| Meditation is one of the great skills everybody | | | | mind. |
| should learn as it helps you in developing a more | | | | Item #4 A CD Player |
| effective mind and to help keep you at a state of | | | | A CD player is a great tool to have in your |
| calm. If you are serious about meditation having a | | | | meditation room. Using mediation music like |
| room dedicated to the practice does one of two | | | | Baroque Meditation music will help you be more |
| things. The room will after periods of time bring | | | | effective with your meditation. Many people find |
| about a sense of calm as soon as you walk into | | | | when they are starting out with meditation that it |
| the room because of the association between the | | | | is hard to get to that state of calm without using |
| room and peace. The meditation room will also | | | | meditation music as the music can influence your |
| encourage you and remind you to stick with the | | | | feelings. |
| practice. All too often people start out on the | | | | You will find though as you become more |
| meditation journey only to abandon the practice a | | | | experienced in meditation that you will be able to |
| few months in because they are feeling great. | | | | meditate without music but meditation music is |
| The downside to this is that if you do not | | | | essential when you are first starting out. |
| continue practicing your meditation you will never | | | | Item #5 Seven Candles |
| master the art and more so each time you | | | | Most people in their houses today have harsh |
| restart the meditation practice it will take you a | | | | lighting in their rooms like incandescent or fluro |
| while to get back into the swing of the art. | | | | lights. Often these lights can be very difficult to |
| Meditation is something that needs to be practiced | | | | meditate under even with your eyes closed. My |
| every single day. | | | | recommendation has always been to meditate |
| When you are setting up a meditation room there | | | | under the glow of seven candles. The candles |
| are seven things you need to consider to make | | | | should be located on your prayer table at varying |
| your room a little special. | | | | heights. |
| Item #1 Cushions | | | | You will find that the soft glow of an open flame |
| For most people the optimum place to sit and | | | | will on its own bring about a sense of calm and |
| meditate is on the floor. However since most | | | | make your meditation session a lot more special. I |
| houses have incredibly hard floors it is always a | | | | recommend seven candles simply because the |
| good idea to have a number of meditation | | | | number seven is auspicious in my society and |
| cushions on the floor. Meditation cushions are not | | | | religion. Seven being a perfect number helps |
| anything special they should simply be cushions | | | | ensure during my meditation sessions that my |
| with enough padding to soften the impact of | | | | session will in fact be perfect. |
| sitting on the floor for any period of time. | | | | One safety point I would like to make, please |
| It is always worthwhile having a number of | | | | ensure that you put your candles onto trays so |
| cushions in your room so that if you consider | | | | that they will not burn your prayer table or start |
| having a group meditation session in your | | | | a fire. Candles in a house can be very dangerous |
| meditation room that you all have at least one | | | | so make sure that after your meditation session |
| cushion each. There is nothing worse than fifteen | | | | is over that you blow them out. |
| minutes into a meditation session only to find your | | | | Item #6 Peaceful Pictures and Photos |
| bottom has gone to sleep and you feel extremely | | | | I have already stated it is important to have on |
| uncomfortable. | | | | your prayer table a picture of your family to |
| Item #2 Incense | | | | remind you why you are meditating. I also |
| Incense is a great device to help you relax during | | | | recommend having other peaceful pictures in your |
| a meditation session. You can purchase incense | | | | room to ensure that when you enter your |
| from any quality Asian or Middle Eastern | | | | meditation room that you have a sense of peace |
| supermarket. Make sure that before you buy a | | | | and tranquillity. |
| box of any incense that you try out one stick | | | | The types of pictures that are suitable are those |
| first. Ask the supermarket attendant if you can | | | | of nature or animals like scenes from a rainforest, |
| because in most Asian or Middle Eastern | | | | a flowing brook or even pictures of a calm ocean. |
| supermarkets they will have samples for you to | | | | Item #7 A Vase of Flowers |
| try. | | | | The last item I recommend that you have in your |
| I have found that lavender is a great incense to | | | | meditation room is a vase of fresh flowers. There |
| use when first starting out, but everybody will | | | | is nothing more relaxing and calming than to smell |
| have their own preferences. | | | | the perfume of freshly cut flowers. Often you will |
| Item #3 A Small Prayer Table | | | | find that the smell of both the incense and freshly |
| I am a great believer in setting your room up | | | | cut flowers will give off a unique fragrance that |
| similar to those from countries like Japan, Thailand | | | | will help entice your mind into a sense of calm. |
| or India. A prayer table allows you to place your | | | | If you cannot afford to buy your flowers, why |
| incense and other important artefacts for your | | | | not grow them in your garden. You will be |
| meditation on the prayer table. Some people use | | | | surprised just how easy it is to put some seeds |
| the prayer table to have images of God or | | | | into a pot and grow a bunch of flowers. Note that |
| Buddha to help in their meditation. If you are not | | | | you do need to water those flowers. |
| a religious person I simply recommend putting a | | | | Meditation is an important skill you need to master |
| photo of your family on your prayer table with | | | | and having a special meditation room will help |
| small incense holders on both the left and right | | | | remind you and encourage you to practice this |
| hand side of the prayer table. | | | | art. Just like sport, many people start off with the |
| The reason I recommend this is that the photos | | | | best of intentions but give up. Having a meditation |
| will remind you why you are meditating. Meditation | | | | room will certainly help you stay on track. |
| is all about helping you to improve your state of | | | | |