Whether you're a CEO, a freelance Marijuanna smoking millennial, a housewife, a yoga instructor or a lawyer, meditation is undeniably the golden key to one of the most sought after superpower's on earth - mind control (we'll speak about this in a separate post on fear).
Most people over complicate the art of meditation. Yes, the 'art' of Meditation. It is an ART to begin a journey of increased separation between the workings of the mind/body and the awareness that you are and it is on this premise that the following tips & pointers are provided so as to give you, the read, and my fellow being, an opportunity to experience some more stillness in your lives.
TIP 1 - Select a SPACE:
It is ideal for you to find a space, preferably quote and isolated and ideally one with a calming, open, and clean surrounding.
By creating a relationship with a particular space, you start forming an energetic bond and ultimately make it much easier for your practice to continue when times get tough, or when your mind simply tells you "no".
TIP 2: Be STILL
Make a conscious commitment, prior to your sitting, to be STILL (both physically/externally as well as internally).
Some people find that it helps to embody the stature of a mountain, or a flowing river. The point is that you are not required to sit in full Lotus with your chest out and back straight.
To begin with, sit in a position that embodies some respect for yourself but most importantly be comfortable - you will get stronger with time.
TIP 3: LISTEN
As the wonderful Philosopher Alan Watts once said "the easiest way to get into the meditative state is to listen...".
As always in this practice, many things happen both externally as well as internally:
On this premise, it's fruitful to listen to the occurrences happening around you, as one whole, without attaching to anything particular. Essentially, imagine all the sounds around you coming out of one big surround sound system called life, listen to it as a song, acknowledge the impermanence of each sound, the decay of its frequency, nothing is constant.
The same goes for thoughts in your head - as you would watch clouds float by in the sky, as an observer, it is helpful to adopt the same approach with thoughts that enter your mind.
If you struggle with objectivity to your thoughts, the following tips will help you out further.
TIP 4: FEEL
I personally enter any period of meditation by FEELING my inner body, the energy flowing through my chakras and the blood flowing through my veins. To feel the aliveness of your physical being is one of the most beautiful, profound reminders that right here, right now, you are ALIVE, fully alive.
Take your hands, lay them out facing the ceiling and shift your attention to your finger tips, feel that tingle. Thereafter, slowly shift that attention to the rest of your body as slowly and attentively as you wish.
TIP 5: BREATHE
This last tip may well have been numbered 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1 because it is part and parcel of every living moment in your being. Your breathe is autonomous yet subject to your will.
What you will notice is that when you focus your attention on your hands, your breathe will continue, just as it wishes and this is a VERY, VERY POWERFUL TOOL.
Why you may ask? Well because then breathe is a measuring instrument to gauge your state of wellness at any given moment. You can gauge the level of stress, anxiety or relaxation and bliss by how easily your breathe moves in and out of your body and how deep it allows itself to journey into your inner world.
If you want to begin meditating, I highly recommend that you try incorporate the above tips and practical exercises into your practice and even into your daily life. As a consequence, your mindfulness quotient will gradually increase and over time and with dedication, you will find that you begin to sit in meditation for longer and longer.
Enjoy shifting between the different exercises and noticing how your awareness dictates your experience of your reality!
Much love!
Lev
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