimulus, so that they won’t be so affected by it.”

Another possibility is that an older person looks at something to decide what to do with or about it; the brain may not remember it as well since keeping the information is irrelevant. What is relevant is the response to it.

Why remember what is already largely remembered in previously stored visual memories that pose no possible current danger?

Young people are still visually (and in other ways) learning about the world. Thus their responses would be different from an older person’s.

Healthy normal brains use visual memories to decode the impressions of light received from the eyes. Only ten percent of the process of visual perception occurs in the eyes, which see impressions of light. The bulk of visual work happens in the brain as it decodes the information received from the eyes by using memories of visual experiences that seem to compare to the current impressions of light.

At some point the brain has enough visual memories of a specific person, place or thing so unless there is a change – an update — it eases off on collecting more. Top brands understand this so the slightly change their packaging, which gets them attention, otherwise a product is actually see, but not “noticed” as no update is needed.

My personal experience with consciously creating new visual memories of energy and helping other do so also come from my work as an artist. As the founder of Post Conceptual UnGraven Image Art Theory, I work to create works that show the energy, the essences that are the building blocks of the physical universe.

When a person has enough visual memories of my art, they begin actually experiencing seeing more of the energy that is everywhere always. Our eyes see this energy, but until now, our brains have had no way to decode these perceptions. This new way of seeing was discovered as the works changed my visual experience, allowing me to see more energy, everywhere, always and now.

Others are benefiting also, and there’s a new Art of Seeing The Divine e book and free e booklet that helps one make easy rapid progress with creating the necessary visual memories.

When older people made more stronger connections with the frontal cortex they were deciding what to do about the visual stimuli rather than what to do with it. Older people also have more experience with seeing photographs and images.

Younger people are still discovering reality and who they are. This is why younger people flock to Horror and Action pictures that can take a hefty amount of suspended belief (or the ability to pretend), while older people enjoy other fare with more emotional and perceptual nuances.

“Perhaps at different stages of life, there are different brain strategies,” Cabeza speculated. “Younger adults might need to keep an accurate memory for both positive and negative information in the world. Older people dwell in a world with a lot of negatives, so perhaps they have learned to reduce the impact of negative information and remember in a different way.” According to Cabeza, the results of the study are consistent with a theory about emotional processes in older adults proposed by Dr. Laura Carstensen at Stanford University , an expert in cognitive processing in old age.

“One thing we might do in the future is to ask subjects to try to actively regulate their emotions as they look at the pictures,” St. Jacques said. “Would there be a shift in the neural networks for processing the negative pictures when we asked younger people to regulate their emotional responses? How would that affect their later recall of the negative pictures?”

The study appears in the January issue of Psychological Science.

Some of the material in this article is adapted from a news release issued by the Duke University Medical Center .

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Scientific Proof of Images in Memory Affirms Enhanced Vision Breakthrough

December 15th, 2008 by Admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

New scientific proof that the brain holds actual images in memory affirms the work of counselors and artists. This new discovery further supports the understanding that one can change one’s brain and vision to experience greater emotional freedom from unwanted or negative thoughts by simply adding unique visual memories of energy.

Researchers from Japan ‘s ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories announced that they developed new brain analysis technology, which can reconstruct the images inside a person’s mind and display them on a computer monitor.

At present, the system is only able to reproduce simple black-and-white images. Dr. Kang Cheng, a researcher from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, believes that improving the measurement accuracy will make it possible to reproduce images in color.

“These results are a breakthrough in terms of understanding brain activity,” says Dr. Cheng. “In as little as 10 years, advances in this field of research may make it possible to read a person’s thoughts with some degree of accuracy.”

ATR chief researcher Yukiyasu Kamitani says, “This technology can also be applied to senses other than vision. In the future, it may also become possible to read feelings and complicated emotional states.”

This further points to the understanding that the brain functioning that applies to vision also applies to emotion. Emotion is energy. When the brain learns to actually see more energy, it begins to decode emotions and feelings as energy, rather than replaying the experiences and feelings. Changing one’s perceptions, especially vision can be the key that the average person can use to unlock more emotional freedom and success.

In the human brain, emotions and perceptions are linked. Lower emotions, such as fear, anger, hurt, anxiety, etc. are part of the flight or fight response that is linked to perception.

Sixty percent of a normal person’s brain is dedicated to the perception of vision. Ninety percent of vision occurs in the brain as it decodes impressions of light received from the eyes. Through this same system memories of emotions, especially unresolved (unwanted) ones that are consciously or unconsciously associated with the people, places or things perceived can be restimulated. So, as a person goes through the day, an ongoing unconscious barrage of negative or unwanted emotions can be experienced without the cause being consciously recognized. A new unique practice of creating visual memories through art can bring relief.

The scientists analyzed changes in cerebral blood flow; they were able to reconstruct various images viewed by a person. Then using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine, the researchers first mapped the blood flow changes that occurred in the cerebral visual cortex as subjects viewed various images held in front of their eyes.


People were shown 400 random 10 x 10 pixel black-and-white images for a period of 12 seconds each. While the fMRI machine monitored the changes in brain activity, a computer crunched the data and learned to associate the various changes in brain activity with the different image designs.

Then, when the test subjects were shown a completely new set of images, including one of the letters N-E-U-R-O-N, the system was able to reconstruct and display what the people were viewing based solely on their brain activity.

This scientifically also validates previous understandings of psychotherapists and hypnotists who uncover visual images and emotions as their clients describe what they see and feel throughout an incident their memory.

Through a series of simple Visual Exercises /Experiences and also by looking at a works of Post Conceptual UnGraven Image art, which depicts the energies, the essences that surround us, always and now, anyone can easily create and accumulate the new transformative memories. For further information see The Art of Seeing The Divine.

The research results appear in the December 11 issue of US science journal Neuron.

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