try bringing the awareness to the third eye

The third eye is the sixth of the seven major chakras, or energy centres. It's located in the centre of the forehead, just above the eyebrows. It's called the third eye because it's a different way of seeing. It relates to our intuition: a way of seeing the truth directly, not simply through the visual medium of the eyes, but intuitively. In an instant, you can know what to do in any moment. And this intuition is associated with the brow chakra or the third eye.

So, in this simple thing to try, we bring the awareness to the third eye. And if we do this, from time to time, it will help develop our intuition. And it also acts as a form of concentration meditation, like bringing the awareness to the breath or the heartbeat. The third eye is another great choice for something to meditate upon in this way, to bring the awareness to it, and keep returning to this third eye, whenever we find the mind is beginning to wander.

So as with other sitting meditations, find a posture that is comfortable, relaxed for the muscles, and yet helps to keep the spine straight. I use a little meditation stool. But you may be able to sit in a lotus position; or perhaps sit on a meditation cushion; or you can sit on a chair: either one with a very upright back, or you can sit perched on the edge of the chair, with your knees spread a little and at a lower point than your hips – this naturally tilts the pelvis a little and brings the spine into a more relaxed, upright posture.

Then closing your eyes, take a few deep, slow breaths. And bring your awareness to a point midway between your eyes, but a little higher: between the eyebrows or on the low part of the forehead. For me, this is a sort of visual experience, although the eyes are closed. Bringing the awareness to this spot, simply relax. Keep the awareness, the attention, on the third eye.

Of course, at some point a thought will come and take your awareness away. As soon as you notice this, bring your awareness back to the third eye. However, also do not judge yourself. The judgement of oneself is yet another distraction. With all these meditations, adopt a non-judgmental attitude. This is a great key on the spiritual journey – to drop judgements. Just live with a simple awareness of what is happening. So bringing the attention back to the third eye, simply sit with this.

You might find a visual image coming to you during this meditation, perhaps colours. A lot of people see this indigo, blue-purple colour. You might have some shape to it: perhaps a rather narrow opening with a vertical stripe-like feel to it. These are the sort of experiences that lead people to say their third eye is opening. Energetically, we might say that the sixth chakra is expanding. And as I mentioned earlier, this relates to our intuition.

So this is a beautiful meditation. You can use it once in a while, as an alternative to watching the breath or whatever your other favourite meditations are. For me, it can be a very strong energetic meditation. The third eye can be a very powerful energy centre within us. And it can also help open up the kundalini energy in the spine.

So give it a try. Try bringing the awareness to the third eye.