Introduction I remember David Pent telling me how his father taught him to fill his heart with the Word before filling his stomach with food. I will never forget his smile, the joyous grip of his handshake, and how Scripture poured out of his mouth to water my often thirsty soul. He always had an uplifting Psalm to share with me at Church, and this he would do from heart.
Ronald this is terrific! I had never heard of the memory wheel. Until now we had used Memorize Academies linked story method for the books of the Bible, but you have opened up a whole new level of focus. I will share this with my homeschool connections who will certainly love it :)
Thank, glad to hear! I borrowed the idea of the Memory Wheel from Robert Fludd and Giordano Bruno, but slightly modified it for Scripture memorization. Oh really? Nice!
One can also use the Link Method in conjunction with the Memory Wheel. One can link all the books in the Bible on the first wheel as to not forget the order or to expand upon the wheel if more books are added in the future.
First of all, your Substack has been incredibly helpful and inspiring! Thank you.
I have what I’m sure is a too complicated question, but I’ll at least give it a shot! Ha
My primary memory tasks are poetry and scripture. I have used the memory palace with decent success, but I’ve had a hard time recalling word for word when returning to a passage after a few weeks of not practicing that specific section each day.
In the last two months, I’ve been using the first letter technique. That seems to help me get the precise words, but I’d like to integrate the staying power of the palace, which is so valuable.
Any advice on connecting whole lines to loci? Should I be selecting 2-3 key words per line, or do I need more loci?
Maybe this is where the number system comes in. I know you plan to expound that later.
Also, pumped to learn more about the memory wheel! Amazing.
Hey, glad you have been enjoying the newsletter. Thanks for reading! Excellent question. I plan to have a detailed post that covers how to memorize lines word-for-word but I can give a brief response now. By the way, I absolutely agree, the first letter method is helpful, but as you have mentioned, it doesn't have the staying power of mental imagery and loci.
In my opinion, poetry is much easier to memorize than Scripture because the lines tend to be shorter whereas one verse of Scripture can equal to two or three lines of poetry, so the question is how to encode one verse in one locus. I have tried both approaches, using multiple loci for 1 verse with a number system , and using 1 loci for 1 verse. I have decided to use 1 loci for 1 verse instead of spreading one verse over multiple loci.
The key to memorizing texts verbatim is understanding how to properly divide lines into smaller parts, how to use the link method, and understanding what parts of a line that need to be encoded with imagery. Instead of creating imagery for exact words, I try to create imagery to embody concepts. I think one mistake people tend to make is creating "too much" imagery. The mind already knows how to fill in blanks.
For example, "Hope is the thing with feathers" - Emily Dickenson
Line 1: Hope is the thing with feathers
Locus 1: Door.
I would choose two key words. "Hope" and "Feathers." I do not need to create imagery for "is,", "the", "thing" or "with". I try to make to "one image" instead of multiple images. For example, I see my friend "Hope" made of "feathers" bump into the door. She is no longer a human, but a thing, she actually "IS" a thing with feathers. Her face, head, arms, legs are nothing but feathers. "Hope is the thing with feathers." In that one image, I encoded, "is", "thing" "with" and "feathers." But the two dominant words were "Hope" and "feathers" I did not create "separate" images for each word but combined them.
That was somewhat easy, but lets take a longer line such as Colossians 1:4 - "since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints." I would take the key words, "heard", "faith" and "love." But the imagery that I would use would embody the concepts in the verse. I also play on words, heard sounds like "herd"
If the locus was a car. I can imagine that car was covered in sheep skin like a "herd" of sheep. Then out OF the car came the singer "FAITH" Hill. She came out "OF" the car. The movement of action: [Heard -> Of -> Faith]. Then I would use the person, "Faith" to perform the action of the last part of the verse. "love for all the saints." I could imagine that Faith is walking out of the location in order to help the saints in need and demonstrating love. [I wouldn't actually see her helping, but I have encoded her "intentions" to do so]. So, I essentially only saw two images: A car and Faith coming out of the car to show love towards all the saints.
Notice, that I did not create an image for "since", "we", "Christ Jesus", "have" etc. All I need to know is "Heard of your faith" and "love for all the saints" My mind can fill in the rest. This is where the first-letter method may be useful in conjunction with the imagery. But, let's say I had difficult remembering "since." I wouldn't create a new image for it, I would simply add to imagery already presented. "Since" sounds like "scent" so perhaps the car of herd skin has a repulsive "scent"
But, I am still keeping in mind the directionality of the verse. First, I smell the scent (since) THEN I see the skin [herd]. THEN out OF the car, came Faith, who THEN shows love towards all the saints. When I am rehearsing the imagery I use broken English. For example, it is more like "Apple, have, please?" Instead of "May I please have this apple?" When there is a simple division of language, one may see the "movement" or "division" of the line more easily. "Since > Heard > Faith > Love > Saints." [Simplified Version]
I view imagery as reminders. If I have a photo of my brother eating an ice-cream cone in Italy. That one photo can "bring" to my mind: "Oh yea, it was sunny, I remember a bird pooped on his shirt that day, and he lost his wallet in the train station at Rome" I may not "see" bird poop, Rome, a wallet, or a train station, but the image itself brought to mind other images. In the same manner, one does not need to encode "prepositions" or other words like "have", "is", etc., but key images can bring to mind other words if there is a logic to the progression of thought and a sense of directionality.
I could explain in more detail later because there are so many different scenarios, but hopefully that made sense, the key is to create images that embody entire phrases -- add to the depth of imagery for nuances instead of seeking to multiply imagery.
Love this! I am learning how to memorize chunks of information for the first time since Sunday school (all those years ago). I wrote an essay on the Oral Gospel and memory. I think you might enjoy it. It seems we are kindred spirits.
Thank you for this. After first reading I am confused, however. I have used Kevin Vost’s books about Memorizing the Faith, which uses a room diagram with several numbered locations and some image at each location to memorize one word at each. Your technique is far more complex. Have you posted a beginner’s walk-through of this? Will keep re-reading your post, however.
You’re welcome. Thanks for reading! In order to better understand this post I recommend that you read my lesson on how to build a memory palace and how to use the memory palace technique. This post is more how to structure palaces. I also recommend Remember It by Nelson Dellis
Ronald this is terrific! I had never heard of the memory wheel. Until now we had used Memorize Academies linked story method for the books of the Bible, but you have opened up a whole new level of focus. I will share this with my homeschool connections who will certainly love it :)
Thank, glad to hear! I borrowed the idea of the Memory Wheel from Robert Fludd and Giordano Bruno, but slightly modified it for Scripture memorization. Oh really? Nice!
One can also use the Link Method in conjunction with the Memory Wheel. One can link all the books in the Bible on the first wheel as to not forget the order or to expand upon the wheel if more books are added in the future.
First of all, your Substack has been incredibly helpful and inspiring! Thank you.
I have what I’m sure is a too complicated question, but I’ll at least give it a shot! Ha
My primary memory tasks are poetry and scripture. I have used the memory palace with decent success, but I’ve had a hard time recalling word for word when returning to a passage after a few weeks of not practicing that specific section each day.
In the last two months, I’ve been using the first letter technique. That seems to help me get the precise words, but I’d like to integrate the staying power of the palace, which is so valuable.
Any advice on connecting whole lines to loci? Should I be selecting 2-3 key words per line, or do I need more loci?
Maybe this is where the number system comes in. I know you plan to expound that later.
Also, pumped to learn more about the memory wheel! Amazing.
Hey, glad you have been enjoying the newsletter. Thanks for reading! Excellent question. I plan to have a detailed post that covers how to memorize lines word-for-word but I can give a brief response now. By the way, I absolutely agree, the first letter method is helpful, but as you have mentioned, it doesn't have the staying power of mental imagery and loci.
In my opinion, poetry is much easier to memorize than Scripture because the lines tend to be shorter whereas one verse of Scripture can equal to two or three lines of poetry, so the question is how to encode one verse in one locus. I have tried both approaches, using multiple loci for 1 verse with a number system , and using 1 loci for 1 verse. I have decided to use 1 loci for 1 verse instead of spreading one verse over multiple loci.
The key to memorizing texts verbatim is understanding how to properly divide lines into smaller parts, how to use the link method, and understanding what parts of a line that need to be encoded with imagery. Instead of creating imagery for exact words, I try to create imagery to embody concepts. I think one mistake people tend to make is creating "too much" imagery. The mind already knows how to fill in blanks.
For example, "Hope is the thing with feathers" - Emily Dickenson
Line 1: Hope is the thing with feathers
Locus 1: Door.
I would choose two key words. "Hope" and "Feathers." I do not need to create imagery for "is,", "the", "thing" or "with". I try to make to "one image" instead of multiple images. For example, I see my friend "Hope" made of "feathers" bump into the door. She is no longer a human, but a thing, she actually "IS" a thing with feathers. Her face, head, arms, legs are nothing but feathers. "Hope is the thing with feathers." In that one image, I encoded, "is", "thing" "with" and "feathers." But the two dominant words were "Hope" and "feathers" I did not create "separate" images for each word but combined them.
That was somewhat easy, but lets take a longer line such as Colossians 1:4 - "since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints." I would take the key words, "heard", "faith" and "love." But the imagery that I would use would embody the concepts in the verse. I also play on words, heard sounds like "herd"
If the locus was a car. I can imagine that car was covered in sheep skin like a "herd" of sheep. Then out OF the car came the singer "FAITH" Hill. She came out "OF" the car. The movement of action: [Heard -> Of -> Faith]. Then I would use the person, "Faith" to perform the action of the last part of the verse. "love for all the saints." I could imagine that Faith is walking out of the location in order to help the saints in need and demonstrating love. [I wouldn't actually see her helping, but I have encoded her "intentions" to do so]. So, I essentially only saw two images: A car and Faith coming out of the car to show love towards all the saints.
Notice, that I did not create an image for "since", "we", "Christ Jesus", "have" etc. All I need to know is "Heard of your faith" and "love for all the saints" My mind can fill in the rest. This is where the first-letter method may be useful in conjunction with the imagery. But, let's say I had difficult remembering "since." I wouldn't create a new image for it, I would simply add to imagery already presented. "Since" sounds like "scent" so perhaps the car of herd skin has a repulsive "scent"
But, I am still keeping in mind the directionality of the verse. First, I smell the scent (since) THEN I see the skin [herd]. THEN out OF the car, came Faith, who THEN shows love towards all the saints. When I am rehearsing the imagery I use broken English. For example, it is more like "Apple, have, please?" Instead of "May I please have this apple?" When there is a simple division of language, one may see the "movement" or "division" of the line more easily. "Since > Heard > Faith > Love > Saints." [Simplified Version]
I view imagery as reminders. If I have a photo of my brother eating an ice-cream cone in Italy. That one photo can "bring" to my mind: "Oh yea, it was sunny, I remember a bird pooped on his shirt that day, and he lost his wallet in the train station at Rome" I may not "see" bird poop, Rome, a wallet, or a train station, but the image itself brought to mind other images. In the same manner, one does not need to encode "prepositions" or other words like "have", "is", etc., but key images can bring to mind other words if there is a logic to the progression of thought and a sense of directionality.
I could explain in more detail later because there are so many different scenarios, but hopefully that made sense, the key is to create images that embody entire phrases -- add to the depth of imagery for nuances instead of seeking to multiply imagery.
This was so helpful! Thank you for such a thorough response. I'm excited to put this into action!
You’re welcome, anytime!
Love this! I am learning how to memorize chunks of information for the first time since Sunday school (all those years ago). I wrote an essay on the Oral Gospel and memory. I think you might enjoy it. It seems we are kindred spirits.
https://divinenature.substack.com/p/when-the-oral-gospel-reigned
Hey Alissa! Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed it. I will check out your essay now, thanks for sharing
Thank you for this. After first reading I am confused, however. I have used Kevin Vost’s books about Memorizing the Faith, which uses a room diagram with several numbered locations and some image at each location to memorize one word at each. Your technique is far more complex. Have you posted a beginner’s walk-through of this? Will keep re-reading your post, however.
You’re welcome. Thanks for reading! In order to better understand this post I recommend that you read my lesson on how to build a memory palace and how to use the memory palace technique. This post is more how to structure palaces. I also recommend Remember It by Nelson Dellis
Thank you so much! Will do this.