Is there a word to identify the apparently subconcious desire to see “things” in the shapes formed by clouds . . . and I don’t mean actual objects such as birds, airplanes, skydivers, skyscrapers, treetops mountain tops, alien motherships, etc.? Clouds aren’t the only places were things are “seen” (the Virgin Mary’s appearance in a grilled cheese is another example, although I don’t want to limit this to Marian apparitions). I ask this because it woud seem to me that such word could then be applied to folks who look at siutations and “see” things that simply aren’t there or that are merely resemble what they think they see.
I could be wrong, but I’ve always thought the word simulacra was used in that sense.
The request was for a word for the desire to see not the image seen.
Dibs on “Pareidolia” for a character name!!
Awesome name for, say… a female halfling bard.
you are the man. muchos gracias. 
Great word! I just added it to my vocabulary.
who specialises in casting illusions.
Ahh, indeed it was. Well, I need to not be so hasty in my reading (at work.) 
And, I’d actually never heard that word. I like it.!
Nay, simulacra.