How I Meditate

I am new to meditation, and just as it is to start a new habit or routine, I’m finding it hard to dedicate time daily or even weekly for meditation. However, I have done a bit of research before I began my practice (as erratic as it is). Let’s start with the eight types of meditation and the purpose behind it.

My purpose for medication is for focus, relaxation, manifestation and peace. Sometimes I harness my inner energy from various sources and envision I have my power in the palm of my hand. We are all composed of energy, and we can raise or decrease our states of energy with simply a thought. However, it might be hard to imagine how one can do this. I use some of the forms of meditation below to help me.

Here are the nine forms of meditation I have studied:

1. Mindfulness Meditation: Observe your thoughts as they pass through your mind; combining concentration with awareness.

2. Spiritual Meditation: Reflect on a deeper connection with God or the Universe.

3. Focused Meditation: Using your senses to concentrate on something. (Ie. staring into a candle flame).

4. Movement Mediation: Yoga, walking, rowing.

5. Mantra Mediation: Using a repetitive sound to clear your mind.

6. Transcendental Meditation: customizable mantra.

7. Progressive Relaxation: Focusing on body parts to relax individually.

8. Loving Kindness Meditation: Strengthen feelings of compassion, kindness and acceptance (non-judgemental values) toward yourself and others.

9. Visual Meditation: Using the senses to visualize yourself in a different time, place for relaxation, peace and calmness.

In my daily meditation practice, I usually use spiritual and focused meditation to relax and calm myself. Benefits of meditation include (and are not limited to) lowering blood pressure, reducing anxiety, decreasing pain, improving sleep and helping with symptoms of depression.

When I’m super stressed out (like at the dentist office), I use progressive relaxation. I also tried this during pregnancy which was a little more difficult. In times of great anxiety, this really works because you are actively relaxing your muscles and distracting yourself at the same time.

I’ve also used Visual Meditation my entire life (without knowing what it was actually called). When I was a kid and a teenager, I had insomnia. So, I would lay in bed and close my eyes, and envision my shopping mall from the tiniest minute details. Then I would imagine being able to shop or buy whatever I wanted. I would fall asleep this way most nights.

Another thing I like to do (this can be when I’m feeling symptoms of depression, but also when I’m feeling really happy). I do something called rooting, which is calling up energy from the Earth into my feet. I also do this with the sun. I love the sun, and wish we had summer here all year round. I will sit in the sun’s rays, and feel the energy absorb into my skin. Then, I will put out my hand and envision a purple sparkling ball of energy growing. I will use this energy for various things; sometime I send it out into the world as a healing gift, and other times I will cast a wish upon the wind. Either way, I always thank the Earth, Sun and Universe for their gifts and for allowing me to use them. In this way, I meditate and it feels truly healing.

Let me know if you have tried meditation or have a daily or weekly ritual. Have you noticed any benefits?

Like always,

💚 Sandra