Meditation Problems

[awriterscorned]

So I've been trying to make some type of magical path work for me but I am terrible at meditation. Practice makes perfect, but it's hard to practice when I literally seem incapable of taking a deep breath. The act itself stresses me out and yes I'm "doing it wrong" I'm sure but I don't know how better to do it. Also, it's hard not to swallow spit or to breathe hard or anything and then I worry I'm not "sitting still" enough. Does anyone else have this issue/a solution to it?

[Simone]

awriterscorned,

i've been trying to learn how to meditate for like 2 or 3 years and it seems futile. and how pathetic, i joined this forum specifically to get help with this! have you made any progress? im so frustrated.

[Seishiro]

Don't worry about your mind wondering during meditation. The brain is built to think so it will take practice to keep it from wondering. The trick is to caught yourself quickly when your mind is beginning to wonder and go back to concentrating on your breathing. Try to meditate for 10 min. everyday and after you feel like you are ready increase it by 5 min. so you are doing 15 min. and keep adding 5 min. after that. Start out small so your mind and body can adapt to it and get comfortable.

[serpent]

Just stick with it, you will have to work through lots of obstacles.
When i first began meditating, i would get nose bleeds from a third eye mediation i was attempting(barely, just a little bit up there). Don't know how the hell that was happening but i managed to figure out a better system. Just stick with it! It's tough when you think your meditations may be causing your brain to bleed but it will pay off in the end. Some days are better than others, but just keep going. And try not to hemorrhage!!

EDIT: If anyone could explain the blood or had a similar expierence could you let me know. It still bugs the hell outta me when i think back to then. I really don't think it was chance. It was just like a small amount of blood, it wouldn't run outta my nose or anything but i was quite concerned.

[IMtM]

So I've been trying to make some type of magical path work for me but I am terrible at meditation. Practice makes perfect, but it's hard to practice when I literally seem incapable of taking a deep breath. The act itself stresses me out and yes I'm "doing it wrong" I'm sure but I don't know how better to do it. Also, it's hard not to swallow spit or to breathe hard or anything and then I worry I'm not "sitting still" enough. Does anyone else have this issue/a solution to it?

I could say that, "you are weak-spined." But I won't. You just need to get over yourself. You (what the f)$k is "you") need to supplant your apparent feeling of fear (or whatever you may call it) with resolve. Nothing matters, at all, except your meditation.

"A disciple went to his master and said to him, "Sir, I want religion." The master looked at the young man, and did not speak, but only smiled. The young man came every day, and insisted that he wanted religion. But the old man knew better than the young man. One day, when it was very hot, he asked the young man to go to the river with him and take a plunge. The young man plunged in, and the old man followed him and held the young man down under the water by force. After the young man had struggled for a while, he let him go and asked him what he wanted most while he was under the water. "A breath of air", the disciple answered. "Do you want God in that way? If you do, you will get Him in a moment," said the master. Until you have that thirst, that desire, you cannot get religion, however you may struggle with your intellect, or your books, or your forms. Until that thirst is awakened in you, you are no better than any atheist; only the atheist is sincere, and you are not."
- Swami Vivekananda

[Plarkenstorf]

Telling people to relax in capital letters never works.

[VIRAL]

Put a weight at the end of a long string, rope or chain and twirl it around you for a while.

[aroguespirit]

So I've been trying to make some type of magical path work for me but I am terrible at meditation. Practice makes perfect, but it's hard to practice when I literally seem incapable of taking a deep breath. The act itself stresses me out and yes I'm "doing it wrong" I'm sure but I don't know how better to do it. Also, it's hard not to swallow spit or to breathe hard or anything and then I worry I'm not "sitting still" enough. Does anyone else have this issue/a solution to it?


What I personally have found is that you should take meditation in doses. Try starting with five minutes. Maybe in front of a flame, fire, lava lamp, twister lamp, etc something that is interesting to look at. Yes, breathing is important but if you can't sit still for more than 10 minutes than you really can't meditate. Work on doing it five minutes at a time. Try to work your way up to about 20 minutes of just siting there and staring at the lamp. Try to relax, make yourself comfortable, and maybe put on some nature music, something instrumental.

THAN make yourself breath correctly. Sitting still for 20 minutes is the hardest part if you can do that working with your breathing may become easier.

At least this is what I have found to work,

~ARS

[awriterscorned]

I have legitimate reasons why relaxation is difficult for me. In my research I have found a number of ways in which a focus can be a gathering of energy vs. relaxation, or ways in which the meditation can surround the imagery and focus. I can focus, I can direct, I can sometimes make things work but it's just relaxation that troubles me for a number of reasons that are pretty personal and hard to just spell out on a forum.

I wish people wouldn't just say "get over yourself" without knowing the person they're talking to.

[Karel2121]

I had a problems with meditations too. But, I read books about old Egypt a Greace magic. There was often used sleep for many spells.
So, I tried it and it was very good. Specially the last one ideas before sleep.
When you sleep, your mind isn't disturbed external influences, so deals with the last one idea for whole night.
See you translantion old Egyptian a Greece papyry.

[jaggednib]

Maybe try some guided meditation. It's hard for your brain to overthink stuff when you're listening to a guided meditation or some really nice, relaxing music.
I love Enigma or anything with soothing nature sounds.
Also, try this guy:
Brian David Phillips: Waking Dreams (http://www.briandavidphillips.com/)

Click on "MP3" on the left hand side of the site,
Then click on the top link, "Guided Imagery"
Then click on the "Guided Imagery MP3's by Brian David Phillips
Go to the second session and download all 12 (plus the 2 intro's) for a total of 14 guided imagery sessions for relaxation.

He's a hypnotist and an entertainer, but his stuff is really good and it's free.
Perhaps this could help you with your meditation...

Good luck.