“Seeing with the Eyes of the Heart” Meditation

When we are in challenging circumstances or at odds with others, we sometimes find it difficult to access our hearts. When we can access our hearts, we can tap into our heart’s powerful wisdom to help us shift our perspective, view the situation with love and compassion, and respond rather than to unconsciously react.

Heart energy is also relevant in the Andean shamanic tradition that I follow, where we work with the Inca Medicine Wheel and the archetypal energies of each cardinal direction to bring transformation to our lives. In the East, we work with the archetypal energy of Eagle/Condor. Eagle/Condor are together here because, according to prophesy, Eagle energy – rational, technological (mind, masculine energy) – would dominate Condor energy – intuitive, feminine, heart-based energy for 500 years. After that time, the two would come together, creating harmony and a new consciousness would arise. Eagle/Condor help us with vision, to see new perspectives and the bigger picture. They look for possibilities and opportunities rather than getting stuck in the details. Eagle/Condor reside in the heart chakra and so, among other things, Eagle/Condor help us to see with love.

This reminds me of a channeling from Archangel Michael through Reverend Ana Jones where Archangel Michael says -  “see with the eyes of the heart.” When we move inward, to our hearts, we can see the world with more beauty and, in turn, the outer possibilities expand. We’re able to shift our perspective and dive deep into the well of wisdom, love and compassion that fills our sacred hearts, which can help us rise above the muck and chart new paths for a situation or our relationships.

“Seeing with the Eyes of the Heart” Meditation

• Come to a meditative seat.
• Sitting comfortably, close your eyes.
• Notice the points of your body touching the floor or seat and feel supported, not only by the floor or your seat, but by the earth.
• Bring your attention to your breath. Take a deep breath in through the nose and exhale through the mouth, releasing any tension that you might be holding.
• Again—inhale through the nose, full and steady. Exhale through the mouth, letting the shoulders soften, the jaw unclench.
• Allow your breath to settle into a natural rhythm.
• Feel your body relax even more into the earth.
• Bring your attention to a situation that is currently challenging you. Notice what you feel or sense in your body as you focus on this situation.
• With this situation in mind, draw your attention to your heart. Take a deep breath in, and a deep breath out.
• Notice how your heart feels about the situation. Sit with it and let any emotions arise. Allow them to come and go like waves.
• Now imagine a beautiful mountain sitting in the landscape of your energetic heart. It can be snow-covered or sparse. Let yourself fill in the details and the picture to unfold.
• See yourself sitting on top of this mountain. Notice what you see and feel – perhaps the color of the sky, any flowers or trees, wind against your skin.
• As you sit, you notice, out of the corner of your eye, two large birds flying closer to you. As they draw closer, you notice their beauty and strength, but you are not frightened. You know they are here to help you.
• When they finally arrive and land beside you. Ask them to how you can work with the energy of the heart to see the bigger picture of the situation, a new perspective. Ask them to help you see the situation more clearly, to “see with the eyes of the heart.”
• Let them relay their message, which may be in images, symbols, or something you intuit or simply know.
• Let the message land in your heart.
• Take a deep breath and exhale out of the mouth to release any resistance to the message.
• As you hold this message in your heart, thank Eagle and Condor for sharing their message with you.
• Let the image of the mountain and Eagle/Condor fade away as you bring your attention back to your breath, back into the room.
• Notice how you feel, if there is a shift in perspective, in consciousness, if any possibilities that you haven’t thought of before were revealed.
• As you’re ready, open your eyes and jot down any notes from your experience.

You can listen to the audio version of this meditation here: