Third Eye Opening Meditation: Activating Your Fullest Potential

What Is The Third Eye?

Are you trying to find more clarity in your life, get in touch with your inner self and maybe achieve clairvoyance? Perhaps you are just curious if this is possible. If you fall into either of these categories, then the third eye opening meditation may be that answer that you have been looking for.

The third eye is one of the chakras, aka the body’s psychic-energy centers. While chakras are mainly used in physiological practices of some forms of Hinduism and Tantric Buddhism (4), they have also made their way into the western world, and are now used by yogis in the practice of meditation.

It should be noted that the number of chakras in the body is not fully known. Some believed that we have as many as 8000 chakras (4), while others who use the chakra system believed that we have 114 chakras (2). Irrespective of the total number of these psychic-energy centers, we are only fully aware of the 7 chakras that act as the body’s main energy centers.

The Seven Main Chakras

The seven main chakras are as follows (in order) (1):

1. Root Chakra

Also known as the Muladhara, it is color red, located at the base of your spine, and represents the foundation of your life. When this chakra is open, it helps us feel grounded and helps us face our challenges with confidence.

2. Sacral Chakra

Also known as the Swadhisthana, it is orange in color, located in your lower abdomen, about 2 inches below the navel. The sacral chakra helps us figure out our emotions and relate to the emotions and feelings of others. It is also related to our sexual and creative energy.

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3. Solar Plexus Chakra

Also known as Manipura, it is color yellow, located in your stomach area in the upper abdomen. Manipura is related to our confidence, self-esteem, and sense of control in our lives. It is said that the feeling of butterflies in your stomach is the solar plexus chakra at work.

4. Heart Chakra

The Anahata is the middle chakra that acts as a bridge between your upper and lower chakras. The heart chakra influences our ability to give and receive love from others and to ourselves. Those with an open Anahata find it easy to empathize with others and show compassion. This chakra is located at the center of the chest, just above the heart, and is green in color.

5. Throat Chakra

Also known as the Vishuddha, it is found in the throat and is represented by a turquoise or light blue color. It gives a voice to the heart and controls our ability to communicate, thus allowing us to express ourselves truly and clearly.

6. Third-Eye Chakra

Also known as Ajna or as the brow chakra, it is located at the forehead right between the eyes. Those who practice opening third eye chakra meditation are better connected to their intuition and have a strong gut sense. Practicing third eye meditation may grow your intuition, wisdom, imagination, and the ability to see the bigger picture. Ajna is represented by a dark blue or purple color.

7. Crown Chakra

Described as the highest chakra, it is also known as Sahasrara. It sits at the crown of your head, and it is represented by the color white or violet. This chakra is very hard to achieve, and the few lucky ones who do can access a higher consciousness (a spiritual connection to themselves), others, and the universe.

Those who are wondering what is the third eye in biology should be aware that chakra is not something medical, nor is it an organ in the body. However, the pineal gland, a small pea-shaped gland located deep in the center of the brain, was once dubbed as the third eye (15).

How To Open Your Third Eye?

There is no one way to help you learn how to open your third eye. Instead, several different ways could help you strengthen your intuition, grow your wisdom, and broaden the limits of your imagination. They are as follows (7):

Pay Closer Attention To Your Dreams

Most of us tend to forget our dreams in the first few minutes after we wake up, and we just shrug it off. However, trying to remember these dreams could be the key to opening your third eye. Some people believe that dreams could be trying to show us significant things in our lives and may have some religious or spiritual meaning (10). If you do not have someone to share and discuss your dreams with, try writing them down in a dream journal instead.

Try Some Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises have long been used in meditation practices and are believed to help with fatigue, anxiety, and asthma in children and adolescents, as well as aggressiveness and anger issues, stress management, hypertension, and migraines (9). Holotropic breathwork is a New Age practice that could help you learn how to open your third eye.

It was developed in the 1970s and involves controlling and quickening your breathing patterns to influence your mental, emotional, and physical states. Those who practice holotropic breathwork believe that it can help them achieve an altered state of consciousness, which then brings them some enlightenment, foster personal growth, and self-awareness; something that those looking to try a third eye opening meditation are after (5). Please note that holotropic breathwork should only be done under the guidance of a trained facilitator.

Make Better Food Choices

Just like everything else, making better food choices will make the process of the third eye opening meditation better. So, get rid of junk foods and replace them with healthier and more nutritious foods.

It is also believed that eating purple foods such as blackberries, blueberries, grapes, eggplant, purple kale, purple sweet potatoes, and purple cabbage will make the process easier. You should also try and include other foods such as chlorella, spirulina, blue-green algae, raw apple cider vinegar, chlorophyll, cilantro, raw cacao, goji berries, and vitamin D into your diet to help detoxify the third eye.

Make Use Of Your Essential Oils And Essential Oil Diffuser

It is believed that scents such as lavender, sandalwood, frankincense, white sage, and pine can stimulate your third eye and help it open. If you do not have a diffuser, adding a few drops of either oil into your bath can work too.

Try The Sound Healing

It is believed that sound has the power to heal not only on a physical level but also on emotional and spiritual levels. When it comes to the third eye and other chakras, energy centers have a specific sound and vibration that it responds to the best.

Best Meditation For Opening Third Eye

Three types of meditation could be used for the third eye opening meditation (7), and these are as follows:

Mindfulness meditation
Transcendental meditation
Holotropic breathwork – Which has been discussed above, and something that some describe as a more intense form of meditation.

Mindfulness Meditation

This is described as a meditation technique that helps shift your thoughts away from your usual preoccupations toward an appreciation of the moment and a larger perspective on life. Studies on this form of meditation have shown that it reduces stress and anxiety, improves attention and memory, and promotes self-regulation and empathy (14). So how can you use this technique for opening third eye chakra meditation?

Find a calm, quiet spot in your home or at a park where you will sit.
If you are at home, dim your lights or sit close to a window for natural light. If you are outside, sit in a shadow.
Keep your back straight but not stiff, and your heels should be touching the floor if you are sitting on a chair or crossed in front of you if you are on the ground of a cushion. Rest your hands atop your legs.
Slowly close your eyes and simply sit and feel your presence. Pay attention to your breathing and notice how the air gets in and out of your lungs, as well as how your body expands and contracts with each breath.
Once your mind starts to wander (and it will), slowly bring it back to your breathing.
As you keep breathing, try focusing your attention on the point between your brows. What images or thoughts keep popping up?
Let these images and thoughts flow without focusing on either one. Simply observe them, neutrally, without reaction or focus.
Do this for a designated amount of time (up to two minutes for beginners and 30 minutes for those who have been doing this for a while).
Once your time is up, slowly open your eyes and let them and your body re-familiarize themselves with your surroundings before getting up and walking away.

Transcendental Meditation

This is a technique used to help avoid distracting thoughts, promoting a state of relaxed awareness. When done right, a person reaches the state of pure consciousness where they achieve perfect stillness, rest, stability, order, and a complete absence of mental boundaries.

Like holotropic breathwork and unlike mindfulness meditation, this practice requires a certified teacher to help you understand the technique and its benefits. They will also give you a guided step by step instructions to help you achieve this state (13).

Opening The Third Eye Without Meditation: Can It Be Done?

Yes, it can. While the above practices play a significant role in third eye opening meditation, there are other several things that you can do in your day-to-day life to help open your third eye. They are as follows (12):

1. Stop Being Rigid And Close-Minded

Step outside of your comfort zone and be willing to explore different things at least once in your life without judgment.

2. Try Basking In The Sun

Light is the element associated with the third eye chakra, and thus stepping out into the sunlight could help declutter this chakra and provide clarity.

3. Drink Herbal Teas

Herbs such as mugwort, star anise, saffron, basil, jasmine, lavender, passionflower, rosemary, and blue lotus are said to help unblock this chakra. This could also further help with the third eye opening meditation if taken right before a session.

4. Take Note Of Your Negative Thoughts, Especially Towards Yourself

These could lead to fear, insecurity, and self-loathing, which could further lead to a block in opening third eye chakra meditation. You are advised to seek therapy if these thoughts are too much and are starting to (or already) have a crippling effect on your life.

5. Hum, Chant, Or Listen To Binaural Beats

The ‘ommmmmmmm” monk chant is a vibration that works well with this chakra. Binaural beats, on the other hand, act as a sound healing therapy, which is said to activate and clear all the chakras through alternating sound waves.

6. Practice Self-Reflection

Examining your internal thoughts and feelings and reflecting on what they mean helps you learn more about yourself and will lead to positive personal growth.

7. Walk Outside At Night And Stare At The Moon/Stars

This tends to give people a feeling of awe and calm, which could help open the mind and put things into perspective.

7. Use Crystals

While crystals are mostly used when meditating, carrying them around in your pocket or purse could help with opening the third eye without meditation. Look for crystals such as amethyst, lapis lazuli, blue or purple sapphire, shungite, purple violet tourmaline, kyanite, labradorite, or rhodonite.

8. Utter Positive And Loving Affirmations To Yourself All Day No Matter What Situation You Are Facing

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Third Eye Opening Meditation And Yoga: Can Yoga Help Sharpen Your Third Eye?

Yes, it can. Some poses to help you do this include (6):

The Humble Warrior – Baddha Virabhadrasana

Release your arms and bring them behind your back, interlacing your fingers in preparation for the humble warrior.
Reach your clasped hands down your back and puff up your chest before forward bending your upper body inside your right knee. The arms go up toward the sky, and the crown of your head reaches the floor.
Try to keep your right knee deeply bent, your hips squared to the front of your mat, and to avoid resting your shoulder on your front knee.

Wide-Legged Forward Bend – Prasarita Padottanasana

Face the long edge of your mat and walk your feet apart from each other as far as you comfortably can.
Inhale and either hold a belt or towel behind your back or interlace your fingers behind you. With an elongated spine, exhale and hinge forward from your hips.
Let your forehead come into contact with a block, stack of books, or the surface of a chair or sofa. There’s no need to strain your legs and back trying to reach down to an uncomfortable level.
Stay here for one to two minutes. Come out of the pose by bending your knees and extending your spine long to rise with an elongated back.

Revolved Lunge Pose – Parivrtta Anjaneyasana

Begin in a lunge with your right foot forward. Bring your palms together in front of your chest.
Lift your left knee off the ground and push your left heel back. Reach the crown of your head forward away from your back heel to lengthen your spine and side body.
On an exhale, twist toward your right leg and place your left tricep on your right thigh. Bring your torso as close to your leg as possible.
Press your palms together to engage your arms. Turn your chest in the direction of the ceiling and shift your gaze upward over your right shoulder.
Stay for up to one minute. To release the pose, unwind and place your hands down on the mat, then step back to a tabletop or down dog. Repeat on the other side.

Locust Pose – Salabhasana

Lie on your belly with your legs straight.
Place your arms at your sides with palms up, your chin gently resting on the floor.
Without lifting your legs or head, begin reaching forward through the top of your head and back through your toes.
Slowly lift your head, shoulders, and legs off the ground. Be sure to keep your legs together and keep breathing.
Keep the backs of your hands rooted to the ground with a gentle, downward pushing action as you extend your arms.
Hold this position for about 5 breaths and then lower your head, shoulders, and legs to the floor.

What Happens When You Open Your Third Eye?

When you open your third eye, you will have a stronger intuition, sharper and stronger imagination, and ability ‘to see past the now.’ It also clears mental blockages and improves mental flexibilities (3).

How To Tell If Your Third Eye Is Open?

Some symptoms may vary from person to person, but some common ones could help you tell if your third eye opening meditation worked. They include (8):

1. Buzzing Or Tingling In Your Forehead

This is the most common opening third eye feeling after meditation.

2. More Headaches Or Migraines Than Usual

This happens at the beginning as your third eye is adjusting to the world.

3. Visions Or Extrasensory Experiences

Such as psychometry and clairvoyance, during meditation.

4. Sudden Clarity Surrounding Life Issues

5. Mystical Experiences

A state of being in which the mortal sense of self merges with the Divine. Those who go through these experiences describe feelings of bliss, ecstasy, unconditional love, interconnectedness, and oneness with all things.

6. A Stronger Intuition And Greater Wisdom

7. Enhanced Ability To Think For Yourself

You no longer rely on the opinions or approval of others to make an informed decision.

Please note that these symptoms do not happen all at once. They are gradual and could take a while to appear after the first one (8).

Third Eye Opening Sleep Meditation: Is It Safe?

No, it’s not. While opening your third eye has numerous benefits, having it opened while asleep can be scary and dangerous. It could lead to vivid dreams and intense nightmares, which could leave you scared, tired, and paranoid (11).

How Long Before The Third Eye Opens With Meditation?

A surprising fact is that contrary to what many people think, our third eye is not really closed, but we just never consciously realize it. That gut feeling that you usually ignore or those butterflies that you feel from time to time are as a result of the third eye opening (11). However, how long it takes for you to hone this feeling and have absolute clarity with third eye meditation is not known. What might take one person a day to achieve could take another 5 years for others.

The Bottom Line

Third eye opening meditation is great for anyone seeking mental clarity, a stronger sense of self, to hone their gut instinct, and increase the bounds of their imagination. While it may sound like a daunting and scary thing, it has a lot of benefits that could help you achieve your goals in life. With that being said, if you decide to attempt any of the above-mentioned kinds of opening third eye meditation, please seek guidance so you can do it right.

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DISCLAIMER:

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any medical conditions. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!

SOURCES:

A Beginner’s Guide To The 7 Chakras (2020, mindbodygreen.com)
A Brief History of the Chakras in Human Body (2019, researchgate.net)
All you need to know about third eye meditation (2019, timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Chakra (n.d., britannica.com)
Holotropic Breathwork Benefits and Risks (2020, verywellmind.com)
Hone Your Intuition: 12 Poses to Activate Your Third-Eye Chakra (2017, yogajournal.com)
How to Open Your Third Eye (2019, wellandgood.com)
How to Open Your Third Eye and Awaken Your Extrasensory Gifts (n.d., lonerwolf.com)
How to use 4-7-8 breathing for anxiety (2019, medicalnewstoday.com)
Share Your Dreams With Your S.O. At the Right Time to Boost Intimacy (2019, wellandgood.com)
The Side Effects And Dangers Of Opening Your Third Eye (n.d., thelawofattraction.com)
The Ultimate Guide to Third Eye Chakra Healing For Complete Beginners (n.d., lonerwolf.com)
Transcendental Meditation (2020, webmd.com)
With mindfulness, life’s in the moment (2018, news.harvard.edu)
What is the pineal gland? (2017, medicalnewstoday.com)