April 16 - Class Review Summary - Spring Break -

Spring Break - Meditation Discussion.

James: Tonight we are going to take a break from our series on the chakras in case anyone had family things interfering, and we are going to do a general meditation review, and Alitewithin has a special meditation for us. In a few weeks we will begin our Many Paths series. Welcome everyone to Meditation Paths. We are going to begin now. We are suspending our 7 week series on Chakras and continuing next week with the 6th Chakra. Because it is Easter, we decided not to take the chance on people missing it. So this week we are going to review the basics of meditation, and Alite is going to lead us in a meditation at the end. First of all, why meditate?
Liger: to become more spiritual and to hear our guides
James: Whats the purpose of this, and the perceived benefits? Yes, 2 good reasons.
WHITE: to become one wihtin ourselves
Emerging: To ground ourselves spiritually and emotionally... to still our minds, hearts, and souls... to develop more consistently in our spirit.
WHITE: finding the place within
James: It quickens the spiritual evolution within us.
WHITE: that doesnt hold ego ( our concious ) level
James: It also has health benefits, both physical and mental. Lower blood pressure. Better concentration. Improved intuition. Enhanced creativity. Some people find it develop spiritual "powers".
Emerging: keeps us sane too :-D
James: The list is almost endless. Which brings up an obvious questions.. why don't we all do moreof it?
Alite: Poor time management
James: Our minds find reasons to resist peace and stillness. The monkey mind likes to run free.
I love that term, I think it originates in buddhism "monkeymind"
Emerging: Does that mean some of us have more monkey in us than others? lol (those of us who meditate less and have more trouble doing it)
James: Some people say they don't have time.. but its proven that meditation is more restful than sleep, and improves the quality of our sleep, so in effect it really makes time for itself. Grace we all have our share.
Emerging: thats what I have to bear in mind, when I think I'm too tired to do it...
James: So what Alite said is true.. its time management. But once you decide this is something that is important to you,you find a way to make the time. Even 10 minutes a day can change your life.
Liger: i havent missed a day
James: Hide in the bathroom of you have to..
WHITE: but to begin on a spiritual path you dont really need meditation do you?
Majick: I am never alone in there either :-X
Alite: Heh. Majick me too and I live alone.
James: White, its a very key part of almost any path. If you are going to actively walk it.
WHITE: james i find meditatioin a distraction to be honest. i do walk others through them but cannot do it for myself
James: Its very helpful if you can overcome the distractions.. and we do give methods to help with that.
Emerging: White, I will send you their site... great tips and help.
Liger: how can meditation be a distraction is its what alleviates the distractions?
James: We are not going to have time to repeat the first 8 weeks in this review, so I highly recommend you look at our blog/web page. MeditationPaths (Keyword to: http://meditationpaths.blogspot.com/) Navigate until you find your way back to January 8th, that was week 1. Its helpful to have a place set aside for meditation if possible, but this is just an option. Many find it helps to surround themselves with things that set the mood, like religious statures, picture, candles. But meditation is an inward focus.. these externals are just helpful to set the mood.
Emerging: I find candles helpful... I used to stare into a flame...to help get there... is that good?
Alite: Some find it invigorating and a wonderful way to begin their day when they lay in bed upon waking and meditate for a few minutes. Others enjoy to do it just before going to sleep as a reflection on the day.
James: Early morning is best if you can be awake and clear headed around sunrise. but this is purely optional.
Liger: alite i like to do that
James: Candles are good for practicing concentration, but I don't recommend them for a meditation focus. There are nice to have burning to set the mood, but I would not stare into them.
Emerging: it seemed to clear my mind enough to get into a place I could meditate. ok, good to get your take
James: Then by all means use them as preparation. Whatever gets you into the zone is useful. Music. Incense.
Emerging: yes, preparation... stilled me... the concentration on one pure thing
James: Incense makes me feel like I am in a temple, if I use one that reminds me of temple incense. Our sense of smell triggers strong associations. But I put a paper clip about an inch down so that it stops burning and does not become overpowering once I am focusing.
Alite: Each person is different and stillness comes from many triggers.
Sanb: lines in the sand
James: I agree. I think a little yoga or tai chi is good to get the energy flowing, and the body alert, especially in the morning.. or just some stretches. When you sit you want to be alert and awake. And comfortable. Sitting with hips slightly higher than knees,which gives you a balance that allows your back to be comfortably straight. I recommend using a large flat pillow as a base and one or two increasingly smaller ones to sit up on. This gives you a good balance, and spreads the support along your thighs so your legs are less likely to fall asleep. Sitting up like that makes it easier to stay awake too. Head, neck, and trunk should be aligned, and your back should comfortable be straight.. if the balance is right you can do this without strain.
Liger: sometimes i meditate in the bath tub
James: Try using different pillows or cushions to modify the angle until this feels balanced.
Alite: Me too Liger, with bubbles.
James: Liger, meditation can be done anywhere.. we are recommending what is optimal for when you approach it formally.
Liger: ok
James: You can also meditate laying down, but many find it even harder to stay awake in that position, while others find it hard to stay in their bodies. Are there any questions? We covered all of this in detail in January and that is all on our site.
Liger: james i ellevate out of my body into an energy light while meditating
James: Isn't that dangerous in the bathtub?
Alite: :giggles: No James
Liger: and sometimes i sent energy balls to my body thats grounded from the energy light
James: Well, drowning can be a distraction.
Majick: ROTFL.. are you sure James??
Emerging: lol certainly send you to another level..
James: Sorry, I assume you are propped up.
Alite: Even when meditating I believe the spirit is always in touch with the body.
Majick: sorry.. could not help myself :)
James: the light sounds lovely
Alite: Therefore, fear of drowning would be gone.
Liger: i gotta tell you though something kinda weird i have to bring myself to an exit door or i cant come out of my meditation. I've tried to just open my eyes and i cant
Emerging: interesting..
James: Liger, I have never heard of that.
Liger: first time i guess. but its true im not making it up
James: We need to switch gears here soon.. our meditation needs to start so that we can finish close to our time limit of one hour.
Emerging: everyone is different :)
James: Any final comments.. we can stay after a few minutes if needed. Alite, are you ready to begin the meditation?
Alite: Yes James. Thank you.


Group Meditation:


Tonight our meditation is a cleansing one, one which will brighten us within and allow us to radiate outwardly more efficiently, giving us more abundance and balance in our life.

We will visualize a sponge which will be used to clean our chakras. During this exercise you will want to close the eyes after cleaning to focus on the perfect color of the chakra, perhaps for three breaths.

It is not necessary to focus all your attention on your breathing because your breathing will be a perfect calm filled with peace. Find your comfortable position.

Sit in a relaxed position. Breathe in calm. Relax each part of your body from head to toe. Breathe out peace. All tensions are released into the universe as you relax. Feel your entire body relax and become light. Feel the universe surrounding you with peaceful love.

Breathe in calm, breathe out peace. Visualize a sponge in your hand and a bucket at your feet, ourtools for cleaning and illuminating our chakras. Breathe in, feel the calm throughout your body. Breathe out, feel the peace.

Focus on where your body meets the chair. Focus on your base,your root chakra. Envision the swirling red energy there. Move the cleansing sponge over the red energy and watch the swirl brighten as the impurities are collected in the sponge. You feel stronger and healthier now. Look at the perfect red of your chakra, bright and brilliant. Squeeze the sponge over the bucket and all impuries arecaptured there.

Focus now on the abdomen, the womb area. Focus on your naval chakra. Envision the swirling orange energy there. Move the cleansing sponge over the energy and watch all impurities vanish, invigorating and brightening the orange of it. Look at the perfect orange allow it to energize you. Breathe it in. Embrace it. Feel the confidence and clarity as the red and orange flow together. Again squeeze the sponge over the bucket.

Allow the energy of red and orange to flow upward embracing the yellow energy of your solar plexis. Watch as it draws away any tension and imperfections and place them too in the bucket. Look at the bright yellow elevating your peacefulness. Feel the brilliant glow of red, orange and yellow energy as it swirls upward, you feel the confidence to achieve your goals. Your energy is pulsing and brilliant with each calm breath you take in and release.

Focus on the upward flow of cleanliness and reach the green swirling heart chakra. Wipe the sponge over the green energy and allow the emotional impurities to be released into the sponge. Look at the brilliant green, embrace it! Allow the perfect green to flow true as it swirls strongly and evenly allowing your heart to open to the world filling you with love for all that has been created. Again squeeze the sponge over the bucket.

The flow of your energy...red, orange, yellow and green...swirl into your throat chakra, embrace the blue of it, focus on its beauty. Sponge away all imperfections, now the chakra is clean and strong, a bright blue, giving you the calmness to express your thoughts to others. Look at the cool, fresh blue surrounding you, feel the calm, feel the peace as you breathe in the freshness. All impurities are squeezed into the bucket and the energy flows stronger, embracing you, invigorating you.

Now focus on your brow chakra a beautiful indigo color. Sponge over the indigo and wash it clean. All the swirling colors red, orange, yellow, green and blue flow upwardly into the indigo, embracing it, energizing it. Look at the beautiful indigo swirling freely around you filling you with positive energy. Feel the clean energy charge the air around you as it opens up to the universe and your intuition and mental visions to become clearer. Squeeze the sponge over the bucket.

Flow the swirling energies up to your crown chakra. See the violet swirling high above your head which fades to white as it flows higher. Gently sponge over the violet swirling energy and remove any imperfections. : Feel the perfect peace and joy of the creator as you flow clean and vibrantly. Look at the soft violet, embrace it and touch the hand of God. Squeeze the sponge into the bucket.

Take the bucket and hurl it into the sun, as it disappears you smile because you know it will be renewed and recycled into the universe.

Return your attention to the swirls of energy that you are...red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet...what a beautiful and perfect rainbow you are...completely balanced and refreshed. With a peaceful calm surrounding your entire body. Breathe in the calm. Breathe out the peace. Close your eyes and feel the peaceful calm for a few breaths more. Clean, fresh and balanced. Revitalized and new. Then open your eyes and enjoy the beauty of you and embrace the universe!


Ending Discussion:

Alite: :bows: May peace always be with you my friends.
Sunset: that was beautiful alite
Liger: ty Diane Blessings
Emerging: lovely meditation and very interesting visualisation, Alite... thank you
James: VERY nice
Alite: Thank you for sharing with me
Majick: Wonderful Alite, TY so much
James: Thank you Diane :)
Sunset: smiles
Alite: You are all welcome and I am happy you enjoyed it
James: Very nice... I was thinking of something just like this for tonight.
Emerging: :)Alitewithin: Wonderful!
James: Next week we will resume with the 6th Chakra.
Alite: I look forward to it
Emerging: I'm going to try using that in my personal meditation,Diane. :)
Alite: Good Grace. But remember it is for balancing
Emerging: looking forward to next week. yes, thank you Diane, I understand.
James: Can we be too balanced?
Emerging: I'm still working on that, so its perfect for me rightnow. :)
Majick: you can focus too much on balancing to the detriment of other areas... is that what you mean ALite?
Alite: I am happy it is going to be of good use then Grace. Hm. Maybe Majick it is not necessary to constantly tinker with perfection.
Majick: I must depart... that was lovely Alite :)... and James,wonderful as always :) very true Alite :)
James: thanks all of you.