Shamanic seeing is less about learning something new and more about remembering how to be present. It begins by softening the gaze—letting go of the habit of focusing so hard—and allowing awareness to expand. When I do this, my mind settles, my body relaxes, and I begin to sense the quiet energy that connects everyone around me.
This way of seeing is inspired by ancient contemplative practices that teach us to relax rather than strain. When the eyes soften, the whole system responds. Thought slows down. Perception opens. What emerges isn’t dramatic or flashy—it’s subtle, relational, and deeply alive.
I return to this practice again and again because of how accessible it is. There’s nothing you have to *do*. You can be seated. You don’t have to move. You don’t have to believe anything in particular. You simply allow your attention to rest differently, and something shifts. It gently carries you out of your head and into your body, into a quieter way of knowing.
Much of what I understand about shamanic seeing has come from time spent in nature. Sitting still and watching squirrels, birds, or trees, I began to notice life energy everywhere. Sometimes it shows up as a visual impression, sometimes as a feeling, and sometimes just as a clear sense of presence and connection. The world starts to feel less separate and more like a shared conversation.
Shamanic seeing isn’t about seeing something extraordinary. It’s about learning to see what’s already here, but unseen by ordinary eyes. For me, shamanic seeing is one way I step into a more loving, reciprocal relationship with the living world.
Practice Shamanic Seeing
To practice shamanic seeing, sit somewhere outdoors if you can. Otherwise, try to sit by a window or in a room where other humans and more than-humans are around. Take off your glasses. Look straight ahead where you see or imagine the horizon is in the distance, as if you were watching the sunrise. Now take a deep breath and close your eyes.
Now open your eyes and gaze straight out at the sunrise again. Without moving your head, look down with both eyes, towards the Earth. Look straight ahead toward the sunrise again, then keep your head still and look up as far as you can to the sky. Look back at the horizon. Gaze left as far as you can, then look straight ahead. Holding your head still, gaze right as far as you can. Look straight ahead at the horizon again and repeat the whole sequence for three minutes. (With practice you can build up to fifteen minutes.)
After you last full cycle, take a deep breath and close your eyes.
With your eyes closed, rub the palms of your hands together to create lots of heat. Cup your warm hands over your closed eyes, then open your eyes inside your hands. Feel the heat flow into your eyeballs, back into your eye sockets, and into the center of your skull. Let the heat flow, softening your eyes, until your hands begin to cool. Now close your eyes and release your hands.
When you open your eyes, gaze softly at the other beings around you, Allow any shifts in your vision to occur and see beyond what you usually do to the magic.
When you are done seeing, close your eyes for a moment and intend your vision to return to normal before opening your eyes again.
