Like all chakras, one can open and unblock the third eye chakra through a combination of methods. And we recommend trying as many as possible at the same time. Their success will largely depend on the individual. A synergistic focus of techniques and practices will work best since each person will respond differently. And also each person has different abilities, skills, and experience. For example, someone experienced in yoga or meditation will likely have an easier time opening the third eye chakra than someone trying for the first time.
Let’s run through a list of recommended techniques to open and unblock the third eye chakra. You will notice that many are similar for the unblocking of any chakra. For example, chakra-specific foods, yoga poses, oils, and crystals. However, the third eye chakra is associated most with higher consciousness and self-awareness. So, there is a much greater emphasis on meditation, silence, and nurturing creativity, wisdom, and intuition:
- Embracing Silence
- Nurturing your Creative Side
- Strengthening your Intuition
- Third Eye Specific Meditations
- Dream Journaling
- Spend More Time in Nature
- Foods
- Oils
- Crystals
- Yoga Poses
Now, let’s look into what the third eye chakra is and how to open it. A word of caution is in order. Just like a house needs a solid foundation to build a roof on, so does your chakra system. So, best work with the lower chakras first before you move on to the third eye chakra.
Table of Contents
1.0 Those who See
2.0 Chakra Science – the Nervous System
3.0 The Peripheral Nervous System
4.0 The Chakras and The Vagus Nerve
5.0 The Kundalini Serpent and The Vagus Nerve
6.0 Moving to the Third Eye
7.0 What is the Purpose of the Third Eye Chakra?
8.0 Setting the Foundation for Opening the Third Eye Chakra
9.0 Signs of a Blocked Chakra and Unblocking Other Chakras
10.0 How To Unblock and Open the Third Eye Chakra
11.0 Conclusion
12.0 Sources
1.0 Those who See
Leonardo Di Vinci once said, “There are three types of people. Those who see, those who can see when shown, and those who cannot see.”
For “those that see,” was Di Vinci referring to an opened third eye chakra?
Of all the chakras, perhaps the most enigmatic and famous is the third eye chakra. When activated, it allows us to access a higher intelligence within, We can access a deeper level of intuition, enlightenment, and consciousness.
Throughout this post and many others written to discuss the chakra system and their individual and collective activation (or blockages), we strive to demystify chakras and speak in scientific and medical terms.
At the same time, there are more complex aspects that relate to chakras. These are the human biofield related to body’s aura and electromagnetic field. (We wrote more on the human biofield science, measurement, and therapies in this post.) However, science and modern medicine still do not have a consensus on its constitution or functionality. It has been likened to our body’s atmosphere, multilayered and full of energy, biodata and predictive of future diseases. There IS a fair degree of science behind the chakra system (about which we wrote in more detail here). However, it is not entirely accurate and is also incomplete.
The best way to look at the ancient and current Yoga Chakra system and traditions is as a compass, rather than GPS coordinates!
2.0 Chakra Science – the Nervous System
Before we go into the third eye chakra and its activation, let’s briefly discus the science we DO know.
The chakra system, for which we wrote a guide here, is considered sacred in both the Yoga community as well as in many religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. Although originating in India over 2,000 years ago, the chakra system spread to other eastern cultures and countries. People now practice them all over the world. The benefits of aligning one’s chakras are numerous for the body, mind, and spirit.
Just the poses, stretching, and muscle strengthening aspects of yoga alone have many physical and health benefits. However, it is important to note that science is beginning to rediscover and validate a great deal of what the ancients believed.
For example, there are seven chakras in the body. They start from the root chakra at the bottom of the spine all the way up to the crown chakra at the top of the head. Science now understands that each chakra is associated with a major endocrine gland. And also, with major bundles of nerves, known as nerve plexuses.
In modern medicine, the nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord. PNS connects the nerves of the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body, primarily the organs, limbs, and skin.
3.0 The Peripheral Nervous System
Although all of the nervous system pertains to yoga and the chakras, the peripheral nervous is most relevant.
Within the peripheral nervous system, there are two categories: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The first one is responsible for relaying sensory and motor information to and from the central nervous system (voluntarily moving your muscles, for example). The second one, as the name implies, deals with involuntary bodily functions such as heartbeat, digestion, and breathing.
Out of these two categories, the autonomic nervous system is more relevant to the chakras.
Finally, within the autonomic nervous system lie two further divisions: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The first one is which is responsible for the fight or flight response. And the second one is associated with digestion and rest.
When you think of yoga and chakras, do you think of fighting or resting?
I really HOPE you are thinking of resting and calm as the end goal. Because this leads us to the importance of the parasympathetic nervous system! It’s also known as the “rest and digest”. And it is exactly what is most correlated with yoga and the chakra system through the vagus nerve.
4.0 The Chakras and The Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve is the is the tenth of twelve cranial nerves located in the back of the skull. It is responsible for the operation of the digestive tract, heart rate, and respiration with the parasympathetic system.
As Medical New Today explains, “The parasympathetic side, which the vagus nerve is heavily involved in, decreases alertness, blood pressure, and heart rate, and helps with calmness, relaxation, and digestion. As a result, the vagus nerve also helps with defecation, urination, and sexual arousal.”
In other words, activation of the vagus nerve can calm us down. This is important in a world where stress and anxiety are the new normal! There are real long-term health implications here. Some of which are the reduction of cortisol being released into our bloodstream. This can wreak havoc on our immune system over time.
5.0 The Kundalini Serpent and The Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve may also be a metaphor for the kundalini serpent. Kundalini is a common theme in the chakra system and yoga.
This word “kundalini” literately means “coiled up” (hence the serpent name). In many yoga traditions, especially kundalini yoga, they believe it to be representative of the universal energy. Yogis often refer to it as prana. There are many other names such as chi in China, ki in Japan, ra in Egypt, and more. It moves and pierces through each chakra. And it and coils and wraps around the body. It starts from the first root chakra all the way to the seventh crown chakra.
In many yoga traditions the kundalini “snake” coils three times as it travels up the spine towards the crown chakra. Non-coincidentally, the vagus nerve connects precisely 3 times to the spine!
To summarize, the connection and the KEY with the chakra system is the activation of the vagus nerve. It stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and promotes healthy functioning of the endocrine system. Non-coincidentally, the major nerve plexuses of the parasympathetic nervous system and their associated glands line up almost precisely with the seven major chakras!
Which glands precisely, you may ask?
The root chakra is associated with the adrenal gland.
The navel chakra is associated with the ovaries or testicles.
The solar plexus chakra is associated with the pancreas.
The heart chakra is associated with the thymus.
The throat chakra is associated with the thyroid gland.
The third eye chakra is associated with the pineal and/or pituitary gland.
The crown chakra is associated with the pineal and/or pituitary gland.
6.0 Moving to the Third Eye
Now we have a strong background of the science and the correlation of the parasympathetic nervous system and associated endocrine glands. So, let’s move on to our discussion of the third eye chakra.
You should note that both the third eye chakra and the crown chakra are associated with the pineal and pituitary glands. However, it is important to mention that although the third eye chakra is associated with these glands, it is NOT a physical place on the body! Rather, like all chakras, it is an energy center. As mentioned, the association with glands is important as a tool and benchmark. However, it should not be taken literately in regards to all aspects of the chakra system.
This is even more accurate when it comes to the upper 5th, 6th and 7th chakras. These are the throat, third eye, and crown chakra, respectively. They deal primarily with higher intelligence, consciousness, and spirituality. And they are much difficult to link back to the body directly.
7.0 What is the Purpose of the Third Eye Chakra?
The third eye chakra is aptly named because it has to do with vision. Of course we do not mean this literately. Rather, in regard to clarity of thought, higher intelligence, perception, and intuition.
Throughout history, many eastern cultures and traditions, especially in India, have found the third eye chakra to be sacred. For them, activating it is of crucial importance.
The third eye chakra allows us to perceive our world outside of space and time. This level of higher consciousness allows to a greater sense of self awareness.
Self awareness is key in our goal to attain enlightenment. According to many traditions, one must let go of their ego in order to attain this state. Only in this way one can access the gifts of intuition and wisdom associated it with it.
8.0 Setting the Foundation for Opening the Third Eye Chakra
As mentioned, the higher chakras are representative collectively as accessing higher consciousness. From a physiological standpoint in Western science, they can best be compared to “self-actualization” in Maslow’s famous hierarchy of needs.
In Maslow’s hierarchy, one must fulfill basic needs for survival such as food, water, and shelter before they can go on to the next level of needs such as “identity” and “relationship.” In the same way, one must strive to first set the foundation and balance and activate their lower chakras BEFORE one can successfully open their third eye chakra.
To be clear, chakras are not necessarily in order like a pyramid or hierarchy, but there are similarities.
For example, the 1st chakra pertains to a sense of belonging and a sense of security. Collectively, the first three lower chakras deal with the physical body and our relationship to it. So, one must start there before one can move onto the spiritual upper chakras such as the Third Eye Chakra.
9.0 Signs of a Blocked Chakra and Unblocking Other Chakras
Make sure your lower chakras, from the 1st to the 5th, are balanced and unblocked before you move the 6th chakra/Third Eye Chakra.
You can read about how to identify a blocked chakra here.
If blocked, there are general guidelines to unblock chakras as a whole, as well as techniques and guides to unblock each chakra individually. Another option is to focus on the lower or upper chakras collectively.
Techniques include changes in diet, yoga poses, meditation, oils, and healing crystals. There are also associated breathing techniques that work alongside yoga and meditation, as well as those that can be done separately. You can also seek a healer that specialize in energy healing, such as Reiki masters. Similarly, there are massage techniques that can also help unblock chakras, as well as the ancient practice of acupuncture.
Here is a great guide for unblocking chakras. Whether you’re new to chakras or not, you’ll find something to satisfy your chakra curiosity there.
If you focus on each chakra individually, you will notice very specific foods and yoga poses, as well as accompanying oils and crystals that work best for unblocking each chakra as well as other techniques and practices.
10.0 How To Unblock and Open the Third Eye Chakra
We present you here with 10 ways to open and balance your third eye chakra. We recommend trying as many as possible at the same time. It will largely depend on the individual. A synergistic focus of techniques and practices will work best since each person will respond differently and also has different abilities, skills, and experience.
1) Embracing Silence
While silence is important most meditations, it is especially important for opening the third eye. Why? The third eye chakra is especially focused on accessing intuition and inner wisdom. This may come to you very quietly, almost as a “whisper” through meditation. The third eye chakra’s ability is about helping an individual “see beyond space and time”. It is also associated with extra sensory perception such as physic ability. And in most cases, the mind must be very still and quiet to access it
2) Nurturing your Creative Side
As we look towards greater self-awareness and higher consciousness by opening our third eye, it’s important we think differently than we did in the past and expand our horizons of perception. One of the ways to do this is through nurturing your creative side. Activities such as singing, dancing, playing an instrument, drawing, painting, and writing are great ways to enhance your creative side. They help you see the world differently than you have in the past. Similarly, you will be moving away from your logical, thinking mind that focuses on rationality. Instead you will be accessing more of the right hemisphere of your brain which deals with creativity and emotions.
3) Strengthening your Intuition
Similar to creativity, enhancing the flow of intuition and intuitive thinking are important for opening and balancing the third eye chakra. There are many ways to do this:
- Focusing on staying present
- journaling your thoughts and feelings
- mindfulness meditation
- spending more time in nature
- avoiding overthinking
- and trying to notice as much as you can around you with all five senses
4) Third Eye Specific Meditations
There are many meditations that can be useful for helping open the third eye. Especially useful are those focused on breathing and visualization. It is helpful to focus on the color blue or purple that is associated with the third eye chakra. An example of this is to sit comfortably or lie down. Then visualize blue/purple ball of light directly located in the space of the third eye chakra between your forehead. You can practice this daily for 10-20 minutes. And this practice of regular visualization will help dispel imbalances and heal and open this chakra.
It is also very helpful to place associated crystals directly on your forehead between your eyes while meditating. Additionally, you can also try reciting positive affirmations that have to do with inner perception. Those that deal with your sense of purpose and higher consciousness are great. Great examples are “I trust my inner light” or “I am on my true path.”
5) Dream Journaling
Notice your dreams and pay attention to them as much as you can. The third eye chakra is highly related to the ability to recall your dreams. It may also be related to the ability for lucid dreaming. Consciously record your dreams as soon as you awake. By doing so, you will strengthen those abilities connected with dream recall. And thereby you will improve your inner intuition and self-awareness.
6) Spend More Time in Nature
Go outdoors, and spend time hiking, walking, bicycle riding, and more. Spend time in the woods, the mountains, the grass, by the sea, or looking up at the stars. This is deeply connected with opening all chakras, and especially the third eye chakra because of the importance of silence, visualization, enhancing intuition, and nurturing creativity and all of which are deeply improved through enjoyment of nature
7) Foods
This chakra has a deep indigo and violet color, so look for bright purple foods such as eggplant, grapes, plums, purple lettuce, and purple carrots.
8) Oils
Apply to forehead with oil such as rosemary to unblock chakra, German chamomile to calm overactive, and frankincense and sandalwood to maintain healthy functioning.
9) Crystals
To open the third eye chakra, look for crystals that blue or purple in color to help unblock the third eye chakra and place a small crystal directly between eyes on forehead while lying down and meditating. Look for crystals such as amethyst, sapphire, lapis lazuli, and sugilite
10) Yoga Poses
Yoga poses to help open the third eye include: The humble warrior, the wide legged forward bend, the revolved lunge pose, and the locust pose
11.0 Conclusion
The science behind chakras is strong if you look at the chakra system as a compass, from a holistic perspective, rather than logically and mechanically like specific GPS coordinates. The chakra system as a whole is representative of the healthy functioning of our nervous system and endocrine system. Specifically, the major nerve plexuses of the parasympathetic nervous system and their associated glands line up almost precisely with the seven major chakras through the vagus nerve.
We live in a world shocked and rocked by nerves, where nearly everyone seems to be so stressed and anxious. So, learning techniques to strengthen and balance our neural system and endocrine system is paramount not only for our sanity, but to reduce the risk of serious long term illnesses and diseases.
The Magic of The Third Eye Chakra
While all chakras are important, the third eye chakra is amongst the highest revered chakra and has almost a magical and godlike element to it in many cultures and traditions. This good reason as it allows us to look inwards at ourselves and allows us to achieve higher consciousness and self-awareness.
Before you attempt to open your third eye chakra, make sure you have a strong foundation and that all lower chakras are unblocked. Once you have established this foundation, try to do as many (if not all!) of the 10 recommended techniques and practices to help open your third eye chakra.
Once you are able to open up your third eye chakra, you will begin to see the world in a new way and have a truer sense of self awareness and achieve higher levels of perception, wisdom, and guidance.
As mentioned in the beginning, Leonardo Di Vinci once said, “There are three types of people. Those who see, those who can see when shown, and those who cannot see.”
Finally, you will see.
Similarly, this experience of heightened and new perceptions reminds me of the blind character, Gloucester, in Shakespeare’s famous play King Lear, and perhaps your new enlightened self may echo a similar sentiment to Gloucester.
When asked how he perceived the world, Gloucester said,
“I see the world feelingly.”
With your third eye now unblocked, balanced, and opened, hopefully you will resonate with Gloucester and you will begin to perceive the world in astonishing new ways!
12.0 Sources:
https://betterme.world/articles/third-eye-opening-meditation/
https://www.changeyourenergy.com/blog/2489/enhance-your-intuition-opening-your-third-eye-chakra
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318128
https://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-pineal-gland
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-somatic-nervous-system-2795866
https://www.yogiapproved.com/om/nadis-101/
https://laquilaactive.com/blogs/news/the-real-science-behind-chakras
https://laquilaactive.com/blogs/news/how-to-unblock-each-chakra
https://laquilaactive.com/blogs/news/yoga-science-thinking-feelingly
https://laquilaactive.com/blogs/news/the-human-biofield-science-measurement-and-therapies
Shanti Arunkumar, Senior Contributor At L’Aquila Active
Learn more about Shanti by reading her bio below.
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