I’ve recently returned from an incredible three-day retreat on sacred Apache
land – three hours outside Tucson, AZ. It was my kind of perfect spa getaway: gourmet vegan food, incredible body work sessions, yoga and sound healing. I learned about desert herbs and came home with a bag of hand-picked chaparral, an aromatic shrub with strong antiviral properties. I hung it in my kitchen to dry and have been using it to make chaparral tea.
Every morning during the retreat, I would wake up around 6 am and slip into one of seven hot springs on the property, some small and scorching hot, others larger and more manageable. All completely beautiful, pure, natural and serene. Besides listening to incredible health lectures, every evening at sunset, I participated in the ancient practice of sun gazing.
What is sun gazing?
Sun gazing is an ancient method of healing that originated in India over 2000 years ago. The practice is found all over the world, particularly in Asia. The theory is that the sun is the energy force behind all life and indirectly (and I emphasize indirectly) staring at it can infuse the body and cells with energy. Our ancestors understood the relation between the sun and health. From the Aztecs to the ancient Egyptians, many ancient cultures revered sun gazing as an esoteric practice for high-ranking priests and shamans. Ancient Hindu scriptures write that it is the quickest way to charge the body’s cells. The practice involves standing barefoot on the earth and looking indirectly at the sun for a few minutes just as it is rising or setting on the horizon. The practice, which is recommended only for a few minutes, purportedly activates and increases (over time) the size of the pineal gland, the gland responsible for the body’s circadian rhythm (and associated with long life). With Sun gazing, people report improved health, increased energy levels, clearer thinking and an increase in awareness and intuition. The mind is cleared of mental clutter and the body begins to release toxins and rebalance itself. It changes the body energetically from the inside out. We are energetic beings. People have many different reactions, sensations and experiences. A blissful euphoric sensation may develop with practice.
How do you do it?
- Stand barefoot on the bare earth.
- Gaze only when the sun is low on the horizon – at sunrise or sunset. Before doing it, do your research and make sure you are ready to accept any consequences of doing it improperly.
- Pay attention to your eyes: Don’t stare or focus on the sun (This is very important as doing it improperly can damage the eyes), simply indirectly gaze at it. Do not wear sunglasses as this defeats the purpose of the practice.
- Stand relaxed. (All over the world, particularly men in Asia, you will see people open the palms of their hands toward the sun).
- Only do it for a few minutes.
- Even if you can’t see the sun due to clouds, trees, or buildings, just take in the radiance. Even after the sunset, there’s a lot of great energy in the air worth taking in.
Sun gazing is not for everyone but regardless of its history and purported benefits, it’s lovely to take the time to offer gratitude for an amazing day.
With love,
Charlene