Why Meditate?
People who meditate regularly become less stressed, let the small (or big) stuff go straight over their heads, feel calmer, happier and more at peace. The senses become sharper and you may even enhance your psychic capabilities too or meet your spirit guides.

What happens when you meditate?
Real mental and physical relaxation!

Your brain waves shift from waking state to alpha state, the same state as us clairvoyants and mediums shift to. Your waking mind and subconscious mind work as one, bringing clarity, focus, understanding, peace, happiness, and positivity. Your problems seem lessened, and your feeling of contentment increases. You feel at peace with the world.

How do we meditate?
There are many, different ways to meditate. None 'better' than any other, it's a matter of individual choice. A few examples to focus on:-

Breath

Colour

A candle flame - stare at it, what can you see in the flame?

A crystal – feel its smoothness or its texture, how cool or warm it is to the touch

Sound. Listening to calming music, or use a mantra, constant repetition of a word or phrase can help to quiet the mind if thoughts keep popping in.

A single word, examining what it means to you, what memories it invokes etc.

Touch - fabric, worry beads, a crystal.
Meditate on a particular issue - ask a question and wait in the stillness for some guidance

Movement – go for a slow walk in a pleasant space, be aware of your movements - each step – be truly in the moment and feel how your weight moves through your feet, how your hips move etc.

Affirmations and/or visualisations for specific issues.

Guided visualisations, cds or visual aids

How often should I meditate?
Regular practice will yield best results.
If possible, try at least 10 minutes, daily. 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 medi mode 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! At around the same time each day if you can, to add to the 'ritual' (see next paragraph). Whenever you get the chance!

Whenever you have a few minutes to spare. 

Whenever you feel stressed, need the peace, or If you have the peace and want to sustain it.        

Before an important meeting, exam, interview or event to calm the nerves!     

Whenever you need a decision                                      

Whenever you want to examine an important issue more closely.

Where should I meditate?
Anywhere you can! In the office, on a train, in a traffic jam (NOT while actually driving though!). In a museum or art gallery, walking, waiting for the bus.

Be a little selective about the techniques used depending on the setting, but it's fine to do a meditation on the moment, e.g.. When eating a meal, appreciate the qualities of your food : its colour, texture, shape, smell, temperature and flavour.

For regular practice at home you may want to designate a particular space. This could be a cushion on the floor, a corner of the garden shed or a whole room. Perhaps you’d like 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, playing your singing bowl or a  gentle piece of 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.

Learning to meditate is a major key to your psychic development.

Here are some tips and suggested meditations to try as it is not easy to master stillness of mind and you may find that some approaches just don’t work for you.

Basic Meditation with a Candle or Incense

This is a useful meditation for relaxation, relieving stress and beginning your journey into more complex visualisation and meditations.

This meditation is very important in quieting the mind, which is a stepping stone to other meditations and visualisation.

Before you begin this meditation it is important to understand the purpose behind it. What should be achieved is the feeling of your thoughts slowing down and hopefully in time, you will reach the point of turning your thoughts off completely.

It is quietness you are seeking.

A few recommendations before beginning:

Choose a quiet location where you will not be disturbed, a lot of people find the bath the best place to meditate.

Wear comfortable clothes (or obviously none if you are in the bath! :0)). Dim the lights as much as possible. If you are new to meditation, it may be helpful to begin by doing your meditation in the morning when you first get out of bed. Your mind won’t be as full with the thoughts of the day and it will be easier to quieten down the thoughts that do pop in.

A focal point is required for this form of meditation, a candle or incense or anything simple as your focal point will do, even a dot on a wall!

Begin in a reclined but seated position, either in a comfortable chair, recliner or in the bath.

Position the object you are using as your focal point at eye level in front of you.

To begin, look at your object and focus all your attention on it. Notice the flame of the candle and how it bends this way and that. Notice how the smoke rises from the incense, or notice the shape of the dot on the wall. Notice the details of the object you are using and focus on them.

Now as you are doing this, begin to notice your breathing. Breathe in through your nose as deeply and slowly as you can….but don’t make yourself uncomfortable.

Then hold the breath for a few seconds and exhale through your mouth.

Try to keep this relaxed breathing going throughout your meditation. Remember it takes time to get used to and it really is not a big deal if you begin breathing through your mouth again.

In and out ..breathe slowly as you focus on your object……

After a few minutes, you will notice that your eyes want to close….allow them to.

When your eyes close, begin focusing on the back of your eyelids. You will notice that random thoughts will enter your mind…Try not to think of them but just notice they are there and let them go.

Breathe deeply and just let go…..If thoughts come, just let them pass on by…….Soon you will begin to slow or completely stop your thinking process….You will feel very relaxed .. See how long you can go.

Now once you begin to notice thoughts once again, its time to bring yourself back to the present.

Keep breathing deeply, but begin to notice the back of your eyelids again. Become aware of your surroundings and slowly open your eyes…You should feel very refreshed and relaxed

:0)

Meditation is something that does take some time to learn. Please do not become frustrated if your mind fills with thoughts when you first begin! Just keep trying and it will finally “click” for you.

The idea is to make it become a natural and effortless thing, so that when you feel stress you will be equipped to know how to relax quickly.

 More Meditations..