The Method of Meditation

Meditation, when done properly, is an extremely effective method of relaxation, mental discipline, and spiritual connection. But often this question is asked: “How do I meditate?” There are many different methods of meditation. This article discusses a popular and effective technique, one which can be broken down into the following stages: position and relaxation, breathing, focus and visualization, and finally the awakening period.

Positioning and Relaxing During Meditation

To begin meditating, the body should be in a comfortable position, but keeping the back straight. The exact position isn’t important for this method of meditation. Sitting, standing, or even lying down, (provided sleep doesn’t immediately follow), are all perfectly acceptable positions for meditation.

The body must be physically relaxed while meditating. The muscles in the neck, which are so often the seat of tension in the body, are also the easiest to relax. Slowly circling the neck, first clockwise, then counter-clockwise, is a wonderful way to accomplish this. Circle the neck several times in each direction, until the neck muscles are warm and supple, no longer tense.

Breathing During Meditation

Breathing is essential during meditation. The breath should flow evenly and softly. It should also be consistent throughout the meditation session. Start by slowly inhaling through the nose, to the count of four. Then hold for the count of four. Exhale to the count of four as well. Continue this count until this method of breathing feels comfortable.

While inhaling, the stomach should balloon outward as the lungs are fully inflated. During the exhale, the stomach should flatten once more. This forces the stale air from the bottom of the lungs out. As the four-count becomes more comfortable, this can be increased to five, then six, and beyond. A feeling of lightheadedness indicates that the count should be reduced.

Focus During Meditation

Once relaxed and breathing properly, thoughts must be focused. This can be accomplished in many ways. One of the most popular is to imaging the entire body surrounded by a sphere of white light. This white energy charges the entire body, and can be used to relax the body even further.

Further relaxation begins at the toes. Focus on the toes, allowing the tension to disappear completely. This process should be repeated with the balls of the feet, the heels, the ankles, and continuing on up the body. This includes the calves, knees, thighs, and on up through the torso, not forgetting the arms and hands, and ending with the entire head, piece by piece.

At this point, focus should move inward. Allow the eyes to roll upward to direct the focus to the third eye. Let go of the physical self, allowing the focus to shift to the higher, spiritual self. It is not necessary to visualize anything at this stage. Relax and allow whatever sensation manifest itself, whether it be sight, sound, or feeling. Move towards and into this sensation. Keep the mind still and calm.

Maintaining this may prove difficult at first. The conscious mind often had difficulty staying still, and will wander if given the opportunity. The mind must be disciplined before the true positive effects of meditation can be realized, such as the deepening of intuition, self discipline, and general well being.

Ending a Meditation Session

The end of a meditation period should be the reverse of its beginning. Pull the conscious mind back from the third eye, and down the rest of the body. Allow each part of the body to reawaken in succession, from the top of the head to the toes. Each part should be healthy and rejuvenated. The body should be physically refreshed, while the mind is mentally and emotionally refreshed.

Meditation can be difficult at first, with the body wanting to fidget and the mind trying to wander. However, with time and persistence, mastery over mind and body will come. Ignore the itchy nose, no matter how tempting it may be to scratch; it is simply the conscious mind demanding attention. Keep disciplined, stay with it, and the body and mind will learn.

Techniques for Meditation

Many people fail at meditation because they lack the proper technique. Outside the meditation itself, there are several that affect the success of a meditation session. These include focus, posture, surroundings, and the time of day.

Focus During Meditation

Many masters of meditation suggest that focus and concentration during meditation should focus on the third eye chakra, located on the forehead. By focusing on this location and its energies, it is possible to become aware of the higher self, to leave physical and mental difficulties behind. With the attention focused on the third eye, both conscious and subconscious cares can fall away.

Focusing on the third eye has the effect of drawing the eyes upward. This is important during meditation, since eye position does have some effect on the state of mind. When the eyes are pointed downward, the focus is on the subconscious. When the eyes are straight, the conscious mind is the focus. However, when the eyes are drawn upward, a connection to the higher self is much easier to establish.

By focusing on the third eye during meditation, the higher self becomes active. This technique is called the third eye meditation technique, and it simply uses the natural tendencies of the body to shift the mind’s state of consciousness.

Posture During Meditation

There are many different opinions when it comes to the proper posture for meditation. Most of them are right in some respect. Very few are wrong, unless they are painful or uncomfortable.

Meditation should feel comfortable and secure. Any position that meets these requirements is fine, as long as the spine is kept straight. In other words, no slouching. A popular position is to sit cross-legged on the floor, or to kneel, with the spine straight as an arrow. These positions, well fine, are not good for those who are less limber.

An alternative is to sit in a chair that has a straight back, feel flat on the floor. For additional comfort, the chair should have arms. Meditation can also be performed while standing or lying down (though this can lead to sleep). The chair, ground, or other surface should be soft and comfortable, but still allow the back to remain straight.

Surroundings During Meditation

On of the largest mistakes made regarding meditation is the place in which meditation is performed. The space must be quiet, free from outside distractions, such as the phone, children playing, or the dog barking.

From a ceremonial and ritualistic standpoint, the best place for meditation is in a cleansed and consecrated area, such as a church, temple, or circle. Some practitioners will insist that facing the east is critically important. While this may make some slight difference, it is more important to be comfortable.

Before meditating, it is important to take a look around the room and anticipate what, if any, sounds may be distracting. Unplug the phone, feed the dog, or whatever. Nothing interrupts meditation like a sudden sound. Some people like to use headphones, playing soft music to drown out any potential distractions.

The Best Time of Day to Meditate

From a metaphysical standpoint, there are several ways to decide what time of day is best for meditation. There has been some evidence to suggest that the hour closest to a person’s time of birth is the best. And astrological influences are always important, and should be taken into account.

However, for some, these times may simply not work. Ultimately, the time chosen must work in some fashion. Early morning before everyone awakens, or late evening once everyone is asleep. For some, those who are home during the day, afternoon may work well, since no one has come home yet, including those potentially noisy neighbors.

In the end, the key to successful meditation is consistency. The place and time of day should be the same or similar every day. A minimum of fifteen minutes once a day is required to really see the benefit of meditation, but twice a day is better. Without persistence and consistency, the benefits of meditation cannot be fully realized.

How Does Meditation Work?

Meditation is a powerful tool for spirituality and discipline, but how and why it works is sometimes a mystery to even its most advanced practitioners. To begin to understand how meditation works, it is important to first consider the belief that humans are not just physical beings, but spiritual beings as well.

The Spiritual Body as a Key to Meditation

The spiritual body, the part of the human body that cannot be seen with the naked eye, is connected to the physical body at certain vital centers. These centers are called chakras. There are seven major chakra centers, located from the groin up to the top of the head. During meditation, a powerful psychic force begins to flow along these chakras, as each is opened in succession.

The root chakra, located roughly at the groin (the exact position differs according to gender), is the first chakra to open. This is followed by the spleen, solar plexus, heart, throat, and third eye chakras. Finally, the crown chakra, located at the very top of the head, is opened. The exact method by which this occurs is beyond the scope of this article. It is enough to say that this flow of energy is what allows a connection to the divine, and the many benefits that meditation can afford.

The Conscious, Subconscious, and Superconscious Mind in Relation to Meditation

The mind can be divided into three sections, for the purpose of studying meditation: the conscious, the superconscious, and the subconscious. The conscious mind is the part of the mind concerned with the mundane. It is the part that is awake and alert to the physical well-being of the body.

The superconscious mind is also called the higher-self. This higher consciousness is concerned with the spiritual well-being of the soul, and also retains a connection to the divine. The superconscious mind and the conscious mind do not tend to interact, at least for most people. In order for these two disparate parts of the mind to connect, a bridge is needed.

This bridge is the subconscious mind. It is the largely passive part of the mind that is usually subordinate to the conscious mind. The subconscious mind rules the involuntary functions of the body and mind such as reflexes and instinct. It is also the part of the mind that bridges the gap between the conscious mind and the superconscious mind, and it can become truly active during meditation.

The Subconscious Mind During Meditation

During proper meditation, energy begins to flow in an upward direction, through the chakras, awakening the subconscious mind. This energy acts as a calming and relaxing force on the body and the mind. As the chakras continue to open, an awareness of life begins to flow continually. A new sense of energy and well-being is often the result.

The subconscious mind begins to clear, and negative or undesired patterns of thoughts and feelings can be put to rest. The superconscious and conscious minds become actively linked, and a connection with the divine is possible, though the power of the superconscious mind, and with the direct control of the conscious mind.

At the same time, the now-active subconscious mind allows the conscious mind to become calm and open. This allows the conscious mind to solve problems and discipline the body, and brings forth the other benefits of meditation. The conscious mind can also, in a sense, reprogram the subconscious mind, allowing it to become more than simply subordinate to the conscious mind. The subconscious mind can become a channel to the higher self, through the power of meditation.

The spiritual body can be brought to life through the power of meditation. And through the chakras, which connect the spiritual to the physical, the physical body can achieve a sense of calm, relaxed well-being.

What is Meditation?

Meditation comes out of Eastern cultures, at least in its present and most popular form. For many centuries, Eastern people have known of the advantages of meditation, when it is performed on a regular basis. Though the years, meditation has become a practice which can control the mind, gain knowledge, develop psychic abilities, banish sickness, and separate the mind from the body.

Meditation in Today’s World

Meditation, in one form or another, is present throughout much, if not all, of Western society. The modern world has embraced the idea of meditation, and its many benefits. Throughout the Western world, classes and groups are readily available in many different forms of meditation. Yoga, meditation classes, transcendental meditation, and even Silva Mind Control are growing in popularity.

Meditation is no longer confined to use by Pagans and occultists, but is now a part of everyday life for many people. Hospitals and some workplaces routinely offer meditation and yoga classes, as do most universities. A walk through a local park may turn up a group practicing meditation any day of the week. Even doctors will prescribe meditation as a method to calm the mind and quiet the body. Meditation is now available to the masses.

What is Meditation?

Despite its widespread popularity, there is still much confusion regarding meditation, both in its definition and practice. In its simplest form, meditation may be said to be the highest form of listening. Listening to the inner self. Listening to the creative force within. Perhaps even listening to the gods.

Meditation is incredibly versatile, with many different purposes. When done properly, meditation is the most effective method of individual growth, psychic advancement, and spiritual enlightenment. It can be a tool for personal advancement as well, and may be practiced alone or in groups.

The now-deceased psychic, Edgar Cayce, once defined meditation as: “…emptying self of all that hinders the creative forces rising along the natural channels of the physical man to be disseminated through those centers and source that create the activities of the physical, mental, and spiritual man …”

Edward Cayce may have used a lot of words, but essentially what he meant was this: meditation is a method by which the physical, mental, and spiritual selves can be improved. Meditation can do all this and much more.

Meditation, though once an abstract Eastern discipline, is now available to everyone. In today’s modern world, everyone has the ability to solve problems, overcome most illnesses, control the mind, and discipline the body through meditation.