Take a Brief Meditation Retreat

If you're feeling stressed, run-down or burnt out by your hectic life, get instant relief and spiritual enlightenment by taking a brief meditation retreat. You will need to physically retreat to a private location such as your bedroom, the balcony, a quiet spot outdoors, or any other place where you can have privacy. Turn off your cell phone and remove any other distractions--this will be a relatively short break from your hectic life (ten or fifteen minutes will do), so you don't need to worry about the phone or anything else. Make yourself comfortable. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, or even a light snack during your retreat.

That's the retreat part of the plan, now onto the meditation. Use this short time to ponder a concept, idea or question. Some good examples are the nature of love, the benefits of friendship, the idea of unconditional trust, etc. If you are troubled by an issue in your life, such as conflict with a co-worker, you can use it as your topic for your brief retreat but just don't be too specific. (This retreat is not to be used for fretting about specific issues of your day-to-day routine.) For example, ponder a related concept such as competition or a question like, "How can I improve my communication skills to reduce conflict with others?" During your retreat, think about your chosen concept, idea or question and exclude all other thoughts.

Your brief meditation retreat is a light meditation session. The privacy and relaxation will help refresh and recharge you, and the meditation will lead to deeper understanding of the issues in your life as well as spiritual enlightenment.

When your ten or fifteen minutes are up, return to your regular routine even if you have not reached a deep understanding of your concept or answers to your question. Don't worry--you can continue pondering on your next retreat.

Make the brief meditation retreat part of your daily routine to promote inner peace, enlightenment and wellness. This his how I start every single day, and I take several brief retreats throughout the day (anytime I need a short break) and it helps me to recharge between sessions with my clients, remain centered and develop a deeper understanding of myself, interactions with other people, and life in general. Some people feel too busy for a half hour or an hour of meditation every day, but anyone can make ten minutes for a little relaxation and meditation!

~*~Monica Who~*~

P.S. If you need a really good meditation topic, one that will keep you thinking endlessly, I highly recommend my personal favourite: the reality of illusion and the illusion of reality. I guarantee this one will continuously challenge and expand your perceptions for the rest of your life!

Introduction to Meditation

Meditation is a practice that brings inner peace and harmony, spiritual enlightenment, healing, balance and overall wellness for your mind, body and spirit. Meditation is a vital aspect of spiritual growth and it can also be used for getting in touch with your innermost feelings and developing greater awareness of your body. Regular meditation will help you cope with stress and toxic emotions, feel stronger and healthier, and can even help you overcome problems such as insomnia, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, post traumatic stress, eating disorders, addictions, phobias, high blood pressure, chronic pain, and much more! Meditation is also the best way to initiate contact with angels.

I cannot tell you how many times people have asked me how to meditate! First, I want to tell you that meditation is not difficult; with just a little practice, you will be on your way to achieving all the benefits of meditation.

Relaxation is a key element to any meditation. You may want to meditate lying down with your eyes closed, but you might find yourself drifting off to sleep. If you want to meditate in a sitting position, make sure to employ good posture, with your back straight so you can breathe evenly from your diaphragm. Breathe deeply and evenly, and release all tension from your body.

There are countless ways to meditate, but there are two general methods of meditation. The first method is to focus your thoughts on a concept, idea or image and the second method is clear your mind of all thoughts, enabling messages from your angels, spirit guides and higher self to flow into your mind unencumbered by your mental clutter. You will find the first method much easier at first but both methods require a great deal of concentration, which is not a natural state for the human mind! For whichever method of meditation you choose, you must first train your mind to concentrate.

In the beginning it's best that you do not try to force concentration, rather begin by allowing your mind to wander freely. This can be both entertaining and enlightening as you learn more about your innermost thoughts. Once you have allowed your mind to wander freely, you will find it easier to focus your thoughts. I recommend that you give yourself fifteen to twenty minutes of roaming thought before you settle down and attempt to focus (use a timer). As you develop your skill, gradually reduce the time for rambling thought until you no longer need to give this freedom to your mind.

Concentration and focus can be achieved through several means. Here are a few that I find useful:

1. Focus on the sensations of your body. Control your breathing, listen to your heart beat, become fully aware of the air surrounding you and the feeling of the surface you're sitting or resting on.
2. Think of and make yourself fully aware of just one part of your body, such as your hand, and exclude all other sensations in the rest of your body.
3. Repeat a mantra over and over, either out loud or within your mind. Phrases from the Bible are useful mantras when you want to connect with angels and feel closer to God. A good example is, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," but of course there are many others that would work. Choose any phrase that inspires inner peace for you.
4. Visualize a simple object, shape or colour and think of nothing else until your mind is fully focused and undisturbed by any other thoughts or images.
5. Focus on one single emotion (love is best when you seek to connect with angels) until you fully grasp the meaning and experience of it.
6. Focus on a physical object such as a burning candle or power stone.
7. Focus on a mandala (an image portraying religious or mystical concepts; generally an image within a circle inside a square, with intricate or kaleidoscopic patterns.)

Training your mind to focus and concentrate may not be as easy as it sounds, but with continued practice you will achieve success. Include meditation in your daily routine to reap the full benefits for your mind, body and spirit, and in time you'll find that you can meditate in any position, anytime and anywhere!

~*~Monica Who~*~

P.S. Stay tuned--in a few days I will post about a simple yet beneficial meditation practice that even the busiest person can incorporate into their daily routine. I understand some people feel they cannot make time for extensive meditation every day.

Meditating with Angels and Power Stones

Power stones are a fantastic focal point or tool in meditation that can provide essential energies, and there are 11 Master Stones that angels are attracted to. All angels are attracted to at least one of the 11 Master Stones, which are citrine, jade, moonstone, amethyst, rose quartz, sodalite, howlite, lapis lazuli, malachite, onyx and bloodstone.

Citrine is technically a "burnt amethyst," iron gives it a warm golden colour. Citrine clears negative energy, promotes optimism, attracts abundance, and enhances the body's healing energy. It is good for mental focus, endurance, and self-esteem and it corresponds to the Solar Plexus chakra.

Jade helps balance male and female energies, encourages meditative travel (including astral travel and remote viewing), helps make dreaming productive and healing, and is a stone of protection and shielding from attacks and illness. Jade corresponds to the Heart chakra.

Moonstone attracts feminine and lunar energy, improves intuition and discernment, and balances and cleanses negativity from all the chakras. It can also assist with female reproduction, protection during travel, and can bring good fortune.

Amethyst is considered the most highly prized form of quartz and is a stone of peace and strength. Amethyst assists psychic and channeling abilities, promotes a feeling of contentment and connection to spirit, can improve relaxation and sleep, and provides protection. Amethyst activates the Crown chakra.

Rose Quartz is known as the love stone; it encourages compassion, forgiveness, healing, calming, and helps release anger, resentment, jealousy and fears. Rose Quartz raises the vibration of loving energy, eases sexual and emotional imbalances, and enhances confidence and creativity. Rose Quartz corresponds with the Heart, Throat, Third Eye and Crown chakras.

Sodalite improves logic, intellect and efficiency, and helps in social environments. Sodalite is especially helpful in encouraging the truthful expression of emotions, and it corresponds to the Throat chakra.

Howlite is a stone of memory, knowledge and progress. It encourages reasoning, observation, discernment, patience and tact, and helps to relieve pain, stress and anger. Howlite corresponds with the Crown chakra.

Lapis Lazuli is another stone of protection and it stimulates awareness, attunement, intuition and psychic ability. It strengthens the connection between the physical and celestial. Lapis Lazuli corresponds with the Throat and Third Eye chakras.

Malachite encourages balance and transformation and is a stone of spiritual evolution. Malachite stimulates intuition, allows insight into emotional factors that may manifest as physical illness, eases delivery in birthing and also helps one to recognize and clear past negative experiences. It represents fidelity, loyalty, practicality and responsibility, and Malachite corresponds with the Heart chakra.

Onyx assists in the grieving process and helps one to make wise decisions. It promotes alignment, centering and self control. Onyx corresponds with the Root chakra.

Bloodstone is a stone of courage and helps one overcome distress and anxiety. Bloodstone provides centering and grounding, and it corresponds to the Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus and Heart chakras.

There are many power stones that can assist you in your meditation and your day to day life, but if you want to attract and work with angels you should have all of these 11 Master Stones in your collection. Meditate with a specific stone when you want to attract angels with similar abilities as the stone you've selected, or angels that strengthen and use the chakra that corresponds to the stone. You can use moonstone in your meditation to help you connect with your guardian and guide angels, and ask them to show you which stones each of them are most drawn to.

I highly recommend keeping your collection of power stones in a bowl or out where angels can be drawn to and interact with them, rather than storing them in a closed container. I like to keep mine in a bowl next to my bed. I often write down special prayers or goals I'm working to achieve, then fold the paper very small and place it with the stones to receive additional angelic assistance with these things. When I travel, I like to bring my Master Stones with me in a small pouch--I carry the pouch with me when I'm out and when I return to my hotel, I place the stones out on the table next to the bed. I have found these power stones are so useful that I try to never be without them!

~*~Monica Who~*~