The Pineal gland is a 3-5mm small endocrine gland in the center of the brain close to the brainstem. It is shaped like a pine cone and produces Melatonin, which regulates our brain activity (e.g. sleep). The pineal gland has more blood flow than any other organ and therefore it is believed that it is the gland with the highest concentration of energy in the human body.
Function of the pineal gland
When the retina in our eyes senses darkness, it sends a signal to the pineal gland to produce melatonin. This hormone affects our mood, immune function, our sleep and also our circadian rhythms (our natural 24h-rhythm). Further melatonin is a powerful anti-aging and anti-stress agent. If the melatonin level in our body is out of balance, we can experience mood swings and even depression.
An activated and healthy pineal gland further metabolizes other neurochemicals such as pinoline and Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). DMT is also used as a Hallucinogen in many cultures since centuries, for example in South America under the name Ayahuasca. Our body produces DMT naturally when we sleep. It is still not clear, where it is produced (some scientists believe in the pineal gland itself).
The third eye in animals
Some amphibians and reptiles, such as lizards, frogs, salamanders, and even sharks have a light-sensing organ called parietal eye (or pineal eye or also third eye) between their regular eyes. It is not found in mammals (including humans) but was present in their closest extinct relatives, the therapsids.
History of the Pineal Gland
Madame Blavatsky (Russian philosopher) linked the pineal gland with the Hindu concept of the Ajna chakra in the late 19th century. René Descartes (French philosopher) believed that the human pineal gland is the “principal seat of the soul”. People all over the world believed for millennia (and still believe) that the pineal gland is an organ of supreme universal connection. Archaeologists found artwork and artifacts with the pinecone-shaped organ in many ancient cultures. For example, in the Vedic culture of ancient India as Ajna Chakra or in ancient Egyptian as Eye of Horus or Eye of Ra. The Egyptians even preserved the pineal gland separately in the mummification process.
Spiritual Aspects of the Pineal Gland
It is believed that the activation of the pineal gland will open the Ajna Chakra or Third eye. This will lead to inner vision, insight, wisdom, clarity, concentration, imagination and intuition.
Many people believe that the opening of the third eye will make you see auras, spirits, and more things, which you can not see with our two biological eyes. This perception is wrong. We have two eyes to see the world around us and one eye (the third eye) to see inside ourselves. Opening the third eye will give us intuition and imagination, but it will never let us see things like we see things with our biological eyes. The seeing happens inside of us.
Activation of the Pineal Gland / Opening of the Ajna Chakra
NOTE: If you try to open your third eye before you are ready, many unpleasant side-effects like will disrupt your path to enlightenment. The rise of consciousness must happen gradually and step-by-step. You have to open all other chakras which lie below the Ajna Chakra first.
Opening a chakra is a process of changing patterns, solving personal issues and evolving in your own nature. However, there are some things you can do to support that process.
- Avoid Fluoride (it calcifies your pineal gland). Tab water, all common toothpaste and artificial drinks contain fluoride.
- Following supplements support the purification of the pineal gland: lemon, honey, hemp seeds, spirulina, raw cacao, watermelon, coconut oil, bananas.
- Pine, sandalwood and lavender essential oil stimulate the pineal gland.
- Use gemstones (amethyst, rhodonite, sodalite, purple sapphire, purple violet tourmaline) to balance the Ajna Chakra.
- Salute the sun in the morning. Either with Suryanamaskara in the first rays of the new day or with simply showing gratitude to the sun in the morning.
- Aum-Chanting (108 times), Trataka with flame, Shambhavi Mudra, Bhramari Pranayama, Meditate on the Ajna Chakra