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MotherNaturesSon
Neuromancer ☿



Registered: 05/21/09
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Why EYES in particular? (within the psychedelic experience)
#21097293 - 01/10/15 02:37 PM (9 years, 4 months ago) |
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Seriously? Has anyone ever thought of that?
Why do so many psychedelic experiences report the presence of eyes within the visions/hallucinations themselves?
Any speculations or research out there?
Or am I just surrounded by people who see eyes during the experiences? For me, personally, I don't think I've had a single hallucinatory session without at the very least a single depiction of an eye in my visions.
I'm simply fascinated with what it could mean psychologically, symbolically, archetypically, etc.! So let's hear some ideas- btw, hi- it's been a while, shroomery.
Linked with PS&P (if you want to get some different perspective):
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/21097289
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Excerpts of inner dialogue III-V-VIII: "Im no saint, but I do have genuine intentions." "So you believe in intensions?" "No. I believe in being genuine." "The goal is to become more child-like, and less child-ish."
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Synthe
Gatorade me, bitch!



Registered: 11/10/12
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Re: Why EYES in particular? (within the psychedelic experience) [Re: MotherNaturesSon]
#21097334 - 01/10/15 02:48 PM (9 years, 4 months ago) |
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Probably because as humans, we are hardwired to recognize human faces. It's an evolutionary advantage. Sometimes we recognize faces in patterns all around us, (clouds, or when people imagine they saw an alien) and the sensory stimulation caused by psychedelics probably exacerbates that.
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TheScientificMethod
Psychonautic Explorer & Writer



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Re: Why EYES in particular? (within the psychedelic experience) [Re: Synthe]
#21097377 - 01/10/15 02:56 PM (9 years, 4 months ago) |
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I don't know why, but it's had a major impact on me. I am in the final stages of a half-sleeve tattoo based mostly on my psychedelic experiences, and so far I've worked many eyes into it for many different reasons. Why though... who fucking knows...
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DividedQuantum
Outer Head


Registered: 12/06/13
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Re: Why EYES in particular? (within the psychedelic experience) [Re: MotherNaturesSon] 2
#21097751 - 01/10/15 04:20 PM (9 years, 4 months ago) |
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Because when one gets to 'that place,' one sees that consciousness pervades existence, so that, in essence, every point in space is like a little eye. Like the jeweled net of Indra.
-------------------- Vi Veri Universum Vivus Vici
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Deviate
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Re: Why EYES in particular? (within the psychedelic experience) [Re: DividedQuantum]
#21098051 - 01/10/15 05:27 PM (9 years, 4 months ago) |
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Yes to the above. What we see is a reflection of ourself and since we are the eye of existence, we see eyes looking back at us, since all we are doing is looking at ourselves. Its quite simple really.
Edited by Deviate (01/10/15 05:27 PM)
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MotherNaturesSon
Neuromancer ☿



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Re: Why EYES in particular? (within the psychedelic experience) [Re: Deviate]
#21101597 - 01/11/15 12:28 PM (9 years, 4 months ago) |
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It is interesting to see how many I know (including one here) attribute the eyes to a religious teaching of sorts, however I am not really convinced about that. Although obviously, having read said religious texts and been taught of the significance of the symbol of the eye- it would not be farfetched to come to the conclusion that that could have had major influence behind the reason of the eyes appearances in our visions, however I have encountered situations were people were neither religious, nor had interest in esoteric symbology of the eye and still- they saw overwhelming amounts of eyes during their trips...
Generally, the symbol of the watching eye is encountered throughout civilisations, although I'm unsure wether they are connected historically as merely a symbol shared by merging cultures or wether it goes deeper and could turn out to be a rather more archetypical kind of matter. I have noticed that when I let go of my mind and let it wander during trips, especially heavy ones, my thought process and cognitive experience seems to shift to an entirely archetypical pattern that's brimming with symbols and geometry.
This isn't rule mind you, but I'm highly interested; in psychoanalysis of Jung an archetype is a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors, and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious.
Could the all seeing/observing/higher/mystical eye be an archetype of a subtle, yet most basic aspect of the human experience?
Deviate, you made an interesting point that perhaps the eyes are an expression of the act of consciousness experiencing the manifestation of the entirety of the human mind and therefore existence. Given that, it would somehow be you looking at all of yourself- hence the eyes peering back at you through your visions. I've had this notion myself, but it doesn't really seem to be a good cognitive explanation. Symbolically beautiful and poetic though.
Synthe, I've thought about that possibility as well and this sounds like a more cognitive explanation, true, but I'm not really convinced by it either. Not to say I don't think what you suggested plays a role in the unfolding of the visuals one experiences, however the eyes in particular, during closed eyes visuals, in the void where there is nothing apparent there to "recognise" as a face or set of eyes- the eyes seem to have a more symbolical impact on me and there's a sense of communication, as we tend to communicate whilst keeping eye contact. Generally, eyes are connected to to the very sense of "contact" and "communication".
Maybe the answer lies somewhere between yours and Deviates? That is what I'm try establish using the archetypical approach, although I currently have nothing substantial to present. That's why I'm looking for input from various sources of people
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Excerpts of inner dialogue III-V-VIII: "Im no saint, but I do have genuine intentions." "So you believe in intensions?" "No. I believe in being genuine." "The goal is to become more child-like, and less child-ish."
Edited by MotherNaturesSon (01/11/15 12:48 PM)
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Trancedd
candyflipper



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Re: Why EYES in particular? (within the psychedelic experience) [Re: MotherNaturesSon]
#21103194 - 01/11/15 06:00 PM (9 years, 4 months ago) |
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Isn't the eye a symbolic representation of infinity?
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