| One of the biggest hurdles some people experience | | | | - Start your meditation by counting to match the |
| when they begin to meditate is "quieting the mind". For | | | | rhythm of your thoughts. If your mind is racing, let your |
| those of us who normally have three conversations, a | | | | counting race as well. If needs be, count as fast as |
| marching band and apparently sugar plums going | | | | you can, exhaust yourself. Think of it as the mental |
| through our heads at any given time, "quieting the mind" | | | | version of running at full speed. You can only go so far |
| is easier said than done. But as the old adage goes, | | | | before you start to slow down. |
| "where there's a will there's a way", and I found it. | | | | - Don't try to deep breathe yet; just pay attention to |
| Here are some simple tips to help you "quiet the mind" | | | | your counting and the pace at which it is going and |
| as you sit down for meditation. | | | | eventually you'll experience the two becoming as one |
| - Before you sit down to meditate set the intent that | | | | and then the breath will automatically join in as well. In |
| you want to enjoy your meditation and have the | | | | other words, allow the mind and body to find its own |
| expectation that your mind will cooperate. Tell yourself, | | | | rhythm. It will. This is the meditative version of "pace |
| "I can feel my mind slowing down in anticipation of the | | | | and lead". |
| meditation." See yourself in your mind's eye being | | | | - Now that your breath, thoughts and counting have |
| relaxed in your meditation. Also, check your breathing. | | | | become uniform deliberately start to slow your |
| Close your right nostril and see if you can breathe | | | | counting down. Don't try to do it too fast too soon; just |
| clearly through your left. If you can, you're in a more | | | | allow it to happen. Think of yourself getting sleepy and |
| receptive state for meditation. If you're breathing | | | | feel your body dropping. |
| stronger through your right nostril, you may want to | | | | - As you continue to count, see yourself breathing the |
| wait until you're out of this more "active" mode. | | | | numbers to life one at a time...visualize the number |
| - Don't just plop yourself down and expect to go right | | | | being created by your breath from a tiny dot, see it |
| into stillness. I'm sure there are some who can but for | | | | shape into the number that it is, then watch it blow |
| the person with the "monkey brain" easing into that | | | | away like a wispy ghost by the wind that is your |
| stillness is the order of the day. | | | | exhale. |
| - Find a quiet room and a comfortable chair; clear your | | | | - Repeat in your mind, exaggerating the slow down |
| energetic field of anything that is not there for your | | | | with each repetition, "Everything is slowing down |
| highest good and your highest love. | | | | (breath)...slowing down (breath)...slowing down (breath)." |
| - Before entering into the actual meditation listen to a | | | | - Also, keep in mind that you don't have to empty your |
| beautiful song or two that puts you into a sacred or | | | | mind, just focus it. Observe your thoughts and keep |
| peaceful frame of mind. Pay careful attention to the | | | | your attention focused on your third eye. |
| words in the song. Allow your mind to focus on the | | | | This whole process can take about fifteen minutes or |
| words. | | | | so but don't get too attached to the time allotment. |
| - Select a medium-paced song /sound as background | | | | Above all remember that any technique you choose to |
| for the first part of your meditation. Hemi-Synch | | | | use should feel natural and make for less of a struggle |
| vibrations work great for this as do many Reiki or | | | | over time, but it is the discipline of practice that will |
| other healing meditation CD's. | | | | make all the difference. |