Vision (spirituality)

A vision is a profound experience that occurs during a dream, a trance, or a state of religious ecstasy. These experiences often involve a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation. A revelation is the act of revealing a secret or a divine truth. While visions are often compared to dreams, they generally possess much more clarity. Traditionally, visions carry fewer psychological connotations than standard dreams do. Many spiritual traditions use visions as a way to explore human nature and the reality of the world. Often, the act of prophecy is closely linked to these visionary experiences.

Scholars and mystics have identified different ways that visions occur. Evelyn Underhill categorized these experiences into three distinct types. The first type is the intellectual vision. The Catholic dictionary describes this as a form of supernatural knowledge. In this state, the mind receives an extraordinary grasp of a revealed truth. This happens without using the physical senses to observe anything. Mystics often describe these intellectual visions as intuitions that leave a very deep impression on the person.

The second type is the imaginary vision. Saint Teresa of Avila described this in her work, *The Interior Castle*. In an imaginary vision, the person does not see or hear anything with their physical senses. However, the mind receives the same impression that would come from seeing a real object. Niels Christian Hvidt suggested these visions come through the human psyche. He believed they are made of things a soul has gained through contact with reality.

The third type is the corporeal vision. This is a supernatural manifestation that appears to the eyes of the body. This can happen in two specific ways. First, a figure may be physically present and strike the retina to create the vision. Second, a superior agent might directly modify the visual organ. This produces a sensation in the person that is equivalent to seeing an external object. Underhill suggested that these corporeal visions might be an uncontrolled externalization of inward thoughts or memories.

History provides many examples of visions dating back to ancient times. In the Book of Jeremiah, the prophet saw an almond tree branch and a boiling pot. The prophet Isaiah had a vision predicting the destruction of the first temple and the siege of Jerusalem. During the 6th century BC, Ezekiel reported a vision of God. The Book of Daniel contains a vision of a heavenly figure in the 6th or 2nd century BC.

These early accounts helped shape the religious foundations of many cultures.

As time passed, visions continued to influence major historical figures and movements. In the 1st century, Paul the Apostle experienced a vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus. In 312 AD, Constantine reported seeing a sign of Christ. During the 7th century, Saint Fursey saw angelic figures that led him through heaven and hell. In the 1740s, Emanuel Swedenborg experienced visions that became the basis for a new doctrine. Even scientific thinkers were affected, such as René Descartes, who had a series of dreams in 1619.

Some visions are notable for how well they were recorded by others. In 1829, three men named Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris claimed a significant experience. They stated an angel showed them the golden plates of the Book of Mormon. They also claimed to hear a voice from heaven. With over 150 documented statements, this is considered the most well-documented vision in history. Other figures, like Ramakrishna in the 19th century, reported seeing many different religious figures in their visions.

Visions connect to many different fields of human thought and study. They can relate to the study of the afterlife, as seen in the 2nd-century accounts of Perpetua and Felicity. They can also intersect with science, as seen in the life of Blaise Pascal. In 1654, Pascal had a vision that renewed his spiritual commitment. Finally, visions can impact social movements. In 1831, Nat Turner interpreted a solar eclipse as a sign for a rebellion. These diverse connections show how visions function as a lens for understanding the world.