Meditation, The First Steps

 

 

Meditation is controlled mental activity, where one stills the mind to attain peace and enlightenment. It is used to seek inner strength, control stress levels, heal self, and prepare for magical rites and initiation. It can be seen as a form of self-discipline that eventually creates a high that rivals any drug.

 

The mind in its undisciplined state is constantly active, but this activity is largely aimless and unproductive. There is little sustained attention or concentration, when half formed thoughts constantly interrupt our attention with idle fantasies, half remembered events and conversations and obsessive worries which drain our energies when we most need them.

 

To meditate is to establish oneself in charge of the powerhouse of thought power. It is to know oneself as the user and director of mental energy. It is to bring the mind into obedience to the will. Control of mind is gradually acquired by regular practice, and is the goal of any magical user.

 

Books about meditation, instructions and hints are almost useless unless accompanied by practise. These suggestions are intended to help any one who has not previously practised meditation regularly. 

1. Decide clearly whether or not you wish to learn to meditate.

2. Decide for how long you will keep up this experimental practise, one week? Two? A month? Keep the period short, at the end of it; you can always renew your intentions.

3. Decide on a time and place when you expect to have 5 minutes to yourself undisturbed: at home, at work, in a park or garden, choose the right place for your needs, and choose a time that suits your life style.

4. Sit in a comfortable position with the spine upright, and feel relaxed. Take slow deep breaths.

5. Close your eyes and make a mental picture of a candle flame burning brightly without motion, calmly without strain, hold your image of the flame in your mind and maintain easy regular breathing.

6. Feel the stillness of the flame, feel peace, and let peace flow outward from you and your home (office, park, garden etc) Feel yourself surrounded by light.

7. Open your eyes, take 3 more slow breaths, get up and return to your normal activities.

8. Slowly lengthen the meditation periods. Try using tarot cards, crystals, gemstones, herbs, flowers, trees, large rocks, symbols of the gods, colours, affirmations etc to focus on.

9. Meditation calms, gets you in touch with your inner self, helps concentration and study, improves will power and self discipline, enhances magical rites, promotes healing and lowers stress levels in      the body and best of all gives you confidence and a spiritual high.

10. There are many different types of meditation, these can be found in a multitude of books, there are also experts who give classes though these are normally costly. Most Wiccan covens have meditation classes and evenings for their members and these are free of charge.

11. Even if you are part of a group doing meditation work you will still have to meditate on your own each day or you could team up with some one within the group to do these meditations.