Camera Eyes - Searchlight Eyes

Do you let what you see come into you, or do you send your attention out to what you see? They are very different experiences. I've noticed that when I let what I see come into me the distinctions of 'out there', 'in here', and even 'me' drop away. When I send my attention out to what I am seeing it keeps things at a distance, separate. Each of these ways of seeing is useful, depending upon the situation you find yourself in.

Remove your contacts or glasses if you wear them and walk around and notice what it’s like to look at things. Notice what you feel around your jaw, neck and throat, chest, pelvis, and feet; in your breathing; and in and around your eyes.

Lay on your back comfortably. Imagine you are the sun, or a starfish, and as you inhale, ‘radiate out’ - extend your body outward, gently; not stretching, just extending. Then when you exhale, let everything flow in towards the center. Try this a few times.

Now bring your attention to your eyes. Let them rest in their sockets, giving in to gravity. With each exhale, let them relax a little more.

Look at something directly above you. Let your vision radiate out to it, let your 'seeing' flow out through your relaxed eyes so you 'shine a light' on what you see - as if your eyes are searchlights, shining into the night. Give this a try, then let it go, then try it again. Notice what you feel as you do this and where you feel it.

Then, let the image of what you see ‘fall into your eyes’; let it fall through your eyes, receive it deep in the center of your head, without making any effort. Like a camera, let the light flow in through your eyes to the center of your head. Notice what this is like, how it effects your breathing, the feeling in and around your eyes, your neck, jaw, chest, and spine. Try it a few times - let what you see come into you, softly.

As you notice how each of these ways of seeing feel, also notice if different emotions come up. Just notice; no need to do anything with them if they do arise.

Come to your feet and try each of these ways of seeing while standing, looking at different objects. Try it as you walk around.

Try looking with camera eyes and searchlight eyes with a partner if you wish - with someone you feel comfortable with. One partner look at the other, first with searchlight eyes, then with camera eyes. What do you experience as you try these different ways of looking? What is it like to be seen in each of these ways? Which do you prefer? Which do you find familiar? How might this effect your relationship with your world and with those you meet in your world?

Practice moving though the world with camera eyes or searchlight eyes in everyday situations, just for a moment or two from time to time. Start in easy situations, then gradually begin to experiment with greater complexity. Taking a walk, laying on your bed, reading, watching a movie, or talking with someone.

With camera eyes in particular, go slow, you are literally experiencing your visual world as if it is inside yourself. This may be startling, or threatening in some situations. It might also prove to be very calming.

Notice your experience as you try out these different ways of seeing. Feel your breathing, the sensations in your face, neck and throat, and chest. Notice if any emotions come up. Just notice. Keep checking in.

My thinking about different ways of seeing started on stage in a theater in New York City. I was performing in a dance company, my first time on stage in NY. I opened the show by stepping quickly to the downstage edge then rising up onto the toes of one foot as I extended my other leg up to the side, reached my arms wide over head and beamed out from all my pores. Or so it was supposed to go.

I hated doing it - it felt utterly foreign and fake to me. I could easily see how it fit the choreographer to a 'T'; he was the kind of person that beams with the greatest of ease.

I didn't begin to understand why it was hard for me until several years later when performing in Dallas with another dance company I was touring with. I was asked to create a solo for a woman visiting from Japan. There was a palpable difference in how she approached performing. After a little while I realized that she didn't beam out to the audience, she pulled the audience in.

I started calling this centripetal and centrifugal performing. It was really just a change in how you experienced what you were doing, a shift in attention. Most of us feel more natural doing one more than the other. I certainly felt more at home moving my attention inward and bringing the audience with me.

I began to notice this could effect all kinds of experiences, particularly seeing. Do you let what you see come into you, or do you send your attention out to what you see? They are very different experiences. I began to call this 'camera eyes' and 'searchlight eyes' when I started teaching to people to use in their every day lives.

I've noticed that when I let what I see come into me the distinctions of 'out there', 'in here', and even 'me' drop away. When I send my attention out to what I am seeing it keeps things at a distance, separate. Both have their uses, depending upon the situation you find yourself in.