When I used to be first requested if I wished to mild journey, the one response I might muster was: “Huh?” But after a little analysis, I used to be all in.

Light journey is a apply pioneered by neurologist and psychologist Dirk Proeckl and medical psychologist and psychotherapist Engelbert Winkler. Flashing mild patterns, mostly facilitated by a lamp referred to as Lucia N°03, theoretically mean you can enter a deep meditative state, effortlessly—with out the psychological focus required to observe your ideas, quiet your thoughts, or focus in your breath. It’s like a light-induced meditation.

I quickly discovered myself mendacity down on a pleasantly cushioned, sheer-draped cover mattress with a Lucia N°03 mild positioned above my head. Theresa Peoples, a Lucia N°03 mild practitioner and proprietor of Flower of Light Lucia, who guides individuals by means of mild journey at her house studio, positioned headphones over my ears and pressed play on a soothing soundtrack. (The Lucia N°03 mild lamp, which has one halogen mild within the heart surrounded by eight LED lights, is linked to a pc program. The particular person guiding your session—Peoples, in my case—controls every little thing from a laptop computer, stopping and beginning this system and adjusting the depth based mostly in your desire.)

After I closed my eyes and Peoples turned on the Lucia N°03 lamp, I instantly noticed vibrant, kaleidoscope-like fractal patterns as in the event that they have been taking part in throughout a display on my eyelids. Within minutes, my ideas started to drift away earlier than I might full a sentence. And then my thoughts chatter stopped utterly. I used to be in a hard and fast state of awe, unaware of time and house. I used to be mild touring.

I can’t keep in mind a lot else about my 90-minute session (which appeared like 10 minutes), besides that it felt extraordinarily enjoyable and a bit out of this world. And afterward, it took a couple of minutes of wiggling my toes, sipping heat natural tea, and nibbling dried white mulberries to reawaken my senses and really feel like I used to be totally in my physique once more.

Ideally, it’s greatest to mild journey at evening, catch a journey house, and instantly go to mattress. I went within the afternoon, although, and wanted to get my daughter from faculty. Somehow, even driving in LA site visitors, I felt extraordinarily calm (in , safe-to-drive method). That feeling lasted for a few days.

The Effects of Lucia Light

Essentially, the aim of the Lucia N°03 mild is to information you into what’s referred to as an alpha-theta hypnagogic state. It’s a stage the place our mind waves are someplace between the alpha (8 to 13 hertz) and theta (4 to 7.9 hertz) frequencies—between rest and a deep meditative state that evokes creativity and lucid dreaming.

What’s occurring within the mind throughout the session? How is flashing mild so impactful, even along with your eyes closed? We requested Jamie M. Zeitzer, PhD, an affiliate professor within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. “Exactly how it works, no one’s quite sure,” says Zeitzer. Scientists do know that the flashing mild synchronizes or entrains the mind to (roughly) harmonize in a method that it usually doesn’t, until you’re sleeping or experiencing a seizure. And the eyelids act as a lightweight filter (about 90 p.c of sunshine is blocked), however lots nonetheless reaches the mind to have an impact.

There shouldn’t be a lot analysis on this remedy, however there are some budding hypotheses that mild remedy triggers the rise of sure neurotransmitters, like acetylcholine (a distinguished neurotransmitter all through the physique). It’s additionally attainable that there are adjustments within the sensitivity of the thalamus, a mind area identified for its function in features just like the sleep-and-wake cycle, ache, senses (besides smelling), cognition, arousal, and motor abilities.

Where to Go Light Traveling

It’s value a strive if you happen to’re open to experiencing mild journey with none expectation of a particular consequence—a lightweight exploration, so to talk. But going to a trusted skilled is vital. “The exact frequency and how they’re applied can [deliver] very different effects on the brain,” says Zeitzer. IntoMeSea in Santa Monica gives mild journey classes for one or two individuals at a time. Flower of Light Lucia gives particular person, {couples}, and group mild classes at its house studio and does native house visits within the better Los Angeles space.

Warning: If you’ve a historical past of light-induced epileptic seizures, this remedy could set off seizures throughout your session. You will be examined by your physician with an EEG to find out whether or not a seizure is prone to happen throughout a session, however there’ll all the time be some danger.

The Lucia N°03 mild shouldn’t be a medical system, however we all the time suggest consulting your physician previous to attempting a brand new remedy.

This article is for informational functions solely, even when and no matter whether or not it options the recommendation of physicians and medical practitioners. This article shouldn’t be, neither is it meant to be, an alternative to skilled medical recommendation, analysis, or therapy and may by no means be relied upon for particular medical recommendation. The views expressed on this article are the views of the skilled and don’t essentially symbolize the views of goop.