Cultivating Sacred Eyes

There are times when we humans, surrounded by nature, are touched by what we see. For some of us walking in the forest or a lush meadow, listening to the expansive ocean, or the song of a bird awakens us to what I call a “sense of the sacred”. Many of us yearn for these experiences of such aliveness wherein we glimpse the mystery ~ the numinous at the heart of all life.

Physical seeing is surely a gift. Yet we all know moments when “we who have eyes cannot see”. Or we see but only at first glance, routinely, and miss what is really there to behold. Albert Schweitzer would encourage us to “Look at that tree, see it still caressed by the last Light of Day”. We are talking here about seeing beyond just the physical and opening ourselves to deep seeing… it might be what Rainer Maria Rilke would call “in-seeing”.

Have you ever lost time just sitting and seeing what is before you? Unfortunately many would call this wasting time and want to ask, “What are you looking at?” When we are truly seeing we are not looking at anything - we are entering into a kind of communion and oneness with that which we see. We begin to see what is really there! You can begin cultivating sacred eyes by recognizing the relatedness between what you see and yourself. Here are some suggestions:

Seeing With the Heart

How often have you said to another, “No, you don’t see what I am saying.” Or today we might hear, “You don’t get it!” We all truly want to be seen in our unique expression and way of being in life. We want, even if just for a moment, the other just to see what we are seeing. Hopefully we are learning to let go of the need for the other to agree with us!

How imperative today is the skill of seeing reality from another person’s point of view. It is not about agreeing or disagreeing with their point of view. It is simply seeing from their place of perception. When we can truly see from the other person’s point of view, we often return home to our own perception with greater insight. Not an easy task to learn, yet so rewarding. In the end, this practice of seeing draws hearts together rather than breaking them apart.

We are being called as a species to cultivate our capacity for seeing from the heart as well as from the mind. This is a form of inner seeing, insight, or intuition. When we see from this “inner soul-space” we listen to what we are seeing, we taste what we are seeing, we receive what we are seeing – just that!

All of us have patterned ways of seeing and making judgments about what we see. Habituated and unconscious patterns limit and hinder our capacity to see more clearly, openly, compassionately and lovingly.

An Invitation to See Oneness

As a human species many of us are being nudged, pushed and stretched to move out of an old paradigm based on domination and “positionality”. We see more clearly that these patterns do not serve life or relationships.

A new consciousness, a new world-view, is beckoning us to weave patterns of cooperation, mutuality and interdependence. We are coming to see our lives as capable of change and transformation. As we say yes to this process, scales do fall from our eyes and we begin to see ourselves, and one another as good and capable of kindness, peace-making and justice. Can we, the human species, learn to live as one among many species? The whole natural world calls us to awaken to our oneness and to live in right relationship with the entire community of life on planet Earth.

Teilhard deChardin, scientist, paleontologist, and mystic saw everything with sacred eyes. He reminds us that ~

Nothing here below is profane for those who know how to see.

On the contrary everything is sacred.

If you are interested in further reading see:

The Zen of Seeing, The Awakening Eye, A Passion for Seeing by Frederick Frank

Sacred Eyes: An Invitation to view the Entire Human Journey and Your Own Life with Sacred eyes by L. Robert Keck.


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Cultivating Sacred Eyes By Esther Kennedy, LCSW Seeing with Sacred Eyes There are times when we humans, surrounded by nature, are touched by what we see. For some of us walking in the forest or a lush meadow, listening to the expansive ocean, or the song of a bird awakens us to what I call a “sense of the sacred”. Many of us yearn for these experiences of such aliveness wherein we glimpse the mystery ~ the numinous at the heart of all life. Physical seeing is surely a gift. Yet we all know moments when “we who have eyes cannot see”. Or we see but only at first glance, routinely, and miss what is really there to behold. Albert Schweitzer would encourage us to “Look at that tree, see it still caressed by the last Light of Day”. We are talking here about seeing beyond just the physical and opening ourselves to deep seeing… it might be what Rainer Maria Rilke would call “in-seeing”. Have you ever lost time just sitting and seeing what is before you? Unfortunately many would call this wasting time and want to ask, “What are you looking at?” When we are truly seeing we are not looking at anything - we are entering into a kind of communion and oneness with that which we see. We begin to see what is really there! You can begin cultivating sacred eyes by recognizing the relatedness between what you see and yourself. Here are some suggestions: Take a moment to see yourself in a mirror and see your essence and innerness with no judgment, no rejection. Pause when in line at the market to truly see the one assisting you. Find something in nature and sit with it seeing it as fully as you can. Begin noticing the difference between “looking at” and “seeing” with a silent inwardness. Seeing With the Heart How often have you said to another, “No, you don’t see what I am saying.” Or today we might hear, “You don’t get it!” We all truly want to be seen in our unique expression and way of being in life. We want, even if just for a moment, the other just to see what we are seeing. Hopefully we are learning to let go of the need for the other to agree with us! How imperative today is the skill of seeing reality from another person’s point of view. It is not about agreeing or disagreeing with their point of view. It is simply seeing from their place of perception. When we can truly see from the other person’s point of view, we often return home to our own perception with greater insight. Not an easy task to learn, yet so rewarding. In the end, this practice of seeing draws hearts together rather than breaking them apart. We are being called as a species to cultivate our capacity for seeing from the heart as well as from the mind. This is a form of inner seeing, insight, or intuition. When we see from this “inner soul-space” we listen to what we are seeing, we taste what we are seeing, we receive what we are seeing – just that! All of us have patterned ways of seeing and making judgments about what we see. Habituated and unconscious patterns limit and hinder our capacity to see more clearly, openly, compassionately and lovingly. An Invitation to See Oneness As a human species many of us are being nudged, pushed and stretched to move out of an old paradigm based on domination and “positionality”. We see more clearly that these patterns do not serve life or relationships. A new consciousness, a new world-view, is beckoning us to weave patterns of cooperation, mutuality and interdependence. We are coming to see our lives as capable of change and transformation. As we say yes to this process, scales do fall from our eyes and we begin to see ourselves, and one another as good and capable of kindness, peace-making and justice. Can we, the human species, learn to live as one among many species? The whole natural world calls us to awaken to our oneness and to live in right relationship with the entire community of life on planet Earth. Find a moment each day when you set your intention to see more deeply. When in nature, sit and gently see what is before you, express gratitude. See those within your circle of family and friends with fresh eyes. Journal your reflections on seeing with sacred eyes and enjoy. Teilhard deChardin, scientist, paleontologist, and mystic saw everything with sacred eyes. He reminds us that ~ Nothing here below is profane for those who know how to see. On the contrary everything is sacred. If you are interested in further reading see: The Zen of Seeing, The Awakening Eye, A Passion for Seeing by Frederick Frank Sacred Eyes: An Invitation to view the Entire Human Journey and Your Own Life with Sacred eyes by L. Robert Keck.