Meditation - Colors
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Hi all.
I'm always curious about this so I'm hoping for some input: whenever I meditate or concentrate, eyes open or closed, it is accompanied by washes of color overtaking my field of vision. It has always been alternating green and purple, as long as I can remember. (the first time was when I first started meditating/doing magick in high school). It starts as green or purple, then a small area of the other color appears in the center and expands, then the other color does the same, and so on.
So my questions are:
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Do you experience a similar phenomenon?
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What are the colors/patterns? Any significance in your opinion?
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What visual/neurological phenomenon might this represent?
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Dhakhair, 93,
"What visual/neurological phenomenon might this represent?"
It's quite likely that it represents little more than your fixating on it. I used to see similar patterns and colors when I closed my eyes (red, usually). Sometimes, I still do. I just ignore this, taking it to be my normal reaction to starting meditation. It's possible to become semi-paranoid about transitory phenomena such as this. If we do get fixated on them, then subconsciousness obliges and throw them up all the time, sometimes elaborating on them to 'please' us.
93 93/93,
Edward
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I think it's just normal that you see colors with your eyes closed or even open (especially that incurs when I'm tired), I usually enjoy seeing the colors, it's often very fluid and colorful with me, I really enjoy them, they work inspiring for me, I do not doubt whether they are hindering on a meditation exercise or not, I think normally not, only if the colors and patterns might scarce you, but if your life is normal, and your not disturbed by psychological problems of any kind, then I really think everything is just fine.
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93,
Thanks guys. I wasn't really worried, though I understand the effect my questions must have had. I just think it's interesting. It's actually an enjoyable thing, and seems to occur with changes in my state of consciousness, and by extension I suppose maybe a change of brain wave patterns, etc.
No anxiety intended.
I think it's interesting, also, that people see different colors from each other and would very much like to know what other colors other people see. So far we have green/purple and red.
93 93/93
David -
I think most people do not see these 'waves' of color but many do. There was a discussion of this on an Astral Projection Forum and I was surprised to find some reporting nearly the exact same observations as mine.
I see cyclical, rhythmic waves of purple like sitting on a beach and the waves are gently washing over me.
In one School this is taught to be a visual awareness of Prana/Spirit as recorded by the Inner Vision.
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There is an alternate possibility. If you have ever taken any ethenogenics, you may experience these colors, patterns, and waves of color when your close your eyes, especially when you're tired.
I used to worry about it, but then someone much wiser than I said, "should you worry that you see these whirlings in reality, or should the person that doesn't see them wish that they could>" or something like that. He was referring to looking at it for what it's worth, and not in a negative light.
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93
In Zen Buddhism they have a name for this and other phenomena, they call them Makyos, they can be colours, lights, faces in the floor, flashing images; and pretty much any kind of distraction that arises during meditation.
The Japanese regard them as just that, distractions.
on the other hand, in my experience the kind of makyos you get can be an indication as to the state of your meditation, for example I notice that the colours change depending on how I hold my head and the location and degree on attention during practice.93 93/93
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@Solitarius said
"93
In Zen Buddhism they have a name for this and other phenomena, they call them Makyos, they can be colours, lights, faces in the floor, flashing images; and pretty much any kind of distraction that arises during meditation.
The Japanese regard them as just that, distractions.
on the other hand, in my experience the kind of makyos you get can be an indication as to the state of your meditation, for example I notice that the colours change depending on how I hold my head and the location and degree on attention during practice.93 93/93"
I think thats exactly right. Quite a few times in my meditation I have seen purple swirls in the back of my eyelids that appear when I reach a certain calm mental state, balanced with the stillness of my body. But thats the only time it happens.
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@Solitarius said
"93
In Zen Buddhism they have a name for this and other phenomena, they call them Makyos, they can be colours, lights, faces in the floor, flashing images; and pretty much any kind of distraction that arises during meditation.
The Japanese regard them as just that, distractions.
on the other hand, in my experience the kind of makyos you get can be an indication as to the state of your meditation, for example I notice that the colours change depending on how I hold my head and the location and degree on attention during practice.93 93/93"
93,
Very interesting. In reference to this and the above posts as well, I'd like to reiterate that it is never associated with fatigue, tiredness, closing my eyes...only concentration. Once my concentration gets "going" it starts. It is sort of distracting when it starts; however, it is so rhythmic that it soon becomes incorporated and forgotten much like my breathing. I'll be curious to see if these colors ever change as I advance in my discipline, etc.
For the record, I have gotten this every time I am concentrating on my thoughts, eyes open or closed, sitting or lying.
93, 93/93
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@Dhakhair said
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@Solitarius said
"93In Zen Buddhism they have a name for this and other phenomena, they call them Makyos, they can be colours, lights, faces in the floor, flashing images; and pretty much any kind of distraction that arises during meditation.
The Japanese regard them as just that, distractions.
on the other hand, in my experience the kind of makyos you get can be an indication as to the state of your meditation, for example I notice that the colours change depending on how I hold my head and the location and degree on attention during practice.93 93/93"
93,
Very interesting. In reference to this and the above posts as well, I'd like to reiterate that it is never associated with fatigue, tiredness, closing my eyes...only concentration. Once my concentration gets "going" it starts. It is sort of distracting when it starts; however, it is so rhythmic that it soon becomes incorporated and forgotten much like my breathing. I'll be curious to see if these colors ever change as I advance in my discipline, etc.
For the record, I have gotten this every time I am concentrating on my thoughts, eyes open or closed, sitting or lying.
93, 93/93"
As I described above, it only happends with my eyes closed in meditation. And yes I have to agree with your part on "One my concentration gets "going" it starts". Same here. Although when im not meditating traditionaly, and I'm staring with my eyes opend, letting them focus and relax(like looking at the sky, night/day, or wherever), I see things from patterns of white sperm like dots flowing in perfect circles, sparks/flashes of light, little white sperm thingy's flying all in the air randomly, just all sorts of stuff. I read somewhere that when ones thrid eye completely opens, you dont see darkness when you close your eyes, or atleast not when your meditating. Kinda like the experiences of of seeing brights lights with your eyes closed as you exit your body for astral travel.
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When I was a child I used to hide in the darkest places of our home, for prolonged periods of time. I was deliberately imposing sensory deprevtion, I didnt want to see or hear and would do everything to block out my environment. I recall with much pleasure the colors and tones that I would expierence in this state. I would put my palms or fingers over my eyes, and by doing different placements, I would expierence different colors or hear different tones. I really believe that this was my first real workings with spirit, energy and other worlds.
Even when we are being stll our eyes have such a hard time being still. the muscles feel like they just cant relax and be still, they have to be constantly scanning, (whihc eyes have to move or they dry out) even under the lids. i recall reading some where about the different muscles in the eye and face, and how over time beome conditioned to "seeing" the world and interpreting what is seen. So that if your eye darts left 2* and then right 10* you normally see "green", your brain remembers this pattern, and when your lid is closed and performs the same movement, your brain remembers 'green" and thats what you think you see.....it was a very interesting read, and I wish I could give you all the technical biological facts that it asserted, but I dont recall it better then that.
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@Veronica said
"When I was a child I used to hide in the darkest places of our home, for prolonged periods of time. I was deliberately imposing sensory deprevtion, I didnt want to see or hear and would do everything to block out my environment. I recall with much pleasure the colors and tones that I would expierence in this state. I would put my palms or fingers over my eyes, and by doing different placements, I would expierence different colors or hear different tones. I really believe that this was my first real workings with spirit, energy and other worlds.
Even when we are being stll our eyes have such a hard time being still. the muscles feel like they just cant relax and be still, they have to be constantly scanning, (whihc eyes have to move or they dry out) even under the lids. i recall reading some where about the different muscles in the eye and face, and how over time beome conditioned to "seeing" the world and interpreting what is seen. So that if your eye darts left 2* and then right 10* you normally see "green", your brain remembers this pattern, and when your lid is closed and performs the same movement, your brain remembers 'green" and thats what you think you see.....it was a very interesting read, and I wish I could give you all the technical biological facts that it asserted, but I dont recall it better then that."
93
Thats funny but I remember doing something similar, although I didn't take it to the point of hiding in the cupboard, I just used to play around with it when I lay in bed at night.
I also tend to regard the phenomena of lights and shapes as the mind desperately trying to find some point of reference from the senses, it is therefore a good sign the the senses are undisturbed if the mind is wondering where all the data has gone and has even gone to the point of creating some of its own to fill the gap!
I would hazard to guess that the next step would be to get the mind to stop creating these Makyos and be quiet.
we spend all this time quieting the body with Asanas, and quieting the thinking faculty with Pranayama and mantras; so the next thing may well be the perceiving faculty (Ruach).
just a though.93 93/93
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I too experience 'purple swirls' during meditation with my eyes closed. I don't start off seeing the colors. It's only after I've gotten into it.
My strangest experience with seeing colors and swirls has been when I've done candle meditation. Just about everytime I've done this type of meditation I've had a 'blob/orb' of light rise from the candle and actually move around the room. Circling me. I'll see this 'orb' move to the far end of the room completely away from the candle. It's not a frightening thing but I really wonder what it is. Anyone else have an experience like this?
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@sol2sol said
"I too experience 'purple swirls' during meditation with my eyes closed. I don't start off seeing the colors. It's only after I've gotten into it.
My strangest experience with seeing colors and swirls has been when I've done candle meditation. Just about everytime I've done this type of meditation I've had a 'blob/orb' of light rise from the candle and actually move around the room. Circling me. I'll see this 'orb' move to the far end of the room completely away from the candle. It's not a frightening thing but I really wonder what it is. Anyone else have an experience like this?"
93
I'm inclined to think that if you look at a candle for an amount of time then you will see the after-image everywhere you look for some time afterwards.
Best get your eyes tested for retina burn before assigning meaning to this phenomena!
93 93/93
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@Solitarius said
"[quote="sol2sol"
93
I'm inclined to think that if you look at a candle for an amount of time then you will see the after-image everywhere you look for some time afterwards.
Best get your eyes tested for retina burn before assigning meaning to this phenomena!
93 93/93"
It's not an image of the flame and it starts happening after only a minute or so. It comes out of the flame and is usually a red/purple color with a green outline. It moves around the room regardless of where I'm looking. It can move around and behind me and if I'm looking forward I do not see it. However, I can turn around and then seeing it moving to other areas of the room. Eventually it returns to the flame and that's it. I have my eyes tested once a year. No medical issues up to this date.
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@sol2sol said
"However, I can turn around and then seeing it moving to other areas of the room. Eventually it returns to the flame and that's it. I have my eyes tested once a year. No medical issues up to this date."
Good answer.
My wife describes something similar to this now and then. Those who do not experience/observe such phenomena tend to relegate them to known physical optical rod & cone possibilities. Maybe they have nothing else to go by so what more can they say?
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What you are seeing is the negative impressions of your rods and cones, the little sensors in your eyeballs that react to light and color.
As mentioned, certain psychedelic dabblers may develop involuntary hallucinations, but it takes a good deal of dabbling.
Large doses of over-priced, badly made blotter acid are mostly likely to cause the latter symptom.
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@JPF said
"What you are seeing is the negative impressions of your rods and cones, the little sensors in your eyeballs that react to light and color.
As mentioned, certain psychedelic dabblers may develop involuntary hallucinations, but it takes a good deal of dabbling.
Large doses of over-priced, badly made blotter acid are mostly likely to cause the latter symptom."
I cannot remember the doctors name, but he did a study on the subject and developed a theory that when a persons sees those hallucinations from rubbing their eyeballs and such, that say are seeing brains patterns. I guess like the folds of ones brain behind the eyes, but his theory went more extensively then that.
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93
I'm inclined to go with a more empirical view of this kind of phenomena, as you have described it it still sounds very much like after-images from the candles.
That's not to say that I rule out any other explanation, but it would definitely be unscientific to make any assumptions about any kind of phenomena, your description fits the empirical explanation, and only requires further explanation if you really want it to be something other than retina burn.The scientific approach to this would be to simply write a record of the occurrence, being as thorough as possible, and after that regard the lights as Makyos (distractions) and simply carry on with the meditation.
I would only consider it important in itself if it were accompanied by some other occurrence that would in some way strengthen the evidence for some other kind of explanation.Can I ask? what do you mean exactly be candle meditation, are you simply using the candle to focus your attention? or is there something else going on?
93 93/93
Just thought I'd throw that in there... even though I don't really doubt what you say you see.