Seeing colors during meditation can be a fascinating and meaningful experience. For some, it may come as a surprise the first time it happens. However, it’s actually relatively common. The colors are often vivid and can appear in a variety of patterns and forms. Let’s take a closer look at what it might mean if you see colors when you meditate.
Overview of Seeing Colors During Meditation
Many meditators report visual experiences involving color during their practice. This can happen with eyes open or closed and may take the form of flashes, swirls, patterns, or even fully formed images made up of color. The prevalence varies but studies suggest 17–38% of meditators experience color visions.
Some key points about seeing colors during meditation:
| Experience | Visions of color patterns, flashes, images while meditating |
| Prevalence | Studies show 17% – 38% of meditators |
| Types | Swirls, flashes, formations, complex images |
| Causes | Deeper state of consciousness, neural changes |
The experience can vary from person to person from simple blobs of color to intricate mandalas and visions. The colors themselves cover the full spectrum, with red, green, blue, purple, and yellow being fairly common.
Potential Causes and Mechanisms
Why does this color phenomenon happen for some during meditation? There are a few potential causes and mechanisms that may explain it:
1. Changes in brain wave frequencies
As we settle into deep meditation, our brain waves begin to change, shifting from busy beta and alpha waves into slower theta and delta frequencies. These are associated with dream sleep. Visions may occur as parts of the brain become more active in these frequencies.
2. Neural excitation patterns
Related to the frequency changes, meditation also impacts the excitation patterns between neurons. The changes in neural firing and connections could conceivably manifest as senses or visions.
3. Release of visual imagery
On a psychological level, meditators often report more spontaneous visual imagery arising. When we relax our rational mind’s need to control and interpret experience, latent imagery may naturally surface.
4. Changes in brain blood flow
Imaging studies suggest meditation increases blood flow to the visual cortex at the back of the brain. This may lead to seeing light or color as that area becomes more active.
5. DMT or other compounds
Speculatively, naturally occurring psychedelic compounds like DMT could play a role in inducing visions in deep meditative states. However, more research is needed here.
| Cause | Explanation |
| Brain wave changes | Shifting into theta/delta frequencies |
| Neural excitation | Changes in neural firing patterns |
| Visual imagery | Spontaneous imagery arises |
| Blood flow changes | More blood in visual cortex |
| Psychedelic compounds | Possibly DMT or others |
So in summary, seeing colors may be related to the meditative brain entering a more visual, dreamlike state of consciousness.
Subjective Meaning and Interpretation
If you see colors when meditating, how might you interpret or find meaning in the experience? This is highly subjective, but here are some possibilities:
Energy centers
In eastern traditions like yoga, the different colors are associated with different chakras or energy centers in the body. Red, green, yellow for lower chakras, blue purple for upper. You may associate the colors with energy moving through these areas.
Guidance
Some believe visions can provide guidance from spiritual realms or the subconscious mind. The meaning may relate to colors’ common associations (green for heart/nature, blue for calm/clarity).
Pleasant effect
You may not attribute any larger meaning, but simply find the colors calming, interesting or aesthetically pleasing as a meditation effect.
Intuitive insight
More symbolic patterns or imagery could represent intuitive insights arising during meditation. However, interpretation should not distract from practice.
Letting go
Alternatively, you may see the colors as a distraction and aim to simply witness them without attachment or judgment before gently returning focus to your object of meditation.
| Meaning | Explanation |
| Energy centers | Associated with chakras |
| Guidance | Messages from subconscious |
| Pleasant effect | Enjoyable result of meditation |
| Intuitive insight | Symbolic of new understandings |
| Letting go | Witnessing without attachment |
The specific meaning depends on your personal beliefs and perspective. Be open to different interpretations.
Associated Meditation Practices
Certain meditation types are more associated with visual color experiences than others. Here are some practices where color visions are more likely to arise:
– Kundalini Yoga and Chakra Meditations
These involve visualizing the chakra energy centers, so colors may naturally come up. The practices aim to awaken kundalini energy in the spine, which could manifest as sensations.
– Chanting/Sound Meditations
Here the repetition of mantras and sounds can induce trance-like states where visions often occur. The vibrations may resonate with different energy centers.
– Psychedelic-Assisted Meditation
Meditating under the influence of substances like LSD, ayahuasca or magic mushrooms frequently produces visual color phenomena as part of the psychedelic effect. However, legality and ethical issues around these drugs should be considered.
– Visualization Practices
Any meditations that involve mentally picturing images tend to activate the visual cortex and can lead to spontaneous visions. Visualizing inner worlds or teachers could trigger this.
– Deep Insight Meditations
Methods emphasizing expanded consciousness like Zen or formless vipassana may produce color visions as meditative awareness deepens beyond the thinking mind.
Again, the specific practice style matters less than achieving a deeply absorbed, trance-like state of consciousness where latent aspects of mind arise.
| Practice Style | Description |
| Kundalini | Chakra energy system |
| Chanting/Mantra | Sound induces visions |
| Psychedelic-assisted | Meditating with psychedelics |
| Visualization | Mentally picturing images |
| Insight Meditation | Going beyond thinking mind |
Again, the overall depth of meditative absorption matters most for colored visions, not necessarily the style.
Should You Attach Special Meaning to the Colors?
For most meditators, the color experiences are not profoundly life-changing, just interesting phenomena. However, some do attribute deep spiritual or mystical significance to them. So should you? Here are a few considerations:
– Remain open, but skeptical. Some meanings may hold insight for you, but don’t blindly accept all interpretations.
– Weigh the source. Teachers and texts that are grounded and pragmatic may offer helpful perspective. More fantastical sources may lead you astray.
– Consider scientific explanations first for phenomena. Things like neural excitation patterns can account for many meditation experiences without supernatural assumptions.
– Let practice deepen gradually. With time, the meaning and best approach to colors will become clearer than analyzing intellectually.
– Focus on practical application. If the colors provide inspiration or insight that improves your life and behavior that is great. But don’t get lost in mental interpretation alone.
– Remember impermanence. As novel as color visions may seem, they will arise and pass like any other experience. Don’t cling to them or crave their return once gone.
The colors can be meaningful, but don’t become overly attached to them or any particular explanation for them. Stay grounded and let your practice mature over time.
Conclusion
Seeing colors during meditation is a common visual phenomenon. The experience can range from simple blobs of light to intricate patterns and fully formed imagery of colors. Possible causes include changes in brain frequencies, blood flow, and neural firing that occur in deep meditation states. Subjectively, the colors may relate to energy centers, guidance, insights or pleasant effects, depending on one’s interpretative lens. Some practices like kundalini and chanting meditations are more associated with colors than others. However, reaching a deeply absorbed state is the most important factor. While fascinating, attaching too much exotic meaning to the colors can create distraction and fantasies that pull you from mindfulness. Instead, remain open and balanced in your understanding, neither overly awed nor dismissive of your inner experiences. With time and deeper practice, the import and meaning of any meditation experiences will naturally unfold on their own.
