Free Choices and Illusions by Eldon Taylor

senses can trick you in this way, what can you really trust? Once
    you have understood how easily you can be tricked into thinking
    something that you can see with your own eyes is just not true,
    then it becomes more conceivable that many other things that you
    hold to be true may in fact not be so—and your journey to finding
    yourself can actually begin. A word of caution, though, as William
    James once said: “A great many people think they are thinking
    when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.”
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    CHOICES AND ILLUSIONS
    So, let’s start with some visual illusions. We often see what is
    not there and often fail to see what is. Further, we are very suggestible and can easily see what is suggested. let’s take some common
    images for purposes of illustration and turn this idea into experi-
    ence. The following is commonly circulated on the Internet:

    Figure 3
    Art by Antonio Zamora, derived from a design by A. Kitaoka
    Reprinted with permission.
    (For links to this and many other illusions that work better in color on a computer screen, go to www.eldontaylor.com/choicesandillusions .)
    Stare a moment at the image in Figure 3, and you will find that
    the gears seem to move. Change your gaze from center to corners,
    and different gears seem to move or move more rapidly. Of course,
    in reality nothing moves at all.
    The next picture should be looked at in a special way. It appears
    on a page by itself for this reason. When you turn the page, look
    only at the page. Stare at the center three dots. Concentrate on
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    What We perceive and Fail to perceive
    those dots for one minute. Stare only at the dots, and after that
    minute, turn and look at a blank wall. Gaze at the wall for approximately 45 seconds. Allow yourself to relax your focus, but keep your gaze on the same space on the wall, even if you think that nothing
    is going to happen. Something unique will happen, and you should
    know that this can be done with any number of pictures. What
    you will see will amaze you, even startle you.
    Turn the page, and follow these instructions. Enjoy!
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    CHOICES AND ILLUSIONS

    Figure 4
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    What We perceive and Fail to perceive
    Okay, you just saw a dove soar upward.
    The illusion on the next page was chosen to demonstrate how
    emotions can be tangled with illusions. Everyone knows that a
    thirsty person in the desert can see a mirage (the illusion of an
    oasis or simply water) and lose rational abilities in favor of desperate emotions. The next illusion is an emotion-laden illusion. It
    will evoke a strong emotional response in accordance with a per-
    sonal belief system. The illusion may please, it may inspire, it may anger—but the point in this context is clear: a simple illusion can evoke strong emotional reactions.
    Once again, follow the instructions. Stare this time at the cen-
    ter four dots. Concentrate on those dots for one minute. Stare only at the dots, and after that minute, turn and look at a blank wall.
    Just gaze at the wall for approximately 45 seconds. Allow yourself
    to relax your focus, but keep your gaze on the same space on the
    wall, even if you think nothing is going to happen
    Turn the page and follow these instructions.
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    CHOICES AND ILLUSIONS

    Figure 5
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    What We perceive and Fail to perceive
    The next picture illustrates our abilities to see and not to see,
    or to see differently. This is the rather famous witch and maiden
    illusion. At first glance, you will see either a witch or a beautiful young maiden. You are typically unable to see both at the same
    time—at least with conscious recognition. Shift your focus slightly, and the image