Let There Be Light – Interview with Dr. Jacob Liberman

Conscious Community Podcast

by Janae Jean and Spencer Schluter –

For this interview, we had the honor of speaking with Jacob Liberman, O.D., Ph.D. Dr. Liberman is an optometrist, vision scientist, author, speaker, mentor and consultant. His most recent book, Luminous Life: How the Science of Light Unlocks the Art of Living, blends modern science and philosophical wisdom. Over his more than four-decade career, he has worked with over 40,000 people and has developed numerous light, color and vision therapy instruments. You can find out more about his work, books, upcoming events and more at www.jacobliberman.org.

The following article is only a brief snippet of our conversation. Subscribe to the Conscious Community Podcast on iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher, TuneIn and YouTube, or go to www.ConsciousCommunityMagazine.com to hear more insights from Dr. Liberman and listen to previous podcasts.

Spencer: Could you tell us a little about your background?

Dr. Jacob Liberman: I was trained as an optometrist and a vision scientist. I began doing that work in 1973. I had a series of profound experiences that really shifted my way of looking at and understanding what it meant to see. In 1976, I had a sudden shift in eyesight while in the midst of a meditative experience. That change in eyesight resulted in a 300 percent improvement in my ability to see, which has now lasted for 42 years. So, I have not worn glasses since that day 42 years ago. What’s interesting is that that 300 percent improvement in eyesight occurred with no change to the eyes. In other words, the prescription in my eyes didn’t change at all, yet I was seeing significantly better. So, it caused me to recognize that we don’t see from the eyes. There is some aspect of our humanity that is actually having this experience.

The journey for me over the last 40-plus years has been about investigating the integration of light, vision and consciousness. What began as a miraculous shift in my eyesight got me into the area of light and color-therapy and to the realization that light is far more than the brightness that we experience when we look out during the day. Light is actually the intelligence of life, the foundational energy from where life emerges. When light interacts with the eye, it is literally looking for the eye, moving it toward the next thing in our life that we’re supposed to attend to. We often hear the expression “It caught my eye.” But, we rarely ask what is the it that caught our eye. Having looked at this both as an eye doctor and as a scientist for 45 years now, I’ve come to realize that what catches our eyes is actually looking for us and guiding our life’s journey.

Janae: We’ve talked a lot in our interviews about the integration of science and spirituality. In your book, you discuss the Biblical phrase, “Let there be light.” It seems like we’ve boxed in the definition of what light is. Were ancient people more open in their understanding of light?

JL: Whether you look at it from spirituality, hard science or religion, they all converge to exactly the same point. One of the things that the book is really speaking about is that most people confuse consciousness or awareness with the “mind chatter” that we experience throughout the day, which is something totally different. When people experience thoughts going on within them what most of them don’t realize is the reason we are aware of this phenomenon is because our true essence is actually observing it. If there wasn’t an “Internal Witness” or “Observer” that sees with no point of view, we would never be aware of the thinking, worrying or the internal rehearsal that most of us experience throughout the day. That “Internal Witness,” that does not speak, is the source of the seeing. It is actually what is experiencing this reality. What I discovered over the years is that vision improvement is not about exercising the eyes or changing your mind, it is about recognizing both physical phenomena and what we call mental or conscious phenomena and that the “Observer” is actually the source from where all
this originates.

JJ: You talked a lot about color in your book. When we talk about chakras and color, do you feel that those are literal colors? Is it related more to our cultural associations with color, or is it related to certain wavelengths specifically?

JL: I’ve been working in this field for 45 years, and one thing I notice in the 1970s, is that everyone responded to colors. They had certain colors they felt comfortable with and certain colors they felt less comfortable with. It’s totally different from person to person. I discovered that the colors that people were comfortable with were vibrationally related to the aspects of their lives that they were at ease with, whereas the colors they were uncomfortable with related to unresolved issues in their lifetime or unresolved issues that were genetically passed on from their lineage. At that time, I was also introduced to chakras, but I could not find any scientific evidence having to do with chakras. So, I just put it aside. Over many years of working with more than 40,000 individuals, I’ve found a very interesting correlation: the colors that people were uncomfortable with seem to be related to where people develop physical issues in their bodies. When I compared those two, it was in fact the same idea as chakras. So, in response to your question, yes, I do think it’s literal.

In the book, I share how I work with people with color, and I actually allow the reader to go through a process where they can see the colors they are receptive to and the colors that seem to trigger discomfort for them. In the process, they can use a simple visualization at home to work on these issues. I’ve also developed a system that can be used at home with a series of filtered glasses. The system helps people to become comfortable with the colors they used to feel uncomfortable with.

SS: That’s interesting! While you were talking I looked at a picture of the chakras and their colors. The color red has always bothered me, and I have problems with my lower back. That’s really weird!

JL: I didn’t come to this because I read about it or it sounded like an interesting idea. I literally, over time, started seeing this relationship. What’s interesting is this, your body runs on light! If I said, “A plant depends upon light.” You’d say, “Of course! Everybody knows that!” What I want to share with your audience is that all plants, all animals and all humans are inseparably connected with light. Every function of your body is light dependent. All of the functions of your body have to be in harmony with Mother Nature. Most disease and chronic illness is because we are chronically out of sync with Mother Nature. Most of us are not living life according to the patterns of light and darkness in nature. Most of us are living according to ideas or beliefs that we have. Beliefs have nothing to do with life. Ideas are continually changing. What happens in Mother Nature is pretty consistent day-to-day.

Janae Jean serves as editor, social media manager, recipe columnist and podcaster for Conscious Community Magazine. She has an extensive background in new media and music education. She is also the founder of Perennial Music and Arts, an arts education and healing center based in downtown Geneva, IL. Visit www.janaejean.com and www.perennialmusicandarts.com for details about Janae’s upcoming classes, lesson information, workshops, shows, articles and projects.

Spencer Schluter is the advertising account manager, social media manager and podcaster for Conscious Community Magazine. His experience includes visual communications, advertising, social media, marketing, public relations and business development. Visit www.yggstudios.com for more information about his freelance design and consulting work. He is also a master level Reiki and traditional Chinese Qigong practitioner.