Meditation ~~ Must I?

[MystickalMe]

Please forgive me for all of the posts I've started today!! I'm full of questions!

Is Meditation something that NEEDS to be done?

I just can't seem to get it down!! I've been trying almost daily for about 3 months now! Maybe I'm trying to hard!

I can't seem to "Clear my mind" It's always wandering to "I need to shut off the a/c!" or "I have to pick up DH at work in 3 hours!" or Daydreaming (usually fantasizing about the future...)

[Faeawyn]

are you playing music or anything while meditating?

[MystickalMe]

I have tried while listening to music (usually "Nature Sounds" CD's or occasionally classical music...)

[Romani Vixen]

I've found that it's a useful tool. In practicing magic, you need to focus your mind. Meditation is a way to learn and develop it.

I suck at non-guided meditations myself. I'm going to be getting Meditation for Dummies or the like! :D

[alesay]

Meditation for Dummies huh? I like that! HAHA i can't meditate either... well i'm sure i could. Guided meditations would come easier for me. But i have problems... Meditating ;) And i think it also has something to do with my anxiety too... But i'll look into that meditation for dummies if it's good Romani... let me know!!

[Aedrais]

I'm very bad at meditation as well... I haven't been meditating for awhile (bad Aedrais), but every so often I find myself slipping into a trance without thinking about it- if I'm tired, I can meditate and revive myself without actually sleeping (if sleeping is out of the question for some reason.)

I find it easiest to meditate along with music with a real beat and structure. Abstract sounds don't do it for me (bids chirping, or waterfalls, or natural sounds like that.) I listen to songs with drums and words, and focus on those.

Which leads me into 'clearing your mind'. Instead of focusing on nothing, I like to focus on a certain thing. If I'm listening to a song with words, I concentrate on the words, sing along, so that all I'm thinking about is the song. That, too, hones your concentration, if not as effectively. What I do most often though is focus on a place. I imagine my soul in a place where I am meditating, and I see myself, as well as the area around me. Concentrate on details- the sounds, the breeze, where the trees and grass meet, every little detail. Focusing so strongly on that 'other' place kind of lifts my mind from thing one, and eventually I can shift into a more relaxed, trance-like, 'clear-minded' meditation.

I hope I helped somehow. ;)

[IvyWitch]

It's not a requirement but the whole clearing your mind thing is good for all magickal workings.

It just really takes practice. There is a great practice tool in the energy raising lesson in Faewyn's Basics of Spellcraft class (in CoT). Try that, and see if that, and some practice helps. ^__^

[DebLipp]

Everything in magic and ritual depends on your ability to focus your mind, to hold the image you choose to hold, and to concentrate on what you choose to concentrate on. Everything in magic is about intention, and you cannot manifest your intention if you can't hold it in your mind.

Instead of trying to "clear your mind" try to concentrate on something. Start generally. For example, if you were meditating on a tree, you could picture it from far away, or from up close. You could see leaves, or you could imagine climbing it. As long as you stay in the range of "tree" you're succeeding. Once you can do "tree" for 10 or 15 minutes, then try to narrow it down so that it's just a single, focused image; just a leaf, for example.

[MystickalMe]

Thank you all!! I will give this "Tree" thing a try!! I guess I've been to broad in my concentrating when I attempt it!

As for meditation for dummies, I bought that book about 3 months ago... and while parts of it are good... I just don't like those dummies books, I guess I'm more structured learner than they are or something.

[Erebus]

IMO:

If you can't focus your mind enough to meditate, using magic could be very difficult. Meditation is a bit like Focus Practice. If it's going every which way when you try specifically to make it not-distracted, it will probably go every which way when you're in circle with lots of little distractions going off around you.

[Veritas]

I feel not everyone has to use meditation. I believe its is possible to clear the mind in other ways, such as a quite walk. I dont think magick is any better or worse in reguards to using meditation. Quiet of the mind, I find, can come in the simple moment of watching a bird fly across the sky.
What matters (in magick) is the emotion I think, not so much the chaotic or non-chaotic thoughts that go through your head. Sometimes a person may not be able to shut off their mind and perhaps that in itself has a reason.

My opinion.

[Nighthawk]

Umm, why not meditate as you go to bed?? You eventually go to sleep, but you have put in time meditating. The Dali Llama does it this way sometimes too...(Or however you spell his name)

[Tintalle]

I can't seem to "Clear my mind" It's always wandering to "I need to shut off the a/c!" or "I have to pick up DH at work in 3 hours!" or Daydreaming (usually fantasizing about the future...)

This is a common problem. It took me a while to learn to completely focus and meditate. Just don't give up! :) Keep trying, it will eventually come.

I found the key for me with distractions was to visualize distractions as something like whispers on the wind, passing me by. I stopped trying to block the distractions, I accepted them and let them go.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Another simple way to meditate is to focus on your breathing as you inhale and exhale, when you notice that your mind is wandering just pull it back to your breath.

[Romani Vixen]

I put my distractions in boxes and send them away in hot air balloons!!! lol

I've also found it easiest to actually picture something like a field. bunches of tall grass!!! lol no animals... no trees... jsut grass and sky....

[starshadow]

Is Meditation something that NEEDS to be done?

I feel it is neccesary. You have to be able to change states of consciousness. It takes alot of practice but, in time you will learn to calm your mind and relax your breathing.
i sit quiet but, some people chant, sing, dance, drum, ring bells etc. Anything that aids you in that change of consciousness. You aren't on a schedule for your path so, try them all.

I can't seem to "Clear my mind" It's always wandering to "I need to shut off the a/c!" or "I have to pick up DH at work in 3 hours!" or Daydreaming (usually fantasizing about the future...)
Daydreaming is visualization. That is a great tool for holding focus during magic.

Peace and Blessings
Starshadow

[Muireannach]

I am a dabbler in meditation and I find that Buddhist meditation seems to be the best for beginners. When you begin mediatiting it is hard to clear your mind because in everday life we don't realize how busy our minds really are, so when we sit in silence it becomes much more evident.

What I recommend is perhaps getting a CD of some calming nature music such as ocean or forest, and hile you are learning to meditate focus on the sounds and take your distraction away from your thoughts. Eventually you will find the music has faded away and you can begin to focus. If you find music too much of a distraction focus on your breathing.

Tips:
-Meditate when you are alert, this way you can focus and not feel drowsy.
-If you feel sleepy mediate with your eyes half closed and focus on a spot on the floor.
-Assume a position where circulation can flow well, the lotus position also works well to keep you focused.

Here is a good (and free!) e-book I found that really helped me with meditation:
"The Art of Attention" by Ven. Pannyavaro. (http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/artofatt.pdf)

[HorseCrow]

I wouldn't say that you absolutely have to meditate, but that said, i would place it very high on my "Good Things to Know" list. I find that meditation is the base of any good magickal and ritual workings. To really yield results in your spiritual workings, you must have focus as well as intent- and meditation, I find, is the best focus you can get and once you get familiar with it, it'll affect every aspect of your life.
So though you don't have to, I'd definetely say do it!

[Loreley]

+++Is Meditation something that NEEDS to be done?+++

Is reading something that needs to be done? Is picking flowers? Is writing an essay? Is working on a project? My point is, the question is not whether meditation is something that needs to be done, but rather: What do you need meditation for?

Ask yourself what you wish to accomplish by meditating. Think of meditation like a tool, say a hammer, and ask yourself what kind of work you want to achieve with that hammer.

Meditation can be used for many purposes. You can use a hammer to build a chair, fashion a metal ornament or hang a picture on the wall. You can use meditation as to relax, to focus your will, to work on religious symbols, to access the inner planes, to contact the gods, and many more.

If you don't want to achieve any of those things, then the answer to your question is obviously "no, meditation is not something that must be done". If you do wish to achieve those things, but have trouble meditating, there are sometimes other methods (generally much more complex) - so the answer would be - "it's not a must, but it does make some practices and works of a religious witch much easier".

[luna rising]

When I first joined MW I asked a very similar question, and I can't remember who told me the following, but it has helped me:

This person suffered from Adult ADD, so mind clearing was extraordinarily hard for him. What he did was just go with the wanderings - sometimes your daydreams are your meditations. The important thing is that you look back, analyze and learn from them. It's an altenative to what I think of as traditional meditation, but it can be a useful tool. Anything you can learn and grow from is useful :)

[Mnemosyne]

Meditation doesn't NEED to be done, but I think that it's very beneficial. Don't worry too much about it or else the stress will prohibit you from your goal of meditation. Honestly, it took me years before I was able to do so. I just had so many other matters on my mind. I couldn't clear my mind, so of course, I couldn't meditate. Now I've learned to control my thoughts and enter a meditative state. One thing that helped me learn was my practice of yoga. It's really taught me to balance my spirit, mind, and body.

[thok_ragnarok]

Please forgive me for all of the posts I've started today!! I'm full of questions!

Is Meditation something that NEEDS to be done?

I just can't seem to get it down!! I've been trying almost daily for about 3 months now! Maybe I'm trying to hard!

I can't seem to "Clear my mind" It's always wandering to "I need to shut off the a/c!" or "I have to pick up DH at work in 3 hours!" or Daydreaming (usually fantasizing about the future...)


I personally hate meditation...I don't want freed of my thoughts...just my oppinion...as opposed to meditation I do occasionally "let go" and let Loki lead my actions...no thought, no decisions, just let it happen

[Asthmorte]

I very very rarely meditate. My thoughts are not a thing I like to let go of.

[Lunacie]

I think FOCUS is more helpful to doing magic or ritual than meditiation. Successfully learning to meditate can help one to focus, but if the intent or desire is strong then meditating on the need isn't really necessary.

Also, I wonder if too many people think the Buddhist kind of meditation is the only kind there is, or the only desireable kind. One can meditate on a concern one has been having, weaving in and around one's thoughts, looking for any clues about what one should do. Some of my best meditation has been done while vacumning the carpet, mowing the yard, going for a walk, or even washing the dishes by hand. Simple repetitive movements seem to make it easier to allow the mind to look beyond what we think we know to what we intuit.

[Fideal]

You could try active meditation; I find that it's easier to clear my mind when I have an action to focus on. You could run, or swim, or even dance to music with a good beat.

[Kadynas]

Everything in magic and ritual depends on your ability to focus your mind, to hold the image you choose to hold, and to concentrate on what you choose to concentrate on. Everything in magic is about intention, and you cannot manifest your intention if you can't hold it in your mind.

Instead of trying to "clear your mind" try to concentrate on something. Start generally. For example, if you were meditating on a tree, you could picture it from far away, or from up close. You could see leaves, or you could imagine climbing it. As long as you stay in the range of "tree" you're succeeding. Once you can do "tree" for 10 or 15 minutes, then try to narrow it down so that it's just a single, focused image; just a leaf, for example.
This is a great approach. :thumbsup: For me personally, I'm more attuned to the element of fire, so a candle flame has always been a good focusing point for me. :)

[rhinoa]

I really can't do the clear my mind thing either. I find meditating easier in a more Western way with guided pathworkings and tapes, as well as creating my own. I sometimes use the tarot cards as inspiration for writing my own. If that doesn't work for you, pick something else that inspires you, write a pathworking, tape it and then try meditating to it.

Best of luck :)

[Dragonstarr]

The other two methods I use have already been mentioned ehre (candle flame, and breath)...the other methods I use that I find really help is i focus on relaxing each aprt of my body...I start with each of my toes and work my way up through each detailed part of my body(as in everypart, inside and out) until I get to the top of my head. The other one i do is i meditate on my chakras...I start at the base and work my way through to the crown chakra. There ar e2 ways i like to do this one...the first is focusing on the chakra and on an in breath visualise energy flowing from my breath to the chakra i am focusing on and then visualising the chakra(for example the base chakra i see as a glowing ball of red energy) expanding with energy. The other way, I focus on the chakra and say for example the base chakra i visualise it glowing red and then exanding until it saturates my whole body inside and out and then i move up to the next. There are so many ways to meditate if that is somehting you feel you need to do, its just finding which method works well with you.
Blessings
~Dragonstarr

[Galaxia]

Ω

[Isa]

If you're having trouble clearing your mind there's a great exercise from Zen practices you might want to try.

Basically you count your breaths, starting from the exhale with 1, the next inhale is 2 and so on and so forth until you get to 10 then you start over from one again. If your mind wanders, you lose count or you overcount (that is past 10) you have to start over again from one. The point of it is if you focus your attention on full, deep breaths your mind will clear naturally. You also can't reasonably think about two things at once so keeping count keeps the mind fixed on something that's not likely to produce any emotional reactions that might disturb you.

Also keep in mind that little thoughts every now and then during meditation are okay (where else does great enlightenment come from? ^O^), just as long as they don't turn into babbling monologues that cause you to lose focus.

[MaryE]

I find that the more I try and clear my mind, the more I "think"... So, instead of trying to "clear" my mind, I let the thoughts come and go. Simply allow them to pass right through.

Eventually I find myself very relaxed and in a meditative state when I quit "trying" to clear away my thoughts.... :smile: