William Blake said, “The eye altering alters all.” 

Welcome to The Soul Podcast. I’m Stacey Wheeler. 

That quote comes from a man who saw the world differently—literally. Born in 1757 in London, William Blake was a poet, artist, and mystic who claimed he saw angels in trees and spirits in his studio. He wasn’t just eccentric; he believed imagination was a divine spark, more real than the physical world. Blake rejected the cold science of his day—Newton’s clockwork universe—insisting our perception, our ‘eye,’ creates reality. Sounds wild, right? The heart of the Biocentric Universe Theory, which we're talking about today- isn't far off from Blake's wild view of reality. Biocentric Universe Theory says your consciousness isn’t just in the universe—it’s making it. Today, we’ll use Blake’s visionary ideas to connect to a radical scientific theory that puts you at the center of the cosmos.
Blake’s life was as bold as his ideas. Growing up poor, self-taught, he scratched out a living engraving and writing poetry no one understood at the time. Yet his visions—angels, prophets, glowing forms—shaped his belief that imagination wasn’t just fancy; it was the key to reality. In works like The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, he wrote that our minds shape what we see, turning a mundane world into something divine. That’s why his quote, ‘The eye altering alters all,’ fits biocentrism, a theory by scientist Robert Lanza. It says the universe—stars, planets, time itself—exists because you observe it. Think about dreams: you’re in a house with glass walls, cars are flying, maybe your cat can talk... and it all feels real. You don’t question it until you wake up. What if our waking world is just as outrageous, and your mind’s making it solid? Biocentrism’s a leap— to be clear; some scientists call it philosophy, not fact—but it’s rooted in quantum physics, where particles need an observer to ‘be’ anything. Let’s dive into how your mind might be painting the universe. 
This hit home for me a few years ago, (though I didn't connect it with this theory at the time). I was meditating next to a stream, eyes closed, just breathing. The world felt… fluid. Time vanished, and I was one with the breeze, the trees, the sky, the sounds. For a moment, it was like I was creating that reality, not just living in it. Ever had that feeling? Maybe in prayer, meditation, or a still moment, where the world feels like a dream you’re weaving. If you have, you've touched on that space. Blake continued where many of us pause. Seeing your meditative moment, Blake would’ve nodded—he saw imagination as God’s voice in us. He struggled for words for it -yet tried to express it -just the same. 

Biocentrism takes it further: What if your consciousness is the universe’s engine? 
Let’s unpack biocentrism’s three big ideas. 

First, reality depends on the observer. 

Quantum experiments, like the double-slit test, reveal something mind-boggling. Scientists fire particles through two slits. When no one’s watching, they act like waves—spreading out in a chaotic, fuzzy pattern, like a blur of possibilities. But when you observe them, they behave like particles, choosing one slit, forming a neat pattern. It’s wild: something with no consciousness changes just because you’re looking. This happens every time, baffling scientists. It reminds me of my kids when they were young—total chaos in the next room, toys flying, voices shouting. But as soon as I poked my head around the corner, they’d snap to order, all innocent smiles. I’d leave, and boom—back to chaos. Biocentrism says your mind works like that: it turns a blurry universe into something solid—stars, your coffee mug, this podcast mic. Think about dreams: you’re in a house with glass walls, cars flying overhead, maybe the cat talks... and your mind accepts it as real, no questions asked. Now picture waking life: you’re in an airplane at 32,000 feet, soaring in a metal tube through the sky. That’s just as outrageous, yet we accept it as reality. What if we’re creating it all, just like in dreams? William Blake’s ‘eye altering’ captures this: your gaze shapes the world, like his visions turned gritty London into a divine masterpiece. Whether dreaming or awake, your mind accepts what it sees as real—glass walls, flying cars, or a jet at 32,000 feet—because you make it so.

Second, space and time aren’t out there; they’re tools your mind uses, like a painter’s brush. 

In meditation, time melts—an hour feels like a second. That’s your brain dropping those tools, revealing a reality beyond clocks and maps. Across nearly 4,000 religions—Christianity’s contemplative prayer, Hinduism’s dhyana, Islam’s Salah—meditation connects you to this deeper truth. Blake believed imagination transcended time, letting us see eternity in a moment, much like biocentrism’s view of space and time as mental constructs. 

Third, consciousness is fundamental. 

Scientist Robert Lanza, who developed biocentrism, argues the universe exists because of you. Most of us, when we think back to when we were a child, can remember thinking no one exists until we meet them. When I was young and I heard about history (even recent history), anything that happened before I was born was like something someone made up. It's as though it wasn't real because I hadn't witnessed it. Even as an adult, it's as though Scotland didn't really exist to me until I went there. Have you ever felt that way?

The cosmos is fine-tuned—over 200 constants, like gravity’s strength, are perfectly set for life. Lanza says this is no coincidence: without observers, the universe wouldn’t be. You’re not a speck in the cosmos—you’re its spark, bringing it to life. 

William Blake saw this too, calling imagination a divine force linking us to the infinite. In his view, your mind isn’t just part of reality—it’s the source. Meditation, used across nearly 4,000 religions—Christianity’s prayer, Hinduism’s dhyana, Islam’s Salah—lets you tap that spark. Lanza’s biocentrism suggests that when you meditate, you might be touching the power that creates the universe itself, aligning your consciousness with the cosmos.

Imagine the most serene of meditators...many of us consider these advanced spiritual people. Is this the result of deep meditation, resulting in a alignment with what's more real than most of us can connect with? 
Now, I get that this is a lot to take in. And there are those who reject it for that reason. Some scientists argue biocentrism lacks hard proof— that it’s more a thought experiment than a law. Blake faced skeptics too; his visions were dismissed as madness. But both ask us to rethink reality. What if your mind is that powerful? Meditation, across all those religions, isn’t just about calm—it’s about touching the truth Blake chased: your consciousness shapes the world. 

Here’s a tool to try: next time you meditate, notice how your focus shapes the moment. Ask, ‘Is my mind creating this reality?’ Don’t just accept the world as it seems—question it, like Blake did. Are you following the crowd’s reality, or crafting your own? Many of us find joy when we break from the crowd's standards and expectations. Sit quietly, breathe, and feel your awareness shift. You might just be the artist of this cosmic dance. 
Think about Blake’s life: a man who saw angels in a gritty city, who dared to say imagination was more real than stone. His ‘eye’ altered everything. So can yours. Every thought, every glance, might be weaving the universe. You’re not just in it—you’re its creator. Embrace that power. Question what’s real. Be the spark, like Blake was. Thanks for joining me on The Soul Podcast. I’m Stacey Wheeler. Until next time, keep exploring your truth.