Image: Eagle Nebula by Arnie Rosner
Meditation in my experience and humble opinion refers to a spiritual journey. Listed below are tips that have helped me in reaching a state of meditation. I think it’s best for each individual to discover what works best for him or her. I’m not an expert but just a regular person seeking some peace and solitude in daily life. I come from a Christian background but believe these tips can be helpful to anyone of any faith. Here are some important points to remember:
(1) People use meditation as a therapy to help cope with stress and anxiety and some kind of problems in their lives.
(2) Some use it as a means of self healing
(3) Some seek for enlightenment.
For whatever reason you seek to do meditation, it provides excellent outcomes, if you do it properly.
The important thing before you start meditation is that in learning how to still the physical wound and raise your inner level of consciousness. The truly wonderful thing that meditation does is that it will put you in touch with your inner self (spirit and soul) and also it will give you the ability to differentiate between that which is spiritual and that which is physical.
Relaxation:
Before you start your meditation you can do a small prayer asking God (the higher power) to send his (holy) spirit to heal you and ask God to forgive you and help you to become a better and more enlightened person (and soul). In order to obtain a state of meditation, it is essential to begin with a relaxed frame of mind and a calm body.
Breathing properly and at a steady pace is essential for meditating effectively. Close your eyes and focus on breathing in and out. When you breathe in, you take in oxygen and when you breathe out, you breathe out tension and stress. Imagine that God is giving you that breath and also that his Spirit goes in and cleans all the sickness and stress in you; and when you breathe out, all the waste and sickness comes out. You breathe in a beautiful energy/light, which is God’s spirit.
Inhale and exhale deeply for 3 or 4 times; and be mindful of each inhalation and exhalation. This will help you calm down with each breath and go deeper into a more meditative state. This practice is very good for the mind and body. It will make you feel relaxed.
Once again remember that when you breathe in, God’s energy is entering into you, and when you breathe out, you are sending all the stress and anxiety out. Make sure you are in a comfortable position either sit or lie down. Let’s go on to the next step and remember to be mindful of each step. That is being aware of every movement and feeling and to let thoughts come and go. Just be.
(1) Relax your facial muscle: let go of all the tightness and stress.
(2) Relax your neck muscles: If you have neck tension you will get headaches.
(3) Relax shoulder muscles: Release the tightness/tension.
(4) Relax muscles in your arms: By the time you come to this point you must be feeling so relaxed and are almost going into a trance like state.
(5) Relax Back Muscles: Release the tightness in the upper and lower muscles of your back; and while you breathe in and out you are going even deeper into a trance. You feel so calm and peaceful.
(6) Relax your stomach/abdominal muscles.
(7) Relax your legs muscles from hip to toes.
Now you start to feel so quiet and calm and relaxed and comfortable. You are now ready to meditate.
Meditation:
You must visualize with your minds eye, a beautiful light above your head. This light means energy, which is God’s spirit. It can heal you and give you peace and make you feel close to God. It is a spiritual light all around you. Now go from the top of your head to the tip of your toes: that spiritual light entering your body will travel from your brain through the spinal cord, until it reaches the toes. Now this spirit or light will fill you with a beautiful warm feeling. It is touching every cell, tissue, fiber and every organ of your body and filling your body with peace, love and healing. You feel that God’s spirit is in you and with you and around you, to heal and protect you.
Then realize that you are finished your meditation, and slowly come out and thank God for everything.
Peace to you.