Sun Gazing
A Meditation ritual for Energy
Zia sun gazes on the Playa
How to do it:
Warning: It can be harmful to look at the sun during non-safe hours. The safe hours are; one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset. It is the easiest on the eyes just as the sun comes up from the horizon.
Even during safe times, use your own intuition and common sense to gauge whether the sun is safe or unsafe at the time you are watching it.
During the safe hour, take off your footwear, and stand barefoot on bare earth. The best choices to stand on and practice sun gazing, are beach sand, mud or dirt. If you cannot find bare earth, it is okay to practice on some other surfaces like concrete, tar road or on a terrace, although you might not get the full benefit.
(During winter months it is okay to watch the sun the sun through the window of your house or with your footwear on)
Start watching the sun. Take your contacts or eye glasses off if you use any before sun gazing. You can allow your eyes to blink and flicker naturally. Just watch the sun naturally like you would watch any person from a distance, there is no special type of looking or gazing that needs to employed . Just stand erect comfortably and watch the sun naturally.
If your mind wanders, gently bring the attention back to watching the beautiful sun.
Relax your neck and feel your feet while watching the sun.
Have a conviction that the sun cannot do you any harm and that the light of the sun is beneficial to your mind, body and spirit. (Even if you don't have this belief, you will still experience the benefits; but having faith in the process allows you to experience full benefits more easily.)
The very first time sun gazing, watch the sun (during safe hour) for the amount of time that feels comfortable. Keep increasing your practice and build up to being able to hold your gaze for longer. Do not look elsewhere during the practice , just keep your attention on the sun effortlessly.
You start by watching for 10 seconds a day, and gradually increment the time you watch the sun by 10 seconds everyday until you reach 45 minutes
After finishing your practice close your eyes. Keep your eyes closed for at least 30 seconds until the internal image of the sun fades away. During this time you can visualize spreading the energy of the sun from your crown to the rest of the body. You can also say a prayer if you wish.
Use your palms to close your eyes and let the eyes relax. Slowly turn away from the direction of the sun, and uncover your palms and slowly open your eyes. make sure while opening your eyes, that you are looking elsewhere and not looking back at the sun. This step will help your eyes recover and reorient easily. You might notice that your vision has improved and everything looks sharper and clearer.
It is normal to see blurred light image of the sun for about 10 minutes following a session.
Why do it:
Some of the known benefits include a boost in the production of melatonin and serotonin. Research shows sun gazing stimulates the pineal gland as the direct sunlight hits the eye, moves through retinal-hypothalamic tract, and then hits the brain. The most common reason to sun gaze is to increase energy levels.
When to do it:
Morning, Evening
How long it takes:
<1-45 min
Materials Needed:
N/A