Sacred Geometry – The Architectural Maths of the Universe

During meditation some people have the ability to see light. Others see colours that may take on shapes described as patterns such as mandalas, yantras, or “sacred geometry”. These unique visual patterns occur when a person closes their eyes and brings attention to the level of the third eye, called ajna chakra, during deep states of meditation. This chakra situated at the brow centre is an opening point available to some at various stages along their meditative path. Others may feel energy stronger in other areas of the body such as the heart, or abdomen and see only black or nothing at all. People report opening energetically at different centres in the body and at different times. There are usually some clear markers that a person is opening at this third eye point. Some may begin to become more intuitively aware, preemptive and have psychic dreams or premonitions. Others actually feel the sacred energy or Shakti lifting to the third eye in Savasana or meditation.

Many times over when working one to one with people in lying meditation or Savasana, I notice the eyes begin to gently quiver and shake when closed. When I ask that their attention is drawn to this quiver of the eyes, it’s a distinct feeling that people can feel and observe.

In my experience, there are often two reasons for this quivering of the eye muscles and the eyelids:

1. The eye quiver is an opening of the ajna chakra, our psychic and intuitive centre as the eyes and shakti lift up to this energetic centre. Ajna chakra is related to the pineal gland. Meditation is known to increase serotonin and assists us in “seeing the light”. Also note that melatonin is increased through meditation at this centre via activation of the pineal gland.
2. The eye quiver can be an opening of the heart. The eyes are said to be the windows to the soul but also hold the past pain of the heart or even past trauma (similar to EMDR). Scientifically speaking, the eyes are connected to the heart via the ocular-vagal reflex. The ocular nerve communicates with the trigeminal facial nerve which in turn communicates with the vagus nerve to slow or speed the heart rate up depending on the ways their eyes focus their gaze. Panoramic vision slows the heart rate and hyper-focussed vision in stressful states speeds the heart rate up. Often, if it is an opening of the heart, the person I am working with may release tears related to anger, grief or fear and be able to articulate the emotion or feeling as being related or felt in the heart. The heart is a place where people concentrate awareness and open from in many spiritual traditions and is not to be negated or placed second to the above.

Let’s now return back to the idea of sacred geometry and the opening of the third eye point. People sometimes comment on seeing circles of light, embracing one another in meditation. When they see this pattern, it is named the “flower of life”.
Let us explore…

In some sense, the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment is a pursuit of understanding reality. From another perspective, it is a pursuit of understanding the self. From a unifying perspective, it is the path to knowledge that the self and reality are the same. Carl Sagan supposedly once said, “We are the Universe experiencing itself”[1]. One could say that the path towards enlightenment is to come to terms with this statement fully. At the same time, we use other avenues to understand reality; the most prominent and influential is the use of mathematics.

For a very long time in human history, society has been fascinated by the ability of mathematics and geometry to represent the nature of our reality accurately. The relationship between geometry and a more spiritual understanding of reality has sometimes gone hand in hand. Often, we describe this phenomenon as sacred geometry. Some scholars today insist that the relationship between religion, geometry, and logic are more closely related and mutually inspire one another more than we typically give credit for[2]. This idea is far from new. A famous historical figure often attributed to having this similar outlook on spirituality and mathematics was the ancient philosopher of Greece, Pythagoras. Pythagoras’ name is most famous today due to the equation that every geometry student learns to solve for the sides of a right triangle:

a²+b²=c²

Ironically enough, little evidence suggests that Pythagoras first discovered the Pythagorean Theorem. Little is indeed known about the teachings of Pythagoras because he did not write anything down[3]. Nonetheless, the story around Pythagoras and his followers typically follows a theme that they both revelled in the perfection of geometry and were deeply spiritual. Some even believe that Pythagoras and his followers practised a form of meditation called incubation[4]. Some historians at least attest that Pythagoras and his followers began to attribute deep meaning to numbers beyond their practical use and argued that they signify deeper meaning about our universe[3].

An example of sacred geometry that often appears in human history is the Vesica Piscis:

This symbol and geometric structure frequently appear in religious architecture, especially those from the Catholic faith[5]. There are several meanings attributed to the shape. A single circle represents the One, or unity of being[5]. Two circles represent the duality formed when a soul temporarily separates from the whole to understand itself[5]. The Pythagoreans also knew this symbol and felt it represented the “Potential Logos”, where the Dyad (matter) becomes the Triad (perhaps because the two circles end up forming a third)[5].

Explaining the flower of life (often seen in meditation)

The Flower of Life is a complex geometric pattern of overlapping circles arranged in a hexagonal, flower-like structure. The pattern is recognised by many cultures all over the planet. This incredible pattern is created by overlapping circles intersecting at the middle of each circle, creating an image of a perfectly proportioned flower. The shape acts as the building block for the architecture of all living things, starting with the very first circle, with the source of consciousness arising from one source (the first circle).

It has been found in various cultures throughout history and has religious and scientific significance, representing the interconnectedness of all things and the fundamental principles of creation. From a scientific perspective, the Flower of Life represents mathematical tenets and geometric relationships. The Flower of Life is associated with quantum physics, with researchers suggesting that the pattern could have relevance due to its symmetrical properties and potential to represent the underlying structure of the Universe. To the spiritually minded, the pattern represents the Universe as a whole and the harmony in which the separate selves are united with the Whole.

Understanding these sacred geometry principles through art and architecture

The video below depicts my favourite spiritual artist that awakened my consciousness and awareness of my body and energetic system in my late teens. His name is Alex Grey, and the pictures depicted here are from my first spiritual book ever purchased: Sacred Mirrors. He explains some of the concepts we have discussed very beautifully. He also describes sacred geometry and ideal proportions by applying the golden ratio. Alex further references a 2007 study on how sacred art and architecture affect the amygdala. The brain responds to beauty in the right amygdala and insular region. Only artworks that displayed the golden ratio elicited such a response from the brain.

Watch him speak.