Visualization is not seeing. “When you sees something, the retina captures the image and transmits it to the brain, where the image is elaborated”, quoting JC Nash’s ETA Program. So your mind needs a proper time to understand what has been seen and puts it into the “right category” inside the mental data base. It’s a a sort of passive process, where you don’t even get consciousness of.

By the other way, Visualization plays a crucial role in Tracking. When you track, you have this precise image in your mind about what kind of signs you will run across into a certain scenario and with a particular medium. You kinda know what you expect for. We could quite say that you “visualize” in your mind prior the tracks, and the whole trail (trackline) too. Then you check the terrain for confirmable evidence. Working with your mind and not only with your eyes will make you a better observer first, second a good Tracker. When I was attending the Tactical Acuity Class in Virginia, JC Nash and Mike Hull often said “Guys, you have to think outside the box”, mainly referred to some exercises hold into the tracking pit.

That’s the precise reason you must consider what your mind tells you throughout visualization.