So, how good are you are discerning fact from fiction? Take a look at the below checkerboard, and ask, “Which square is darker? Square A or square B?
The truth is, they’re both the same shade of gray.
Here’s the proof. Compare each square to the shade of the uniform long rectangle connecting them both, and notice the shades are exactly the same.
For more explanation, go to “Checkershadow illusion.”
This illusion fascinates me because it illustrates so clearly that you cannot believe what the eyes tell you.
In Christian Science, we learn that the material senses report all kinds of illusions, including the lie of disease on the body. Just as square B above looks lighter than square A, the eye may report, “Look there is a disease on the body that didn’t use to be there.” But it’s all an illusion, a lie. Material conditions are so often not what they appear to be at all. So, through spiritual reasoning and logic, the truth is figured out, and the picture is seen correctly.
When I initially saw the top diagram above, I had to cup my eye and not see all the surround of square B to see what shade it really was. A friend who sent this to me, said he electronically cut the square out and compared the two. Point being, the surround of each square is different which misleads the eye.
So, same with the body, if we’ve “surrounded” our body with all kinds of false beliefs like, “I’m prone to sickness. I caught a contagious disease. I’m helpless.” and so on, this surround of harmful mentality misleads thought and causes it to see the body as sick when it is not. The surround of mortal mind needs to be eliminated so the body can be seen in its proper light–as permanently healthy just the way God made us to begin with. And keeps us!
Oh my gosh!
This is so cool.
What a great illustration.
Thanks.
Smiles to you.
I was required, for my art major in college, to take a psychology class called “Sensation and Perception”. We learned about the many sensory illusions such as this one; not only visual but auditory, physical feeling, taste, and smell as well. It really stuck with me and has helped me understand the way mortal mind and matter seem to attempt to fool us.
The principle of cast shadows and their effect on colors in painting, was also helpful and came to mind in seeing this checkerboard illusion. When a shadow obscures the light it alters the eye’s perception of the color affected by it. Similarly any material illusion that makes us think that we’re separated from the light of Love, or Christ, Truth seems to darken our experience until we get rid of the shadow and once more behold our “true colors” as the perfect child of the perfect God. I like to remember that we’re never under a shadow, but always under God’s protective care.
Thanks Evan for all the enlightenment you share with us each day!!!!