meditation the basis of it all?

[ring_of_fyre]

Hi all. I'm at a place in my life where I feel as if I'm "starting over" on my path. I "discovered" paganism about 14 years ago, and while it has always been in my heart since then, my level of actively honoring/praying/doing ritual has waxed and waned. I feel the push to become more active and connected now, but one thing is tripping me up.

It seems that the basis of all "workings", whether it be prayer or spells or ritual, is getting into some kind of meditative state, where you can connect with the Universe (or deities, etc.). I have always had some sort of block when it came to that. I've read several different approaches to meditation, but I just seem to not be able to do it. I can't focus enough, I think. My mind wanders and then I fall asleep. Or I get antsy and think "this isn't working!". Any tips/thoughts on how to break that barrier?

[Kalandriel]

I can't focus enough, I think.

Well, maybe you're trying too hard to focus... you need to just let go completely, lose all thought, and become open.

[semi]

What works for me is a sort of non-focus. Like when I drum, if I think about the beat and what my hands are doing, I'll screw up. If I don't pay attention to what I'm drumming, my body just stays in the rhythm and it's fine, I can play a beat for hours. So maybe you're trying to focus too much? Don't try so hard. Don't be so concerned with a result. Just relax and try to detach from it, in a way, and see what happens without being concerned about what happens. Pretty much exactly what Kalandriel said, heh.

[ring_of_fyre]

Thanks. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so you're probably right. ;) I guess it's like those weird pictures that used to be popular, where there was a picture of something, but it was all pilxillated and you couldn't see it unless you stared at it for a while and let your eyes go out of focus.

[StarCraftLia]

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