Dear Pinkies, please welcome Eileen Smith, a teacher, healer, channeler, and Posse Blog rockstar here to help us own spirituality, surrender, and our inner voices by giving us permission to meditate OUR way. Ahhh, deep breaths of relief and bows of gratitude to you, Eileen. Welcome, and thank you.
How can I be more psychic?
Meditate.
How can I hear my angels and guides better?
Meditate.
How can do I know I’m making the right choice?
Meditate.
How can I heal my past and boost my self esteem?
Meditate.
How do I (fill in the blank)?
Meditate.
Throughout my experience as a teacher and healer, one of the answers to many of life’s questions and goals can be found in meditation. And invariably, one of the answers I receive back is that people don’t know how to, or can’t meditate.
Meditation is one of the major keys to probably everything we would like to create in our lives. People want the quick, the easy. But meditation can be both of those things once you throw out the “shoulds” and expectations, and find out what works for you. I think a large part of the reason people don’t meditate is the misconception of what it is. Many people believe that you must set aside long periods of time in order for meditation to be beneficial.
Many have visions of a person sitting in a sparse, monk-like room, in the lotus position with empty minds. For most of us in this modern world, this is a rarely attainable situation and certainly hard to incorporate into a daily regime. Effective meditation is, and will be, different for each person.
It is has been said, “Prayer is talking to God, meditation is listening to God”, and I would agree with that. Keeping that in mind, whichever way creates a space within your day and within your being that allows you to achieve that state of focus is meditation, and is effective. Be it for 5 minutes or 60. Do what you can! If you can’t do it everyday, it’s okay. So many people feel guilt if they don’t take the “all or nothing” approach, which creates unrealistic expectations for it to be a part of their life.
Also remember everyone is wired differently, so whatever works for you is what works for you! Don’t compare yourself to others in regards to meditation. For example, some people need quiet to meditate; some people need the room to be dark. Others like the sun, others need music. What brings you to a higher space – to the particular sacred place inside YOUR head?
For example, it is easier for me to meditate with music, but when I first began meditating, I learned to do so with guided tapes. I began mediating in my late teens when I discovered Richard and Tara Sutphen’s tapes. These guided journeys basically taught me, a beginner, how the process took place, and how it felt.
Some people have trouble visualizing, others have trouble with intruding thoughts. If you’re not visual, that is okay – allow for just a sense of where the guided journey is taking you. If your mind won’t stop thinking about the tasks and conversations that are in your day, hearing someone else’s voice in a guided meditation may help you.
We all have the voice inside our heads – the one that keeps thinking about the phone calls we need to make, etc. Some of my students find it helpful to acknowledge it and let it know you received the message and will remember it later — this can sometimes quiet it. Or keep a piece of paper nearby and write down the message the voice wants you to hear so you can go back to meditating.
Keep in mind that walking and other activities that are rhythmic and healthful, like swimming, dancing, or walking, can create a meditative place within you. I have had some of my best “listening to Spirit” meditative moments walking in nature. I live by a park with trails that allow for a strong connection to the Earth and Nature Kingdom to renew me in body, mind and spirit. Yoga is also meditative for people. Part of yoga’s life-changing effects for those who do it often is this meditative state it creates.
So you see, Pinkies, it simply is a matter of finding what works for you. Throw away the false assumptions, comparisons and expectations. Don’t be hard on yourself, enjoy it. Explore your style of meditation and start listening.
What does work for you, Pinkies? Have you found a meditation style that is most helpful? How long do you meditate? Have you been thwarted up to this point by assumptions and frustrations? How might you explore different ways of meditating?
Communing with Spirit my very own way,
Eileen
© Copyright 2008 Eileen Smith www.whiterosepath.com, The Path of the White Rose
Tags: eileen smith, guided meditation, higher self, inner voices, meditate, meditation, path of the white rose, sitting, spirit, spirituality
I have been meditating for a little over a year now and I love it! For me meditating to soft ambient music works best. I love visualizing, which seems to create the best feelings within my. My 14 yr old has started meditating as well and it’s amazing to see her embrace it FULLY!
Wow Tabitha! Your 14 year old is meditating? That’s awesome. I’m 40 and it’s still everything I can do to make myself do it. I swear I think I’m allergic to silence. The closest I get is my hikes in the redwoods or on the beach. Or my painting. Both are very meditative to me because they occupy my body but free my mind.
But sitting meditation makes me a little crazy. I’m trying! Thanks Eileen for making it okay to find a meditative state in whatever way our authentic self can handle it.
Holy Cow- that is great Tabitha, that you are opening your daughter up to the all of the amazing possibilities meditating can bring you. To start so young is a blessing.
Hey Pinkies! First, yes give yourself permission to do it your own way! Owning your Pink means doing what works for you and not caring if it doesn’t fit what media (or even our own critic) has told us to do.
And Tabitha, that is wonderful that she is meditating. Can you imagine the possibilities of her knowing at a young age what balance and centered feels like?
Very great piece, I only wish the photo was different. Many, especially those over 20, equate meditating with sitting ‘like a pretzel’ and so never try. My mom for instance, was so surprised to learn that she can meditate in a comfortable chair.
Guided meditation tapes are great to begin with as mentioned…. and very relaxing. Thanks for the blog. : )
Jessica, thank you. And personally, I am a woman “of a certain age’ and if I am not walking or swimming or something, the only way I can do it is sitting in a chair or laying down
Wonderfully written, Eileen. This is something worth sharing!!
Thanks Eileen this is a great! You let the world know how easy getting into meditation is. I meditate daily and after so many years, I am not sure how I would operate without it. I can now feel in that meditative space when I do yoga or running outside.
Thanks Eileen . . . you dispel all the myths around the “shoulds” of meditation and present it as the natural individualized process that it can. Very helpful information and reminder of the importance of meditation for enhancing all aspects of the psyche – spiritual, mental, emotional and physical.
Eileen-
Great article! Meditating is such an easy way to connect with spirit, yet so easily forgotten or overlooked. Thank you for the reminder.
I love this piece Eileen! Meditation is so very important. It’s the energetic key that unlocks the doors to everything. I know first hand from students and clients that they want to meditate, that they know how vital it is, but they believe that they can’t do it. As you so beautifully said, meditation can occur in many ways and it is important that each individual finds what works for them. Thanks for writing this and encouraging people to explore the healing power of meditation!
Excellent! I ask a lot of my clients to meditate, and often get the “I can’t do that” response…
But the great thing about meditation is THERE IS NOTHING TO DO! That’s really the whole point. Meditation is NOT doing. There’s a Zen saying about this that i love, and it goes something like: “Meditation is sitting still doing nothing… and while you sit, the grass grows and Spring comes by itself.” I think the important thing about meditation is that it takes us away from being so important!
We sit there, however, where ever, and all this stuff comes rushing into our minds like a freight train, and our impulse is to reach out with our minds and grab hold and go racing down the tracks… but if instead we just sit there and watch it go by, after a while it’s gone and we realize it really is ok that we’re just sitting there… it is a way to diminish our ego clinging, and thereby become more connected with others, the world, Spirit… it opens us to connecting with things other than our own ideas. Otherwise for so many people we end up living in a world of our ideas. As they say in NLP, we mistake the Map for the Territory… we perceive things in our minds and take that for reality, when in fact it is just what we are perceiving in our minds… often what the Tibetans would call “The Spontaneous Arising of Mind Substance” and nothing more. Meditation allows us breathing room to experience reality free from our projections.
I couldn’t agree more that it doesn’t matter how you do it. ANY time spent disconnecting from the usual locomotive of our thoughts is time well spent! And of course LOTS of studies show how beneficial it can be for health. And BTW, great job getting your 14 year old into it Tabitha! More of that is what will make this world a better place. I believe that if we had a generation of humans how made time to observe their own thoughts, we would see the end or war and crime and poverty. (my 6 year old does it too, but to her it’s all about sitting funny, with her hands in a mudra, chanting OM with her eyes closed, then giggling… but hey, it’s a start!)
Be clear, be well, be LOVE!
Eileen,
This is a wonderful article. what a great way to encourage meditation and make it doable.
Angel Blessings
Great article, when ever I get off track, I am reminded to go back to the basic. Meditation is one of the basic ways of staying in touch and listen to your spirit.
Wow, PInkies! So great to hear from all of you. I’ve been gone all day…meditating (okay- just kidding. Need to!)
Jessica, your wish is my command. Joy posted today and I thought maybe the photo was of Eileen- but it’s not.
So here you go. I replaced the photo so you can see me- meditating my way- at the Green Gulch Zen Center.
Ah, yes. We can be grounded, centered, balanced, whole and quiet ANY WAY!
Thanks again, Eileen- you Pink Goddess you!
Much love
Lissa
Now that is more like it! hehe Thanks for posting that picture change.That is the way I do it too! That’s too funny. And love back at you, sister.
Wow! Thank you for all the wonderful comments! So glad this resonated…
See Pinkies, as we learn to express who we really are, our authentic selves in every way, it would only be natural to have it expressed in the way you meditate.
“See Pinkies, as we learn to express who we really are, our authentic selves in every way, it would only be natural to have it expressed in the way you meditate.” YES, SISTER! Amen.
We don’t have to fit in ANY boxes. Be all you- all the time. In whatever way that shows up.
Thanks for the reminder, sweetie!
as my teacher said recently, A little bit of something is better than a lot of nothing. IN a daily practice, you just do what you can. But building a routine really helps. I meditate first thing when I get up (although juice and toast come first sometimes if I have low blood sugar). Now that my kids are getting to school on their own (college age), my mornings belong to me. That has made a huge change in my being able to practice. When they were babies, I used to settle for a few minutes here and there, or SAturday mornings I’d barricade myself in my room and trust that hubby could handle two toddlers by himself.
the only other thing I know from experience, is that falling in love with the feeling of being held within is what draws me back, not a sense of duty, or obligation (although I’ve felt that too).
feeling peace is my priority because it feels so good….
Jenn and Eileen-
You inspire me! I know I must do more of this. Running around with my head cut off serves nobody. Committted to making it happen…
Ah, so glad.
Because that’s what “All of THIS” is about, really.
Wonderful article, Eileen! As a person who has done many different types of meditation and has a very “thinky” head there is a type of meditation for everyone. You have to give yourself permission to keep testing it out until you find the one that clicks. There is no right or wrong.