The Brain’s Secret Light: How Meditation Makes Us See the Divine. From Phosphene Forms to Luminous Awareness: A Neurophenomenological Taxonomy

This article proposes a novel hierarchical taxonomy for meditation-induced phosphenes and luminous inner light phenomena. Drawing from structured first-person phenomenological data and spiritual traditions such as Dzogchen, Bon, shamanism, and Christian mysticism, it categorizes these experiences into six levels, ranging from simple flickers to complex geometric visions and radiant white light. The taxonomy begins with spontaneous light flickers and evolves through geometric forms, dynamic structures, symbolic imagery, pure light, and final formlessness. This model also identifies transitions into what is termed the “Ultrasubjective Hyperspace,” a transpersonal field beyond conventional ego structures. The study integrates neurophenomenological insights and aligns historical visual accounts, such as Carl Jung’s visionary paintings and Hildegard von Bingen’s illuminations, with modern reports of phosphene-induced states. Importantly, this work distinguishes between entoptic phenomena (arising from the visual system) and transpersonal visual experiences that accompany deep meditation and ego dissolution. We argue that these luminous perceptions are not merely visual noise or neurological artifacts, but structured and meaningful content arising from the mind-brain system in altered states of consciousness. By framing phosphenes as a progressive visionary language and mapping their internal architecture, we open a new direction for consciousness research. This taxonomy may serve as a cross-cultural framework for interpreting inner light visions and for guiding future empirical studies on the phenomenology of mystical states.