Five Simple Ways To Meditate

There are lots of different ways that you can use to meditate.

Each method has approximately the same end result. Merely a different route to get to that result. In much the same way you can likely change the route you take to work - you'll reach your destination, maybe faster or slower, but you'll still reach your destination. Take a look at these easy meditation methods and choose the one that you prefer.

Walking meditation

This is a very simple way to meditate. Naturally you'll be aware of your surroundings and what is going on around you. The joy of using walking meditation is that you can do it pretty much anywhere. Also there's no necessity for anyone else to know that you're meditating, which can be a plus point when you're beginning. When you carry out a walking meditation, you will pay attention to your feelings and what's around you. If you regularly take a walk of between 15 and 20 minutes, that's fantastic. And if you can keep away from the distraction of traffic noise, even better, although that may not be as easy in busy towns and cities. If you have a nearby park, consider that. Or a riverside walk may be worth exploring. Next, go for a short walk. Pay attention to the sounds and scents. And, of course, also pay attention to what you see. It's possible that you will notice the vibrant colors that have always been present around you.

Breathing meditation

A breathing meditation can be as easy or as difficult as you want. At its easiest, just find a quiet place where you are unlikely to be disturbed. Begin to take deeper breaths than normal. Make each in-breath long, slow and deep. If it's comfortable to do so, hold your breath for a second or two before you release it. Then breathe out slowly. Repeat this a number of times - start with 5 or so repetitions and build up to more. This is an easy meditation that can be practiced anywhere {and will leave your body more relaxed} and looking forward to the remainder of the day.

Binaural beat meditation

Binaural beat meditations play two marginally different tones - one for each ear. The beats are often covered up by things like new age music, nature sounds, and so on. When your brain receives the two tones, each slightly different, it goes into a state of meditation. The precise state will be a function of the frequency the binaural beats have been set at. So long as you know that the science going on in the background "works", you don't need to think much more about this. It's fantastically simple and is the method I use personally to drop into a very deep meditative state just by listening to an MP3 file for 30 or 60 minutes.

Cosmic meditation

This has become popular in the UK as broadcaster Noel Edmonds attributes his recent come-back to the process. It's also similar to the "Law of Attraction", which in turn was made popular by "The Secret". Cosmic meditation involves reaching a meditative state and then sending a request to the universe (or cosmos) to send something into your life. You put the intention out to the cosmos and then - a lot more often than you'd think - you receive your intention back into your life. Cosmic meditation is normally performed with a guided meditation. It is also known as Cosmic Ordering.

Guided meditation

A guided meditation can be performed in person or by listening to an MP3 audio file. There are lots of pre-recorded guided meditations available on the internet and places like Amazon. They cover all sorts of topics from general relaxation through to healing and contacting your higher self. Guided meditations typically last between 20 and 60 minutes. You'll normally start with a relaxation period to help you get the best from your meditation session and it will then go on to whatever subject you've decided for this particular meditation. So if you're playing a guided meditation to help relieve your pain, you'll maybe be guided to fill your body with a bright white light or maybe some healing sand (which then drains out of your body, taking the toxins with it). Every guided meditation is different - find someone who's voice is good for you to listen to and follow them!