Why Do My Eyes Twitch When I Meditate?

Dear Heather,

I think you might be lifting your gaze too high and causing muscle tension in the muscles around the eyes which is probably the reason for your eyes twitching during meditation.

Try this eye position technique: Hold your thumb upturned, extend your arm directly out in front of you and gaze at your thumbnail. Now lift the thumb so that its top edge is level with the top of your head. Let your eye gaze follow the thumbnail. Now close your eyes. Your eyes should be gently uplifted as if gazing at a distant mountain peak. See if that decreases the eyes twitching during meditation and if it also helps you experience increased calmness. Once you know where to place your gaze, you will not have to use your thumb to position the eyes.

I wonder if you have learned the reason why we uplift our eyes for meditation. When we enter a higher state of consciousness our eye gaze will follow and naturally uplift toward the point between the eyebrows, which is the seat of enlightenment. Our eye gaze naturally drops downward when our consciousness has slipped into subconsciousness — where our mind wanders and daydreams. In meditation, we seek to experience true Peace, true Joy, and other aspects of Divine Presence, and uplifting our eyes supports our efforts.

Many blessings on your meditation practice.

Nayaswami Mukti