Meditiation? quieting the mind to hear or feel within &

Sage/Debs · Meditiation? quieting the mind to hear or feel within &

A friend of one of our family here, contacted me asking why when she tries to meditate she can't because her mind runs and is so loud. I answered her but kept thinking about what she said and my response.
I am no professional (if there is such a think haha) but I have always been of a mind that forcing one's thoughts to quiet only defeats the purpose so I went back and copied my response to this person....I welcome ALL of your ways to find that quiet place if you wish to share.

Good morning L
First, throw out any preconceived notions you have about meditation ok? Your mind should run wild...you're sitting down and quiet...of course they're gonna take full advantage.

Let us begin..

Be sure no one and nothing will disturb you, sit where you are comfortable or even lay down! Scent the air with something that pleases you, candles, incense, smudging...I love to use cedar smudging. I also like a nice CD of soft instrumental music. No whales or birds or words. Try to do this at the same time each day (which is near impossible) thus why I do it at bedtime...or outside in a quiet place...love that.

Lay back and just let your mind run wild, all those thoughts and feelings and ideas and worries parade thru like a brass band on the 4th of July...let em come, let em go...after a bit you will note things get quiet.

Now I want you to breathe...ah well most folks don't. Eyes closed, hands lay where it's comfortable, feet uncrossed, then breathe in thru the nose and see if your tummy lifts. Doesn't does it? This is what we want. Your center is located 3 fingers below your belly button. Here is where you need bring the air to as well as your chest and then softly slowly breathe out thru your lips. Do this several times until you feel relaxed.

Then focus on the music, each note and the sound of it, let your mind play the tune and then allow yourself to just float where you will. This is meditation. Meditation is a form of relaxation. IF you fall asleep that's fine!

Try this then let me know how you do. If you try it during the day be sure the kids, dogs, phone etc won't interrupt your time. It can take as little as 10 minutes or more than an hour, only the person doing can say. Sage

Time Traveler

All very good, but might I add some things?

I use a word to help me get to where I want to go. Some might call it a "mantra." I always thot that was some magic word, but have found that the words I use are very meaningful to me & can direct me in any number of ways.

The words I use are "enlighten me." It brings back my focus if I happen to mentally run into, say, (a made up circumstance for this discussion) a disagreement I had with a store clerk or something. Even if it starts with that incident, the words "enlighten me" will perhaps allow me to be enlightened about the incident and clear the way for other thoughts/revelations. The words bring me back to wander in the directions that need exploration.

Other people use other words, of course, and my word might not work for someone else.

I also find that holding amethyst, amber, clear quartz, ametrine helps in the concentration and sometimes in the journey. Sometimes placing one of them on my forehead helps and centers me.

I also find that silence is better for me than music. Being a wannabe musician, any music just takes me away into itself, instead of the journey I should be taking alone. We're all different. I could never fall asleep to music as some people do -- it keeps me awake and listening!

And to me, meditation is an extremely aware state. Yes, it is relaxing, but it is wondrous. I am more awake inside than outside. But I do come away refreshed and grateful that the inner space was opened to me. Lest your student think that perhaps the attempt wasn't relaxing, hence not a success. I'd just like to remind that, for some, it is anything but during the time. Does that make sense to anyone else?

Just my suggestions, or not even that, maybe just what I do. ............tt

the hermit

It took me months to have a successful meditation
I just could not do it at all
My nose would not stop running wile meditating
(And only when I did mediations)
I continuously yawned
(And only when I did mediations)
Eventually that all stopped and I started to get things during my meditations
I then went to an advance cramming session on medium ship
When that course ended I was advised to continue the course
In my own home with everyone who was involved
I did not because I thought I was not up to it
Then they came around on mass one night
So I did it as requested and it’s still going on
After 4 years
OK I'm down to one of the originals
People do move on at sometime

Even me maybe

mia

Just this year, as soon as I close my eyes to meditate, I am gone.
My mind seems to be gripped immediately.
I can be gone for over an hour and force myself to come back.

I do same as your suggestion Sahje.

tt. I have meditated with crystals and I learnt to meditate using a mantra :)

BooBoo

Sage, I'm glad she contacted you. She asked that same question on another forum, but specifically wanted to know about meditating with chrystals and which were best to use. I gave her the link to your website. Interestingly, everything that has been mentioned here was suggested before to her....except the chrystals.

Sage/Debs

Ah sorry, suggested crystals would be:
Spirit Quartz (which I use)
a special clear quartz point or cluster (which I also have and do use at times)
Amethyst
Angelite but it is very powerful and not to be used by a novice

Crystals are such an intimate and personal choice. I always suggest folks see what calls them. I recently put together a set for someone of a red jasper pyramid, a bloodstone pyramid, and 2 rainbow fluorite towers...that called to them.

the hermit

I just go to the shelf and take down the crystal that draws me
Just lately it’s been the iolite (again)
Usually it’s the double terminated clear quartz

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