Hanne Csanyi - Divination and Meditation as Paths to Enlightenment

Basics of Meditation

The use of Meditation for healing is not new. Meditative techniques are the product of diverse cultures and peoples around the world. It has been rooted in the traditions of the world's great religions. In fact, practically all religious groups practice meditation in one form or another. The value of Meditation to alleviate suffering and promote healing has been known and practiced for thousands of years.

But how does one begin to incorporate this into one’s life? There are a few steps to follow that will make this a successful and rewarding experience for you.

It is important to create a time and place which allows you to have the least amount of external stimulants as possible. Just like sensory deprivation tanks, you are more apt to then move within and begin to move into a state of meditation.

First you need to make the time and set a specific time out of your day or week to partake in this practice. Find a time which you are or can be alone, ensuring this does not interfere with other family members or commitments you have. I find first thing in the morning or last thing at night an appropriate time for my circumstances.

When you have decided on a time, you may want to consider if this is a good time because you will need a certain amount of quiet as you begin to meditate. It is easier to move into meditation if there is less sound or noise around you. Living in cities it is hard to find that quiet time and many people will play some relaxing classical or meditation type music and/or have a small water fountain running in the background to get the focus away from the everyday noises which can result in you loosing the ability to move into meditation. You may be one of those people who find music also distracting (I know I did) – suggestion – ear plugs may be your answer in the beginning until you learn how to move into the meditative state. With time you will find that you can even meditate in a crowd of people, such as on a bus or plane.

For many people, it is easier to meditate in a darkened room, as this again reduces the stimulant of bright light which can be quite annoying. With practice, again this requirement for a darkened room may diminish.

Following are five meditation steps to help you attain a meditative state.

Begin by sitting comfortably upright or laying, feel your weight on the chair, cushion, sofa or bed and relax into it. Imagine breathing in and out through your navel, taking a few deep breaths to settle in. Let your attention gather at a point at the base of your spine, imagine it as a point of energy. Notice what sensations you feel there.

Move your attention to the crown of the head, imagine a point of energy there. Notice what sensations you feel. Feel these two points align, connected by a line of light, inside the body near the spine. Allow energy to move freely between these two points.
Let your attention come to rest at a point of balance along this line, deep within you, at the center of your being.
From this center of your being, imagine the line of light extending downward through your legs and feet, relaxing the toes and sinking into the earth. Breathing out, let all tension and fatigue run down this line into the earth.
Breathing in, imagine drawing up, through the soles of your feet, fresh, transformed earth energy. Allow it to fill your whole body from the feet up to the crown of your head, bringing a feeling of being supported and cradled by the solidity of the earth. Return your attention and your breathing to the center of your being. Imagine the line of light rising to the crown of your head and above, out into the clear blue sky, to the heavens. Breathe in fresh air.
Allow light and clearness from the heavens to radiate down the line of light to fill the whole body. Breathe into the center of your being and feel the two energies, from the earth and the sky, mingling. From this center let your attention be on your breath moving in and out (using one of the focuses suggested above).

These steps help quiet the mind and allow you to move into the tranquil state of meditation. Remember to let any thoughts, images etc. float through your mind, not holding onto or trying to analyze them in that moment. When you return to your normal wakeful state of being, you may want to write them down in a journal and ponder their meanings.

Once you have acquired the ability to move into the meditative state, if you find you no longer have the time or you need to do something else for awhile, you do not loose the abilities which you have gained. They are very much like riding a bicycle, once you have learned you never forget, and when you desire to begin again, you begin where you left off.

When you have created your own sanctuary that is harmonious and peaceful for you, you can begin to enjoy moving into meditation and reap the wondrous healing benefits on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual states of our human existence.

References:

http://1stholistic.com/Meditation/hol_meditation_five_med_steps.htm

http://1stholistic.com/Meditation/hol_meditation.htm

This article appeared in Heartbeat Spring 2005 page 17

Through meditation and divination one can open up awareness to other realms of existence within and without of oneself – a journey which may ultimately lead one to enlightenment.