Getting Started

The art of meditation takes you through the normal busy mental activity into a state of contemplation or serenity. Generally, serenity, or a state of bliss is what you are told should be the goal, but there are several types of meditation, and several desired outcomes that are associated with the state of bliss. You may be looking for physical healing, or for relief from mental anguish, or a sense of calm in the daily storm of busyness, or focus and empowerment for a given task. You may be looking for information on a specific subject, or to see a loved one who has passed away. You may simply want to relax. Or you may want to connect to source, or God or whatever you call the ultimate creator.

The western form of prayer is a meditation of sorts, but generally works in reverse of the eastern definition of meditation. In prayer one usually has a request, or a comment such as praise and uses the mind to express that message. In classic eastern meditation, one clears the mind to hear an incoming message, or simply be quiet until a state of joy or bliss ensues. In Shamanic practice, one sets the mind upon a journey, and seeks assistance or communication from the spirit world. (For a good beginners book on the art of the shamanic journey, read "Journey to the Sacred Garden", by Hank Wesselman.) In American Indian traditions, the seeker looks for the ancestors in human and animal form.

Each of these forms results in a change in state, from focus on the daily activities and your need to attend to them, to focus on the present, the now, and your inner self. This is a large awakening in most people. For the first time, many realize they are not simply what they do. They have a larger purpose and dimension, and when you find this state, it can change your life.

Meditation is a tool to obtain this result. It is not the answer, but it can provide the key to open the door to the answers. Used properly, it allows you to move from servant of your life to master. Other tools include books, well balanced teachers, websites, and classes. Once you begin meditations, you may be drawn to other tools for your personal journey inward.

Resistance to meditation, particularly in the beginning is a normal state. In a "normal" day, we bounce from one thought to another and follow with our emotional and physical reactions. The same thought can bring about diametrically opposite reactions at different times, depending on our vibrational level. For instance, we may see a person and then start reminiscing about a date we once had and feel good. Another time, we may see the same person and remember a fight, get uncomfortable and uptight physically. These different physical reactions are due to the vibrations of our thoughts. They have more to do with us than with the person we attach to the thought. Likewise we view meditation as a chore, a strange religion, a foolish practice, or an empowerment, depending on our vibration. The higher we vibrate, the more we come into an agreeable state with meditation.

Briefly vibrational levels exist from the lowest in depression and helplessness, up through rage, anger, frustration, grief, anxiety, fear, boredom, then up into the more positive vibrations of hope, belief, anticipation, and joy. The vibration of joy and bliss matches true meditation focus, and the level of resistance you feel depends on how far below that level your personal experience is vibrating. (For more on this subject, read Abraham Hicks, "Ask and It is Given", )

Concentration is at the heart of meditation, and is a start of gaining control over your mind. You can pick an object or mental subject and focus on it. If your mind wanders you simply come back to the object and continue to focus on it. You can also repeat a word, a positive, high vibration word such as love, joy, peace or simply om or ah. While listening to the meditation tracks on this site, you will probably be silent and allow yourself to feel as well as hear the tones.