Candle Gazing

According to Chinese philosophy of healing, the eye is the "window of the soul." As such, the eye reflects the internal health of an individual; for example, the yellowish tint in the whites of the eyes may indicate jaundice or liver problems; the dark circles around the eyes may reflect a toxic colon. The human eye is connected to the liver, blood, and the nervous system. In other words, vision health is holistic health, involving the whole body.

Chinese healing is based on the concept of balance and harmony, expressed in the "yin" and the "yang." For thousands of years, the Chinese believe that the human eye is "yang"; and candle gazing can significantly improve the health of not only the eyes but also the liver. In fact, the ancient Taoist masters believed that candle gazing has the capability to alleviate not only many eye problems but also some latent ailments inside the body. Candle gazing has internal cleansing effect, because candle gazing induces tears to clear the white of the eyes, as well as to remove toxins from the liver.

1.    Sit in front of a lighted candle at arm's length in a dark environment.

2.   Gaze, without blinking, at the candle flame. If necessary, close your eyes for 5 to 10 seconds.

3. Continue to keep your eyes open, staring at the flame and edging its outline.

4.   Breathe naturally.

5.   Allow tears to run down your cheeks; keep your eyes  open even wider to benefit from the deep cleansing effect.

6.   Practice for 5 to 10 minutes. End the session by blinking your eyes, and then massaging gently the eyeballs with all your fingers.

Candle gazing is instrumental in clearing the whites of the eyes, making them shine with brightness. Practicing candle gazing daily enhances your vision health.

Stephen Lau

Copyright ©  by Stephen Lau