Photo by Soheb Zaidi

When one hears the word “third eye,” they immediately start thinking about psychics, mediums or a special sight that lets people see things outside material reality.

However, the history and spiritual meaning of the third eye is deeper than what’s in the popular imagination. In some cases, it is actually the successor of very old, spiritual traditions from different parts of the world. It is also a recurring motif in several ancient belief systems that really pose the question about forces beyond the reach of the five physical senses.

Deepening the mystery is the question of how this concept ever came to be in the first place. The symbol of the third eye is often used to represent esoteric knowledge and a mental intuition that is astonishingly supernatural.

Untangling all of this can be crucial, even for those who are skeptical about the phenomenon. History is full of mystics and occult authors who cite older spiritual authorities to back up their claims about the supernatural world. Using their citations as references, scholars can eventually start tracing the evolution of the third eye concept as it passes along esoteric movements throughout the centuries.

And eventually, many may also find a deeper and more profound meaning beneath the idea.

The Third Eye’s Historical Roots

Photo by Vedanth Ravi

Title: Statue of Shiva

Alt text: Shiva statue

Anyone who searches up third eye origins will most likely learn that it is a very explicit concept in both Buddhism and Hinduism. Both religions have an abundance of art depicting avatars and gods with third eyes directly on the forehead.

According to their teachings, this generally represents the ajna chakra. This particularly chakra is believed to be associated with a person’s mystical intuition and a symbol of enlightenment. The chakra is also believed to be deeply connected with one’s spiritual growth, becoming sharper and more active as one moves closer to enlightenment.

Such teachings could be dated all the way back to the Vedic writings starting from 1500 B.C.E, which could mean that the third eye concept could have already circulated in both South Asia as well as many surrounding regions.

The same goes also for the spiritual and metaphysical principles underlying it. Third eye symbolism is often used hand in hand with the importance of spiritual maturity and a sense of the bigger picture. This is in contrast to the materialist, empiricist schools of thought in the 17^th centuries who insist on belief in only the things perceivable by the five physical senses.

Parallels in the History and Spiritual Meaning of the Third Eye

Now if one were to dissect the concepts represented by the third eye, one can actually see a lot of parallels with other philosophies and religious ideas outside of those of the Vedas.

For example, there is the idea of perceiving things beyond the illusion imposed from the exterior world. This is an idea found not only in Buddhism and Hinduism, but even in Greek philosophy (with the most world-famous example being Plato’s Cave).

The idea of the eye as a symbol of mystical power is not exclusive to South Asia either, as it is also a motif used in Ancient Egyptian religion as well as other belief systems across the Mediterranean peninsula. And while there are certainly plenty of differences in the abilities ascribed to these so-called ‘magic eyes,’ a lot of them are still associated with the concepts of illumination, perception and the banishment of proverbial shadows.

All of these could be put together to conclude that the history and spiritual meaning of the third eye descends from primordial beliefs in a higher sense that is necessary for grasping a higher truth about the world. Such beliefs are often of great importance to believers in esoteric knowledge and those who desire deeper answers to the nature of reality.

Modern Research into Third Eye Phenomenon and New Practices

Photo by Benjamin Wedemeyer

Title: Modern Third Eye Practice

Alt text: Lady meditating in garden

Up until the 1800s, the concept of the third eye remained within the sphere of eastern mysticism. However, that all changed when western mystics like Helena Blavatsky began to incorporate more ideas from Hinduism and Buddhism in the course of their own research into psychic abilities.

It is at this point that one can start seeing the origins of modern third eye practices. These include the theory that the third eye is actually the pineal gland (and, to an extent, how the pineal gland could be the key to enhanced intuition and sharper thinking).

This remains consistent with the history and spiritual meaning of the third eye as a form of extrasensory perception. The only difference now is that there is a wider range of resources that people can look up when learning how to open it.

Overall, one can safely say that the third eye is really just one part in a larger body of mankind’s pursuit of higher consciousness. It is a pursuit that spans a number of ancient religions and philosophies, and there will always be a great number of people who want to achieve spiritual enlightenment.

Want to start your own journey to higher consciousness? You can learn from the example told in Soul Licensed, which is now available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and ReadersMagnet.