Feeling awkward

[Tigerdog]

Okay, I have newly registered, and I'm Tigerdog (obviously). I've looked at the Dæmon Page and this forum for a while, but never spoken ...uh, typed.

I've "known" (?) my dæmon on and off since July. I've had long periods of time not visualizing him (though I do talk to him naturally without really realising) and he doesn't have a name.

I have a few questions. I think things similar to this have been asked before, but I suppose I'm asking to make me feel better. I hope you don't mind my relentless rambling.

Anyway, whenever I'm visualising him, it feels very ...forced. Like I'm just making it all up. Talking feels very awkward when I'm visualising him, while when I talk to him without visualising it feels much more natural.

I know that Okibi writes about the making-it-up thing in the FAQ on her site, but I'm wondering ...if I want to get better at talking to while visualising my dæmon with ease, should I spend time not projecting him and only talking to him (so that when I visualise him, talking will come naturally?), or just do what I'm doing now (awkwardly visualising while talking) and it'll get better with time?

Or does it not matter?

Okay, I think I'm making too big a deal out of this. -feels stupid- Sorry for going on and on as I tend to do.

-nervously presses Post button-

[Spiral Sun]

Hello! Welcome!!! I'm new here too & My dæmon is Pheo *Points to Avantar*
I too have known my dæmon since July, but I tried really hard to visualise him. To me it really just takes practice, because 'practice makes perfect' I found visualising him easier than talking, so I just practiced both as much as I could. It is hard to visualise when you're really concentrating, so you kinda forget for a little while, so that slowed me down. Visualising probably feels forced because of a lack of practice and belief. I used to find it forced too, but after joining the forum and being able to talk to other people about their dæmons really helps, because then my dæmon is on my mind a lot and slowly that forced feeling dissapeared. Now he's sitting on the floor smelling the rug (I have no idea why!) But I know he's there, but I'm not thinking about it. You don't have to picture every detail, just sensing him behind you is enough.
When I do talk to Pheo I'm not always looking at him (people would think I'm strange ;D) so whilst still knowing he's behind me I can talk at the same time. You're probably finding the whole talking visualisation hard, but once again it comes down to practice So if you do want to get better at it I suggest start with kinda sensing him behind you & talk to him, then you are visualising him, but not seeing him. Then slowly move to seeing him and talking at the same time, try practicing for a while each day & it'll get easier. Which sounds like what you're doing.
I hope this long explanation will help, I like to explain things with a lot of detail, which ends up making it hard to understand ^-^; I'm sure other people around here have diffenent/better ways of doing things to help, so don't take my advice as 100 percent true, I made it up as I went a long with Pheo so since this is my way of doing things it might not be the most efficient.
I hope you find a good name for your dæmon soon!

[Cho]

Relax! I went through the same thing! and I'm sure others in this forum have too. Just envision him whenever you feel comfortable and talk to him as often as you can, but don't force it. The more you do it, the more naturally it'll come for you until it's almost second nature. My problem was never the envisioning part, but the conversing part. I always felt like I was crazy whenever I spoke to him (in my head of course). I even gave up on the idea of daemons for a while, and then I came across Okibi's site again and there hei was, curled up on the floor next to my feet, and though it was still difficult, it just got easier and easier. Forgive me for rambling.....I hoped some of it helped.......

[Jafizzle]

We all feel a little green on the first day. Except me.

But, we cant all be me can we?

Welcome.

[Annie]

Hello and welcome. I'm Hannah and my daemon is Rhokath (Rho for short)

I'd say to just relax and visualize him as the first animal that pops to mind. Even if it's something really weird like a slug. That's what I did when I first met Rho. I first saw him as a fuzzy, blue critter. It was werid, but it felt natural, so I went with it.

Er....hope I help. I'd say what they said sounds pretty good too, but if their plan doesn't work for some reason, mine might. *shrug* =)

[StephXZed]

For me it's just 'feelings' of where he is, and he'll 'feel' like a cat or 'feel' like a weasel. It helps to draw a picture of what you can imagine your daemon to be like, chances are it will be pretty close.

Welcome to the Forum, BTW!

[Tyrannus et Callida]

That sort-of 'forced' feeling came to me when I first went about visualizing Sy, but then I realized, "Wait a sec. This is just simple. I've done it before without even meaning to."

Afterwards, it never felt forced again.

Spend time talking with your dæmon, and then you'll eventually get a feel for his presence. Eventually, you won't have to think twice about where he is or anything, because you'll know.