- Third Eye Chakra
- Opening means
- How to open
- Meditation Techniqes
- How long does it take
- Scientific research
- Opening signs
Did you ever notice that you have already sensed an outcome before the results are announced? Or you already knew that a business deal will be successful? And even though you performed well in an interview, you just somehow knew that you would not get the position? This is commonly called clairvoyance, the ability to perceive things or events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.
The power of clairvoyance is generally accessed through the third eye, which is located between your eyebrows.
The third eye is a spiritual and mystical concept that is associated with providing wisdom, intuition and seeing beyond sensory perception. It is also called the “Inner eye” or “Mind eye” and symbolizes enlightenment & clairvoyance.
In Hinduism and yoga, the place of the third eye is referred to as the brow chakra, the third eye chakra or the Ajna chakra.
Chakras are the energy centres in our body present along the spinal cord. The literal meaning of “chakra” is spinning wheel. Their energy affects our mental, physical and spiritual well-being. There are 7 major chakras in our body and the third eye chakra is the 6th chakra of this energy system.
What is Third Eye Chakra?
Known as Ajna in Sanskrit, the third eye chakra is the intuitive energy centre in our body located in the centre of the forehead just in the middle of the eyebrows.
Symbolically this chakra is represented by the indigo and hues of royal blue. In the 7 chakras system, it’s the most powerful chakra. It is associated with perception, consciousness, intuition, clairvoyance, lucid dreaming and establishing the connection to the higher realms.
This chakra is also concerned with the mental health aspect such as emotional judgement, thought process, intellect, sleep cycle, wisdom, etc. It is sometimes considered to be one of the most significant senses and activating or opening it is of utmost importance.
What does it mean to open the third eye?
Just like the physical eyes, the third eye has no physical appearance. According to belief 1, humans had in far ancient times an actual third eye in the back of the head with a physical and spiritual function. Over time, as humans evolved, this eye atrophied and sunk into what today is known as the pineal gland.
Therefore the opening of the third eye in a person is considered as psychic ability and powers.
When your third eye is opened, you will be able to see vivid colors and auras of people, animals, and plants. Your intuitive abilities get enhanced and you experience improved concentration. An opened third eye provides you with mental clarity which helps in clear self-expression and seeing the bigger picture of your existence.
People who have clairvoyance tendencies, their visions and insights to the higher realms will flourish. Apart from insights, their other senses such as hearing and listening also become sharp. They are always aware of their surroundings and their attention span also increases. They become focused and their devotion, especially towards divinity increases.
Blockage in third eye chakra
An opened third eye should be kept in balance and clean from any blockages. Multiple triggers, internal or external, can cause the third eye’s energy to become overactive or underactive.
Imbalance in the third eye chakra may come with symptoms like the desire for material things, impatience, negative thoughts, disconnection from spirituality, confusion, indecisiveness, self-doubt, narrow mindedness, and overwhelming feelings.
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, it means you’re obstructing your way to opening the third eye.
How to open your third eye
Before working on the opening of the third eye chakra, the lower 5 chakras need to be aligned and harmonized.
When the third eye opens, to handle that higher state of insights these lower five chakras works as a strong foundation to assist the person. Otherwise, If they are not properly aligned and balanced, third eye opening is also considered destructive for a person.
There are various ways of opening the third eye chakra including:
- Meditation with OM Chant
- Purple colored therpy
- Vitamin and protein-rich diet
- Apply essential oils for chakras
- Getting adequate sleep
- Using crystals for third eye
Out of these various ways, Meditation is most effective for third eye chakra opening. Because unlike the lower five chakras (Muladhara, Swadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, and Vishuddha) which are connected to five elements of the body, the third eye has no such materialistic element. It’s associated with the element of “Light” (inner wisdom) and for activation of “Light,” no technique could work better than meditation.
Third Eye Chakra Meditation
Meditation is a powerful way through which you can flush out unwanted thoughts and emotions in your mind. You can achieve a sense of peace and transcend to a higher state of consciousness with meditation.
Though there are a few meditation techniques that will aid in opening your third eye chakra, let us first get into the general steps that every meditation entails.
Select a quiet space where you know you will not get distracted for at least 30 minutes. Sit cross-legged on the ground or a cushion or a chair, whatever seems comfortable to you. Your shoulders should be pulled back, chest open, and spine straight to sit in an upright position. With your fingers positioned in the Gyan mudra, joining the tips of your index finger and thumbs, keep them on top of your knees.
- If you’re sitting on a chair, your feet should be firmly grounded to the floor.
Slowly close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Feel your chest rise and fall as you inhale and exhale. Notice the rhythm of your breathing and feel it filling your lungs with oxygen. You will feel your body and mind get relaxed. Many thoughts will arise, but let them pass as you bring your focus on your breathing.
Now imagine looking at the location of the third eye, between the brows. Visualize indigo or blue orb spinning clockwise. With each inhales and exhales, imagine this orb growing. Accept the orbs’ presence and take in the warmth of this light.
Stay in this position for the duration of the meditation session. When you want to come out of the meditation, slowly come back to observing your breathing and then stay still for a while. When you are ready, open your eyes and get on with your day.
1. Mindfulness Meditation
A slight variation to the above general meditation technique is when you are basking in the orbs’ warmth, you allow thoughts and images to come forth. You do not have to decipher their meaning or react to them in any way, just observe them and let them pass. You can also count backwards from 100 to 1 at an interval of 2 seconds. It’s called mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness meditation is a great way to get away from the chaos of the world and give some to yourself and declutter your mind. It does not stop you from thinking, but instead, encourages you to look at your thoughts without any reaction or judgment. You will get to know the larger perspective of life and will also be supported in opening your third eye.
2. Trataka
In this form of meditation, you keep your eyes opened to gaze at the flame of a candle. It is also called candle gazing, open eyes meditation, or Yogi’s gaze.
Trataka is considered to be one of the most effective ways to train your physical as well as your mental vision and hence good for the third eye chakra. It will help in calming your mind, improving your perceptions, and give a heightened sense of clarity.
To practice trataka for the third eye chakra, the candle should be kept at a distance, generally, 2 feet, where you can easily gaze at its flame without bending or tilting up your head. You should sit in a comfortable position, as described above.
When you feel your mind and body relaxed, be still and fix your gaze on the steadiest point of the flame, it can be the tip of the wick or where the flame originates. Keep your gaze focused on the flame, to the point you feel like blinking. The gaze should be kept for at least 15 seconds.
- You can slowly increase the time, up to 30 seconds or above, with regular practice.
Slowly feel the world fade away around you and let your mind escape. If you feel like blinking, calmly close your eyes and see the flame behind your closed lids. When the flame is gone, open your eyes and repeat the procedure.
3. Transcendental Meditation
In this type of meditation, you need to sit in a meditative position, with eyes closed for 20 minutes, and silently chant a mantra. It is an easy form of meditation that brings calm and peace to your life. You feel present in the moment. The mantra chanting helps in achieving a state of stillness.
Generally, you have to consult an expert and certified transcendental meditation practitioner before you begin practising. This practitioner will give you the step-by-step instruction to practice the meditation technique and mantra that is unique to you and is also confidential. The mantra is a Sanskrit sound that will help you transcend into a profound state of consciousness.
The general steps are as follow:
- Sit on a chair in a comfortable upright position.
- Take deep breaths to relax your body. Remember that you have to keep your eyes closed for 20 minutes to chant the mantra, so if you want to adjust your posture, this is the time to do so.
- Once you are ready, close your eyes and chant the mantra in your mind that has been given to you by the certified practitioner.
- Any thought that comes during this duration should be let go and not be dwelled upon.
- Once the 20 minutes are completed, slowly bring your focus back to the physical world. Wiggle your toes and fingers and open your eyes.
In this process, you will keep meeting the practitioner regularly for follow-ups or if any corrections are needed in your technique.
How long will it take to open the third eye?
No time limit has been set by either the meditation practitioners or yogis. Opening the third eye depends on the technique and time of the meditation you are following. Every person takes their time to adjust and come to the level of stillness and calmness required for the third eye opening meditation.
It may take a few days, months, years, or entire life for someone to experience the third eye opening. However, don’t let this discourage you. You should keep practising meditation regularly to see the effects by yourself.
What does science say about meditation techniques?
While mainstream science may not agree upon the spiritual concept of the third eye, however, the meditation techniques such as trataka and mindfulness meditation have been studied and proven to be effective in many ways.
A 2014 2 study showed the positive effects of trataka on improving the cognitive abilities of the elderly.
Then in 2015 3, research was conducted on 37 college-level athletics team members to see the effects of candle gazing meditation on their concentration and memory level. They concluded that this meditation technique improved the above-mentioned variables.
Mindfulness meditation is also known to increase self-awareness, memory, and attention span, which is an important part of activating the third eye. This 2019 study 4 effectively shows how the 152 participants reduced their feeling of loneliness and increased their social contact with mindfulness training through an app for 2 weeks.
Another study conducted on 90 undergraduate students 5, who practiced 8-minute mindfulness meditation, showed improvement in their visual short-term memory.
Though there are large gaps in the studies conducted for mindfulness meditation 6, a few studies do suggest that it helps in curbing pain, stress, and anxiety.
How to know that the Third Eye is opening?
You’ve been doing all the required meditation techniques needed to activate your third eye, but how do you know that your third eye is being opened? Below are some of the signs to look out for:
- You will notice pressure between your brows or the head or experience a tingling sensation. This will often be followed by frequent headaches.
- Your intuitive abilities will be enhanced.
- Lucid dreaming and visions will become frequent.
- You will acquire telepathic abilities and become clairvoyant
- You will now start to understand the bigger picture of life and be more connected to the divine.
- Light and color sensitivity will increase.
- The fact that everything has a purpose and nothing is a coincidence will become relevant.
- Your eating habits may also change.
Conclusion
No one knows how long it takes for the third eye to be activated, however, people who have experienced it have found their calling and felt serenity. It is known to provide perceptive, intuitive, and spiritual abilities, though there is no scientific evidence to prove it.
All you have to do is practice the meditation daily to achieve peace, calmness, stillness, and fulfilment in your life!
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