Open Mind, Open Heart discussion

Who wants to try to start a new habit of meditation with me this week?! I'm sure some of you already have a well-established meditation practice. I've only been trying off and on for about 2 months now. My plan is to set my alarm for 5:45 a.m. (ugh) before the chaos of my 6-member house begins. From what I'm learning, the only real way to increase our spirituality is through meditation. Who's up for the challenge?!

Count me in.

Whoo Hoo!

I had complete monkey mind this morning. It's hard for me to just be with the feeling. I'm working on that. What about you?

Hey! I did pretty good Monday, got kind of a weightlessness feeling and a little pulsating or something - yesterday was uneventful, and this morning I couldn't "focus on nothing" for anything! I've been able to get up at 5:45 much easier than I thought I would though. I've also started a dream journal - do you do this?

Yes, I have a dream journal and some really good dream books. I'm visual in the subconscious so my dreams get weird.

A friend who helps me meditate suggests noticing that you are fidgety and just letting it go. It's like thoughts on clouds that float by. Still...when I'm fidgety it's hard for me to sit.

Hey lady,
How's the meditation going? I'm struggling with trying not to expect/want that weightlessness feeling (got that one of the first sessions - it was awesome), and just opening myself up to have God do whatever He wants with our time together.

Yeah, managing expectations is not an easy thing. It's my same problem.

It's amazing what breathing can do when I just stop trying to ritualize it. What I mean by that is make a big deal about how it "should" be done rather than how I it feels right for me to do it. Just lying in my bed, taking deep breaths and concentrating on the ins and outs of that breath have done wonders for helping me feel centered. No mountains...no butt cushions...no incense...no music or meditation CD...just my breath. That's all I need and I can breath anywhere! Imagine just figuring that out! Boy, I'm a "smart" cookie! ;) Now, I just have to keep it up!

I've been doing meditation on and off for years. I generally meditate when I begin to have problems. Probably not the best idea. I think my downfall is stopping meditation when I feel good, and just wait to lapse to begin the cycle again.

Yes, I do need to meditate everyday.

I am so lazy about meditating! And it is SUCH an important thing to do! At least, I seem to get better at it everytime I do it DESPITE the long intervals between sessions.

Wendy, don't feel bad because I do the same thing. Funny how we only remember to breathe when our hearts start racing or we get worried.

What techniques, if any do you guys and gals have for meditating? Do you perform any guided meditations, Wayne Dyer's Jappa (Sound of God in between saying the Lord's prayer, or other 10 word sentence), or do you just simply concentrate on breathing? I'm always curious.

Oh I've done Dyer's Jappa meditation; that was in prety cool! Now if I'd only do it FREQUENTLY...!

Good Life, Good Death has some practical tips on improving your meditation practice. In the back there is a resource guide with different meditations that might be of interest to anyone looking to start or build their meditation practice.

Thanks, Starr. I'll have to put that on my 'to read' list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2UHLM...
David Lynch talks about Transedental Meditation.

Transcendental Meditation... one of these days I will learn to type!

Has anyone ever heard of this?

I have a friend who went to college at the Maharishi School in Iowa, where the entire student body, faculty, and community members all practiced Transcendental Meditation together twice a day under a giant golden dome!