Meditation Help Thread

[darashand]

We've briefly talked about meditation struggles and flirted with the idea of meditation topics for Neo-Druidry before. This thread is for these very issues. If you have a question or specific problem with meditation, post it here.

Also, if we decide to go ahead and do meditation topics, I will create a separate thread for each topic, so the conversation flows much better.

So, I suppose I'll start with:

I've had some interesting success with the Two Powers meditation (ADF meditation between the two currents of Earth and Sky/Cosmos). I have felt the two powers mingling at my center and have nearly felt overwhelmed with the energy. I'd like to go deeper with the meditation, like maybe to do a daily walk with it or even add dance movements to a particular song (that I must find!) I've never tried movement meditation before, any tips? What works best for you, if that is your particular type of meditation?

[Asch]

We've briefly talked about meditation struggles and flirted with the idea of meditation topics for Neo-Druidry before. This thread is for these very issues. If you have a question or specific problem with meditation, post it here.

Yeahhh I'm not especially visual and I have minor tinnitus in one ear so I've found meditation a real challenge. Does anyone else use a tactic aside from visualization? Thoughts?

[darashand]

Yeahhh I'm not especially visual and I have minor tinnitus in one ear so I've found meditation a real challenge. Does anyone else use a tactic aside from visualization? Thoughts?

You might benefit from movement meditation as well. Some have recommended tai chi to me, but I don't know. I tend to get in the zone when ringing up customers at work or shopping for books/cds.

I realize that you have tinnitus (and I don't really understand what that is like), but would drumming or even some type of music help? Can you drown out the sound?

[Asch]

Sorry I totally missed your reply yesterday!

You might benefit from movement meditation as well. Some have recommended tai chi to me, but I don't know. I tend to get in the zone when ringing up customers at work or shopping for books/cds.

Good point I'll have to look into it. My oldest brother is very into Tai Chi.

I realize that you have tinnitus (and I don't really understand what that is like), but would drumming or even some type of music help? Can you drown out the sound?

Happily it's quite mild and background noise usually drowns it out. I've tried meditating w/music and I can relax but that's about it -so far at least. I'll keep trying 'cause tinnitus or no I think it'll be useful but other techniques etc might be more effective down the road. I'll certainly investigate movement meditation. I've also picked up Trance-portation but haven't had time to read it.

Thanks for the input I appreciate it :D

[darashand]

Thanks for the input I appreciate it :D

Np, I hope it helps.

Here's another question: How alert should you be while meditating? I understand that some alertness is necessary, but what about this checked-out bliss that everyone talks about? Is this different than being in a meditative state for magic?

[AlisonLeighLilly]

I've never tried movement meditation before, any tips? What works best for you, if that is your particular type of meditation?

I've used dance, running and hillwalking as types of movement meditation, depending on the situation.

Hillwalking is possibly my favorite kind, but it's also usually pretty mild - nothing too deep, just a bit of light meditation while walking with a focus on opening up my senses and extending them to the surrounding environment. It's wonderful to do this while walking or hiking through the woods, moving slowly and trying to touch the various currents of energies running through the plants, animals, stones, etc. Sometimes I'll bring my iPod along and listen to some simple shamanic drumming if I want to slip into a deeper trance state, but often I'll just listen to the sounds around me, f'ex the rhythm of the wind or the water in the creek.

Running and dance can both push me deeper into trance, because they require some physical exertion beyond just hiking, but they're also harder to use to "get into" a meditative state for the same reason. When I run, I use a technique from Tai Chi to shift my focus to the circulating currents in my body as I move - sometimes this helps sink me into trance, and sometimes it just helps me maintain good posture. I usually use dance as part of ritual meditation when I've already been trancing for a while and need to integrate or ground energies back into my body, as a way of wrapping things up and getting back into ordinary consciousness. Since I tend to be kind of clumsy, and I have a small apartment, doing any kind of dancing inside requires me to gather my wits about me so I don't end up with a bunch of bruised shins and broken lamps.



I've tried using yoga as a kind of movement meditation - but I think I'm just not very good at it. On the other hand, to a certain extent I think practices like yoga can be a form of "body meditation" that can be beneficial to the body even if you never get to a point where you feel like you're in a meditative state. I know doing certain poses and sequences do seem to help reorient me or shift my moods that might otherwise be stuck or difficult to work through.

--Ali

[Chakabe]

--Ali

I have actually listened to Bi-Neural Beats before while attempting to meditate so far my only really successful meditation was an exercise in visualization In which after opening my Chakras I would find a door that when opened was made of pure white light. Upon walking through this door I was greeted with a warm meadow with all sorts of animals and birds around. Centered in the middle was a giant Oak Tree... I mean Giant not like "Oh look an Oak" I mean the base alone had to be at least 30 feet in diameter(Tree of life?). After a while sitting under the oak and asking my guardians to join me, I started to feel a presence that then touched my right hand. After going back in for a second day I realized that the person touching my hand was a middle aged women with red hair and a green dress.
She said her name was "Ephrata" ever since that day I have felt her with me in some way.

What all of this means so far is beyond me. All I know is that it was like I was there with out being there.
Any ideas pleas do share.
I also need to figure out why this falcon seems to like showing up or making his presence known around me.

[Asch]

Np, I hope it helps.

So I've been swamped with finals and finally got a part time job so I haven't had much time/energy to meditate BUT I finally got in to see my doc for a physical and asked about the ringing in my ear (it's only really been a problem since June) and evidently, I somehow poked a hole in my eardrum O.o evidently it should heal in time but she recommended me to a specialist anyway seeing as its been a few months already and also 'cause 'your right ear looks kinda weird too' so yeah next month I'll get checked out and maybe THEN I can finally focus

[darashand]

So I've been swamped with finals and finally got a part time job so I haven't had much time/energy to meditate BUT I finally got in to see my doc for a physical and asked about the ringing in my ear (it's only really been a problem since June) and evidently, I somehow poked a hole in my eardrum O.o evidently it should heal in time but she recommended me to a specialist anyway seeing as its been a few months already and also 'cause 'your right ear looks kinda weird too' so yeah next month I'll get checked out and maybe THEN I can finally focus

Whoa, that sounds really bad!! I hope your ear heals quickly!

You know, I've finally found a way to really get into meditation. I have always loved chanting and recently incorporated that into my meditation, but it's not a specific phrase or even a planned one. If I am using the Two Powers meditation (Earth and Sky focus), I just say something related to the script given or just spout out whatever idea comes to mind. It is very poetic at times, which I love. And I repeat it over and over, like a stream of consciousness almost, but that seems to kept my monkey mind busy. I really get into it. Also, I think being outside helps, because you can connect to the Earth and to yourself if you are sensing the energy around you.


Now if I could just remember to do it everyday...ugh.

[Asch]

Whoa, that sounds really bad!! I hope your ear heals quickly!

Thanks I have an app on the 10th unless I have to reschedule it around work. I'm hopeful, at the least it's an answer!

You know, I've finally found a way to really get into meditation. I have always loved chanting and recently incorporated that into my meditation, but it's not a specific phrase or even a planned one. If I am using the Two Powers meditation (Earth and Sky focus), I just say something related to the script given or just spout out whatever idea comes to mind. It is very poetic at times, which I love. And I repeat it over and over, like a stream of consciousness almost, but that seems to kept my monkey mind busy. I really get into it. Also, I think being outside helps, because you can connect to the Earth and to yourself if you are sensing the energy around you.


Now if I could just remember to do it everyday...ugh.

Is that the ADF two-powers or another? I've wondered about chanting but I rent a room from my Dad and he's a fierce atheist, although, I finally got a sculpture of The Morrigan in the mail the other day and put Her on my shrine. He came in and saw Her and I told him he could look at Her and he was really cool and respectful about it so maybe getting 'caught' chanting wouldn't be the horribly embarrassing experience I'm anticipating...