Sungazing

{{bronze}}[[File:The sun1.jpg|thumb|right|165px|A popular remedy for lacking blindness.]]{{newage}}
{{cquote|AAAH!! GOD, IT BURNS!!|||A common complaint}}
'''Sungazing''' is the practice of purposely staring directly into the [[Sun]] — something we very much hope your parents, your [[science]] teacher, or at least your [[common sense]] told you specifically '''not to do''',<ref group=note>Especially since there ''is'' a proper and safe way to observe the sun's surface by eye — projecting a telescopic image of the Sun onto a large screen. Since we're at it, as noted below, '''NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN WITH A TELESCOPE OR BINOCULARS''' since that will damage your retina(s) at best and will leave you blind at worst much faster.</ref> as it can incinerate your retinal photoreceptor cells like a magnifying glass incinerates an ant.

==Not seeing is believing==
[[File:Pieter_Brueghel_the_Younger—The_Parable_of_the_Blind.jpg|thumb|right|Early proponents of 
inducing blindness
 sungazing.]] 
Proponents of some [[New Age]] movements, ostensibly drawing on Eastern [[philosophy|philosophies]], claim that [[humans]] can absorb the Sun's [[energy]] directly and efficiently through their [[eyes]] by staring into the Sun for extended periods. This lacks any scientific explanation, since the eye does not have any means of photosynthesis and so cannot convert [[light]] into usable energy. While [[photon]]s striking the retina do cause chemical reactions that are then detected by the optic nerves, which are interpreted by the brain as sight, the body ''does not'' and ''cannot'' harvest that energy. The closest that the Sun has in providing nourishment for our body is that sunlight can cause the production of [[vitamin D]].<ref name=vitamind>[http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/are-you-getting-enough-vitamin-d#1 Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D? Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that promises great health benefits, yet most adults fall short] WebMD</ref> However, you do '''not''' need to bring your eyes anywhere near the sun for this to happen, since vitamin D is made in the skin.<ref name=vitamind/>

Nevertheless, some sungazers claim that they are able to survive without food, since they obtain all their "nourishment" directly from the Sun. This is a form of [[breatharianism]] (or [[inedia]]), a belief in survival without eating, a concept wholly rejected by the scientific community (and any other community with an ounce of common sense). While Superman does get his powers from [[Earth]]'s yellow [[Sun]], he's an alien from the planet Krypton, not a human being.<ref group=note>And according to the first Christopher Reeve ''Superman'' movie, even '''he''' eats when he's hungry.</ref> Even [[plant]]s, which do photosynthesise, require other nutrients for survival.

Leading sungazers and breatharians have seriously proposed sungazing as a solution to world hunger and other global problems.<ref>[http://www.naturalnews.com/040944_sungazing_ancient_practices_energy_medicine.html Sungazing: Discover the bright rewards of this ancient practice] by Carolanne Wright (Wednesday, June 26, 2013) ''[[Natural News]]''.</ref><ref>[http://archive.is/uhdae (Sungazing:) Do we need food to live? (and to heal?)] (Saturday, 02. April 2005 07:37PM) WaterSpirit Forum (archived copy from 7 Jul 2013 14:04:07 UTC).</ref> While it would in fact address certain problems (namely those centred on the continuing existence of breatharians), world hunger is unlikely to respond to this approach.

==Out of sight==
Currently, none of the sungazers' claims to obtain energy from sunlight or survive without food have been verified or reliably tested. Sungazers often also claim to achieve spiritual enlightenment by sungazing, a concept much less testable.

Due to the potential damage to the human eye,<ref>[http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/fact-fiction-myths-about-eyes#1 Myths About Your Eyes and Vision] WebMD</ref> sungazing activities are usually confined to the times after sunrise or before sunset when the sun is at its least bright, although some experienced practitioners have sungazed for long hours at other times of day.

In 2009, several [[Roman Catholic]] sungazers, who were hoping to see divine visions of the [[Virgin Mary]] rather than adhering to any of the New Age beliefs mentioned above, were treated for severe eye damage.<ref>[http://www.independent.ie/national-news/its-no-miracle-i-could-see-but-now-i-am-blind-1960587.html It's no miracle, I could see but now I am blind] by Aideen Sheehan (02/12/2009 | 05:00) ''The Irish Independent''.</ref>

===Warning to amateur welders===
''Don't look at the bright light with naked eyes. Ever!'' This is taught in "Welding 101". Welders use eye-protection. So should you, if you decide to look at the Sun.

It really isn't a good idea. Staring at the Sun is one of the things your mother told you not to do that really ''can'' make you go blind.<ref>[http://hubpages.com/hub/Will-Staring-at-the-Sun-Make-You-Go-Blind Will Staring at the Sun Make You Go Blind?] by Amy R. Balfour (Updated on June 29, 2008) ''HubPages''.</ref> Best to stick to the [[Masturbation|other ones]] which won't.

If you really want to see the Sun (say, to view sunspots or watch an eclipse), you can use a special sun-telescope telescope to project an image of it onto a white surface. (But <font color="red">do '''not''' try to do so through a regular telescope</font>, as doing so could instantly burn a hole through your brain.) Lacking that, you can use a pair of binoculars (and mount it on a tripod, if you have one) and use those to project onto something light, bright, or white. A sheet of paper works well. If you prefer not to use a projected image, you could also use a purpose-made telescope solar filter in order to view it in the eyepiece. You can view it without magnification by using either eclipse glasses (made by a reputable manufacturer) or welding glass (shade 12 or darker).

===In a nutshell===
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==See also==
*[[Breatharianism]]
*[[Kevin Trudeau]], who promotes this practice in both of his "natural cures" books
*[[Bates eye method]]
*[[Light woo]]

==External links==
*[http://www.sungazing.com/ Sungazing.com] &mdash; most content pulled offline due to medical and legal concerns "as well as an unready consciousness".

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|90%}}

[[Category:New Age]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience]]
[[Category:Woo]]

Categories: New Age, Pseudoscience, Woo