How to Meditate?

I've been asked through the years by countless people about meditation. And as I sat silently a while ago, contemplating my day I was inspired to blog about it. I logged into Facebook to check on messages first, and there was a private message from a sweet new friend, talking about not knowing how to meditate, and this was of course the cosmic anvil to the forehead that I needed to get going.


So first, let me dispel some myths regarding meditation, before I get into the nitty gritty.

• You do not need to sit in the lotus position to meditate. It is advised to keep the spine straight however, and sitting lotus can help to achieve a straight spine, while keeping your root chakra on the ground. But still, this is not essential, you can meditate laying down, you can meditate in virtually any position, because your body does not lead you in meditation, your body follows you.
• You do not need to light candles, or incense, or play calming music to meditate. You can create whatever type of ambient atmosphere you choose to, and if it enhances your ability to focus and relax then follow your intuition. However, you can meditate in utter silence, in the middle of a sunlit park, or you can meditate in the dark; you can meditate listening to ambient music, or to your favourite dance or trance.  
• There is no goal in meditation! This is such a rampant misconception; I see people of all ages, walks of life, and beliefs who think they have to achieve a goal, or reach for some level of meditation and I tell you this is not the goal of meditation. You are not trying to go somewhere, or do something through meditation, what you are trying to do is still yourself, still your mind, and achieve a state of connectivity to spirit through your breathing and awareness.
• You will not Astral Project and get 'lost' while meditating. I cannot tell you how many people are afraid of this, and I really want to stress that this is not what meditation is about! Astral projection is something that takes years of dedicated focus to achieve, and when it is achieved is not something you get 'lost' doing. The soul is infinite, and holds the wisdom of the Universe within it, when it is out of the body it is free - and there is no place to get lost within - as the Soul is every place, at all times.

Now, let's talk about how to begin meditating, for beginners, or those who just want to reconnect to a pure and very organic way to remove stress, and reconnect to spirit. You can meditate anyplace you want to; in the car, in the bathtub, in bed, at work at your desk, in class, etc. This is because meditation is simply a deepening of breathing, and a focus of awareness. You can meditate for 5 minutes, 5 seconds, or 5 hours; it is up to you when, where, how and for how long you choose to meditate!

Let's drop the word meditation for a bit, and work with the word "relax" in it's place. So, when you are ready to "relax", you will get into a comfortable position. It is best to keep the limbs loose, you can put your hands on your lap, or chest, or lay them along side your body. Keep your hands light and loose, there is no need to touch finger to thumb, this is just more complicated Eastern philosophy which sounds great in theory but isn't necessary to "relax". Keep your torso straight, with good posture if possible, with your shoulders back and your head up high. The reason for this is to allow your lungs more capacity for greater intakes of air. Relaxing is all about inhaling rich oxygen!

Ok, so now you understand that meditation is simply relaxing. And the reason we inhale deeply during meditation is because without the rich oxygen supply to our blood stream, which travels to our brains, we can not begin to release the proper endorphin's necessary to achieve a relaxed state. So this is it dear friend, you are going to assume a relaxed, loose and natural body posture, and then you are going to just start to breathe deeply. You can time your breathing if you're starting out, to help you get used to the rhythm of it. I generally suggest people inhale for a count of 5 (counting in your head of course) and hold the air in for a count of 5, then exhale for a count of 6. Take a count of 2-3 between exhaling and the next inhale. As you do this, you may want to relax your tongue, and let it sit naturally just above your bottom teeth, so your jaw is slightly open, and the tongue is touching the roof of the mouth. Really relax your jaw, and tongue, and try not to clench.

You will do this over and over again, as you feel your body begin to relax. You will feel your feet and ankles relax, naturally letting your knees also relax - when you feel the tension move out of them it will be extremely noticeable  and a chain reaction may follow through your body, as your shoulders relax, and your wrists, and your neck. You can do this anywhere, anytime - in order to relax your body, remove physical stress, and help to oxygenate your blood and brain. We require oxygen to be able to function properly at all levels of body, mind, and spirit, so meditate/relax whenever you want, for as long or short a period as you desire.

This is meditation, pure and simple. Relaxing, and focusing your breathing. 

From there, you can choose to go further; you can observe your conscious mind, and when thoughts play through your mind you can shoo them out quietly, with blessings, and continue to clear your mind. This can be an ongoing exercise in clarity, as you observe your conscious mind thinking random mundane thoughts (because it is like a computer that never shuts down, your mind) and continue to shush it gently, without judgment, and continue to breathe and focus. Or you can cleanse your chakras, which I will post about in the next few days to follow up. Or you can do visual healing sessions for yourself, family, loved ones, or the planet. The sky is the limit with meditation! Your body and mind will be relaxed, freeing your Spirit to be more aligned and connected, so what you choose to do with your time as you meditate is purely up to you.

But for beginners, I really do think it's important to just stick to the breathing. Several times a day, just assume a comfortable position, no matter where you are, or what you're doing, and breathe. You'll notice how doing this several times a day will help you to refuel, recharge, and refocus yourself. 

I hope this provides you with the help you need to begin meditating on a daily basis! And if you have any questions, you know where to reach me :) So breathe deeply - and still your mind. 

Namasté