CHAPTER 9: DAILY MEDITATION

Every single day, I spend at least an hour in nature to harmonize mindfulness, meditation, and breathing deep from the base of my spine as I look to the sky.

The physical body is connected to the subconscious mind, and whatever you focus on grows.

We have to ask ourselves: where are we placing our attention?

A lot of us place our attention on what is not serving us. I place my attention on what I love, and it has done wonders.

Remind yourself that everyone you meet teaches you more about yourself, but nobody can come into your consciousness without your permission because the power lies within ourselves.

It is important that you stay balanced and grounded with routines that honor you. Meditation is a sacred practice. It is a spiritual discipline used to connect with divine consciousness, relax the mind, and extend life-force. Meditation is very powerful and can do many things for you. For example, it can help you:

• Shield yourself
• Balance your Chakras
• Check your aura
• Let go any energies that are not yours and are not serving your higher self
• Connect with angels, elementals, and star-guides.

Forming the habit of meditation will create a sense of stability in you, give you alone time, and keep you grounded. It will also help you take care of your basic emotional and spiritual needs. It will keep you responsible for honoring yourself by holding space for your time, spiritual, personal, and emotional growth.

Consistently observing a morning and evening meditation routine is an amazing way for you to ground yourself and strengthen your understanding of others, which will be felt and imparted to everyone you interact with.

Scheduling Time to Meditate Is Crucial

A meditation practice starts with finding the time, and the good news is that not a lot of time is required. We all lead busy lives, and without dedicated time for an activity, life may get in the way and prevent us from acting.

A beginner can start with a few minutes a day and gradually get to 20 to 30 minutes a day. When the meditator starts seeing the benefits, it becomes an essential part of his or her day.

Positioning

It is crucial to position yourself properly before you start. You should be sitting comfortably, not lying down. You can sit on a chair; keep your feet on the floor.

You can sit on the floor as well, with or without a cushion but try to keep your back as straight as possible without pain or a lot of effort. Wear comfortable clothes and remove your shoes. Also, find a quiet and comfortable place for your meditation. Some people who meditate regularly like to create a special place to meditate.

They may also sit in front of things with special meaning, such as pictures of loved ones or sacred objects. It is appropriate to achieve these 'ideal' conditions, but meditation can also occur anywhere and everywhere, even in the harshest conditions.

Quieting the Mind

This is the final step in preparing for quiet meditation. After getting comfortable, then the next step is to calm your mind.

• Hold your palm at a distance of about 3 to 5 inches away from your forehead.
• Rotate your hand so that your palm outlines a circle.
• Do this with your eyes closed. Let your hand be moving towards your left such that it will be a clockwise motion if someone were watching you.

You may experience different sensations from this, such as a feeling of heat coming from your hand to your forehead. When you feel your mind has calmed down a little, then it's time to focus on the object of your meditation.

Focus on Your Breath

This is the most popular concentrative meditation technique. It can be done anywhere, as it is incredibly versatile.

Simply focus on your breath as it goes in and out of your body. Try to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, conscious of the air coming in and going out. By focusing on your breath, you prevent other thoughts from coming in but if they do, let them go as best as you can and return to concentrating on your breathing.

Do this for a minute or two when you start and continue for more extended periods when you feel you can do so.

Useful Hints for Better Practice and Better Health

As you progress in the practice of meditation, you are required to sit motionless for long periods at a stretch. Some significant physical limitations may force you to make some adjustments in the way you sit and position yourself.

If you choose to ignore them, you may cause yourself needless pain and distractions. Always be on guard for what doesn't seem to be right and see what might be done about it - do not do something because you have been instructed to do so, even when it's painful. Try to find out how it works for you.

Several methods can be tried, so don't submit to pain needlessly, especially when nothing good can come out of it. And through dedicated practice, the hold you have on your illusion of self and things gives way. When meditating, thoughts and words are supposed to be absent so that without stress and the strain of delusion, an intense sort of healing takes place.