The first thing someone who wants to meditate needs to know is to be patient.
It took me months and even after years of daily meditations, I can say that I am still not an expert at this, but I have come a long way. I used to be the kind of person that would “react” to situations instead of “responding” to any situation.
There is a big difference, and I am certain that it’s the calmness of my mind that has brought me to be responsive rather than explode and react to everything.
Don’t get me wrong, I am human and I do make mistakes, but I found that the peace and quiet of the mind that meditation brings, has changed me. But enough said about me, you want to learn how to meditate. I will try and transcribe what I have learned over the years of this wonderful ancient practice that we can all use.
Regular rehearsal is the number one thing that you need to do.
Try and fix yourself a daily time and use it for yourself, and stick to it. It doesn’t have to be a very long period of time, just as long as it is done regularly, that is the key. The more you do it the more you become good at it. It’s just like any other thing, you need to practice to become better. I prefer first thing in the morning, but everybody’s different, it can be anytime you choose and that fits your schedule. Having a set time will become a repeatable routine and will be a key to successfully become a ritual that you need to do every day.
Preparing yourself mentally prior to your meditation will help clear your mind and all of the daily distractions for the time that you are meditating.
Keep it simple.
I light a few candles and burn a little bit of sage (Native tribes use sage to clear spaces, healing, and ceremonies) just to get the space I use ready. Everything we need to complete any tasks or to solve any problems is inside of all of us and you can tap into that infinite source of knowledge when you clear your mind.
Avoid a full stomach or tight clothing as these will be a distraction and can prevent you from being concentrated on the task. You will also need a quite space and time in order to benefit of the calmness that meditation can bring, so no phone, cell phone, TV or anything else that would get your attention and get you out of your meditation.
Put on a calming and comforting music.
When I meditate alone (You can also do group meditation, but I will talk about this kind of meditation in another post) I prefer using headphones, which serves two purposes at once, concentrating and reducing outside noise. I use all kinds of music, and there are tons of different styles of meditation music out there, especially on the internet. Choose the music and kind of meditation that suits you best. Choosing a meditation music style is personal and we each have our own tastes.
There is the guided meditation, where someone will guide you through the different steps of the meditation style and there is just plain meditation music. The guided meditation is probably another subject on its own and is a bit different than just meditating with music alone, or just focusing on your breath. So, for now, we’ll just focus on the purpose of this blog, and concentrate on the “how”.
Sit with your back as straight as possible with your feet flat on the floor and hands on your lap, either face down or up, depending on your choice and preference. Close your eyes but if possible, try to be as much awake as you can. When you are tired, you will tend to fall asleep, which is not a bad thing, but it will be more beneficial to be “aware” all the time you are meditating.
Most of all relax.
Take a few deep breaths when you start, in by the nose and out through the mouth, and relax. Let your body become as much relaxed as it can, almost like taking the mind out of the body, and RELAX. Imagine Pure White Light coming in from the top of your head and entering your body, going through all of your energy centers and connecting through your feet into mother earth. Let this white light flow through your body, and again RELAX.
Your mind will certainly stray and you will find yourself thinking about what’s for supper or is my car locked? There is a widespread misconception about having to “clear your mind” when you meditate, and is probably one of the most common reasons people stop meditating, out of frustration that they cannot get the mind chatter “off”. Just gently bring your mind back by refocusing on your breath and let that thought pass by treating them like a breeze of wind. Let the thought go.
Your mind will most certainly wonder again, so just bring it back with your breathing. At the end of your meditation, imagine that the pure white light that entered your body at the beginning is now surrounding you, filling you and protecting you.
The main idea is to put yourself into a protected environment from outside influences and will keep you into that “good” feeling.
Instead of trying to meditate for a pre-determined amount of time, find your ideal duration and build on it. It can be 5 minutes or an hour as long as you gradually find your ideal amount of time. And don’t stick to the same type of meditation, try different ones and see what fits you best. Your own personal progress will keep you doing it again and again. And then, you can choose your own definition of meditation, and expand as you wish.
Most of all, you should have fun doing it, and it should bring you to a 
relaxed state, and enjoyment. At its core, meditation is a simple way to reconnect with the essence of your being, to find your real “consciousness” that you have opened during your meditation. It will become more and more clear after a while, that we all have a great deal of wisdom inside and it is only a matter of listening to your intuition and universal connection. I hope you have enjoyed this article and if you have any questions about how to meditate or want to leave your own personal experience, please leave a comment below.
