Meditation is a great way to relax, adjust your centre of balance, to help practice visualization techniques and to help open up your subconscious. Meditation can be used to combat stress, to help get in touch with your more spiritual side, to aid in preparation for divination (such as Tarot card readings), to help you prepare for a ritual or spell and for healing purposes. There are many reasons as to why people meditate. For me, I began to meditate long before I became Pagan. My doctor actually recommended to me to help me deal with my muscle tension problems. I get terrible headaches due to the amount of tension I carry in my neck and back. Meditation has helped me deal with and prevent many of my headaches. Once I began practicing Paganism, I realized the meditation opened up so many other doors for me. Now I meditate before and after rituals, spells and tarot card readings. Meditation is also a great time for me to practice my visualization techniques (which could use a little work I might add). I have begun working with the chakra centres, in hopes to soon be able to heal while working with them.
Below I will provide a few different meditation techniques starting with the most basic and common and moving on to the more complicated. The first one mentioned is a great way to begin meditation, especially if you have problems with visualization. I used this technique for years until I began to develop more visualization techniques and discipline. As a said above, it took me years to develop the focus needed for more complex techniques. Some people it may only take months, weeks or even just a few days. Don’t ever get discouraged if it seems to be taking a while. Meditation is not something that is meant to stress you out. I promise you, it will happen, you just have to let it happen on its own.
Breathing Meditation Technique
First off, make sure you are sitting in a comfortable position. I prefer to sit in a chair with my hands resting on the tops of the legs. The pretzel position is out… comfort is in. Secondly make sure that your environment is comfortable as well. Low or no light is the best and if you like candle light, light some candles. There are lots of great meditation or soothing CD’s out on the market now, if you want to listen to some music. Now that you are in a comfortable position and a soothing environment, it’s time to meditate. All you’re going to do is close your eyes and breath. As you breathe focus on each breath… first in…. then out. Let nothing else enter your mind except the sound of your own breath. As you listen you will begin to feel your body relax. Try this technique for as long as you can. You may find it hard to concentrate at first, but it will soon become easier. Set goals for yourself. Try and meditate for one minute longer than you did last time.
When you believe you are ready to advance to the next level try this. You should be able to meditate for at least 15 minutes without breaking concentration before moving on. Begin the same way, by listening to yourself breathe. Then, once you’re relaxed, let your mind go. Stop focusing on your breathing and just let your imagination run wild. Images will start to flow in and out of your mind. If you have music on, you may find that your images will hold a similar theme to the music. One time I was listening to the sounds of babbling brooks and I saw nothing but lakes, waterfalls and streams in my images. For greater insight to your unconscious mind, you can record the images that you saw during your meditation sessions. Remember to just let your mind flow and not to force anything. The images will take form on their own. Good luck.
Meditating with Chakras
This is a more advance technique of meditation. Information on chakras can be found the on the Chakra Page, as well as a link to a detailed chakra meditation technique. I suggest practicing the above technique or other simplier techniques before attempting this one. It takes a lot of concentration and visualization and can be frustrating if you are not well practiced in meditation.Finished Here?
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