Meditation is the state of mind and body relaxation that allows you to key into your inner self. You can connect with your spirit guides, receive messages from your sub- conscious or instruct your body on its course to toward good health. There are several types of meditation being practiced in various parts of the world. It is believed that in earlier times, meditation was used in magical ceremonies. An example would be when a shaman (tribal healer) would meditate when asking for guidance from the spirit world. Reference to meditation can be found in the Holy Bible (IE. Jesus in the garden of Gassemanee prior to his crucifixion) In today’s age, meditation is being used to enhance spiritual growth and enlightenment in most of the world’s greatest religions. This includes Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. You will find meditation most widely practiced and acknowledged as meditation more so in the Far East than in the West. As you learn the basics of meditation in this booklet, you will notice that it does not necessarily have to be performed in the format of the lotus position. Although this position that is very popular, meditation is a form of stillness, which is something you will notice in your traditional Christian services as they “reflect” on something or someone. The majority of the Asian traditions of meditation emphasize techniques of mental control, similar to some of the newer approaches to psychotherapy. Artists and poets have been known to use meditation as a way of opening their minds for inspiration. An example of this in the work of William Wordsworth when he wrote about his search for the “happy stillness of the mind”. Meditation has a wide range of benefits. Its effects on the physical body have been documented by science to the degree that it is now a part of the required studies in some medical universities. The mechanism of the production of the changes in the body is not completely understood by modern science, but meditation has been proven to relieve stress and to ease the body’s tension. The misconception that the relaxation benefits were received only as a result of the body remaining still were revealed when scientists recorded the brain’s wave patters during meditation and noted that they differ from those brain wave patterns during sleep. Among the reactions observed during meditation are lowered oxygen consumption and a slower heart rate. After habitual practice, a lowering of blood pressure occurs. Doctors treating people with mild hypertension have recommended meditation along with a good exercise program and a healthy diet, rather than prescribe drugs. Meditation has also been shown to decrease the levels of acid in the blood. High levels of acid in the blood have been associated with anxiety. Some psychotherapists utilize meditation when helping patients cope with emotionally related issues. Since there are several types of meditation, you may want to experiment with each one to determine which one is most suited for you. One of the more popular forms of meditation in the United States is Transcendental Meditation (TM) . Transcendental Meditation became prominent in the 1960’s when it was made popular by celebrities such as the Beatles. The founder of TM is Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who studied physics in India (his native country) before he began his studies of meditation. TM is relatively easy to learn. You generally only require a few sessions with an instructor to understand it and be able to do it on your own. The main feature of TM is the changing of a mantra. A mantra is usually a single syllable such as “OM”. In the Christian world, OM is translated to mean “the Word”. Another type of meditation is Motion Meditation. With this type of meditation, you keep your body in motion while you focus on a specific thought. Such as the word “peace”. This is a common type of meditation for those who have excess energy and a difficult time allowing themselves to relax long enough for their body to sink into another form of meditation. In many Buddhist temples you can find groups of monks walking in a circle performing motion meditation. Guided Meditation allows you to relax and imagine yourself in your favorite spot. This immediately places you in a relaxed state, because your favorite spot or setting is (or should be) a place that creates that emotion. You can then visualize yourself either achieving a goal or conversing with your favorite person, or animal and allowing the scene to play out. This type of meditation is thought to have very therapeutic advantages. When you are going to meditate, it is important that you place yourself in an environment that will allow you limited, if any, distractions or interruptions. Turn off the television and unhook the telephone for the duration of the time that you will be in meditation. It is necessary that you are allowed to focus your attention on what you are doing. Be sure you are in a comfortable position to allow the blood to flow freely and are wearing loose clothing. Try not to force anything…just relax and enjoy. Don’t be too disappointed if you do not get immediate results. Regular practice will bring the results you are looking for. Playing quiet and relaxing music in the background is a great help.