MEDITATION

MEDITATION

      This weeks topic is meditation.  Meditation is a not exclusive to any culture or religious/spiritual group.  Meditation has been around for centuries.  The benefits of meditation is that it can create a calming effect and increase spiritual awareness.  It induces a sense of relaxation leading one to become receptive to enlightenment.   It can help with stress, anger, health issues, depression, and anxiety, just to name a few.
      There are many ways to meditate and many different types of meditations.  The first one and probably the most popular in the western world is Mindfulness, also called "Vipassana".  This type of meditation comes from the Buddhist tradition. This focuses on being in the present, letting the mind run, and accepting whatever thoughts come up and practicing detaching from each thought.  The next kind is Zazen and is a term for seated meditation.  It is a Buddhist tradition and in modern Zen it is referred to as "just sitting".   This is usually done for many hours at a time.  The next one is Transcendental Mediation or "TM".  In TM, you sit with your back straight and use a mantra, a sacred word that is repeated.  Keeping the focus on rising above all that is impermanent.  Kundalini is another form of meditation.  It also comes form Vednata.  It is the name for rising stream of energy that exists in the human being.  The focus of this meditation is to become aware of that rising stream and to ride the stream to infinity.  Also the focus is on the on the breath flowing through each of the energy centers of the body and always moving upwards toward the energy center just above the head. One of the more popular form of meditation is Guided visualization.  This type of meditation involves concentration upon and image or imaginary environment.  This is usually done while listening to a recording and an example would be to focus on a scene such as a beautiful place you feel safe like a meadow or ocean.  There are thousands of CD's, apps and recordings that offer this variation of meditation.  A couple other types are Trance-Based Practices (hypnosis) and Heart Rhythm Meditation, which focus on heart and emotions.
      Meditation has become very common in pop culture now.  It seems like every celebrity is doing it.  Oprah is probably the first celebrity that comes to everyone's mind.  However, there are many more that practice meditation on regular basis and claim how much they benefit from it.  For example, Russel Brand, David Lynch, Katy Perry, Kristen Bell, Eva Mendes, Clint Eastwood, Ellen Degeneres, and Will Smith, to name a few.
      For me personally, I prefer guided meditation.  In my opinion, meditation is really just relaxing your mind, being quiet, and present in the "now".  Even if it's just for a few minutes each day, or being quiet and aware for twenty minutes on the way to work.  Meditation is beneficial way to unwind at the end of the day, or can be very energizing way to begin your day.  I know that having a busy life and children it can almost seem impossible to find time to be quiet.  For me, sometimes my meditation is in the shower, because it is the only place where I can be alone and uninterrupted.     In my opinion, meditation is very important practice to incorporate into my life.  I know if someone would have told me ten years ago, "Andrea, you will be meditating every day in ten years!" I would have laughed and said, "not me, its too weird" or "that's just something hippies do".  So if you haven't tried meditation, maybe give it a try.  It's certainly worth it and it will surely benefit your mind, body and spirit.  All you need is your smartphone and headphones, (if you have one) and search for  meditation apps, and you are bound to find a meditation that will hopefully guide you on a wonderful way to relax your mind and give you some peace that we all deserve in our day to day lives.

CRYSTAL OF THE WEEK

Clear Quartz

This weeks crystal that I chose is clear quartz.  This is a great crystal for meditation.  It is know as the master healer and works on every level of our being.  It contains Universal Life Energy and is very good crystal to meditate with and can unlock deep memories.  Clear quarts can also unblock illness, distress or stagnant energy in order to bring about deep healing.  It also amplifies concentration and intent and is the perfect crystal for people that are struggling with meditation   It also helps balance chakra energy and activate kundalini.  

ESSENTIAL OIL OF THE WEEK

Sandalwood 

Sandalwood helps with meditation and has a very calming affect on the mind and can relieve anxiety   It is said to help enhance your spirituality and your awareness of a higher power and assist in meditation or prayer and help bring that higher awareness.  

It can also assist with sleep,depression, respiratory (chest infections, sore throats, dry coughs, asthma and bronchitis).  It can help ease stomach aches, vomiting and chronic or acute diarrhea.  It is also and astringent which can tighten and firms the skin, reduce wrinkles, moisten skin  and strengthen the connective tissue.  You can add some oil to hand or body lotion.  It relives itching and helps clear acne.  It can also help scars and eczema.  It is a tonic for the immune system which can increase the growth of white blood cells which helps fight infections.  

WEEKLY AFFIRMATION

" I feel relaxed, open and balanced"

Many Blessings, 

Andrea