The eye, the organ by which the world is seen, has long held an elevated place in collective mythology. Recall the eye of Horus, commonly represented with a spiraling line below it like that of a hawk, who soars above all and sees all. In some spiritual traditions such as Hinduism, the eye (known also as the third-eye) represents the ability to perceive beyond ordinary sight. It is known also as the ‘eye of the heart’ which allows one to look inward with spiritual clarity. Recall also the Eye of Providence as seen on the Great Seal of the United States. It is a celestial symbol representing the Eye of God, watching over all — or in some interpretations, it represents the Eye of Reason, providing clarity by which right action is taken.
Sight is a powerful ability as we all know. The degeneration or absence of it is seen (particularly by those of us who still possess it) as a terrible blow to one’s ability to function properly in the world. But the altering of sight (even its complete incapacitation) can sometimes be seen as a benefit to those who receive the alteration. Take, for instance, the shamanic tradition of ingesting psychedelics to gain insight and understanding. Recall, also, the story of Odin, who sacrificed one of his eyes in order that he might drink from the Well of Urd, from which he gained wisdom and the secret knowledge of magical runes.
In both instances we see the augmentation of perception, the broadening of the individual’s ability to see and understand the world around them, through temporary and (in the case of Odin) permanent alteration of the sight organ. These boons come at a cost, however: madness, in the case of the shaman; pain and physical impairment in the case of Odin. The point being, apparently, that insight and deeper knowledge come at a cost — once your vision has altered, you will never see things the same again.
(Additionally, I will point you to the real-life case of Daniel Kish who has been blind since the age of 13 months. He developed the incredible ability to navigate the world through a form of echolocation, a method of perception those in the sighted community have barely tapped into. Learn about his story in his TED Talk and NPR’s TED Radio Hour. While some might see his lack of visual perception as a disability, in reality his echolocation abilities give him an incredible, non-typical way of ‘seeing’ the world — one that has allowed him a unique perspective on life itself.)
“The eye altering, alters all.” — William Blake
As a visual artist, the eye holds great symbolic resonance with me. Not only does it represent the physical act of seeing, by which the world is interpreted by the artist and then again by the viewer, but it represents, too, one of the highest goals of art-making: revelation. Even the most mundane subjects in everyday life can be made to hold greater weight, to reveal truths about the world and the experience of humankind, when shaped by an artist with a unique vision. And let’s not pretend that’s not a vital service.
“You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It’s just a matter of paying attention to this miracle.” — Paulo Coelho
Familiarity breed indifference, an emotional blindness, to the gifts of the world. Indifference allows for the ease of separation, by which society loses its cohesion and humanity loses its appreciation for the natural world. The symbolic eye is an ancestral reminder to look beyond the familiar. Look, See, Understand. Repeat.