The Power of Meditation
Meditation is:
Meditation is an act of quieting the mind and an act of mindfulness.Meditation is also an act of creation.Meditation is an act of self-love and self-care.Meditation gives us an opportunity to find joy, love and peace in this world, and in our own spirit.
Whether or not you are being physically active, or being still, it is your mind and spirit—working in unison through mindful meditation— that creates new ways of thinking, relaxing, and breathing.
It isn't easy. That's why it's called "a practice."
Our minds resist. That's what minds do. We are constantly bombarding ourselves with thoughts, observations, and judgments, as anyone who has tried to learn to meditate knows full well. Ever tried listening to a quiet voice when someone else keeps talking over everyone? It can be pretty near impossible. As meditation tunes down the noise in our heads, it opens up a new channel of awareness, thought, and reality. Meditation enables us to pay attention to the quiet voice of our own intuition, and in that way, tap into our own divine Source. Through meditation, both questions and answers become more accessible and clearer."Go. Go. Go." is all we know.
Many people feel we must rush and perform at every waking moment; and if we are not physically active and producing, we are worthless. This is the recording that millions repeat in their minds upon waking up every day. Then we realize our life, as planned, is not working and something seems missing. Our spirit knows there is more to this life. We try to find different ways to enjoy life, and this experience, a bit more. Some buy more or consume more; while some just want a quiet place in the world to stop and relax. So, we go on vacation, come back, and realize we worked harder on our time away. The relaxing part never really happened. When the world gets overwhelming we try to find ways to seek shelter. Before now, we have always sought outside of ourselves, but with meditation, we learn to go within and enjoy the simple joys of peace and pleasures the natural world offers.
From Go to Slow
When we try to learn meditation, we try to go from, "Go. Go. Go." to "Slow. Slow. Slow.". However, we forget that it takes time to learn to put on the brakes when you have been going so hard for so long. Many people think they must find a quiet, secluded room; that this room must be set up with special symbols, music, or incense. While it is true some people do require these things to relax, you can also meditate while gardening, washing dishes, taking a bath or shower, or just gently walking. Many people also meditate when they craft or cook. We all know people meditate while practicing Tai Chi, so why not meditate while doing another activity that brings us peace? Whether you practice meditation while moving, or carve out some time to sit still, it all starts with our breath.
Quiet the Mind with Conscious Breathing
Seek out all that tension and let your attention float in and out with your breath and relax. Just be in the moment! Let your daily concerns go. 1... 2... 3... even think about God or a Higher Being if you must think about something, but not your chatty mind voice. Don’t try to shut it up, just let it go on wherever it’s going with your focus. Expand your inner space and relax more and more with each breath.”
Simple Steps to Meditate
Step 1 – Find a Place to Meditate
Step 2 – Find a Comfortable Meditation Posture
If you can’t or don’t want to cross your legs, try to sit in the Burmese position. Bend your knees and place your feet, tops down, against the floor. Because this meditation posture is comfortable, it’s a relaxed position.
For those who simply can’t sit on the floor, there’s another option. With the seiza position, you kneel and place a rolled-up yoga mat behind your knees for added comfort. If you do yoga, this position is like an elevated Virasana (or Hero Pose).
Finally, if sitting in a chair is more comfortable for you, embrace it. To ensure proper posture for meditation, sit without leaning against the chairback with your feet firmly on the floor. Finally, align your knees and hips to create a comfortable position you can sustain during meditation.
Step 3 – Clear your Mind to Meditate
It may be difficult at first to not start thinking about things going on in your life, but this time should be dedicated to only focusing on your body and breathing. In meditation, we become quiet, not just in our posture, but in our state of mind as the body follows the mind. When you feel yourself drifting to the thoughts that create a stressful emotional state, go back to your breathing. Five minutes or an hour… time is up to you. If your thoughts come in, it is OK as long as you let them leave at the same time. This should be a very relaxing time but it is best advised to practice your meditation when you are well-rested so that you do not fall asleep.
Step 4 - Add a Little Laughing Meditation to your Daily Meditation Practice
Laughter allows us to temporarily rise above our stress and briefly feel a sense of relief that no pill or homeopathic remedy can provide. Walk away from your laughing meditation knowing that laughter really is the best medicine!
Bonus - Draw on Imagery and Visualization
A cool breeze comes off the ocean. It feels good on your face and arms. You sit down in the sand and feel your body relax completely as you listen to the waves. The sun continues to warm your face and body. You feel relaxed, supported by the earth and warmed by the sun, totally connected with “the all.” Distracting thoughts occur, but you are able to let them go as soon as they occur. Drifting is easy with the sound of the waves, the feel of the sun, the smell of the salty air, and the sight of the ocean and the waves in front of you. You are making progress. You let go of tension and drift away...
When life just gets tough and you need a break, try something like this to help, even for just 5-10 minutes a day. With a guided imagery such as the one above, you can take yourself to any location on earth if you know enough of the details about that place, without ever leaving your house. It’s the world’s most affordable mental vacation!
The Dangers of Meditation
• Escapism at the expense of living your life: While you are meditating, you may experience such a sense of peace that the real world begins to pale in comparison. Allow that peace to permeate the rest of your waking life, and don’t to get so attached to your meditative bliss that you stop living your life in the now.
• Being Unprepared for the Dark Night of the Soul: Meditation can also stir things up and uncover unhealed parts of yourself. This experience actually can lead to a deeper connection with Spirit if you continue to meditate and work through it. Our Advsiors can help.
• Hyper Realistic Dreams: An excess of energy from meditation can lead to clear dreams that feel very real, making them appear more like visions than dreams. Speaking to an Advisor can allay your fears and help you find meaning in what you are experiencing, which can take away their power and help you to decode the message.
Our Advisors Can Guide you Through It
When practiced daily as a ritual, meditation can become a positive aspect of your life. It will be easier the more you practice, and you will notice a change in your own behavior. You will notice that overall, you feel less stressed and have more mental and physical energy. With practice, you may also find answers to the questions which have eluded you. If that does not work, call your favorite Advisor at Psychic Source, but for peace of mind and love of life, you can find it right from your own Psychic Source within!
Learn more about meditation and find an Advisor who can guide you in meditation by using the filter on Our Advisors page for Meditation, found under the subject area for Life, Destiny and Meaning. You can also learn more about how to meditate in our Guide to Meditation.
Looking for some Guided Meditations to get started? Psychic Source offers a variety of free podcasts you can download and listen to whenever you need to help clean your soul and eliminate negative energy.
Video Transcript
Lily: Meditation is about connecting with your life source and with God's source.
Kali: There is a difference between prayer and meditation. Prayer is asking, meditation is receiving.
Stevie: When we are meditating we are truly giving back and recharging our soul.
Lily: We need to quiet the mind, shut down the mind, open the heart, and connect with our souls.
Betty: Meditation has a calmness, and it brings to the forefront what is important, and it kind of gets rid of the residue.
Kali: I feel that a lot of people think there is a right or wrong way to do it and there really isn't. It's what's good for you.
Betty: The beauty of it is, it can be done anywhere. You can even walk and meditate.
Stevie: Even in the shower, you're getting ready to go to work, if you can just take that five minutes to just really be at the present.
Bridgette: Have fun with meditation and enjoy it.
Kali: If you can only do it for 1 minute or 15 minutes, do that. Do what makes you feel good.
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