Apologies if I've posted this in the wrong section or if it's a common topic. Between the ages of 18 and 26, I've noticed a significant shift in how I perceive the world. Initially, I began experiencing visual snow, which gradually evolved into vibrant, colorful auras. Now, even in the dark, I see dense, colorful fields everywhere, particularly intensified during meditation or dissociation, where the entire room seems to glow with bright colors and auras.While these experiences can be intense and fascinating, they also trigger anxiety, especially in crowded environments like lectures, where grounding myself becomes challenging. This transformation coincided with my exploration of spirituality. I'm eager to integrate this new perspective into my life and reduce associated anxiety.Moreover, I've become acutely aware of how my emotions influence others, a newfound sensitivity likely stemming from meditation. However, this heightened awareness sometimes leads to overthinking, further complicating my ability to ground myself in social situations.I'm seeking support and information on experiences linked to spiritual growth and meditation. This journey has been transformative, almost requiring me to relearn social interactions. I'm determined to rebuild my confidence and manage the anxiety that accompanies these symptoms.Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

A similar thing has happened to me with developing visual snow and visual auras. For me personally, I've never been super tripped up by it, so it's never really been a problem. My advice to you would be to learn some techniques that help tranquilize your mind (to help with the anxiety), and to look into anxiety itself as a sensation thats occuring and try to deconstruct that.

When I was going through a period of meditation-related visual disturbances such as freeze-frames, glitches and jitters, I went to see an optometrist. If you haven't done so already, I would recommend it. In my case, there was nothing wrong. It's good to be sure about these things.

The visual disturbances went away but I have an ongoing experience that might be considered parallel to what you describe. I experience warmth and energy flows in parts of my body which are intensified by meditation or (oddly) moments of insight. It has been happening to me for years. I used to worry about it. Now I just consider it part of my sensory environment. Modes of experience can be broader than the standard issue package for meditators and that seems to be no big deal. I think of mine like a ten-cent superpower.

​​​​​​​m

Interesting. I am interested in why certain people develop these kinds of visual experiences. I can't see auras but I certainly feel them. I can feel when I walk through a field full of fairies but I never could see them. I do have poor eyesight though

Are you interested in doing some meditation? Maybe starting a log? Have you read Mastering the core teachings of the buddha?

Thanks the the responses, I do plan to see the optomistrist as it cant hurt. It is refreshing to see that some people have expereinced simimlar phenonemon. 

I can't say I have had visual changes to the degree you're describing, but I have had it to a lesser degree.

For instance just after an awakening experience I had 2018, I experienced a big shift for the first week or so. Things were just intensely louminous and deep and rich and contrast-y. Like I could just stand and look at the towels in my bathroom and be amazed at the detail.

I have also been able to see auras and other visual distortions before that time if I practiced more intensely, but it was always just during or just after the practice.

Then there was this "life coach" I went to see when I was younger, I put that in quotation because he was really more of a teacher. When we sat and talked he would have this deep purple aura around him. I also remember walking outside with him at one point and my mind would just go completely silent. The guy had some shakti for sure.

Similar how? In what way? as described or as defined? is your visual snow the same? what is a visual aura? is it similar in what way? how would you know?
Just asking,
~D

Could you describe these freeze-frames, glitches and jitters?
I've not heard of such things before, or perhaps without definition, I lack comparison.
Thanks
​​​​​​​~D

hey
you can't say, based off what exactly? 
you had "it" to a lesser degree? how can you say?

intensely louminous and deep and rich and contrast-y.
ummm ok, what does that mean?

what auras? what other distortions
what is intensely mean?

ummm, ok,
Thanks,
​​​​​​​~D

This thread seems like an echo chamber of vague, nondescribed phenominon.
Of which have happened as may be or not. things definenntly happen, as we all can agree during different times to different people.
​​​​​​​keep on keeping on ya'll
~D

I had to do some research to educate myself a bit more regarding "Visual Perception Changes". I thought that I was up to date on information but scratched my wiki hole and learned better.
Visual Snow-

• Visual snow: dynamic, continuous, tiny dots observed across the entire visual field at any time of the day, regardless of lighting conditions, persisting for more than three months.
  • The dots are usually black/gray on a white background and gray/white on a black background; however, they can also be transparent, white flashing, or colored.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_snow_syndrome
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-eye_hallucination#Level_1:_Visual_noise
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphene

freeze-frames, glitches and jitters-

i. Palinopsia. At least 1 of the following: afterimages or trailing of moving objects.

• ii. Enhanced entoptic phenomena. At least 1 of the following: excessive floaters in both eyes, excessive blue field entoptic phenomenon, self-light of the eye (phosphenes), or spontaneous photopsia.
• iii. Photophobia.
• iv. Nyctalopia; impaired night vision.

Auras???
Without further explanation I can only guess that the above links might describe some/multiple aspects? Please help me understand better If you can.


Personal experiences-
I've had pretty much all the above described visual experiences at one time or another (excluding -impaired night vision.)
I have had additional permenant visual changes that I regard as very positive. - Framework Visual
I am sometimes overly sensitive to light compared to the past, sunglasses fixes it.

If anyone wishes to discuss in more detail, I would be happy to.
Thanks,
~D


PS - google search --- site:www.dharmaoverground.org vision visual

Welcome!
Visual shifts happen here-
https://www.mctb.org/mctb2/table-of-contents/part-iv-insight/30-the-progress-of-insight/4-the-arising-and-passing-away/
This happens next
https://www.mctb.org/mctb2/table-of-contents/part-iv-insight/30-the-progress-of-insight/6-fear/
Good Luck,
~D

Interesting topic. This is not really advice or answering the question in any way, and I'm not sure what these visual phenomena have to do with meditation though I wouldn't be surprised if there was a correlation of some kind. Visual snow is also associated with HPPD (from psychedelic usage).
I'm curious if other meditators who have not used psychedelics have experienced this phenemona and can pinpoint when it began and why?

Side note, as sometimes things that are visual are most easily described visually - I recently had some film photography developed and was intrigued by the static/snow that is present in the film scans, it looks similar to what I would describe as 'visual snow' that I see normally. I wonder if there is some scientific explanation for the static/snow in analog film - what is it? why does it show up in analog film and not digital film?

<img alt="" src="/documents/10128/0/Screenshot+2024-04-15+at+2.48.31%E2%80%AFPM.png/08dec25f-e6a6-c5b9-1e39-db14e17505b3?t=1713218312718&amp;imagePreview=1" /><br />&nbsp;

To me, an aura is like a glowing outline outside the body of a person or object. Hope that helps.

It's known as film grain. I think it's an effect of the development process. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_grain

Thanks! I should have known that.  So it sounds like it is a chemical process related to the dispersion of certain elements within the film negative, which develop into slightly different hues depending on the particle.  

After reading that, here's a probably half baked thought that might be totally wrong but I'll throw it out there to be rejected just for the sake of argument:

What if 'visual snow' is something that everyone sees, but most people just filter it out subconsciously, and by prying off the outer guardrails of how we normally perceive things (whether by meditation, psychedelics, or some other way) this snow effect no longer becomes filtered out?

Ok, standard new age definition. Do you see an aura in the dark like the OP's description? Did you ever play with it? What did ya learn? Did colors represent any meaningful characteristics?
I've always been curious since my ex had a one time experience.
Thanks,
~D

No, nothing in the dark really. I would only see auras when I would do open eyed concentration practice (I guess I was sort of playing with it, it was a long time ago now though, I don't remember entirely), or like I said with the life coach, which I would also do concentration practices with.