Meditate the Way You Enter a Hot Bath

By William T Batten

Some days, meditating is easy. Other days is seems impossible. If you're starting out, maybe every day feels like one over the other. As you become more familiar with the techniques, there are more of the good days.

It helps to know what to do when you're having a bad day, though. Maybe you're new to all of this or perhaps you've got a lot on your mind.

Life happens. You don't have to be perfect.

And thanks to one awesome technique, you barely even have to be decent.

The trick is to meditate the same way you'd enter a hot bath.

You know what I mean. You dip your toe in then recoil out immediately.

Then you go for it a second time and it doesn't seem as hard. Maybe you make it to your ankle before pulling out.

On the third try, you lower yourself in a few times.

Then you simply ease into the warm water and let it envelope you.

You can meditate this way, too. Just like with the bath, it's a lot slower but its success rate is phenomenal.

If you're trying to meditate and it's not working, that's okay.

Open your eyes. Breathe. Bring yourself back into your normal state of awareness.

Then go again.

Close your eyes, draw your attention inwards and do whatever meditation techniques you like.

And if it still doesn't work, repeat the cycle. Then repeat it again. Keep going until you're in a state of meditation.

There's a principle in hypnosis called fractionation. The idea is that bringing someone in and out of trance brings them deeper into trance. It's strange but it works. Each time they go back into trance, they go deeper and faster.

It's the same with meditation. Every time you close your eyes, it gets a little bit easier.

Think of it like a warmup. Runners stretch before exercising and this is the mental equivalent. The experience guides you to better results.

And let me tell you this:

This exercise builds your meditation skill like nothing else.

Reaching a state of meditation, even when you struggled with it, is like training with weights on. The difficult days are where you learn the most. The struggle is where you progress.

What I love about this is how friendly it is. If it's too challenging, then stop, take a break and start again. It's so effective and enjoyable that you have no excuse for not using it.

You can apply this with self-hypnosis, too. If your mental landscape becomes unstable, fractionation will bring it right back into balance. From there, you can activate your greatest emotions, skills and states of mind.

Only if you learn about how to do it first, though...

   https://guided-thought.com/downloads/unlock-vault-self-hypnosis/

Don't Ignore Distractions

By William T Batten

One of the big challenges with meditating is learning to handle distractions. It shocks no one to learn that it's a useful life skill, too. Staying focused despite noise, discomfort or even your own thoughts will transform more than your inner life.

It's a challenge. No one will pretend that it isn't. Some days your thoughts are calm like a pleasant stream. Other days the world around you is a turbulent mess.

Good meditators can enter the right state no matter where they are. Let me tell you from experience that being able to meditate on international flights is amazing.

Great meditators can even handle their thoughts being noisy.

It's funny - even as I write this, I'm getting distracted. There are noises outside, which are nothing compared to the ideas popping into my mind.

That's okay, though, as I'm still writing. And my meditation sessions are similar.

In fact, the problem's worse when I'm meditating. When my mind is quiet, that's when ideas start flooding my mind.

At least, they try to.

The trick is not to ignore distractions. That takes effort and is itself a distraction. There's a much better way to keep you on task.

Suppose that your young child brings you a drawing of theirs. That's cute, right? But let's assume that this is the ninth drawing this hour... and, to be blunt, they're not very good.

What do you do? Do you yell at the child? Tell them to leave you alone? Pretend they don't exist?

Well, you could. It might even stop them distracting you.

But I hope it's clear that this is not the best approach.

What do you do? You take the picture, smile, thank them for the beautiful drawing and wonder if they can make an even better one.

It's a loving, accepting, patient attitude.

Strange as it sounds, it's often useful to treat your own mind like a child. If you are meditating and fixating on distractions, don't blot them out. Acknowledge the thought or sense, and thank your mind for bringing it to your attention. Calmly explain to yourself that you're busy right now. Later, you can give any distractions they have your full attention.

Now, though, you need to focus on this.

Meditation is the ultimate me-time. You need to protect it, even from yourself.

But it can never be a clash of wills. When you fight your own mind, you lose no matter what. Calmly owning what you are entitled to is the smarter way to win.

This technique of treating part of you as another person is very useful with self-hypnosis. With it, you can transform yourself quicker and easier than you might believe.

Change is easy when you work with your mind.

And you can learn everything from inductions to change work right now:

   https://guided-thought.com/downloads/unlock-vault-self-hypnosis/

Post-Meditation Gibberish Means It's Working

By William T Batten

Now, this is not a universal experience.

It's pretty common. It happens to me all the time and I see it in others, too.

Some of you will read this and nod your head. For everyone else, keep this in the back of your mind. You might find it useful one day.

There's a curious phenomenon with meditation. You might go so far as to call it a side effect.

This phenomenon is where, after a really good meditation session, you suddenly become completely inarticulate. You can barely string two words together. I'm not talking about if you try to describe your session, you find your experiences don't translate well to words.

No - this is where you can't talk about anything.

Something as simple as your dinner plans leaves you grasping for the right vocabulary.

Like I say, not everyone will know what I'm talking about. Some lifelong meditators never experience it.

This is for the rest of us.

The best remedy for this is time. Your words will return to you. Simply take a breath or five. Your brain needs to switch gears again, then it will know what to say.

If you don't have time or you don't want to wait, how can you speed this up?

It helps to know what causes it.

The brain has two hemispheres - left and right. It's a misconception to say that you favour one or the other. All complex tasks use both hemispheres. But it's also a misconception to conclude that they are the same. Each specialises in different styles of thinking and logic.

Your left brain tends to be more analytical, its thoughts are more linear and it likes to think of the past or future. The right hemisphere tends to be more open, parallel and thinks in the present moment.

This is an oversimplification, of course. Your brain is complicated and no simple model can capture it. Even so, it's pretty accurate.

Language mostly comes from the left hemisphere. But notice that the right one pays attention to the present moment. When you practice mindfulness meditation, your right brain temporarily activates more than your left brain.

The better you held your attention on the present, the more intense this imbalance becomes.

Of course, this shift is tiny. It's not like your left hemisphere switches off and you become a blubbering, irrational goofball. But if you find yourself unable to find the words, it's because that part of your brain has put its feet up and it enjoying a rest.

Time restores your balance. If you want to speed it up, then start engaging your left brain. Count from one to ten, then start over. Pay attention to specific details in your environment. Make it clear in your mind where your body ends and the world out there begins.

And, of course, you can practice speaking. That's the surest way to find your words again. It's also a good measure of how far deep inside yourself you went and how quickly you're returning.

Another strategy is to learn self-hypnosis. There are techniques you can learn and apply to enter deep trances and exit them smoothly. No fuss, no difficulty and nothing but a great experience.

And you can learn all about this different approach to your inner mind here:

   https://guided-thought.com/downloads/unlock-vault-self-hypnosis/

Applied Neuroscience Secrets of Ancient Mystics

By William T Batten

The power of meditation is the power of your mind. It trains useful mental skills that lie at the heart of everything you do.

For example, focus.

Learn to do that and nothing won't become easier.

For example...

If you want techniques that improve your memory, the best place to turn to is the latest neuroscience research.

The second best place is a book by William Walker Atkinson.

Memory: How to Develop, Train and Use It is over a hundred years old. It is remarkably timeless, though. Not everything that he wrote still holds true... but most of it does.

A hundred years ago, they knew a lot less about how the brain works. You'd be surprised by how much they knew about using it, though. Atkinson drew on the techniques and traditions of ancient cultures.

And many ancient cultures knew a lot about maximising their memory.

Before the printing press, books were written by hand. If you owned a library, it meant you were rich. If you were lucky enough to be literate, the best most people could hope for is to borrow books.

And if you have to give books back after a week or so...

Well, you'd better memorise as much as possible. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time.

That's not even mentioning cultures that memorise their holy texts. These people need to be word-perfect with long, complex writings.

You can't do that without solid memory skills.

So the brain may have been a black box to them. But they sure knew how to wield it.

The arts of memory require dedicated training in a range of techniques. But there's one principle that you need to master before you can even begin:

You can't make a good copy of a bad recording.

If you're not paying attention, then it doesn't matter how good your memory is. If you walk through life in a mental haze, then you won't notice anything. And if you don't notice something, you won't remember it.

Focus is important. It's the first step in all mental processes. If you don't pay attention to something, you won't remember it, learn it, appreciate it...

The list goes on.

Through meditation, you learn to still your mind and focus on what's in front of you. Master this and nothing else, and your memory will naturally improve. Your thoughts will organise themselves better around good copies of clear records.

And if you decide to learn memorisation techniques on top of that...

Well, who knows how far your memory will develop.

If you want to train both your focus and memory, there are dozens of self-hypnosis techniques you can apply. If you're good at meditating, you'll find these both easy and captivating. If you have struggled with meditation in the past, this might be the approach you're looking for.

You can learn all about self-hypnosis from the ground up here:

   https://guided-thought.com/downloads/unlock-vault-self-hypnosis/

How Genius Is Like Stupidity

By William T Batten

As you learn a skill and develop your abilities, there comes a middle point. From this point, the road before you looks an awful lot like the road behind you. In a way, mastery is a regression back to your baseline...

Novices see the world in a simple way. This is because the novice ignores most of the information in front of them. Think of someone learning to drive. Before they sit behind the wheel, they think it'll be easy. They've seen adults do it without any drama.

You just turn the steering wheel and go, right?

A master at driving also sees it as a simple task. They ignore most of the information, paying attention only to what matters.

Then they just turn the wheel and go.

In between these two phases - near the middle point - driving is complicated. There is so much information to pay attention to. Lanes, speed, other cars, your destination...

They turn the steering wheel while information floods into their mind.

Both geniuses and dunces see things as simple. The path to mastery is about learning complexity, then how to simplify it.

What separates the masters from the novices is focus. Novices don't know what to pay attention to, so they ignore almost everything. Masters also ignore almost everything, but they narrow in on the one relevant detail and decide from there.

This is the true power of strong focus. Yes, it keeps you on track. Yes, it allows you to ignore lesser priorities.

But its real virtue is being the heart of mastery.

The better you can focus, the more able you are to fixate on the relevant details. Once you know what to focus on, mastery accelerates.

And the best way to train your focus is through meditation. If you can pay attention to your breathing, then you soon realise you interesting it can be. There are so many sensations involved in inhaling and exhaling. Until you notice them, every breath seems the same.

Like a novice ignoring all the details.

When you learn to find interesting variations in your breathing, you can apply that to anything. If air moving in your nostrils is interesting, people are fascinating. You'll never suffer through a boring conversation again, because you realise there's no such thing.

Monks can stare at a rock with rapt attention, mesmerised by its features and details. As the sun moves through the sky, it lights the stone in different ways. You can learn to see more of it through the power of focus.

And when your focus is this powerful, everything else in life becomes easy.

Another way to train your focus is through self-hypnosis. People think of a hypnotic trance as like sleeping. The truth is you become hyperaware. In this state, you can quickly and easily exercise your powers of focus.

And the gym to exercise your mind is right here:

   https://guided-thought.com/downloads/unlock-vault-self-hypnosis/

3 Types of People Who Can't Meditate (and How They Can Learn)

By William T Batten

When you spend time on personal development forums, talking with curious people or hanging out with open-minded folk, the topic eventually turns to meditation. And this conversation splits itself into two main camps: those who swear by it; and those who tried it and it didn't work.

In these communities, the people who haven't tried it are a minority. That's cool, though I'm not talking about them today. I'm focusing on those who gave it an honest, solid try and walked away frustrated.

Now, I need to make clear that what I'm about to say is my opinion. It may well be wrong, though I'm confident in it. I base this off my own experiences with meditation and the psychology of the unconscious mind:

My belief is that well over 99% of people can learn to meditate. And most of those who "can't" meditate, even after giving it some time, seem to fall into three categories.

The Already-Unconscious

Meditation does many things for your mind and body. If you only use it to relax, that's great - it's an ideal tool for that. Just know that it's like swatting a bug with a suitcase.

It can do so much more. Your unconscious is the source of your emotions. Not just obvious ones like happiness or anger, but complex ones like motivation and concern.

If your emotions are imbalanced or doing strange things, you have options. One option is to find the cause deep in your mind and address it.

People use meditation because it quietens the conscious mind while giving you useful tools, like patience and acceptance. In this state of inner tranquillity, you can expose and resolve patterns in your own thinking.

But there are people who are in this state all the time. By some quirk of psychology, their conscious mind is always quiet. Their inner dialogue is a whisper, or completely absent.

Does that make these people enlightened?

Maybe, maybe not. But if you think this describes you, then my advice is this:

Practice being patient with yourself. Learn to accept your thoughts. If you judge your thinking, then your mind will keep things from you.

A close friend will stop talking to you if you judge everything they say. Treat your mind as you would a good friend.

Then, meditation becomes easy for you. Simply think about whatever you want to work on. You can skip the techniques around focusing and breathing - those get you to a state you're already in.

The Meditators by Different Names

Some people meditate but can't let go, keep their focus or stay on task. They then decide that they tried meditation and it isn't for them.

For some of these people, you dig a little deeper. You ask about their hobbies and it turns out that they like hiking, painting, swimming, movies...

Maybe their favourite thing is playing with their children. Perhaps they love their jobs.

If you have activities that you love, then you can use these to meditate. If you often lose yourself in the activity - if it leaves you feeling recharged or at peace - then I have good news. That's the state of meditation.

You might think it strange that something like tennis can be meditative. After all, tennis is about speed, sweat and excursion. But how many tennis players experience time slowing down and the world going quiet, even as they move to intercept a 200 km/hr tennis ball...

Meditation isn't a special class of thinking that only happens in monasteries. You experience it all the time in your life. It's about harnessing, expanding and appreciating something that you already do.

The next time you meditate, keep that experience in the back of your mind. Anything that brings you closer to that state is good. If you move further away from it, go back to what you were doing before.

The Inner-Blocked

Then there are people who find it harder to access their unconscious mind. Their emotions are dulled, their imagination is grounded and the above descriptions about playing tennis made no sense to them.

There's no judgement here. If you think I'm describing psychopaths, I'm not. Some people live highly intellectual lives. There are thousands of rewarding careers that need people like this - people able to rationally think through a problem without getting distracted.

There's nothing wrong with pursuing satisfaction instead of happiness.

If you find meditation difficult because you're too conscious, this might be you. When someone tells you to close your eyes and go inside, you don't know what that means. It's an unclear instruction and, boy, that must be irritating.

You can learn to meditate anyway. The question you might ask is whether you should.

The general rule is that exploring your unconscious mind enriches your life. It adds unconscious material to your conscious awareness, which opens up what you can do. It gives you more options without detracting from anything you have.

Having said that, what you find might surprise you. Most people have a lifetime of experience dealing with strange unconscious materials. Things like random emotions, strange memories and unusual thoughts flicker through our minds all day. If you're not used to it, it can be unsettling.

My advice would be to find a meditation coach. Not just any coach, though. You'll want someone who understands where you are coming from.

Ideally, they'll have gone through the exact process too. They'll know how to guide you to the next step and how to handle anything that comes up.

Working with them might be the greatest decision you ever make.

I suppose there's a fourth category: people who find meditation boring. It's supposed to be boring, as remaining still while your brain craves novelty punches through the veils in your mind.

But still. It's boring.

If you want a fun way to engage your unconscious and explore your mental landscape, look into self-hypnosis. Once you get good at it, it can give video games a run for their money.

And you can get good here:

   https://guided-thought.com/downloads/unlock-vault-self-hypnosis/

Align Your Body to Align Your Mind

By William T Batten

Meditation involves being still and quiet, both in your body and mind. The problem with a still body and a quiet mind is that it draws your attention to any discomfort. If you plan to meditate for long periods, you need to get your body comfortable.

Then again, maybe you don't.

Discomfort has its place. It can keep you awake and focused. It can drive out other distractions.

But, and I may be going out on a limb here...

I assume that if you want more discomfort, that's easy to arrange. If you want to change something, it'll probably be to decrease discomfort.

And with that not-so-controversial assumption in our minds, let's talk about posture and meditation.

Firstly, it's a myth that you need to sit cross-legged. You can sit however you like. In fact, you don't even have to sit. I usually meditate while sitting in an office chair. I've done it lying down and standing up.

A few times, I've meditated while walking around. I find self-hypnosis works better - I can use the ever-changing scenery and the sensation of walking to drive the experience. For other people, mostly those who are really good at shutting down their inner dialogue, they meditate while walking with no problems.

So do whatever you need to. If doing yoga keeps you calm and focused, do that. If that sounds terrible, don't worry about it.

Secondly, sitting upright is not necessary natural. Our ancestors walked most of each day for most of their lives. If you're not comfortable with it... well, neither were they.

But if sitting still appeals to you, then here's how to do it right.

Your ears, shoulders and pelvis should form a straight line. If you have a mirror handy, use it. If not, don't worry. There's a better way to measure it than eyeballing your reflection.

The first thing to check is to see if there's any tension in your body. Focus especially on your pelvis and lower back. If you are holding the posture using tension, then you're not really holding it. The goal is to remain relaxed throughout.

Then work your way up your core. Are your stomach and back muscles relaxed? If not, release any tension and adjust your position as needed.

Check your pelvis again to make sure the tension hasn't moved.

Do this again with your shoulders. Release any tension and move them into a stable alignment.

Finally, check your head and neck.

This exercise takes practice. If you need a month or two to get it right, take a month or two. It's time well spent.

Or just lie down to meditate.

And if you want to learn more about how to use self-hypnosis - whether you're lying down, sitting up or walking - then click the link below. You can learn to explore your own inner reality even as you navigate the outer one.

   https://guided-thought.com/downloads/unlock-vault-self-hypnosis/

Access Your Inner Mind by Ignoring It

By William T Batten

Most meditation coaches (myself included) will tell you to direct your attention inwards. But here's the thing - where's the fun in doing the same thing each time? There are no wrong approaches in meditation, only those that are less likely to work. So why don't we try to do the opposite of what everyone recommends?

If you struggle with meditation, then listen closely. The opposite of common wisdom might be exactly what you need.

I'm being a little dramatic. There are meditation coaches who recommend this technique. What I find interesting is that it's more common in the self-hypnosis community. Most things that work for one, work for the other, but the two groups don't share notes as often as they should.

When you combine the best techniques from self-hypnosis and meditation, you access your mind in a whole new way.

What is this technique that's the opposite of what most coaches teach?

Instead of focusing inwards on yourself, focus outwards.

Choose vision or hearing. Place your attention here. Use your mind to discern the shape and pattern of everything you're aware of. Focus on everything you see or hear. Open your mind, lower your defences and let the information pour in.

Once you lose yourself in the outer world, it's as if you lose yourself in your inner world.

And the best part?

You can meditate with your eyes open. You can do it while walking around. Heck - though I don't recommend this - you can do it while driving. The environment is rich, so drink it in and lose yourself among it.

Enter a trance by really seeing colour. Journey into your mind by following specific sounds. Let your consciousness dissolve as you gaze up at the clouds.

In other words, ignore your mind and you will enter it.

This process goes some way towards countering a common concern. Some hard-core meditators disengage from the world. The outer world can no longer compete with their inner experience, so they withdraw.

It's a shame and a waste. A good conversation with an experience meditator can literally change your life. The more you explore your mind, the more you see things differently. And what could be more valuable than a new perspective?

Paying attention to your surroundings, as a way of entering the meditative state, ties the two together. You can enter a trance and experience the world at the same time. And, in fact, you should.

If you'd like to learn more self-hypnosis techniques, I've barely scratched the surface. Brand new ways of engaging with your own mind are only a click away. Your training remains incomplete until you read about what it can do for you.

   https://guided-thought.com/downloads/unlock-vault-self-hypnosis/

Why Magic Isn't Real and How You Can Harness It

By William T Batten

I'm here to tell you that the old magics work. I don't believe in any fantasies. I'm a capital-C cynic who would point out that supernatural literally means 'not found in nature'. None of this matters. Magic works.

How can I say that I'm a sceptic and I believe in magic? Don't be ridiculous. Magic isn't real and I never said that it is. I only said that it works.

What kind of magic? All kinds. Shamanism, Wiccan, Christian and D&D wizardry all work perfectly. You can use them to enhance your health, predict the future, banish problems, win battles and receive the wisdom of the gods.

See, the magic of magic isn't in some spirit realm. It lies in the rituals that people used to try (and fail) to invoke the blessings of pixies or whatever.

Magic isn't real but its rituals are powerful. Why? Because your unconscious mind loves rituals. This is why you have your little good luck charms and superstitions. This is how going to the doctor and receiving no treatment can still cure you.

Rituals and symbols are why you feel submissive (or hostile) around cops. They are why you have a certain style of dress, even if that style is 'I pick whatever so I don't have to think about it'. Going to your favourite park or turning on the TV after a long day are both rituals.

Everything you do can get the benefits of the most powerful spellbook, even as you obey physics to the letter.

People recommend having a dedicated place in your home for meditation. The idea is that you'll associate the place and the state together. Simply entering your meditation space will plunge you into a deep, pleasant trance.

Definitely do this. Then go even further.

The best magical rituals in fiction use ancient words of power. Choose your mantra and use it while meditating. Which ancient words of power? It doesn't matter! The words are irrelevant but the ritual matters to your inner mind.

What spell would be complete without great hand flourishes? Do whatever feels natural. Use huge sweeping movements or subtle caresses of the air.

Of course, the most powerful spells require you to have the right state of mind. No grump ever cast a Patronus charm. Find a state of mind that works for you.

None of these antics will do anything. At least, not at first. Keep them up and you'll associate them to the meditative state. When you do, you'll tap into the psychological principle behind every culture's ceremonies, chants, dances and festivals. Your inner mind loves rituals, so use them.

I don't hear many meditators suggest that you go to these extremes. It's the sort of quirky, yet psychological sound, advice that only self-hypnosis brings. If meditation isn't fun for you anymore, then look beyond it. There's a whole new way of interfacing with your unconscious mind. Harness your own unreal yet real enough magic today:

   https://guided-thought.com/downloads/unlock-vault-self-hypnosis/

Meditation - Key to Live an Ideal Life

Nowadays, Meditation is practiced in most of the countries in the world. It is really the best mental exercise to win over your negative feelings which have hampered your growth. We have heard about Buddhist monks meditating for a certain cause. What causes are they? Is there any profit of practicing Meditation? Well, yes, there are certain advantages of meditation which can keep you progressing in your life:-

Advantages of Meditation

Increase in Intelligence level

Since Meditation is the key to the utmost development of the body and the mind, it is said to enhance the intellectual and cognitive abilities of a practitioner. When one experiences a surge in his intelligence level, he will surely be able to meet his goals despite of any complex problem.

For Students

Meditation is very profitable for the students as it aids in providing academic achievement to the students. Better grades and good behavior are the advantages which a student can hope to get after practicing the mediation. This is why many schools organize meditation sessions to their students these days as the results are simply amazing.

Increases Work Efficiency

Today, Meditation is practiced in a number of offices worldwide just to enhance the efficiency of the employees. The point is that when you mediate, you concentrate towards your goals or targets which paves for the better performance. In turn the company is highly benefited from the higher concentration levels of his employees.

Increased Management Skills

If your mind is healthy and has no negative thoughts you will surely put in a lot of efforts to get success. It will actually equip you with the great sense of leadership which will help you manage your team in the best way.

Life Expectancy

Daily Meditation is immensely useful for your health. Yes! It is right! You will surely enjoy good health thorough mediation which is a part of Yoga. Practicing Meditation daily can save you from heart diseases thereby providing you a good health.

Improved Sleep

Following a Meditation regime is good for you if you have insomnia. Getting sound sleep is a key to your inner and outer happiness. When you get complete amount of sleep, you remain active and alert which leads you on the path of success throughout your life as you are able to do any work with utmost sincerity and alertness.

Hence, practicing mediation is the best way to get spiritual awakening and to realize as to how you can raise yourself from a common man to a great soul.


 By Gauravv Verma


Article Source: Meditation - Key to Live an Ideal Life

Chakra Malas, Cosmic Focuses Of Energy

We are all beings of energy and part of this beautiful universe. The colors of the chakras or the seven cosmic energy centers in the body are related to the colors of the rainbow: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, red. Much as all colors combine into purest white of the thousand petaled lotus, so also the energy centers are tuned up to access our supreme consciousness. Chakras are primal cosmic focuses of energy in the human vitality field. Situated along the central path of the body from the base of the spine to the highest point of the head, chakras are concentrations of vital prana that are always in motion, balancing the energies with the auras of the universe.

Violet is the shade of the Crown chakra, also known as Sahasrara the seat of infinite consciousness with the brilliance of the sun. Where the conscious breath merges into the infinite realm of Shiva. This chakra is situated at the highest point of the head. The Crown chakra is connected to the crown of the head, sensory system, and the cerebrum, and is illustrative of pure thought and action, eternal, Divine existence. This chakra associates one with the endless cognizance and the supernatural source. Opening this chakra will help take advantage of a profound cosmic understanding where the Shiva and Shakti merge as non-duality. Gemstone mala beads that will help the Crown chakra is the sphatik or clear quartz.

Indigo: The shade of the Brow or Third-Eye chakra, otherwise called Ajna. This chakra is situated between the eye temples the seat of unfolding of the soul. Wisdom and clear conscious thought liberates us from pain. To be able to see clearly your actions and the those of others without judgement but with apathy leads to awakening of the Kundalinī. We are who we are and part of the inclusive obviousness. Opening this chakra can help to clear insight, instinct, trustworthiness. The Sapphire japa mala relates to the Ajna Chakra.

Blue: The shade of the Throat chakra, otherwise called Visuddhi is related to purification and balancing which can be energized through pranayama or regulated breathing.This chakra is situated in the throat or larynx where the vibrations of sound are created into mantras. Just as mantras are soothing and healing vibrations, hurtful words not only harm the other but yourself as well. Control or balancing the throat chakra will lead to spiritual purification creating channels for great worldly communication. Opening the Throat chakra enhances psychic hearing. Gemstone malas that will help the Throat chakra incorporate turquoise, blue lapis, sodalite.

Green: The shade of the Heart chakra, otherwise called Anahata where the subconscious unfolds and there is a gamut of emotions. This chakra is connected to the heart, lungs, circulatory framework, and cardiovascular plexus. The Heart Chakra conquers any hindrance between the physical and profound universe. Realization and knowledge of the self lead to Inner Healing. Opening the Heart chakra permits a man to love more, sympathize, feel empathy. Gemstones yoga malas that will help the Heart chakra incorporate emerald, tourmaline, aventurine, malachite, rose quartz.

Yellow: The shade of the Solar Plexus chakra, otherwise called Manipura. This chakra is situated in the stomach zone and is the abode of clarity, wisdom, self-confidence and well being. The seat of food and digestion Manipuri chakra is the fire to our soul, the sacred power. Vibrations from food are carried inwards to our chakras, here we have the power to remove negative thoughts. The Solar Plexus chakra is illustrative of imperative action and self awareness. At the point when this chakra is open, it enables a man to locate his own quality, transforming dreams and objectives into reality. Gemstone mala beads and bracelets that will help the Solar Plexus chakra incorporate golden, topaz, citrine, yellow jasper.

Orange: The shade of the Sacral chakra, otherwise called Svadhisthana is the seat of subconsciousness, between sleeping and being awake.,and is the activation seat of Karmas. This chakra is situated between the coccyx and sacrum. The Sacral Chakra is connected to the sexual organs of procreation. Letting go of the past, the ego that hold onto experiences and judgmental action, it is here that the kundalini starts is ascent. Opening this chakra will free will power and the vigor of concentrated action. Gemstone yoga malas that will help the Sacral chakra incorporate carnelian, coral, orange jasper, orange jade.

Red: The shade of the Root chakra, otherwise called Muladhara, the starting of our spiritual development. This chakra is situated at the base of the spine and permits us to be grounded, where the kundalini shakti sleeps in a deep, dormant state. The seat of the unconscious, the root chakra is where we assess our reality and purification of the spiritual energy begins. Gemstone mala beads and yoga beads that will help the Root chakra incorporate ruby, garnet, smokey quartz, obsidian, hematite and onyx.

Meditations beads, yantras, chakra mala, yoga pants and spiritual decor at http://www.mogulinterior.com


 By Era Chandok


Article Source: Chakra Malas, Cosmic Focuses Of Energy

Learn to Meditate in 10 Days

IS LEARNING TO MEDITATE FOR YOU?
People want to learn to meditate for a variety of reasons so it is useful to have some ideas about what you want to get out of it. There are several types of meditation to choose from and like anything, one size does not fit all.

(If you are only experiencing your first thoughts on meditation, you may want to read some books on meditation before committing to a particular type). Or Google something like "Meditation classes near me" to expand your local knowledge).

The point I am trying to make is that if the first style of meditation you try doesn't suit you, try something else. Release any expectations of the way it 'should' feel or the results you 'should' get. You can learn to meditate if you accept your own unique experience, without worrying about "how to become a buddhist". Or comparing your experiences to others - this is your journey and not anyone else's.

HOW I (AND SEVERAL OTHERS!) LEARNED TO MEDITATE
I had long been aware of the potential benefits that I could gain from meditation. However, for me it was one of those things I always seemed to find ways to put off! I knew I could start with just a minute or two each day but I still never prioritised it.

The fact that I chose to go 'all out' in a ten day silent Vipassana meditation course (with a bunch of people I didn't know) was an interesting new concept to me. My approach to staying fit and healthy is usually about gradual habit change, and is anything but extreme. However I love challenging myself and opening my eyes to new things so here I was!

When I told people that I had been on a ten day silent retreat, the most common comment I heard was "It must have been so hard not to talk for that long!" This was also what I perceived would be the most challenging part before I began.

It turns out the silence was the easy part. Despite all the well-meaning warnings beforehand about no forms of communication being so hard, I found it was quite pleasant! I confess I was slightly anxious when packing away my laptop, phone, journal and books knowing that I couldn't even sneakily pull them out for ten days. But, as with the talking, it turned out these were also things that were easy to give up.

WHY CHOOSE VIPASSANA?
Sitting on my backside hour after hour, day after day - more on this soon, is not my idea of fun. But knowing I would not do a lot more than eat, sleep and meditate for ten days, made me feel I would learn more about myself.

I had a few personal reasons for choosing the Vipassana meditation approach. The most significant one being I was looking for a way to manage the chronic headaches I was experiencing. I knew that some form of meditation could be a missing link in my quest to lead a healthy, balanced life. And most of all... I just love a challenge - physical, mental or otherwise.

The meditation centre near me (well it was at the opposite end of the country, but a good excuse to get away and go somewhere different), was located in Kaukapakapa, north of Auckland, New Zealand. In the final shuttle bus, I spoke to others about what they were hoping to get from the course. One lady had attended before and had previously rid herself of cravings for chocolate. This time she sighed and said she would like to get rid of her attachment to beautiful clothes!

The guy next to me did not know what he wanted - he was just 'curious'. Another girl wanted to transform herself completely - turn into a 'new person' she told me. Another person told me he wanted to learn how to become a Buddhist. So here I was, with an interesting mix of people, all headed to the same place for their own reasons.

VIPASSANA MEDITATION CENTRE, KAUKAPAKAPA, AUCKLAND, NZ
We arrived at the centre, and I immediately appreciated how full of life it was. Over the next ten days I would meet some of the friendliest birds and insects ever. (With the peace and tranquillity in such a place I guess they had no reason to run from us!) I registered my name and confirmed that I had no severe psychological disorders. I was then directed to my room, which I would share with three other women. It's very interesting to live in such close quarters with others but to ignore them completely for ten days! After a group briefing and some final chit chat, the meditation began.

Every day was the same in structure. The 'gong' woke us at 4am. We would meditate from 4:30am-6:30am. Breakfast was from 6:30am-8am - which for me generally meant sleeping from 7-8am. We then meditated from 8-11am with a five minute break at 9am. Lunch was 11am-1pm. This was delicious, natural vegetarian food prepared from scratch, and was my favourite part of the day.

After lunch, we would meditate from 1pm-5pm, with five minute breaks at 2:30pm and 3:30pm. Dinner (this was just a couple of pieces of fruit) was from 5pm-6pm after which we meditated from 6pm-7pm. There was an evening discourse (video lecture - second favourite part of the day) on what we were doing from 7-8pm (we still had to sit on the floor for this). Finally, we meditated one more time from 8-9pm. Lights were out at 9:30pm and this continued for ten days. Oh, and I didn't mention that I was starving from about 7pm-10pm and 4am-6:30am every day!

OBSERVATION NOT VISUALISATION
You might be thinking that meditation is all about going to your 'happy place'. You sit down, or maybe even lie down, close your eyes and visualise a wonderful white light, and then you feel like you're floating on a soft fluffy cloud... or something like that? Not so much with a Vipassana meditation course! It was definitely a far cry from the five minutes of relaxation I enjoy at the end of my Wednesday Pilates class.

Vipassana meditation is all about observation. There is no visualisation. You simply sit, close your eyes, and observe sensations in your body. For the first two or three days you focus only on the breath. Not on breathing a certain way, but just on observing the natural breath, as it is. You observe sensations, good and bad, and train your mind not to react to them. After day three, you move on from focusing only on the nose, to noticing sensations all over the body.

Everyone will feel different sensations. Itching, tingling, tickling, hot, cold, numbness, burning, pain. Pain was the sensation I felt 95% of the time. Pain in my neck, shoulders, back, hips, knees and ankles. I'm a fitness instructor and I should be strong you say. But I'm a fitness instructor with some tight joints that are not used to sitting cross legged on the floor for twelve hours a day. I'm also a fitness instructor who drives a car, and sits in a seat with a back rest every day. Which means my spinal extensors were in no way conditioned to sit and maintain good posture for a few minutes.

DID I MENTION THE PAIN?
There were plenty of cushions available and I made the most of them but they provided little comfort for me after a while. So again, I reiterate that PAIN is what I felt all day every day (minus breaks) for ten days. But the type of sensation felt was irrelevant. The goal was to view these sensations objectively, like they didn't belong to me. I was to remain with an 'equanimous' mind at all times - calm and balanced.

My mind drifted into 'lala land' numerous times over the ten days, and often stayed 'on task' for less than ten seconds at a time. But my attempts to meditate got progressively better. I sat through the 'hour of determination' three times a day without going too crazy. By day three I realized I could sit up straight for more than a few minutes at a time, and on day seven I sat up straight for an entire hour without any major postural adjustments.

By merely observing the sensations in my body I was beginning to sharpen my mind and to free myself from craving and aversion. All the cravings experienced in life arise from the sensations we feel and enjoy. So by maintaining an equanimous mind when the good sensations arose (although there weren't many of them), I was delving deep into my unconscious mind (the part of the mind responsible for feeling sensations) to rid myself of craving. Similarly, by maintaining equanimity when bad sensations arose (because there were so many of them, I like to believe I was going through accelerated training in this area), I was starting to free myself from aversion, or hatred.

ACCEPT THE LAWS OF NATURE
The Vipassana philosophy is centred on the law of impermanence, or the law of nature. This law states that everything is constantly changing. Everything rises, stays for some time, and then passes. The sensations I felt in my body would not be there forever, and I should merely observe them and understand this. Understand that I shouldn't become attached to the good sensations or hate the bad ones - they are all impermanent.

The other central concept to this technique is the recognition that there will always be misery in the world (not in a pessimistic way, but instead a realistic way) and that there are three things that cause all the misery: craving, aversion and ignorance. The first two have been mentioned, and the third I was beginning to combat by bringing awareness to my body. In turn, this would transfer to the real world, where I would be able to deal with life's ups and downs in a more balanced way. Selflessness, giving without expecting something in return, compassion for others, and intrinsic happiness also form an integral part of this philosophy.

IN SUMMARY
This is probably about the time I should stop. I could keep writing... learning to meditate in ten days has that effect. My understanding of the Vipassana technique and the benefits it brings developed throughout the course has only just started. I realise I've had only a small taster and I must continue to practice... as I am a long way from total purification of the mind and the ultimate goal of full enlightenment (note: a fully enlightened person is also known as a "Buddha").

I'm a step in the right direction though. I know that Vipassana can benefit everyone (regardless of their religion or belief systems), when they are ready to take that step, and I certainly got a lot more out of it than I would ever have expected. This technique has even had huge success when implemented in Indian prisons - Vipassana rules are stricter than prison rules, and the inmates come out with a lot less hatred and blame for the outside world.

If Vipassana is not for you but you still want to learn to meditate and figure out how to incorporate it into your lifestyle on a regular basis, then please feel free to reach out to me via elly@naturalbalance.co.nz or one of the social media links on this website. I'd love to help you with your goals.


 By Elly McGuinness

Article Source: Learn to Meditate in 10 Days

8 Tips on How To Meditate At Home

If you prepare well before meditation, you can get the most out of your meditation. In case you don't know, you can meditate at home. If you have no idea as to how to go about doing it, here are some tips for you. Read on.

Choose The Right Time

Basically, meditation is the time that you want to spend in order to focus and relax yourself. So, you should choose a time of the day when no one will disturb you and you can enjoy your time. Ideally, we suggest that you choose sunrise or sunset for this purpose. During these hours, the noise level is very low and everything is fresh.

Choose The Right Place

Once you have chosen the right time, your next step is to choose a location where no one will disturb you. As a matter of fact, peaceful places make the meditation a lot more relaxing and enjoyable experience. If you have a yard in your house, you may go over there to spend a few minutes and do your meditation.

Choose the Right Posture

Once you have chosen a quiet place, your next move is to decide on the right posture. Make sure the posture you have selected is relaxing, steady and comfortable. Sit down with your legs folded at your knees. It's just like people sit in a yoga position. Sit straight and make sure your spine is also straight. Now, keep your neck and shoulders relaxed. For extra comfort, you can close your eyes the whole time.

Meditate Before a Meal

We suggest that you meditate on an empty stomach. After a meal, meditating will be harder as you may doze off. However, it's not a good idea to meditate when you are starving. The hunger cramps may not let you focus and your mind will keep wandering or thinking about meal throughout the meditation. It's a good idea to do this two hours after you have eaten your meal.

Warm up

It's a good idea to warm-up before you sit down to meditate. It will improve your blood circulation and will make your body feel more active. Aside from this, warm-ups will help you to sit steady more easily.

Take Deep Breaths

Again, this is part of the preparation process. Moreover, deep breathing prior to meditation is recommended by experts. By taking deep breaths, you can steady your breath rhythm and your mind will become peaceful.

Smile

This will make a huge difference. A gentle smile will keep your relaxed and peaceful. Moreover, it will improve your meditation experience to a great extent.

After mediation

After meditation, don't open your eyes all of a sudden. It's not the right way. What you should do is open your eyes gradually and then slowly become aware of your surroundings.

So, if you are just getting started with meditation, we suggest that you check out these beginner guidelines. Hopefully, you will be able to get the most out of your time and you will achieve the inner peace. Just make sure you follow these guidelines, as they are the basics of this journey. Hope this helps.

Have you been looking for tips on   how to mediate at home? If so, we suggest that you take a look at multimeditation. They offer great information about the subject.


 By Satvik Mittal

Article Source: 8 Tips on How To Meditate At Home