MEDITATION - A BRIEF GUIDE

Why Meditate?
To enhance your life.
At the very least you will achieve relaxation and tap into the vast ocean of inner peace and calm constantly available to you.
At best, and with regular practise you will achieve permanent meditative awareness, where you will have one foot in the peace while the other goes about your daily business - all of the time.

What happens when you meditate?
Your emotional state changes. You can feel refreshed, more positive, less concerned about 'problems' and have feeling of well-being. This is because when we are truly relaxed, both mentally and physically there are changes in our brain wave patterns. In this state (the alpha state) the brain releases endorphins - 'feel-good' chemicals. These feelings can continue for some time after the meditation has ended. These endorphins also boost the immune system so there is a very real physical benefit as well.

How do we meditate?
There are many, many different ways to meditate. None 'better' than any other, it's a matter of individual choice. A few examples are :-
Sound - you can use a 'mantra', constant repetition of a word or phrase focuses attention effectively, or you can listen to calming music.
Touch - fabric, worry beads, a rosary, a crystal.
You can use colours, breathing in and concentrating on a colour of your choice.
You can meditate on a word, examining what it means to you, what memories it invokes etc.
Movement - walk slowly somewhere pleasant, be aware of all of your movements - each step - how your weight moves through your feet, how your hips move etc.
You can meditate through speech - really listening to the sound of your own voice and others' - becoming aware of the intonations etc.
Meditate through sight - maybe with an object, really SEE it - the beauty and magic of an every-day object. Maybe with a candle - stare at it, what can you see in the flame?
Use your breath - focus on the point where your breath enters and leaves your body, inhale life, light and energy, exhale everything you no longer need. Or inhale & exhale - count 1, inhale & exhale - count 2 etc up to 5 and then start again.
You can focus on keeping your eyes still as it is said that if you still your eyes a still mind automatically follows. Try it! It IS awfully hard to think without moving your eyes.
You can use affirmations and/or visualisations for specific issues.
You can do guided visualisations.
Meditate on a particular issue - ask a question and wait in the stillness for some guidance from your higher self.
The list is absolutely endless.

How often should I meditate?
There are no 'shoulds' because there is no judgement.
For best effect, daily - at least once - would be desirable. If you can discipline yourself to do it for a few days you will then most likely find that you look forward to it and miss it when you can't manage it. You will notice the effects very quickly and find yourself going back into your 'peace' several times a day - because it's a wonderful place to be - and because you can!
However if you really can't manage every day, obviously occasionally is better than never.

When should I meditate?
Whenever you can! Whenever you have a few minutes to spare. Whenever you feel stressed, need the peace. If you have the peace and want to sustain it. Before an important meeting, exam, interview, event - for calmness. When you need to make a decision. When you want to examine any issue more closely. At around the same time each day if you can, to add to the 'ritual' (see next paragraph). Whenever you get the chance!

Where should I meditate?
Absolutely anywhere! In the office, on a train, in a traffic jam (NOT while actually driving though!). In a museum or art gallery, walking round the supermarket -- really -- absolutely anywhere! Obviously one would have to be a little selective about the techniques used depending on the setting, but it's perfectly reasonable to do a moving meditation in the supermarket. Being aware of precisely how your hand moves to pick something up to examine it, the awesome hand / eye co-ordination needed to make that happen. How your brain works out what products are the best value for money etc. etc.
When you're talking on the 'phone really LISTEN. Hear the sound of your own voice and the others', analyse the effect and qualities of the voice - not the words.
When eating, appreciate the qualities of your food : its colour, texture, shape, smell, temperature and flavour. Rejoice in your own ability to appreciate this.
Etc. Etc. Etc. ....
For regular practise at home you may want to designate a particular spot. Depending on available space this may be a cushion on the floor in the bathroom, a corner of the garden shed or a whole room. Perhaps you will build a little meditation altar and furnish it with things you love. Candles, incense, crystals, aromatic oils, a small bell, some feathers, stones, flowers, twigs - whatever means something to you. Performing a ritual such as lighting candles, burning incense , ringing the bell, perhaps playing some soothing music will eventually shorten the time it takes for you to reach a meditative state, because you will become 'conditioned' by the ritual and go within without any effort.

By its very nature meditation is an individual affair, however belonging to a group is a great source of strength, support and energy. This can have the effect of transcending any limitations which our individual personalities may put on ourselves. See Events for details of our groups. May peace and enlightenment be ever yours.