Friday Favorites – Guest Post!
2012
Hi beauties,
I’m Anna and I am lucky enough to be taking over a post while Marita is soaking up some sun on her cruise! I’ve known Marita for forever so it’s a pretty big honor to share with you all on her beautiful blog.
I write for EveryCollegeGirl and my own personal blog, Meditations in Wonderland, where I focus on meditation, yoga, and spirituality. And in that spirit, I thought I would share with you all a step-by-step meditation.
To meditate is to look inward at one’s own light and sense of self, and to experience and observe the True nature of Being. Meditation is the freedom to experience all thought, the freedom to Be in a higher and truer state of awareness and consciousness. Benefits of meditation are widely recognized across many fields and include anxiety reduction, healthier blood pressure levels, increased concentration, and higher capacity for knowing yourself, among many others.
1. Get into your zone
Do a little stretching or yoga beforehand, turn off your phone and external distractions, play some soothing music, light candles, or skip right to making yourself comfortable in a seated position with your back supported.
2. Breathe
Once you have found your golden position, let go of all judgment, and feel yourself in your natural state. Breathing deeply and feeling your breath expand and contract in your lower belly is ideal, and focusing on your breath will help you to let go of any immediate tension. Some meditations, called Mindfulness Meditation, are made up solely of this practice.
3. Listen to yourself
As you settle into your meditation session, thoughts will float in and out. Shutting out those thoughts will only cause you stress and allow them to come in at their own will. Instead, pay attention to what those thoughts are, and once you acknowledge them they will dissipate on their own. Listen to the thoughts your mind has brought to the forefront of your consciousness – do they form a pattern? Do some keep replaying? Do you find yourself getting caught in a cycle of worries, or are there deeper pressing concerns that are begging to come out? Keep breathing, and listen to your mind, recognizing each thought and then letting it fade away.
4. Tune into your internal energy
This is where the magic happens. Because trivial thoughts have been cleared away after step three, you will find yourself stripped of conflicting emotions and idle thoughts, and left with only yourself. Keep breathing deeply and at your own pace, letting your awareness expand with your breath. As you breathe, exchange your energy for fresh energy, which your body will do naturally. As your awareness grows, deep thoughts and images will come and go spontaneously. Try to avoid being analytical during this process, and instead watch what messages your mind and body have for you as they become in sync with one another.
Remember, this is the fun part! Your intuition has taken the wheel, and your only goal is to be perceptive. With practice, you will be able to explore your true self, and reach a blissful state that is clear, calm, and infinite.
5. Bring it back and reflect
When you feel yourself naturally release from your practice, honor it. Bring some movement back into your limbs, stretch, and thank yourself for your practice. If this was your first meditation practice, congratulate yourself! If this was one practice of many, keep congratulating yourself, because self-discovery is a long road but an amazing journey. Take your hands to your heart’s center, and reflect on what you have gained from your time with your Self!
As girls we often spend a lot of time honoring responsibilities to others and doing things for everyone but ourselves. Taking a few minutes a day, or however long you feel like dedicating, to check in with yourself and connect with your true self. Most importantly, enjoy the journey! Many yoga and meditation practices end by saying the word “namaste,” which means, “The light within me honors the light within you.”
Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll join me in sending Marita lots of love and light as she travels and enjoys well-deserved time with loved ones!
You can also find more on my writing and meditation at http://meditationsinwonderland.tumblr.com/meditationguide.
Namaste and lots of love,
Anna
