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meditation is used for many different things like to calm yourself..bring peace of mind,absorb energy,even cast a spell...so my question is what do you use meditation for the most?

personally I use it to calm myself and absorb energy the most

you are right . meditation is a great way to find peace and it works i have been practicing it for the last three months or so and trust me i have been benefited a lot by it.

i use meditation to focas the energy around my martial arts study

When in a panic, for whatever reason, I know of breathing exercises. But I dont do any meditation.

well even tho i am wiccan i dnt practice it just study and i meditate to calm myself:)

mostly to calm and center mysel .. to calm or prepare a spell.. it really works for any time Ineed to be clam and think clearly

i do meditation for more than you mentioned but mostly i use it to gather and relesase energy around my body to heal wounds just slightly.

i meditate mostly when i am trying to calm myself and collect my thoughts.....

I usually meditate to help with all the stress in my life and it helps me just chill out.

i use meditation to calm, go astral, releave stress, gain power, and thats all i can think of right now.

i meditate to calm myself and to bring done my stress level. It is a time that i can let everything go and just relaz calm my mind and my body.

I use if for concentration and spellwork and for destressing. I also use it for visualization.

I use meditation in small doses to calm myself or prep for verbal magic......

I don't really meditate much any more. I've kinda lowered down on my spell casting because that's what I mainly used it for.

I use it to calm myself. I use it when I go into a native sweat lodge to be able to handle the intense heat as well as open my mind to the spirit world who may want to use me to tell a messageor give me a message.

i really dont meditate much... but i think its what i am missing at this time and point in my life right now... i am definitly going to have to start again... i meditate to relax and be more in-tune with myself just overall...

i love using salutation to the sun as my meditation and like most here it is to clear myself and start again renewed.

i use meditation mostly to calm and center my self

i use meditation as a way to calm myself after a long day (ex:at work or home with lots of ppl over ) to me its a great way to relax & become very peaceful

i do it to relax

i agree with You but not in the traditional sense of meditation. Honestly, im all for having a nap or a quick regeneration than spending any of that amount of time meditating. That, and if one spends all their time being extremely aware and actively using senses to connect with the environment, the actuality of meditation will be minimalized..... meditation is good occassionally, but there is not a lot of time for it when so much social phenomena surrounds us....

there are alternatives :)

I have tried meditaion, but it does not work for me.

I ues meditation for centering myself. especially if I am going to be doing anything that might be taxing to my spirit or my mentality.

I've tried to meditate...but it has yet to work for me. I can't get my mind to relax or focus on anything that would help it relax

i personally use meditation as a way to relax, bring things back into perspective, and its a great way to get kids to be quiet, im teaching my daughter and she will stay quiet for at least 15 minutes, YAY!!

I had forgot to mention that I do a lot of meditation before a ceremony. My family and I are in a meditative state as we precede dress in our regalia. As I believe most Native Americans do.

Meditation, in my opinion, is a way to focus your mind and thoughts; an inner path leading towards purifying your mental procedures and even spiritual focusing.

In my life, meditation is used as an alternate for sleep. It has been proven, and I can bear witness to it, that at least two hours of transcedental meditation can give your mind and body the same amount of rest as if you had slept for nine hours or more.

The only problems one might run into can range from an inability or difficulty to clear the mind of all active thoughts and images.

Sometimes, and I recommend this for those who would like to learn how to meditate or even improve their current technique, I light a candle and gaze into the fiery depths of the flame, losing myself in the wavering heat. I take all the thoughts that run through my head, and I place them into a trash bin in my mind's eye one-by-one. And when there is only the flame left in my mind, I close the lid on the trash bin and push it aside. It is then that I am able to meditate on whatever it is I wish.

One could also use this technique to "program" themselves to do(or not do) something, such as dieting, getting rid of phobias, or anything else they would like to do.

Well, that's my two pence.

First I must tell you that Meditation is not as easy as one might think. The hardest part of all is learning to clear your mind of all unwanted thoughts. Have you ever tried to completely clear your mind and thinking of absolutely nothing? For most people it is almost impossible to do.... but it can be done, and I will show you.

1: First I want you to learn the most popular meditating position used for centuries. It is called the Lotus Position or Posture... "Padma-asana". Simply sit on the floor ( I suggest you use a comfortable rug or large pillow under you ) cross your legs with your feet over top of your calves and place both hands on your knees. This may feel a little awkward at first but you will become accustom to it after a few times of practice and stretching. You might also want to do some stretching exercises before trying any of this..... it will help your body to relax and you will respond to meditation much better.

2: Now that you have learned the Lotus position, it is time to set the atmosphere... you know... set the mood for meditation. You will need some candles or just one candle will do... preferably white. Light the candle and turn off the lights. Now we will need to light some incense! The best you will ever want to get and it is the most used is.... "Nag Champa" it is in a blue box and you will find it most any place that sells incense. Do not use some other cheap crap that smells like perfume or crap that you buy at a convenience store.... it will only irritate your senses, thus making meditation impossible. I am telling you.... get "Nag Champa" and you will thank me. Now we may ant to add one more thing..... New Age music. All these combined things will set the mood for meditation.

3: Here comes the hardest part...... Clear your mind of all thoughts. How do you do this?.... simply imagine a big Dumpster or a very large metal box on your mental screen. Then see it open and put all your thoughts and worries in it one by one.... bills... your love life.... problems.... your children.... your job... everything you can think of. Then close the lid and lock it! Then push it off your mental screen. If this does not work for you the first time... simply try again the next day.... it will work for you.

4: Now that you have set the mood, cleared your mind and you are in the lotus position.... you are ready to begin meditating. What do you do next? Well now that your mind is clear you can choose from two types of scenarios. I will add more soon.

*Note: make sure you will not be disturbed while doing meditation. Turn off the phone and if anyone lives with you tell them to leave you alone!
Scenario 1:
This meditation is simply doing nothing and thinking of nothing. Simply sit there after clearing your mind and continue to think of nothing. After awhile you may have some visions or a symbol appear to you mental screen. You may hear an inner voice which is God within speaking to you.... so listen carefully to your message. You may hear or see nothing and that is fine. This is simple stress relief and giving your mind and body some peace. It is giving your mind a break from all the everyday worries. After ten or fifteen minutes open your eyes and return to normal life.

Scenario 2:
This one is more fun and very easy. After you have cleared you mind..... see yourself walking through a field of tall grass and keep walking until you find a nice shade tree by a river. Sit yourself under the tree. Relax even more and enjoy the cool breeze and the sound of the water flowing nearby you. Take in all the sounds of Mother Nature.... the birds..... the wind... everything. Just sit there for as long as you so choose and enjoy your special place of peace. For this is the place you will want to return to every time you meditate. Try to notice how you now feel... how at peace you are with yourself. For in this place you are carefree and have no worries..... no one to harm you no one to stress you out, no one to tell you what to do.... only you and nature as one. You may want to stay here forever, but you must return after awhile. When you are ready to return.... simply get up from under the tree and walk back up the path through the field of tall grass till you return home. Gently open your eyes and return to normal life. With this meditation you could even purchase a "sounds of nature" tape that will help you have more of an experience of actually being there.



I hope you have enjoyed your journey into meditation and I hope it has brought you peace of mind.

I use meditation to balance myself out...to focus my thughts on energies or to hear thngs most normal ppl wouldn't...since it calms me almost too much...I don't do it very often

I use meditation to relax and calm my mind, i use it to in effect wash my mind of unwanted or un needed thoughts before i start on a difficult task. recently i have also used meditation during my martial arts training, and the feedback i have recieved is very positive in regards to my progress.

I also use meditation for energy collection and dumping of unwanted energies.

i use meditation mainly for relaxing and getting things into prospective, very rarely will i use it for anything else

GrieviousDemon, you are correct in the fact that meditation is by far not as easy as it appears to be. it becomes easier ini time. all of my families children have been taught from an early age to meditiate. and all our little demons are so much better at it then we are! lol

I meditate to calm myself, to focus myself, and to also gain inner strength for something that may need more than I have at the time. I havent really meditated in a while tho. Personally I feel more connected to myself and to something I can't identify when I meditate

If I did use meditation for something it would be to help figure something difficult out or to calm myself.
When I'm angry I definently need to calm myself
I might do that in the future

Isn't there like 5 main ways to do meditation?

I meditate to clear my mind and destress like a lot of people here but I also meditate when I have an identity crisis, like I am still prone to. It's amazing what you can discover about yourself when you tell your mind to shut up and cool off.

I use it mostly to ready my self for a tarot reading and or to destress. I find you can do a long calming one when you have time but just focusing on my breatrhing and slowing my breathing on perpose works in a pinch

i meditate for many resons but when i meditate i think of nothing and let the images come to me

To answer some questions, YES! I have found at least 7 different ways to meditate. And all have had great results. Personally, I meditate most to calm myself. One of these days I will have to write a bit of my life story in my journal, cuz this isn't the place to truly explain. But I have alot of trouble with my own emotions. I am an empath and I have to meditate to remain calm. The other time I meditate most, is to reach into my bond or link with my man. I have little control of that, so it requires the most attention, other then mood control.

I know of 2 different ways. what are the other 5 that you know of ?

I find it very useful when I am stressed out or if I have a creative mental block...

Again like both my sisters butterfly and P.v. we use meditation in ceremony though sweat lodges, vision quest, and in preparation when we dance in our regalia. You have to be in the right spirit to be in ceremony...hot

Meditation Helps But preffer To Cut My Wrists And Put Scars On My Hands

I've had trouble meditating in the past. I can relax my body, but my mind is something else completely. I still have yet to know how to relax it

I don't really meditate in the "stereotyped" sit on the floor and go OMMMM. My meditation comes with listening to music. It moves me, and helps me in allowing my mind to wander. I feel energized when I'm involved with music, be it listening to it on the bus ride to school, or standing front row at a concert.

I found out this morning that my math teacher also meditates in a similar fashion. It delighted me.

I have a friend who uses meditation to open up powers and gifts he has hidden inside of him. Threw this he has been able to control his dream state and is a very calm person. I persoanlly have never been in a dream and knew I was so I could control what I was doing in it. He goes wild with the control of his mind.

Been working on this forever. There are many different ways of practicing, don't count them! Including many different ways of breathing. I have been around Swamis and Pundits, and none of them practice their meditations in a full Lotus position. If I ever see anyone here in that position, I will personally slap the back of your head!
As for my practice, I'm using the infinity breathe.

i mediatate.. every day.. at least once. I find that it helps to center and ground me.. and i usually get to start my day off correctly

BillyTheJust, I would like to reassure you I do know do a full lotus position. Though I do know people that do. Mostly followers of Zen and Confusiusism(sp?) I do what what was taught me.

I have no idea what type of breathing it is or whether it even has a name. but it is what me and my sisters were trained to do, mostly for our ceremonies.

The Lotus position is never meant for meditating. It is a position of accomplishment and respect. If the people who have been doing this for centuries know what they are talking about - listen! It is also not meant for anyone that does not belong to the "brown" race. Your hips are not made for it. You will cause damage to yourself. Zen or otherwise. With Zen, you are only down for twenty minutes and up for ten. The meditation is different. Full Lotus is not for meditating. Use props instead.

Someone should let the Zen community of their new found problem, Thankyou Billy for that i did now know of it, i do use to lotus position on accasion but a pillow to sit on and regularcross leggered is ideal for me.

Oh and i also use meditation for calming down, focusing energy and thoughts and to connect to the exterior.

i have found that if i am in an exceptional mood, ill burn my favorite inscense and put on my favorite song, often metal, meditation will give me an extra boost and help me manage the difficult tasks i face day to day

Anyone notice any bad effects to meditating??

I was just reading a lil bit about it and a study said that without proper direction from a teacher deep meditation can lead to... "uncomfortable kinesthetic sensations, mild dissociation and psychosis-like symptoms (Craven, 1989). From a clinical study of twenty-seven long term meditators, Shapiro (1992) reported such adverse effects as depression, relaxation-induced anxiety and panic, paradoxical increases in tension, impaired reality testing, confusion, disorientation and feeling 'spaced out'."

Any thoughts??

i meditate generally in the middle of the night so that no1 will interrupt me. usually i meditate to either remove my negative energy or to restore my energy. sometimes i use medition to focus on my target before doing any kind of magick. usually tapping into someone 's mind when they are asleep through meditation is much more easier, and magic will work better

LadyVengence, The only bad thingthat I have heard of with meditation is thoughs who are new have a tendency to to either fall asleep or to give up very easily.

it is not easily learned.

I have not heard of psychosis related issues with meditiation.

I use it to calm myself down... sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt cuz my temper is not very controllable... It sometimes helps me relax though.

meditation is good to use to help release negative energy and focus on absorbing positive energies.I've also used it when I've been sick to help aid in the healing process,it's a great booster for the immune system.

it took me lot of time and dedication to master meditation. at first every single thing used to interrupt me, or either doze of to sleep or ending up thinking of soemthing hat has nothing to do with meditation. by time i learnt to focus more on my breath and resonating my chakras. i meditate using the energy ball or in other words i imagine that i have this big ball of energy between the palms of my hands. soemtimes the energy is so strong that i feels sort of sparks in my fingers, other times i feel my hands moving with the energy built in it.

The only way to "master meditation" is to become a "walking meditation." And being a buddha is very hard to do, if that is the case - Namaste. ;)

Karnstein - infact i marvel myself seeing buddist monks meditating all day in a deep trance and they are so peaceful in mind

I use meditation for relaxation so I can try to calm my nerves, so I dont hurt anyone, lol!!!

like so manyothers here i use meditation to relax and reenergise. It helps for me to have some light music on and be outside.

I meditate to calm myself and get away from all the troubles for a few moments

I use meditation for the physical and spiritual benefits, to gather energy, before working a spell... I also tend to use it during workings when I need to do trance work.

I use it for a variety of reasons....the biggest is for relaxation and calming also for cleansing

I meditate as a way to focus my energy inwards. I live a very crazy life, so finding a still point for me is a challenge

i use it to raise my spiritual lvls,and become more intune with the earth and my surroundings

I use it to relax, kill time, and rest my body and soul.

i use it to keep from hurting every1 around me mostly and to find my self

Well I have never really been able do meditation! Unfortunately I never can seem to clear my mind enough...I still try, but it never seems to work for me!

I meditate for a number of reasons

Thank you GrieviousDemon, for the thoughful and informative response, however, I can see little else of value in this thread.