Meditation
is both the simplest and most complicated thing you will ever
do. In theory it seems easy. You need to quiet and focus the
mind so that all the internal chatter dies away, leaving you
free and clear to tune into the higher energies, re-visualize
your life with clarity, and gain insight into your higher purpose.
In practice,
it can be a frustrating exercise of fidgeting while trying to
block out annoying thoughts about gossip heard at the grocery
check-out line, what your fiancé really meant when he
said that you don’t really look fat, or whether you remembered
to change the kitty litter. Most resolutions to meditate die
in the first five minutes of trying.
The number
of possible meditations and methods for achieving mental peace
are as numerous as the stars in the sky -- or the wanna-be gurus
hanging out in obscure shops and downtown cafes. Most of these
techniques even have merit. Before trying to determine which
path you should follow, you need to come to an understanding
of what your own needs may be, and why it is you are meditating.
I have always
preferred to break any process into its most basic components.
The first rule of empowerment is that you must Know Thyself.
One way of gaining an understanding into what fundamentally
shapes you as a person and colours your choices, is an exploration
of the basic elemental energies, knowing how they feel, how
well you relate to each, and how they express themselves in
and through you in a balanced fashion.
In order
to do this, one must first have a sense of how each energy feels
to them personally. Everyone will experience energy in a unique
way. While the energy fulfills the same function in each soul,
we savour it through the masks of our past experiences. Thus
our interaction with each energy is coloured by our past, and
by whatever innate characteristics we possess.
There is
an interesting side effect of seeking balance through meditation
on the elements. A properly balanced state makes reaching deeper
levels of awareness easier and more effective. It may seem amusing
to think that you will meditate in order that you can meditate
better.
But deeper
states of meditation may also leave you open to unexpected outside
impressions. A strongly balanced energy, self-awareness, and
confident control will serve to protect you from unwanted outside
influences.
This is
not magic. It is not effortless. It takes great work and discipline.
A talent or predisposition for mental quiet helps, but in the
end, persistence counts for more. Only through repetition and
attention will one gain facility with these skills.
Once a basic
ease with meditation has been achieved, one can then turn their
focus towards particular ends and effects. Specific meditations
can be structured to aid or promote healing, to invite inspiration,
to remove blocks to physical action, or to encourage emotional
connection with others. Meditation is a synergetic skill. It
can combine with, strengthen, and improve every other skill
we have.
As time
goes on we will be presenting several different meditative forms
from Angel Meditations, to meditating with crystals, meditation
with the Elements, guided Tarot meditations, pranic breathing,
and many others that may prove to be of interest.
