Many people, myself included, experience visions during meditation. Whether it’s seeing your spirit guide or seeing bright and vivid geometric patterns, these visions are more common than you might think. But what do they mean? Why do they happen? And should you do anything about them?
There are many different understandings of meditation visions, ranging from the strictly scientific to the deeply spiritual. In this guide, I’ll try to explore all angles so you gain a thorough understanding of meditation visions.
What Are Visions in Meditation?
Meditation visions are images or scenes that appear in the mind’s eye. For instance, one of my clients, Dominik, came to me after he’d been seeing volcanoes while meditating. Others see different characters like spirit guides and various animals, and experience fascinating light patterns and geometric forms.
There are many different understandings of exactly what these visions are, why they occur, and what they mean. For instance, there’s the scientific explanation that they occur due to changes in brain states that lead to subconscious imaginings. And there are spiritual explanations, which are plentiful and range from Akashic Records to shamanic visions. More on those later.
What’s important is choosing how you personally interpret them and working with them based on your individual beliefs.
Types of Visions in Meditation & Their Meaning
Geometric Shapes
These can vary from specific sacred geometry (such as the Merkaba symbol) to colorful shapes whose meanings may not be immediately clear. Examples include bright tunnels representing life and rebirth, and honeycomb patterns, which can represent cosmic order.
Numbers, Symbols & Language
These can range from recognizable words in a language you do or do not know to numbers and symbols such as the sign for infinity or even computer code. These often represent higher knowledge or ancestral memories.
Faces & Eyes
Faces and eyes are two of the most recognizable shapes to the brain, so it is not unusual to see them in meditation. They could simply be memory fragments, they could represent your spirit guide, or they could represent spiritual awakening (especially if it is an Eye of Horus).
Animals
Some of the most commonly seen animals during meditation are wolves, snakes, dragons, big cats, and birds. Scientifically, we associate different animals with specific traits (such as tigers for power and eagles for freedom), so seeing them could represent certain emotions or qualities. Animals are also closely related to spirituality, and certain animals can mean specific things, such as snakes and dragons representing Kundalini awakening.
Different Environments / Landscapes
We naturally associate different landscapes with different emotions, such as a quiet park being peaceful and a volcano being dangerous, so seeing these places could represent emotions. Some spaces do have spiritual meanings as well, like a church or temple being divine or the ocean representing the collective unconscious.
Visions of the Past or Future
It’s not unusual to see memories from your past or possible scenes of your future. When you meditate, your mind organizes a lot of information, and you also become more aware of your subconscious, so remembering the past and imagining the future is normal. Sometimes you might also recall a past life or see glimpses of the Akashic Records.
Out of Body / Energy Visions
My most intense vision in meditation was floating around England above the clouds. Such out-of-body experiences are uncommon and they have been interpreted in many ways. Some see them as expansions of consciousness, others as contact with spiritual beings. When I was working with one of my clients, Sam, she had a visitation from a friendly old lady whom she took to be a spirit guide and whom imparted a deeply personal wisdom to her.
The Science Behind Meditation Visions
Visions during meditation are often linked to changes in brainwave states, particularly an increase in theta waves (which are associated with deep relaxation, dreaming, and subconscious activity). The visual cortex can also generate spontaneous imagery when sensory input is reduced, leading to geometric patterns and abstract visuals. This is similar to what happens in hypnagogia, the state between wakefulness and sleep, where the brain processes subconscious material in visual form.
These experiences may also be influenced by the default mode network (DMN), the part of the brain responsible for self-referential thinking and inner imagery. As meditation quiets the DMN, deeper layers of the mind become more accessible, which could explain why some people experience past-life visions, symbolic imagery, or vivid subconscious memories.
Working With Meditation Visions
Whether you interpret visions through a scientific or spiritual lens, the process of working with them remains the same. Science views them as insights from the subconscious, while spirituality sees them as messages from a higher source or spirit guide. Regardless of perspective, visions communicate through symbolism, speaking to the deeper layers of the mind. To truly understand them, we must engage with them on a subconscious level.
The key to working with meditation visions is to let their meaning unfold naturally—without forcing interpretation. Since this is the language of the subconscious, the conscious mind shouldn’t take control. Instead, approach your visions with playful curiosity. Look beyond the obvious, explore their deeper significance, and allow them to reveal themselves in their own time.
How To Have Meditation Visions / Journeys
I teach many different techniques to help people to take meditation journeys and to see visions, ranging from Third Eye meditation to Shamanic Journeying. All these techniques share certain things in common. For starters, you want to use rhythm to induce theta brainwaves, using either a drum or a chant at a rate of around 4 to 7 beats per minute as is done in shamanic rituals. You also want to lead your mind to daydream, which you can do either by observing the colours and shapes you see with your eyes closed (which is done in Entopic Meditation) or focusing on your Third Eye, which will activate your pineal gland. Doing this in complete darkness will also enhance the effects.
Here are six ways to work with meditation visions.
1) Specific meditation techniques for visions
- Shamanic Journeying
- Third Eye Meditation
- Vipassana with Visual Observation
- Guided Visualization
- Dream Yoga
- Entoptic Meditation
- Chakra Activation Meditation
- Darkness Meditation
- Mantra Meditation
- Scrying Meditation
2) Journal Your Visions
After meditation, write down everything you saw, felt, or experienced. Don’t try to analyze it immediately—just record it as it appeared. Later, revisit your journal and look for recurring symbols or patterns. Over time, your subconscious will begin to reveal connections and meanings.
3) Symbolic Free Association
Take a key image from your vision and write down the first words or ideas that come to mind. Let your mind wander without judgment. This exercise helps bypass the conscious mind’s tendency to overanalyze and allows deeper insights to emerge.
4) Active Imagination
A technique inspired by Carl Jung, active imagination involves re-entering your vision through meditation or visualization. Instead of passively observing, engage with the vision—ask a symbol or figure what it represents, or see where the imagery leads you. This can provide profound personal insights.
5) Ask for Clarification in Meditation
If a vision confuses you, return to meditation with the intention of gaining clarity. Before beginning, silently ask, “What do I need to understand about this?” Then, observe what arises without expectation. Sometimes, the answer comes not as another vision but as a feeling, a word, or a sudden realization.
6) Work with Me
In my lessons, I will guide you through divine exercises designed to help you access meditation visions and uncover their true meaning. With the right approach, your visions can become powerful tools for self-discovery and transformation.
Summary
It’s not uncommon to have visions when meditating because of changes in the brain that lead to deep relaxation, allowing the subconscious to communicate with us and perhaps for spirit guides to visit. These symbols can communicate important truths and share valuable insights, and it’s best to listen with an open mind. To experience this for yourself, or to understand the meaning of a vision you’ve already had, join me for private meditation sessions today.
Paul Harrison is a meditation teacher with 20+ years of experience and a deep passion for helping others. Known for his empathy and authentic approach, he’s dedicated to guiding individuals and teams toward mindfulness, clarity, and well-being.
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