Thread: Meditation

I thought* I would start a thread for those needing some direction on Meditation. Some time ago I was reading some work by* Wiccan author Raymond Buckland in his book titled
" The Big Book "

In one of the chapters he explains the no one really knows how to meditate that they skip the basics and get right to the practice and miss out on the whole experience.

In the chapter Mr Buckland suggests not to meditate on a full stomach but not really be fasting but before you begin too have a glass of water to get the energy flowing, the electricity in the body flowing, get in a comfortable position with minimal restrictions to the body what ever that may be sitting in a chair, or lying on the floor and begin relaxing the feet, wiggle the the toes, moving up the legs to the calves focusing on relaxing the calves moving up to each part of the body. Release all the tension in the shoulders moving down the arms relaxing the arms hands and fingers, bring the attention to the neck and relax the neck and the head

The next process has to do with cleansing the body of air, stale air.


Take a couple of deep breaths in through the nose and exhale completely through the mouth for three times push the air completely from the diaphragm.

This part is one part and works both the right and left side of the nostrils and you can use the thumb and the middle finger for this.

What ever hand you use place a finger closing off one of the nostrils inhale through the nostril that is open fully filling the diaphragm first and then filling the upper chest, close the now open nostril by placing the finger on it and exhale completely through the now open nostril.

Now with the nostril you just exhale through inhale as done before, again filling the diaphragm and then the lungs.


Do each side three times alternating each side


Place your hands at your sides or on your lap in a relaxed position now inhale through both nostrils filling the diaphragm and then the lungs and forcefully blow the air forcefully out of the lungs and diaphragm again for three times and settle in for the meditation

As you begin your meditation you might feel a buzzing sensation this is normal

After this begin your meditation for about 15 to 20 minutes your body might need to get used to the sensations, after a week or so you may want to increase the time you meditate, after some time this will be done in a snap as is this a ritual in it's self.

I have noisy neighbors that play their stereo whenever I decide to meditate, so I bought a CD of rainy day sounds and play it on my headphones . It's great white noise that cancels outside distractions and makes it easier to focus on your technique. After enough practice I was able to get into a good meditative state without the CD.

Originally Posted by Topher

I have noisy neighbors that play their stereo whenever I decide to meditate, so I bought a CD of rainy day sounds and play it on my headphones . It's great white noise that cancels outside distractions and makes it easier to focus on your technique. After enough practice I was able to get into a good meditative state without the CD.

That is the best way. When I complained to my teacher about all the distractions and all, he just said you better learn how to meditate when the world is crashing down, and not falter. I did and now if the house falls apart I will still be there meditating away. CD's are good and you were astute to know when to let go as they can end up being a crutch.

when I begin to practice a new ritual one of the things that I do is use a micro cassette recorder speak the piece, till I can speak the evocation, invocation along with the tape
and do it on my own,

when learning new new symbols, I put them on paper all over the wall so I can see what the symbol is and if need be put the symbol in the associated with a direction

for the elements I use the associated color for each element, yellow air kind of hard to see but know what it is.

hey thanks for the input Topher

Rodney Orpheus' _ABRAHADABRA_ is an excellent introductory resource of magicians interested in mediation.

See

Abrahadabra: Understanding Aleister ... - Google Book Search

for a preview.

It seems to me Odin, that you described the process of preparing for meditation, but neglected to describe that process after that point. What is meditation to you?

After the point of preparation to me is the building and raising the energies connecting to a power higher than myself

As this was told to me by one of my teachers Mahasaraphong ( probably spelled his name wrong )

And just quieting the body as well as the mind as I do this facilitating the energies that are built aids in the healing certain aspects of the physical others might do this through the use of Chanting vibrating certain verses

That I just one aspect

Originally Posted by Odin

In one of the chapters he explains the no one really knows how to meditate that they skip the basics and get right to the practice and miss out on the whole experience.

I know some monks who would like to speak with Mr. Buckland.

The rest of the meditation seems fine, although I wouldn't recommend lying on the floor as that makes it difficult to deal with saliva and that position signals to the brain that it's time to sleep. Sitting upright is usually the best. With the chin slightly tucked, tongue on the roof of your mouth, lips ever so slightly parted, sitting tall but not rigid. Focusing on the sensation of the breathe entering or leaving your body. Eyes open and looking down at the floor about four feet in front of you. Again, closed eyes tend to signal to the body that it's time for sleep, and we don't want to sleep we want to become even more alert.

Hey thanks for adding and I think Ray Buckland would like to speak to some of those monks need to figure how to get the smile face in the right place Wink

It is good suggestion to make sure you fully exhale, not just to prepare for meditation but occasionally as you go about your daily routine. Blow all the stale air out a runner's trick for when you get out of breath from exertion, so when you're huffing and puffing not taking in fresh air on top of stale.