That's very interesting. What I read about aphantasia helps me, even though I visualize. I try to construct memory palaces and much of that experience for me, sounds like what you are describing instead of seeing a picture. I went from tracing over things mentally, in order to form an image, to being able to do that without tracing over it, like the point when you are able to ride on a bicycle. Both are useful for exercising memory, for me. I came here today because something like that was the topic in email from this place today.
I hope not replying twice. Thanks everyone. The visualizing the invisible article is interesting. After asking around the internet, the question I’m left with, is: how is it decided that Aphantasia is a static condition one is born with, vs a difference in experiences one has since birth? I have done visualization exercises, to improve my visualization for a long time. Mainly visual visualization. I practice with my eyes open, so it’s clear what I am seeing and what I am imagining. I have no stake in either view of what visualization is, but I often read artists lamenting their aphantasia, and since people say “see”, I wish they could hear that it’s not seeing (and that I’m not expressing an opinion either way).
I think there is confusion about what visualizing is. For example, I have practiced visualizing with my eyes open for a long time. I see through my eyes, but I don't imagine through my eyes. Hallucination appears as if you were seeing something through your eyes. Also, people learn to visualize in general, I think. If your parents referred to imagined things when you were a young child, that would be practicing visualization. If your parents didn't do that, then you are less likely to practice and develop a skill of visualizing. Your comment and other people's comments seem to me like people think they will visualize through their eyes. That isn't how it works, for me, or the people who have been doing visualization exercises for thousands of years.
I might be the worst person to answer, since I don't think I have Aphantasia, but then my reasons could mean I do. I have been doing visualization exercise for over 40 years, sporadically. Since I've never heard anyone describe what they mean by "see" or "visualize", my impression is that some people are expecting something different than what happens when I or other people "visualize". My exercises are essentially just trying to visualize, which doesn't mean I "see" through my eyes when I visualize, or "feel" through my skin, or "hear" through my ears. Drawing is visualizing. Describing shapes is visualizing. But, since reading about Aphantasia, it occurred to me that the reason why managers reword things I say and people at work often don't understand what I'm talking about might be because I refer to things that must be "visualized". Those managers say they "are visual", meaning they have trouble visualizing so they need a visual aide. Visualization exercises are something people have done for a very long time, so at least people who visualize see it as a skill that one develops through practice. I've seen several youtube videos where artists who think they "have" Aphantasia go on to demonstrate themselves visualizing, apparently not realizing that they are visualizing. An example is titled "Drawing WITHOUT Imagination - When You Can't Visualize ANYTHING", I don't know if it's ok to post links here.