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Everything you need to know about manifesting and interacting with your tulpa
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Ever wonder what it might be like if your imaginary friend was real? “Tulpas” originate in Tibetan Buddhism, and are thought to be independent, sentient beings that originate from your own mind. Many believe that tulpas can talk and act on their own, and exist as long-lasting and friendly companions. We’ll show you how to create, visualize, and interact with your very own tulpa. The only limit is your imagination!
Things You Should Know
- Start by planning your tulpa’s appearance and personality. Sketch a picture of them or create a bulleted list of their physical and emotional traits, like hair or eye color.
- Close your eyes and visualize your tulpa in your imagination, picturing as much detail as possible. Imagine what your tulpa smells or feels like to make it more vivid.
- Imagine explaining the objects in your room to your tulpa to make it feel more real. Then, bring your tulpa on walks or interact with it regularly to fully realize it.
Steps
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Consider if creating a tulpa is right for you. Since tulpas are commonly described as their own sentient beings, some see them as permanent or independent creations. [1] X Research source This means that, depending on how attached you get to your tulpa, you may not be able to dismiss them once they’re created, so be confident that you want to manifest a tulpa before you begin.- In addition, some feel that dismissing a tulpa is comparable to abandoning a friend or family member, since they view tulpas as self-aware beings.
- Visit sites like Tulpa.info or watch YouTube videos about “tulpamancers” (people who have tulpas) to learn more about the practice. There are as many ways to have and interact with a tulpa as there are people!
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Make your tulpa from scratch or base it on a character. To begin, decide whether you want to make an entirely new tulpa by mixing and matching aspects of its appearance or personality, or whether you want to manifest a character that already exists, like from a movie or a book. [2] X Research source- It’s sometimes easier to create a tulpa based off of a character, but the tulpa you create often deviates from that character in some ways—they might have a slightly different voice or appearance.
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Sketch out your tulpa’s appearance to help you visualize them. If you’re creating a tulpa from scratch, it’s often easier to imagine and visualize them if you have a visual aid like a sketch or another image. Sit down and think about what you want your tulpa to look like, getting as specific as possible. [3] X Research source Either make a loose sketch , or simply a bulleted list of their physical features.- If you have trouble sketching or visualizing, use an avatar creation tool like Canva or even a videogame character creator to envision your tulpa.
- Your tulpa doesn’t have to be a humanoid—they can be an animal, a plant, even a sentient object.
- Some people warn against creating tulpas based on real people, as this might be seen as disrespectful to that person or an invasion of their privacy as an individual.
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Describe your tulpa’s personality in writing. List as many personality traits you want your tulpa to have. Start with broad qualities, like “friendly” or “intelligent,” then get more specific, like, “enjoys dancing.” You don’t have to fully-realize your tulpa’s personality just yet. Many people with tulpas say that their tulpa evolved or “chose” their own personality as they spent more time thinking about them. [4] X Research source- Also ask yourself: What does my tulpa want? What motivates them? Giving your tulpa wants and needs makes it easier to think of them as their own being.
- In many ways, creating a tulpa is a lot like creating a fictional character , just that many people believe tulpas are much more real.
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Practice visualizing your tulpa’s form. Sit down and close your eyes, or begin to meditate . As you do, imagine your tulpa in your head; look at them from every possible angle you can think of. Try to visualize every detail of their appearance. Be patient, and take time visualizing them—this process can take up to a few hours. [5] X Research source Envision them in your mind until you feel comfortable and confident that you can imagine or remember their appearance later.- If you’re having trouble, improve your imagination by practicing visualizing simpler objects first, like a wooden chair, then move on to the tulpa once you feel more confident.
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Imagine touching your tulpa. This is where your tulpa starts to really manifest. Many people call this stage “forcing,” as in forcing your tulpa into being. [6] X Research source Imagine feeling the texture of their hair or their clothes, or imagine shaking their hand. Focus on one texture at a time, and spend 10-15 minutes on each, until you start to think of your tulpa as a physical presence.- If it helps, touch your own hair or the fabric of your clothes while envisioning your tulpa’s textures to more completely imagine their physical form.
- Also, if you feel comfortable, imagine what your tulpa smells like. Having a trademark scent to associate them with can boost your imaginative power.
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Visualize your tulpa's movements. Imagine how your tulpa moves and walks. Imagine them walking around your room, or doing a dance. [7] X Research source Think about the gestures they use when they talk or emote—how do they move their hands when they’re happy or sad? Work on their expressions last. Try to imagine a conversation with them, and think about what their reactions and facial expressions would be.- Always remember, each of these steps take time! Try not to rush it, and enjoy the creation process.
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Imagine your tulpa in a particular setting. Some people find it easier to visualize their tulpa in a mental environment, where the tulpa can interact with its surroundings. These environments are called “wonderlands.” [8] X Research source Think of a setting where your tulpa is most comfortable—for example, if your tulpa is an animal they might be comfortable in a forest. Imagine your tulpa moving about this place, jumping and sitting. Then imagine yourself in that place, too, interacting with your tulpa.- Your wonderland is also a handy place to “leave” your tulpa if you get tired while creating it. Visit the mental wonderland later to resume the process.
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Start a basic conversation with your tulpa. The next step to creating your tulpa is giving them a voice of their own! Ask them questions, and imagine them answering in their own voice while moving their mouth, also known as “parroting.” [9] X Research source Ask them what the weather’s like, or have them ask you how your day was. Talk to the them in your mind or out loud.- It might feel a little awkward at first, but stick with it! Your tulpa might talk in your own voice at first, and you’ll probably have to think up their responses for them, but eventually you might find that their voice will become distinct and you won’t have to think as hard about their words.
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Introduce your tulpa to the objects in your room. Now begin showing your tulpa the world around you. This is known as “narration,” and helps you envision your tulpa’s personality and how they react to stimuli, as a person does. To start, simply introduce your tulpa to objects in your room, explaining what they are and what they do, as though you were teaching a child. [10] X Research source- As you progress and start to think of your tulpa as a more independent being, imagine going on adventures with your tulpa in your wonderland. This helps you bond and form new experiences with them while you’re still manifesting them.
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Visualize your tulpa throughout the day to make them feel more real. Go for a walk and have your tulpa accompany you. Or, have them help you with your chores or homework. Occasionally, hold your tulpa’s hand, hug them, or carry them on your shoulders. [11] X Research source This helps you move your tulpa from your mind and into the real world.- Also, practice envisioning your tulpa with your eyes open, which is known as “imposition,” or “imposing” your tulpa into the real world.
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Keep interacting with your tulpa until it gets easier. Many believe that with practice and patience, you’ll reach a point where you don’t have to “puppet” your tulpa, and they’ll act on their own, instead, or even become sentient. [12] X Research source Keep regularly imagining your tulpa as you go about your day, until you don’t have to think about how or why they would do something, and instead they just do it!- Also, invite your tulpa into your memories by visualizing a door, and letting your tulpa walk through that door into a specific memory. This way, they get to know more about you, and your interactions will be more personal.
- Once your tulpa starts saying or doing things you might not expect them to, you’ve fully formed your tulpa! They’ll keep changing and evolving as time goes on, though, just like you do.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I create a non-human tulpa?Community AnswerYes, you can create a tulpa in any kind of form.
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QuestionCan anyone else see my Tulpa?Jasper StuartCommunity AnswerNot unless you share a brain with them. However, if you want them to be able to socialize with people, you can proxy for them online or find friends in real life who have tulpas or are open to them.
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QuestionHow can a tulpa help me in my daily life?Community AnswerYou can ask it for advice, or you can just talk to it (in your head) when you feel like talking.
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Tips
- Pick a form for your tulpa you're comfortable imagining for long periods of time, because as they settle they might be harder to change. Also, some people believe a tulpa can change their own form as they become more fully realized.Thanks
- Don’t worry if you suddenly have trouble visualizing your tulpa, or you go long periods without interacting with them. Your tulpa will come back if and when they’re ready, or when your mind wants them to.Thanks
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Warnings
- Creating a tulpa may have unexpected mental effects if you have a history of obsessive tendencies or existing mental disorders. [13] X Research source Talk to a therapist before you try to create a tulpa to explore how it might affect you.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psych-unseen/202302/enacted-identities-multiplicity-plurality-and-tulpamancy
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIJN11fAXi0&t=297s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auC4FzeJbD0&t=134s
- ↑ https://www.tulpa.info/creating-a-tulpa/
- ↑ https://tulpanomicon.guide/ephemeral-five-steps.html
- ↑ https://www.tulpa.info/creating-a-tulpa/
- ↑ https://tulpanomicon.guide/ephemeral-five-steps.html
- ↑ https://tulpanomicon.guide/ephemeral-five-steps.html
- ↑ https://tulpanomicon.guide/ephemeral-five-steps.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auC4FzeJbD0&t=163s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auC4FzeJbD0&t=191s
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psych-unseen/202302/enacted-identities-multiplicity-plurality-and-tulpamancy
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/culture-mind-and-brain/201604/daring-hear-voices
About This Article
Article Summary
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Tulpas are independent imaginary people that occupy your brain, similar to imaginary friends, and with enough work, you can create your own. To begin creating your tulpa, close your eyes and begin to visualize how they look. Tulpas tend to look like people, but it is possible to make your tulpa look any way you want. Try to picture their appearance from every angle and smaller details such as their face and hair. Then, try to touch your tulpa as you imagine them. See what their hair and clothes feel like. Also, try to visualize how your tulpa moves. Imagine them walking, using different expressions, and making gestures. This will all help to build your tulpa into a full being. For more ideas on creating a tulpa, such as how to check if your tulpa is sentient, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I think this is a great guide, and if read thoroughly, you can have a great understanding and sense of what you can do. I think it's very radical that you can do such things with your own mind. The best is to just believe. Believe it is there, and it will." ..." more
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"I think this is a great guide, and if read thoroughly, you can have a great understanding and sense of what you can do. I think it's very radical that you can do such things with your own mind. The best is to just believe. Believe it is there, and it will."
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"Thanks for all the suggestions! I'd already drawn my tulpa before ever reading about that. Maybe a natural result of being an artist, though I hadn't created any art in years. Drawing him was like a compulsion, I HAD to do it."
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"Actually, I succeeded a while ago in making a fully fleshed out imaginary friend, but I hopped onto this article and took it to a tulpa level within a few days! The possession mention was quite interesting as well."
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"The article is pretty good, I think I can create a tulpa. But perhaps the problem arises that you cannot come up with an image for her/him. If you are a creative person, then this is also a problem."
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"This was actually helpful, and the Q&A helped me to realize that, so far, I'm only in the "imaginary friend" stage so far. I'm taking a different path, and it's taking time. This helped, though."
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