| People often assume meditation is meditation is | | | | traditions teach that we all posses an intuitive level |
| meditation. You sit, you quiet your mind, you feel | | | | of knowledge within us, but that we can only tap |
| peaceful, all is well. Right? But the truth is, there | | | | into it when we let go of our ego-based thoughts |
| are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of different | | | | and emotions. For this reason, meditation is a big |
| meditation techniques, and they each have | | | | component of most intuition-development training |
| different benefits and orientations. Meditation has | | | | programs. There are thousands of such |
| been around in some form for virtually all of | | | | programs, so it is difficult to recommend just one, |
| human history, as part of many different cultural | | | | but Dr. Mona Lisa Schulz offers a grounded, |
| traditions - healing, divination, sports, the arts, and, | | | | modern approach in her book Awakening Intuition. |
| of course, religion and spirituality. | | | | Creativity Development: Artists of all types use |
| So how do you know which approach is best for | | | | meditation to trigger their creativity and help |
| you? Like in most things, it takes some | | | | them work through blocks. One of the most |
| exploration and experimentation. One of the | | | | popular books to explore this is The Artist's Way |
| easiest ways to start is to clarify for yourself | | | | by Julia Cameron. |
| why you want to meditate - that is, what are | | | | Energy Body Strengthening: Many 'alternative' |
| you hoping to get from it? To help you get | | | | healing traditions are based on the idea of an |
| started, here is a list of some of the main | | | | energy body, or that the flow of our non-physical |
| benefits of meditation, along with some book | | | | energy (or lack of flow) influences our physical |
| suggestions to get you started. | | | | health. Acupuncture and reiki are both based on |
| Health and Stress Management: Studies have | | | | this idea, but even within Western medical |
| shown that regular meditation is effective for | | | | traditions, there is growing awareness of the role |
| lowering blood pressure, boosting immunity, | | | | our mind plays in our physical health and ability to |
| improving sleep quality, and managing chronic pain. | | | | heal. For an introduction to the chakras, one |
| For a great overview of the health benefits of | | | | energy center system, and corresponding |
| meditation, along with beginner meditation | | | | meditations, check out Caroline Myss's Anatomy |
| techniques, try Meditation for Optimum Health by | | | | of the Spirit. |
| Andrew Weil and Jon Kabat-Zinn. | | | | Spirituality: Meditation has been and is part of |
| Psychological Therapy Complement: An increasing | | | | virtually every world religion in some form. From |
| number of therapists incorporate some form of | | | | St. Theresa of Avila's 'mental prayer' to Rabbi |
| meditation into their therapy practice, believing | | | | Issac Luria's Kabbalah symbol visualizations, and |
| that quieting the mind is an important complement | | | | then to better known Buddhist, Sufi and Hindu |
| to exploring the mind. Techniques vary, but the | | | | meditation techniques, mystics within every |
| relaxation response (the same technique as from | | | | tradition have practiced meditation as a means to |
| the health-based listing above) is a common one, | | | | exploring the forces and spirit beyond themselves. |
| because of its proven medical benefits. | | | | Search the web to learn more about meditation |
| Concentration/Focus Improvement: Everyone | | | | within your religion. |
| from Olympic athletes to poker players have | | | | However, spiritual meditation is about shifting your |
| begun to incorporate some form of meditation | | | | awareness - shifting it away from your usual |
| into their training regimes, because it helps them | | | | thoughts and emotions and towards a larger |
| detach from distractions and hone their focus. For | | | | force (whether you call that force God or |
| the same reason, Zen meditation was | | | | something else.) In that sense, the technique is |
| incorporated into martial arts training centuries | | | | less important than your intent. It's important to |
| ago, and Zen meditation is still one of the most | | | | remember that the meditation technique you |
| common forms used for this purpose (and | | | | select is a means to an end, not an end in itself, |
| championed by such illustrious sports figures as | | | | and that the ultimate goal is to change the way |
| Phil Jackson, coach of the LA Lakers.) Although | | | | you relate to the world and your mind even when |
| there are many Zen variations, a good book to | | | | you are not meditating. So feel free to explore, |
| start with is Zen Meditation Plain and Simple by | | | | but don't let yourself get too caught up in finding |
| Albert Low. | | | | the 'perfect' technique. |
| Intuition Development: Many occult and spiritual | | | | |