#61 -Sun - Gazing

At least once in a lifetime everyone admired sunset or sunrise. Remind yourself how good the feeling of calmness and peace was.

There is actually one ancient practice called sun-gazing. It’s exactly what the name suggests, it’s about consciously gazing at the sun.

Sun-gazing is a strict practice of gradually introducing sunlight into your eyes at the lowest ultraviolet-index times of day – sunrise and sunset which are considered as safe hours.

Those who teach the practice say there are several rules to the practice.

• It must be done within the hour after sunrise or before sunset to avoid damaging the eyes;

• Be barefoot, in contact with the actual earth – sand, grass, dirt, or mud;

• Begin with only 10 seconds the first day, increasing by 10-second intervals each day you practice.

Following these rules make the practice safer. During your first 3 months of practice, the sun's energy is moving through the eyes and charging the hypothalamus tract say those who have studied this technique and used it. The hypothalamus tract is the pathway to the rear of the retina which leads to the brain.

The brain then, over time, becomes activated by the energy supply being received by the sun. You will first experience a relief of mental tension and worry. Some practitioners claim that it can decrease hunger, and appetite as the body feed on pure energy (I personally haven't experienced it).

Another benefit early on is said to be an increase in confidence, and an ability to easily solve your problems.

It's claimed that if done regularly it's a great tool for developing consciousness.

This is one of those practices which is not market as medically safe. Make sure to do your research before! I had a period when I used to practice regularly, and because I did according to the rules, I didn’t damage my eyes. Remember to follow strict instructions as violating rules might lead to problems with vision.

The idea of sun-gazing goes along with the benefits of Heliotherapy (a form of phototherapy) which is the use of natural sunlight for the treatment of certain skin conditions. UV (part of sunlight spectrum) has beneficial effects in small doses.

• Induce vitamin D production;

• Anti-inflammatory;

• Immune suppressing;

• Anti-proliferative.

It is another spiritual process so benefits are based on personal experiences and might vary from person to person.

• "Bad qualities" like anger, fear, jealousy, lust will gradually disappear as consciousness grows;

• Boost in the production of melatonin and serotonin. Some researches show that sun-gazing stimulates the pineal gland as the direct sunlight hits the eye, moves through the retinal-hypothalamic tract, and then hits the brain;

• More energy throughout the day and didn’t need as much sleep;

• Practice is very pleasant and calming generally, it soothes the busy mind;

• As you relax - positive emotions will dominate, therefore the immune system will strengthen;

• Reduced appetite, which may help in forms of fasting;

• It may sharpen the vision;

• Increased awareness and clearer thinking;

Are there any dangers?

Doctors and eye care professionals warn against looking directly at the sun, saying that it will damage the retina. However, if done correctly, sun-gazing at the correct times of day, there is a low risk of damaging the eyes studies show. It is advised that you have your eyes checked in the first few weeks of your practice, so you can know for yourself.

• You can do some yoga asanas and set up the intention.

• Take your contacts or eyeglasses 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 object from a distance, there is no special type of looking or gazing that needs to be adjusted.

• During the safe hour, take off your footwear, and stand barefoot on the ground. 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 grass. Just stand erect comfortably and watch the sun naturally.

• If the sun feels too bright, you can squint, gaze around the sun or raise your hands and make a triangle and hold it up against the sun. Then just stare at or around the sun, through the gap between your hands. On cloudy days, gaze at the position where the sun is behind the clouds.

• 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.

• 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 visualise spreading the energy 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 that you are looking elsewhere and not looking back at the sun while opening your eyes. This step will help your eyes recover and reorient easily.

You start by watching for 10 seconds a day, and gradually increase the time you watch the sun by 10 seconds every day until you reach 45 minutes - that's maximum for what you can go.

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.

It is normal to see the blurred light images of the sun for about 10 minutes following a session.

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.

Avoid looking at the sun through windows, mirrors, glass or any prismatic surface as it could multiply the strength of the sun rays therefore burning sensitive cells.

Remember, it’s 10 seconds the first day at sunrise or sunset, adding 10 seconds per day each day thereafter. Follow strict rules. Do it only during safe hours, and don't exceed over 45 minutes per session.

Even if you would not experience spectacular consciousness changes, it's a great time to start or end the working day, or set it as a reminder for morning and evening yoga practice. It's definitely calming and relaxing experience that lets you anchor some healthy habits.

There is something romantic and spiritual about gazing at the sunset or sunrise.

Enjoy every moment of your life...