About Meditation - simplistically.

Over many years of working with and teaching Classes and Workshops I have observed that people have great difficulty in learning to meditate. So I will try to explain simplistically rather than in more technical terms of MTS, Total Existence, Auditory and Sensory Perception.

First of all let us take a look at what mediation really is, so that we realise that is not something new but something that has been around as far back as ancient times. From the year dot it has been used as a way to learn to control the mind, overcome sickness, separate one from problems and fears and to enhance psychic abilities and more. Often the concept of meditation has been and still is, thought to be strange even weird. something only for gurus. I have seen people and in particular some men almost freeze at the mention of meditation. But they are the ones who would benefit most as they are generally very screwed up emotionally and often with a lot of unresolved past issues. Perhaps negative programming from our parents and grandparents left much to be desired because they had little or no understanding of the subject. And that is the key word "Understanding". When we don't understand something it becomes an uncertainty, a fear, even a horror.

Many are confused when it comes to mediation. Even as a child I liked my "quiet time" but learned to meditate properly when I trained as a Healer at the age of twenty five. Having your "quiet time" gives your physical and emotional sides time to pause, take stock and bring everything into balance. I call it my thinking time; it is my space and since I give so much of myself to others I know I need my precious moments of quiet to clear my mind and recharge. I have been very lucky because the people in my life have allowed me to have my space once they understood why I needed it; they may have thought I was a bit unusual even odd but they loved me all the same.

Before I meditate I allow my mind to have free reign on all the topics I am working on; that enables my mind to throw at me all its little concerns; from that point I calmly prioritize and the panic of my mind is over. After this brain buzzing few moments my mind has had its little protest and I am ready to control my thoughts and enjoy my meditation.

Meditation has nothing to do with the popular perception that meditation is "just sitting there, not thinking about anything". Without training and techniques it is virtually impossible to think of nothing. If you've tried that, I'm sure you found that the more you tried to "not think about anything", the more you thought about something and the harder it was to banish it from your thoughts. In meditation one learns to restrain the part of the brain that deals with mental activity which is normally dependant on sensory input. When we master this control it helps the development of Awareness of Ultimate Reality and we learn to become detached from the aggravations, stresses and pressures of daily living. The short meditation below uses your awareness (which is something different from your thoughts), and the flow of energy through your body.

The brain is an instrument of the mind. Meditation is a process by which we seek to re-condition our conscious awareness, so that we release our attachment to the surface level of reality, and allow the awareness to gravitate towards a state of pure awareness; pure consciousness. It is the act of the shutting down of the conscious part of the brain that is normally dependant on sensory input. This allows data to flow from the subconscious mind to expedite the development of awareness of Ultimate Reality.

Simplistically, Meditation enables us to gain a better primary connection to the greater reality that is the real source of everything we experience. Although the conscious part of the brain is shut down, it remains aware.

So exactly what is mediation? Well, basically it is a focusing, holding the attention on an object of visualization and listening to your higher self, your inner self, unconscious of sub-conscious whatever you choose to call it. Used properly it can open the door to individual growth and personal advancement and also enhances the skills you have; the power of the mind is very strong. You can discipline your mind to control your life, emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually, even to overcome illness and solve problems that we have, basically to create your own reality. We do not have to live with the constant hassles of the day, if we only were aware of how to make those changes and that is what meditation can do for you. Combined with affirmations it is extremely powerful.

With good meditation You Can...

Improve Self Confidence, Balance and Harmony

Improve the Focus in most areas of your Life

Gain Self Awareness

Create Balance between Mind, Body & Spirit

Find Your Life Path

Unlock Creativity and Potential

Further Spiritual Development

Achieve Clearer Communication between Self and Others

Move through Change more easily

Gain a general sense of Wellbeing

 
What happens and how it works.

 To understand how it works we must look at the human make up on a conscious level and we must also be aware that we are spiritual as well as physical beings. These physical and spiritual bodies of ours are without doubt connected, these are called the chakras.

In meditation the psychic energy can be built up through these centres by correct breathing. From the belly (diaphragm) and instead of expanding the upper chest, concentrate on expanding the back under the rib cage. Correct breath builds powerful energy and a great force begins to flow within you, your psychic centres (the chakras) begin to open. On a conscious level consider that the total consciousness is a sort of sandwich. One side you have the conscious mind and this is the mind that is concerned with the every day world, your activities and your mental well being, basically this is your waking state of consciousness. On the other side however, you have the higher consciousness or the super conscious and this is your true inner and higher self and it is your spiritual well being and retains all memory and this is where your mind power truly starts to flow to its full potential, it is the centre of the mind called the sub conscious, we all have it but not all are aware of how to actually reach it....

Learning to meditate allows you to learn how to control the restless and material orientated conscious mind and re-program the subconscious. This allows you to function from a position of having mind and body in balance. If we are not relaxed, the mind is busy with every day mind chatter and that makes it more or less impossible to make our work the best it can be at a very high level.

To summarize, meditation is a practice of quietly listening and noticing; simply a question of being, of melting, like a piece of butter left in the sun. It has  nothing  to  do  with whether  or not you "know" anything about it, in fact, each  time you  practice  meditation  it  should be fresh,  as  if  it  were happening  for  the very first time. You just quietly sit, your body still, your speech silent, your mind at ease, and allow thoughts to come and go, without letting them play havoc with  you. If you need something to do, then watch the breathing. When you are breathing out, know that you are breathing out.   When you are breathing in know that you are breathing in, focus on that breath how it feels as it fills, oxygenates and soothes every fibre of your body.

If this sounds all too complicated, don't panic and please don't give up if you have tried to meditate and failed. Think of it this way, if you drive a car you did not learn overnight, if you rode a horse or a bicycle in earlier years you would not learn those in a day or so either. From time to time I will be adding meditations which use visualization which you might like to try. This gives a focus of attention so that if the mind wanders and it surely will, you acknowledge the thought thank that thought for coming in, then gently draw your mind back to the object of focus. I feel that an important part of learning to meditate is to learn to visualize. I teach this in my Awareness Groups and although some can visualize the object I set after a few weeks, most take a lot longer but usually get there eventually. The problem arises when you try to hold that focus. Trying too hard and becoming stressed about it will only create negative thoughts and have the effect of you not wanting to try because you can't do it. Always remember we all had to learn at sometime and it does not matter how long it takes, the main thing is to master it. A good meditation technique comes with practice, practice, practice and a lot of patience but it is worth the effort. The benefits are countless.

I would like you to try this simple short meditation using your focus of mind. Tell your unconscious mind or inner self that you wish to be wide awake in ten minutes.

Find a quiet place... free of distractions... Still your thoughts and relax your body.

Adjust the lighting and room temperature.
If possible wear loose comfortable clothing and footwear.
Sit down or lie down.
Find a position that is comfortable for you.

Focus on your breath and breathe from the diaphragm.
Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose.
Hold to the count of 4 and exhale slowly through the mouth.
Repeat this twice more.

Now I would like you to instruct your mind that you wish to end the meditation in 10 minutes.

Now count down slowly from the count of 10
And visualize a golden ball, against a back drop of white energy.

Try to keep your attention on this sparkling golden ball.
If your attention strays, acknowledge the thought and bring your attention back to the golden ball.

If you are not able to see the golden ball, then try again tomorrow. If you can do this exercise each day for a month you will be well on the way to being able to meditate successfully.

If you see the golden ball but are unable to hold it, keep trying, you will hold it with practice.

Also with practice you will automatically open your eyes when 10 minutes has elapsed.

Distance Learning Meditation Workshops:   available late 2009

This is a detailed comprehensive course, about the concepts of meditation, the benefits and how to run Meditation Workshops or evening classes. Giving knowledge and understanding of how and why meditation is very beneficial. The student learns how to present and market the classes. And much more..

Course Objective: to enable the student to feel confident and competent in running and presenting Meditation workshops. ReikiProgressive Certificate on successful completion.

Meditation CD's - coming mid year

Relaxing Meditation CD's. Listen to the velvet tones of Ann Mackrory to soothe away the tension whilst helping to balance and harmonise you.

Hugely successful in the courses and workshops, a CD's of that wonderful therapeutic healing voice has been requested for years. So here is the first of many