There has been a lot said about meditation in the last few decades, and some of it seems to be quite complex and confusing – so let’s simplify it into something everyone can use and understand:

Meditation refers to an altered state of mind and being that allows you to relax completely on every level.  Being relaxed like this has obvious health benefits in the sense that it lowers our anxiety levels and blood pressure, allows us to clear our minds of cluttered thoughts, and gives our body time to rest and regenerate. 

Meditation also works on an energetic level too.  As well as literally being made of energy, we also take a certain amount of universal or life force energy into our bodies which constantly flows through our Chakra, or energy system, and out through our feet and into the earth.  Consequently, we are also drawing energy from the earth and back up through our feet so that it flows through our Chakra system in a figure 8, with our body at the point of the eight where the circles intersect. 

Universal or life force energy is the living energy field that is generated by all living things in existence, which combines into a collective energy that sustains us and helps our bodies to energize and our cells to regenerate.  It is a creative energy.  The Star Wars movies were definitely onto something when they describe the nature of the Force!. 

When we meditate, it allows our body to draw in more of this creative life force energy.  When we are conscious and busy going about our lives, we tend to block out a lot of this energy, or it simply remains unused and dissipates.  Sometimes we have created energy blocks in the Chakras themselves which prevent us from having the full benefit of the universal energy. 

These energy blocks in our Chakras are the result of accumulated negative thought patterns and actions, and sometimes past traumas or even past life trauma.  If left unchecked, these blocks can manifest to the point that the energy builds up too much in one place (like a blocked drain) and this overload of energy can cause physical problems to manifest in the organs and tissues around the area. 

The act of meditating itself need not be elaborate.  The feeling of a meditative state is identical to that state we enter when we are day-dreaming and our minds have wandered.  Our eyes become soft-focused and dreamy, and we allow ourselves to relax and our minds to drift. 

It is also likened to the Alpha state that our brains enter just before sleep.  This refers to the Alpha brainwaves, which are a particular frequency.  When our brains enter this Alpha state, they become very receptive to energy or thoughts that are around us.  We become psychically open and receptive to messages and feelings in the ether around us and the more subtle realms like spirit.

When we are in a meditative state, we are also most receptive to any affirmations or –re-programming or healing we wish to perform on ourselves by using our mental focus and visualization.

There is no one way to meditate, as you have to find a way that feels right to you and works well.  Essentially, the ancient ways of meditating involved sitting in the Lotus position – cross-legged with the soles of each foot touching each other, and the forefinger and thumb of each hand joined.  This is supposed to stimulate the figure ‘8’ energy flow through the body and Chakra system as mentioned above.  However, it’s not strictly necessary to sit in the Lotus position to enable this kind of energy flow (contrary to what is always portrayed in Hollywood!).  As your body ages, it becomes a lot more difficult to perform elaborate Yoga positions and then to get up from them again!.  So do what suits your body and situation.

Don’t meditate in the bath, as you might fall asleep and slip under the water!  (If you are a spiritual Master you won’t have to worry about baths because you can walk on the water).

Simply sit or lie in a relaxed position, where you are comfortable, warm and not in a place where you will be tripped over!.  This could be sitting upright in a chair, lying on a couch, or on cushions on the floor – whatever you prefer. 

The key to good meditation is breathing.  You need to concentrate on slowing your breathing down and also breathing more deeply.  A good rule of thumb is this:

• Take a breath IN through the NOSE on a count of SEVEN
• HOLD for a count of SEVEN
• Breath OUT through the MOUTH on a count of SEVEN.

If you can’t do it on a count of seven (don’t hyperventilate!) then just use a count that feels comfortable to you, and increase it gradually with practice.

Seven is significant because it is a number that relates to self mastery in numerology.

As you breath in through your nose, imagine you are breathing in white light (purification and protection) and also any other colours you feel drawn to.  As you breath out through your mouth, you can imagine you are exhaling all the negativity you have been holding inside you.  See it like a grey or black smoke (if you smoke, this visualization should be easy!).

Breathing properly is essential to our health and well being, because it oxygenates our cells and allows more oxygen to be carried to our brains via the blood.  Adequate oxygenation means that we are functioning at fuller capacity and will be more alert and energized.

Another rule of thumb is to make sure you meditate regularly at regular times.  Establishing a routine with it (or ritual) helps you to establish a program of relaxation that you’ll be able to call up whenever you need it – i.e. you are stressed or panicking.  Generally about fifteen minutes of meditation a day is good – more if you can spare the time.  Don’t be surprised if you fall asleep, and if you do, it’s because you needed it.