Safety Guidelines

The Lucia N°03 uses stroboscopic light — pulsing light experienced behind closed eyes — and like all stroboscopic light, it carries a small and well-documented association with seizure risk in people who are photosensitive. We name this clearly and upfront, because we believe honest information is more useful than reassurance that glosses over the real picture.

Here is the real picture: a 2025 University of Sussex preprint by Schwartzman and colleagues reviewed approximately 4.2 million closed-eye stroboscopic light sessions — including real-world Lucia N°03 sessions — and identified roughly 3 major adverse events per million requiring medical attention. For context, photosensitive epilepsy affects approximately 3–5% of people already diagnosed with epilepsy, which is itself only about 1% of the general population. The overlap between "people who use the Lucia N°03" and "people at meaningful risk from stroboscopic light" is narrow, specific, and — when screened for properly — largely identifiable in advance.

This page exists to help you understand that overlap clearly: who should not use the device, who should have a conversation first, and how every certified practitioner in our network is trained to screen and hold sessions with your safety as the foundation.

Who Should Not Use the Lucia N°03

For certain conditions, the Lucia N°03 is not appropriate, and no session should proceed without medical clearance. These are not precautions to weigh against desire or curiosity. They are firm contraindications, held across all certified practitioners in our network.

Please do not use the Lucia N°03 if you:

  • Have been diagnosed with epilepsy or any photosensitive seizure disorder
  • Have experienced a seizure of any kind, including unexplained losses of awareness or blackouts whose cause was never identified
  • Have a family history of photosensitive epilepsy
  • Have a cardiac pacemaker or other implanted electrical device
  • Are currently pregnant
  • Are currently experiencing active psychosis, acute mania, or a florid psychiatric episode
  • Are under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs

If any of the above applies to you and you still feel drawn to the light, please speak with your physician or neurologist first.

Conditions That Warrant a Conversation First

The following conditions are not automatic disqualifiers, but they do require honest disclosure before a session, and in some cases, a conversation with your doctor. Our trained practitioners are experienced in navigating these conversations with care.

Please let your practitioner know before your session if you:

  • Have a history of seizures that are well-managed or have not recurred in many years
  • Have a diagnosed psychiatric condition such as bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, PTSD, or severe anxiety; particularly if currently symptomatic or adjusting medications
  • Are currently taking medications that affect the nervous system, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, or stimulants
  • Have migraines with aura or a significant history of light sensitivity
  • Have experienced recent trauma or are in an acute period of emotional difficulty
  • Are a child or adolescent (photosensitive epilepsy is more common in this age group and tends to diminish with age)

If you are unsure about the experience, please speak with a neurologist or psychiatrist first.

What the Research Shows

The most comprehensive safety analysis of stroboscopic light to date is a 2025 preprint by Schwartzman, Hewitt, Schmidt, and colleagues at the University of Sussex, published to medRxiv. Their review synthesized data across 24 laboratory studies involving more than 1,000 participants, alongside real-world operational data from commercial stroboscopic light providers, including Lucia N°03 sessions at scale.

Across roughly 4.2 million sessions, they identified approximately 14 major adverse events requiring medical attention — a rate of approximately 3 per million. That figure sits in a very different order of magnitude from the population statistics for photosensitive epilepsy (approximately 3–5% of all people diagnosed with epilepsy), because it reflects actual session conditions: closed eyes, structured protocols, and trained facilitators present.

The same research team developed the 4SQ screening framework — a structured intake tool that covers five areas: neurological history, psychiatric and mental health history, cardiac conditions and implanted devices, sensory sensitivities, and lifestyle and substance use. This framework forms the basis of the screening process used by all Traveling Light LLC certified practitioners.

How Every Session Is Held

All practitioners certified through Traveling Light LLC's Light Guide Certification program work from a structured intake and informed consent process before every session with a first-time client. This includes a personal consultation covering the specific contraindications above, and any questions the client brings. Consent is active, documented, and revisited.

During the session, your practitioner remains present with you throughout. They are trained to recognize early signs that a session is not settling well (changes in breathing, sudden muscle tension, changes in responsiveness) and are prepared to dim or pause the light at any moment. You remain in choice throughout the session and may raise your hand, cover your eyes, or ask to stop at any point. The light stops immediately.

Sessions are never conducted under a fixed program. They are calibrated in the moment by your practitioner, who can adjust frequency, intensity, and duration in real time. This is one of the meaningful differences between a certified practitioner session and an unsupported one.

A Note for Lucia N°03 Device Owners

If you own a Lucia N°03 Home Portal or Practitioner System, the safety framework above applies in full to every person who sits in your light. All new device owners receive access to Traveling Light LLC's practitioner resource hub, which includes the complete informed consent form, the 4SQ-aligned screening intake, session documentation templates, and the full Safety First training module — including the seizure recognition and response protocol. If you are a Home Portal owner offering sessions to others, we strongly recommend completing the Light Guide Certification program. Device ownership does not substitute for facilitation training.

If Something Unexpected Happens During a Session

Adverse events are rare, but practitioners are trained to meet them. If a client becomes unresponsive, begins tremoring, stiffens unexpectedly, or shows any signs of a seizure, the protocol is clear: dim or stop the light immediately, stay with the person, do not place anything in their mouth or try to hold them still, gently support their position if they are at risk of falling, and call emergency services if any episode lasts longer than five minutes.

Most events that do occur are brief and self-resolving. The presence of a calm, trained practitioner is itself a significant factor in how a session resolves. If you have concerns about a session — your own or a client's — please contact us at info@lucialightexperience.com.

The Most Important Thing

The Lucia N°03 is safe for the vast majority of people. The contraindications above are specific and well-defined, and outside of them, the research and twelve years of practitioner experience consistently point toward a device with a remarkable safety profile.

If you are uncertain whether the light is right for you, reach out before you book. We are happy to answer any questions you have.

info@lucialightexperience.com