Seeing The ‘Unseen’

I recalled a very distinct memory of my childhood. It was second grade and we were all taking turns looking at a book. Each page was saturated with a pattern of dizzying shapes and colors. Now, I know these to be stereograms; a 2D image that can create the optical illusion of a 3D scene. As a kid, I picked up on this instantly - blur/adjust your vision ever so slightly and the 3D image appears. But I remember feeling frustrated that I couldn’t share in the excitement with my friends. My classmates could only detect the 2D image that was in front of them and not the 3D alligator leaping off the page! This was a defining moment for me to learn that not everyone will see and experience things the same way you will. And now as an adult, it’s a great analogy of seeing the “unseen”. To blur the bounds of reality. To acquire a new perspective (I can’t help but think of a master artist stepping back from their work, making a frame with their fingers and obscuring their vision). To gain a sense of clarity beyond what’s directly in front of you.