All About Meditation

Meditation is setting a period of time aside to quiet your mind. Meditation re-charges you, gets you in touch with your inner self, and with the world around you. It can empower you, inspire you, give you serenity, expand your consciousness, and open you to channels of energy and information.

The first step to meditation is being able to relax. Set aside a time when you know you will not be disturbed. Prepare by taking a warm bath, lighting candles or inscense, playing soft soothing music, dim the lights--do whatever will make you feel very comfortable and safe.

Now you must decide which position will be best for you. Most people with experience in meditation agree that it is important that your spine is straight. Will you be most comfortable sitting cross legged on the floor? laying on your back? Remember that you may be in this position for a while, so pick one that you will be comfortable in.

Correct breath technique is also very important to successful meditation. Almost all of us breathe incorrectly--that is, we only use part of our diaphragms. When you take a breath, try to fill your lungs completely--all the way down to the bottom of your lungs. You should practice this before you begin meditation--if you are using all of your diaphragm you will actually see it pushing out from your abdomen.

As you are practicing deep breathing, begin to allow your body to relax, working from your toes up to your head. Relax each muscle in turn slowly. Visualize all stress and muscle tension being gathered up when you inhale, and blown out of your body when you exhale. Remember to relax your jaw and let your mouth droop open if it may. The jaw seems to be one of the hardest parts of the body to relax so pay special attention here.

When your body is totally relaxed you begin to quiet your mind. Try to empty it of all thoughts. This is very difficult to do, so don't be upset with yourself if your first efforts are failures. Keep practicing, you will get better over time.

Another way to meditate is to concentrate on one simple object. This is what I personally suggest to beginners. You may want to use an object that you have in your home. Before you begin to meditate hold the object in your hand, feel it, smell it, notice all the details about it. (I find an apple works very well). When you begin to meditate, try to recreate this object in your mind. See if you can also feel it and smell it with only your mind. Concentrate on this object only and nothing else. Again, this is much harder than it sounds, but you will get better with practice.

The ability to meditate is necessary to many aspects of Wicca. One must be able to concentrate and to visualize in order to perform magic. If there is no visualization, there is no magic

Through meditation you can learn how to put yourself into trance states

Meditation can be a means to getting in touch with, and receiving guidance from the Lord and Lady.

Meditation is the first step in any Astral work. Before you can run you must learn to walk. Before you can fly you must learn to meditate.