Celestial Element

Meditation is a method of quieting the mind and finding inner peace which promotes healing by connecting you to the Source. If prayer is talking to God, meditation is listening to God.

There are many meditation techniques and methods, some more intricate than others. A simple meditation to try is a breathing meditation.

Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for at least 5 minutes to start. Work your way up to 20 minutes or longer. (Time will fly once you get into the habit of meditation.)

Sit in a comfortable upright position. You may have peaceful music in the background and may want to light candles or incense to create a peaceful atmosphere.

Take a breath in for the count of 5, hold it for a count of 5, release it for a count of 5 and wait for a count of 5 before starting again taking a breath for a count of 5. As you are inhaling, let the air fill your lungs from the top to the bottom. As the air reaches the bottom of your lungs, your stomach should rise outward. When you exhale, let the air leave your lungs from the bottom to the top, your stomach should flatten.

You may change the count of the breaths to 3 or 4 if a count of 5 is difficult for you, or you may change it to 6 or 7 or 8 if that feels more relaxing to you. Just use the same count for all four phases of each breath.

You will get into a rhythm and it will become easier to breath in this manner with practice. As thoughts enter your mind, acknowledge and release them and resume concentrating on breathing. Eventually, you will reach a point where you feel complete relaxation, where your mind is not busy making lists of things to do and places to go. This is the peace and tranquility of meditation, the place where you learn to know yourself.

When you are finished meditating, you will feel relaxed and recharged.

Here are a few helpful hints for those who are just starting on their path toward knowing themselves and learning to live a life of peace.

Avoid watching the news, reading the news paper and listening to the radio. They are full of negative energy and people around you will be sure to let you know about any major events that you need to be aware of. You will be surprised how your whole attitude changes when you begin to consciously choose what you watch and listen to. Make your car your sacred audio library. Listen to positive speakers (like Dr. Wayne Dyer and Louise Hay), download talk shows about spirituality, health or other interests from websites to your ipod or onto a CD, or listen to books on tape that have positive messages. You would be surprised what is available at your local library or for free online.

Live in the present. Spending time dwelling on the past puts your body through the same emotions you felt when things were actually happening. Telling your friend about a bad experience two days after the experience will make your body feel the same tension you felt during the original experience. Learn to let go of the past. Enjoy the now.