Meditation is done in various ways and can be defined in many ways as well. One can meditate for mere minutes or days if desired. This should all be decided by looking at the intent of the meditation, the desired outcome and what roué one chooses to achieve those ultimate goals. I have recently found that five minutes of meditation in my office can relieve tremendous stress, clear my mind when the input is extreme and focus appears to be impossible, as well as lowering pulse, blood pressure, heart rate in order to remain a calmer…and more productive individual.

One of the main goals one can develop through meditation is to rid the body and/or soul of the negative that taints our lives and makes us very unhealthy people. Naturally, but clearing our body of the toxic waste that can bring one to stroke level, we begin to grow in peace and develop a healthier outlook, body/soul and therefore bring more positive into our lives.

Inner Peace has always been my ultimate goal. I may need it at various times for many different situations. I have found to be able to clear my mind, basically taking out the trash, has restored a peace within myself that allows me to not only be a happier person in general, but also allows me to grow and develop on a more spiritual level and form a connection with the other PEACEFUL things that reside on that level I have achieved.

True meditation requires discipline and focus. Although some people successfully perform “walking meditation” or sitting with legs crossed with hands upturned in the lap to be successful, I prefer to sit comfortably while meditating. One must work with different kinds of postures and meditations to discover what works best for them. Some people find they are able to meditate more successfully when chanting, using prayer beads, breathing techniques, playing relaxing music, humming or even rocking back and forth. I personally prefer to sit comfortably in silence.

Another aspect you must take into consideration is your eyes. It truly matters not if you have your eyes open, half closed, closed or slightly rolled back in your head. It is what works best for you and experimentation with this will help you find what does work best. You may choose to focus on an object, the prayer beads with eyes closed, a candle burning with eyes open, a stone, grains of sand, a tree or close your eyes and enter an empty room that you being to design in your mind, slowly adding one item at a time until the room is where your soul enters and remains through your time of meditation.

Regardless of the method you choose, it may take some practice to achieve a state of pure clearness, focus….meditation. This is normal and perfectly alright. The journey to that inner self, the inner peace is rewarding and a learning experience of its own.

Below I am listing my general form of meditation. Although I vary often from this general form, this is my preferred method and one most often used. I should add that I meditate for various reasons. It may be to relieve immediate stress I am facing in life. To calm myself from a traumatic event or thought. To help develop a more positive me inside my ridding myself of any negativity that may cloud my thought process. To make a connection with things on a higher level, whether they be deity, nature spirits, ancestors, or guides. There are times my goal is nothing more than to shed myself of the trash of modern, materialistic society so that I may enhance my awareness of a particular nature spirit (ie: stream, tree, animal or stone) so that I may form a communication with that spirit on a higher level.

I often have problems with too much input into my brain. It makes it difficult for me to focus, especially if that input is from unnatural sources such as radio, television, etc. I draw on strength from my connection with the natural and prefer to practice meditation as close to nature as I possibly can. My preference is in the forest, beneath a strong, old, wise tree. Grant you mediation can be practiced in a room in your home, in your office, in a restaurant or even while using public transportation. I am merely stating my PREFERRED method is in the forest, where I feel most comfortable and most at home. I first introduce myself to the spirits in the immediate area. I will introduce myself to the trees, stones, all flora and fauna of the area, as well as any streams that may be close by. I acknowledge their presence and thank them for allowing me to intrude on their privacy for a brief time. I then find a comfortable spot beneath a tree and ask permission to meditate there. Believe it or not, when you form a strong connection with those spirits of Nature, you may be surprised that some trees would prefer that you did not meditate beneath them. Trees have as many vast personalities as humans. Once permission is given, I make myself comfortable and begin clearing my mind of needless trash. I do this by first developing a repetition in my breathing pattern, slowing my heart rate while doing this and calming the soul. I close my eyes while obtaining this pattern, so as not to be easily distracted by the surrounding spirits. After reaching a level of calmness that I am comfortable with, I will either open my eyes and focus on a sound or sight around me and continue the clearing of my mind or I will remain silent and still, with my eyes closed and gently clear my mind of each needless thought that rises until I have reached a level of positive. At this time I begin to invite input into my soul from the natural peace that surrounds me. When dong this, at this state in my meditation, I will sometimes open the line of communication with one particular spirit that appears to have the desire to communicate. If there are none, I enjoy that peace as it feels my soul to a level that can only be described as true inner peace. You will know when you have reached this, because it is something that does not simply disappear when you choose to stand up, walk away and dive back into the modern, materialistic society with live in called….LIFE. I always, before walking away, make an offering to the spirits, especially the spirit of the tree, for allowing me to invade their own privacy in order to search for and achieve my peace.