I wanted to put out an effort to explain in my own words how I visualize things in my mind, in an attempt to let non-aphants get an idea of how my imagination works.

I assume when non-aphants visualize in their minds, they literally see the object as if they were actually looking at the object itself. In this post, when I want to reference this, I will use the term "literal visualization."

Literal visualization, in my guess, is indistinguishable from reality, in the sense that if you didn't know you were imagining an object on a table in front of you, you'd think it was real. But my way of imagining is sort of just "knowing" what the object looks like and going off of that. When I want to reference this, I'll use the term "figurative visualization."

When I say "just knowing what the object looks like" it may be quite misleading. You probably have the idea that I'm only going off descriptions of objects, like my thoughts are purely based on words and no pictures are involved. I wouldn't say that there's absolutely no form of vision when I recall memories or imagine an apple.

I'd describe it as a fake vision. Lets think of it like this: Imagine a current of air that can be in any shape, like perhaps the shape of an apple. Literal visualizers would be able to take lets say fine glitter and pour it into the wind current and then see the shape of the apple, but aphants, assuming you're the same as me, can only get a feel for the shape of the apple.

Now figurative visualization also adds in aspects like color, but of course I'm only getting a feel for this detail. It's like knowing how to ride a bike. You can't see the balance or the top speed you're comfortable riding, but you sort of feel it. This is similar to how figurative visualization is felt.

Hopefully I've aided in your understanding of this. I completely understand how difficult this must be to grasp what its like to have a sort of figurative imagination. Please comment down below your thoughts and if you'd like to add any descriptions that might help, please do.