Meditation

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DISCLAIMER: This guide is not my own, I had it for some years and do not remember where it was sourced from. If you know, then please contact me .

Basic Meditation:
Meditation allows you to rest both your mind and body, and create a focus for you to work from. The simplest form of mediation is really nothing more than relaxing but here is simple approach to a more formal meditative practice I find comfortable.

First off, get comfortable. Wear comfortable and loose clothing or none at all, if you so like and have the needed amount of privacy. Take a bath or shower before hand to help wash away the day's cares. Now set the mood by simply lighting a few sticks of pleasant smelling incense and just one candle. For most meditation, I like a simple votive in a small glass holder. Set the candle in front of you and sit down in front of it. Get in a position you'll be able to stay in for some time comfortably. I prefer my legs crossed over each other (growing up we called it Indian style). Close your eyes, and breathe deeply in through your nose then exhale slowly but firmly out through your mouth. Picture green light going into your body through the air when you inhale, and dark muddled used air exhaling. Do this a few times, although I generally aim for 7 or 13 repetitions just because I like the number, although around 10 or 11 my head can start to spin a little. After that open your eyes and just breathe normally. Try to just look the candle but don't force your eyes.

A few things to remember. First of all your mind will start wander while you're meditating. Stray thoughts or songs will pop into your head. Just let the thoughts in and work through them as much as you need to be able to put them out of your mind. If you get an itch, scratch it. If you start to feel like you're going to sleep blow out the candle (PLEASE blow out the candle first) and take a nap. This is the time that your mind and your body will be able to tell you the most.

As for how long you should meditate, that's really up to you. I recommend at least 5-10 minutes the first time though. Keep trying to go further each time you can do it. Eventually, you'll hit a point where your mind is empty of everything but the candle. You won't be asleep nor awake but in a good meditative state. Eventually, you may not even notice the candle anymore. You'll just be. When you hit that point in your meditation you'll likely keep going until something kicks you out of it.  

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Exercise 1
Entering a Meditative State

1. Get into a comfortable position. Either sit with you feet flat on the floor, or sit on the floor cross legged. If your getting into a lighter ritual state stand with your feet apart(for balance).

2. Take a few deep breathe and relax. Bring you attention to the top of your head and slowly move down your body, focusing on giving individual parts permission to relax. Eventually pushing all unwanted energy out of your fingers and toes (grounding it)

3. Relax your mind, release any unwanted thoughts and worries. Open your heart.('to the Goddess and God') Relax your soul and follow your inner light.('for guidance and protection')

4. Visualize a giant screen infront of you (blackboard or movie screen, whatever) anything you picture/visualize/recall will(should) appear on this screen.

5. On the screen visualize the number twelve to one. Slowly counting from twelve to one. The numbers can be any colour, you can write them or they can appear fully formed. With each number you are entering a deeper meditative state.
Visualize the number 12, the number 12 should appear on the screen, 12.
11, visualize the number 11 on the screen, 11.
(I go at about two breathe for one number)
...1, visualize the number 1 on the screen, 1.

6. You are now at the ritual state of conciousness. Everything you do at this state is for your highest good, harming none. (If you're going to do a ritual, skip the next step), if you want to ge into a deeper meditative state, do step 7.

7. Count down further from thirteen to one, but don't visualize the numbers this time. Let them take you into a deeper meditative state. 13, 12, 11...2, and 1. You are now at your deepest meditative state, your magical mindset, in complete control of you magical abilities. Now say to yourself
sgsgI ask the Goddess and God to protect and guide me in this meditation.

8. From this point you can go onto other exercises and experience, or meditate at this level for a bit then bring yourself back up. Counting up from one to thirteen, then one to twelve. Gently wiggle your fingers and toes, and slowly move to bring your awareness back to the physical world.

9. Take both hands and raise them up over you, palms facing your crown, slowly bring them down past your crown, forehead, face, throat, chest, abdomen, and groin, and "push out" from you with your palms facing away. This is to remove any unwanted energy you may have picked up during your meditation. This gives you clearance and balance.

10. Ground as necessary. You may want to place your palms down on the ground. If all else fails activate your digestive system with a glass of water and some food to restore energy to your body (no junk food).  

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Exercise 2
The Inner Temple

1. Do Exercise 1, Entering a Meditative State up to (and including) step 7.

2. On the large screen in your minds eye, picture the world tree. (shortened details) larger then any tree you've seen, sacred to you, you may(or may not) recognize the species. If you can't see it, sense it with your other psychic senses. Hear the wind in the leaves, smell the dirt its roots dig into, simply know that it is there, and it will be. "The tree is ever present and everywere."

3. Now, imagine that the screen is a window or door that you can easily pass through (portal). Step through and look up at the tree and feel its power. Touch it and (with your will)place your intent of visiting your inner temple into the tree.

4. Look around the roots of the tree and look for a passageway. It may be a tunnel, or a small pond you could swim through. It might even me a stair way, slide or elevator. (Also, everytime you do this the passage might not be the same, so don't be surprised if its not the same everytime.) As you enter, you find yourself in a tunnel, wnding and spiralling to your inner temple.

5. At the end of the tunnel you see a light, move toward that light and step out into your inner temple. Look around. Take stock of all you see. Notice all the fine details of your sacred space. Let the images come to you. The inner temple can be a place you have visited in the physical world, or an amalgram of sacred from your deepest inner knowing.

6. Explore your inner temple. You will find a variety of inner objects, usually a reflective surface such as a mirror or pool or water, for gazing. Gardens, plants, altars, crystals, anda variety of tools will be found. Gateways leading to other energies and levels of conciousness (not all will be accessable right away for everyone). "Your inner temple is like a launching pad for deeper journeys. You can step through the Gateway of Healing and reciece the energy you need. Anything is possible in the inner temple."

7. If there is anything in your inner temple you do not like you can change it with you will(spiritual decorating). You inner temple reflects your own inner being. If something will not change it is usually a method that you need to change something in your physical life to make the change a reality. (unresolved issues anyone?)

8. Once down, move back up through the tunnel to the base of the world tree and stand before it. Take a step back and move back out through the large screen in your minds eye and let the tree gently fade from view.

9. Bring yourself back by counting up. Give yourself clearance and balance, bring your hands up and sweep them down over the chakra column to remove unwanted energies. Do any necissary grounding.