This is a guest post by Anna Barlowe for Powered by Intuition.
“I can’t meditate. I can’t sit still long enough. I just can’t get my mind to stop chattering!”
I cannot tell you just how many times I’ve heard this statement from my friends and acquaintances (usually the ones who need to meditate the most).
And I can certainly relate. If anybody has a chattery mind, it’s definitely me. From childhood I have always been quite the hypersensitive sort, with an aversion to bright lights, crowds, and loud noises, and a tendency to line my possessions up in size-descending order, by color and/or category.
Well, okay, I still do that. That’s just sensible. Everybody should do that.
But some of the other stuff is a lot better now, and for this I credit the all-powerful Meditation. So if somebody who vibrates like a tuning fork to every passing breeze can meditate, then believe me, so can you.
While the experience of meditation was always pleasant, however, reaching that calm trance state everybody is looking for sometimes took longer than even I, as an experienced meditator, could deal with.
So I went looking for a shortcut. And eventually, I found one.
THE MEDITATION STATION
I think the problem is that most people regard meditation as a mystical process. And in a sense it is. It certainly feels that way, and it can produce very tangibly mystical results, like boosting intuition and – um – levitating, I’m pretty sure.
I’ll get back to you on that one.
But at the core of things, meditation is physical, because it employs your mind to do its business, and the brain is the radio that tunes in all intuitive messages from the Universe, or the Source, or however you want to classify it.
Scientifically speaking, all that meditation does is to slow down your brainwaves from beta, the “chattery monkey” stage of alertness in which most people spend their waking hours, to alpha or even theta, which are longer, slower, quieter brainwaves, more capable of relaxation and openness to whatever input you are seeking during that time – whether from your own higher self, or externally.
In the simplest terms, by meditating you are essentially tricking your brain into thinking it is asleep, while your conscious mind stays wide awake. If you were hooked to special brainwave-monitoring machines while meditating, this effect would be perfectly visible.
So if meditation is a biological event with mystical outcomes, it stands to reason that there might be a physical trigger to initiate it more easily, without all the boredom and frustration of sitting around begging your mind to be quiet, please, shut up monkey, thank you.
And as it turns out, there is. For me, anyway. I honestly don’t know if this will work for anybody else, though, so you can be beta testers of sorts, if you’re so inclined.
LET’S GET ROLLING
What I discovered, through reading and my own experimentation, is that the “trigger” to meditation lies specifically in the muscles around and behind the eyes – and that by employing some really simple techniques, I could enter the meditative state much faster and more effectively.
Here are six simple steps to follow if you would like to try this method.
1. Find a comfortable position in which you can relax your body, but aren’t likely to fall asleep. I like to sit on the couch, with my feet up on the coffee table. Incense and nice music are helpful too, if you have that sort of thing lying around.
2. Relax the muscles of your face, and particularly around the eyes. Imagine looking out through your eye sockets and letting them grow rounder and wider in your mind as you release them, like you’re adjusting a pair of binoculars.
3. Let your forehead drift up slightly, as though you are just a little bit surprised by something. This really helps to relax the eye muscles, and is calming in itself.
4. Let your eyelids drift down gently, but don’t try to force them. It’s okay if they stay partially open, or flutter a little, as long as they’re soft and relaxed. You can also try closing the right eye and leaving the left just a little bit open. This works for me, for reasons I’m not entirely clear on.
5. Now, this is the critical part! Roll your eyes just slightly upward. Studies by José Silva and Dr. Herbert Spiegel, among others, demonstrate that rolling the eyeballs back, to perhaps a 20º angle, helps to induce the alpha state much more quickly, by temporarily disconnecting the brain’s scanning and orientation functions. There is no need to force or strain the eyes – only to lift them until a very gentle resistance is achieved. Gentleness is key to this entire technique, in fact.
6. You will likely feel a calmness and a shift in your breathing at this point, to a deeper, more natural inhalation, as if you were asleep. If you’re not quite there yet, imagine drifting gently upward out of the top of your head, to float above your body like a helium balloon. Think of the most pleasant concept you can imagine (whether person, place, or thing), and focus your attention there as long as you are capable.
By following the steps above, you will hopefully find that you are able to enter a serene alpha wavelength almost immediately. This is a wonderful place for strengthening the intuition, finding solutions to problems, programming affirmations, or any other internal work that might be required.
It significantly eases anxiety and irritation, and is extremely refreshing in general. I usually experience a distinct cooling sensation in my head after practicing this form of meditation.
And with a little experience, it is even possible to use this method with eyes wide open, while going about your daily business. I’m somewhat nearsighted, and find it helpful to take off my glasses while doing this, since the lack of focus relaxes my eyes automatically.
Do NOT make me remind you not to do this while driving, though. That’s like putting instructions on Q-tips. It just shouldn’t be necessary.
But do give this technique a try if you feel it might be useful, and please let me know how it works for you.
Just drop me a comment. I’ll wait on the couch.
Do you have trouble getting into a meditative state? What actions will you take to help you meditate more easily?
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Anna Barlowe is the fascinating blogger behind The Painted Universe. Please visit her there for more of her special brand of humor and reality bending paranormal content.
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Anna, I’m stalking you! 🙂
Great post – I hate meditation too (*Yes, I’m one of those people) but I think your suggestions make sense and I just might try them.
Angela, thanks for introducing me to Anna a while back. We have a love thang going on, it seems.
Off to OMMM-land!
Hi Lisa,
It’s such a pleasure to have you stop by.
I’m glad you enjoyed Anna’s guest post and that you have a “love thang going on.”
I hope you enjoy OMMM-land! Thanks so much for commenting.
Hey, I don’t mind NICE stalkers (my iPad keeps trying to say “staplers” – apparently nobody stalks the staff at Apple, but their papers are neatly organized, so that’s something).
Meditation is awesome! Any day that I don’t do it, I really notice the difference. It has made me who I am today. I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether that’s a recommendation or not. 😛
Hope to see you again somewhere soon, Lisa! I’m sure I will!
That’s a powerful and pragmatic tip, Anne. I love it whenever we can demystify the spiritual world and apply it directly in our lives (If it ain’t practical, it ain’t spiritual 🙂 ). Understanding that meditation is not reserved for experts and yogis but is readily available to be practiced with joy and ease is empowering for folks. This is such a simple entry into meditation I found myself practicing right here at my desk. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Rob,
I’m glad you enjoyed Anna’s post. Anna writes a fascinating blog. I do hope you’ll pay her a visit.
This is an ancient technique written about since ancient times by yogis. It’s known for activating the “third eye.”
Thanks, Rob – so glad you like it! I’m totally with you that practical is always better, even in spiritual matters. I have a very scientific personality (despite the fact that, as my blog describes, I live with a ghost), so the question I always ask myself is “Does this work?” And if the answer is yes, then how can I make it work even better?
That’s the great thing about these techniques – you can practice them anywhere, as you already discovered, and you can fiddle and play with them to your heart’s content. Once you get the hang of it, they even work with your eyes open!
You can even do it in boring meetings, but if someone calls the paramedics to see if you’re still breathing, you’ve probably gone too far. 😛
This is a great post. For anyone who doesn’t yet meditate, your specific steps and your marvelous humor should draw them right in.
I had completely forgotten about the 20 degree eye roll–and I’m a Silva seminar grad!!! 🙂 Thanks for the reminder! I use the eye relaxation technique to get to sleep at night. It works great for that in addition to meditation. 🙂
Hi Ande,
Great to see you over here! I enjoyed your video earlier today myself.
Actually I’m only a casual student of Silva, but I do find their methods useful. I had kind of figured out the eye roll technique on my own, and when I heard about it from them as well, I knew there must be something to it. The other tips come from playing around during my own meditation sessions.
I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one using them, they’re so helpful! I also find manipulating the eye muscles to be a help in the practice of clairvoyance as well, in certain specific ways. It’s well worth experimenting with.
Ande,
Whaat! You’re not using Jose’s sleep programming method? He’s going to be turning over in his grave girl.
That works for me like a charm.
Thanks for the reminder about the 20-degree angle. It certainly helps the process. I think people expect something dramatic to happen during meditation, when, in fact it is a calming, non-dramatice state that just opens the mind to positive vibrations.
Exactly. People think they’re not succeeding if they can’t completely stop thinking, but it’s really just about relaxing enough to allow the mind a peaceful space to act constructively and rest deeply, as well as connect to the intuition much more effectively.
And it’s good for the body on many levels too, like lowering blood pressure, etc. I really couldn’t do without it – it works better than drugs, and there are no negative side effects!
Hi Roe, you’re so right. It’s a natural state of calm that we’re returning to when we meditate.
well, they say you’ve to do this and that and concentrate and all. Come on, it’s meditation not a police remand. So, just enjoy it. If you face needs a scratch, have it and to meditate again. Just don’t concentrate on things. Give them a go.
You’re right, Jaky, meditation should not be a big deal or an uphill battle, which is why too many people give up before they succeed. I find that when I follow the simple steps above, I can skip right past the wait and the struggle, and get to the peaceful fun part a whole lot faster!
Thanks for checking out my post, I appreciate it!
Hi Jaky,
It’s such a pleasure to have you visit here. I love your attitude about meditation.
Thanks so much for your comment.
Anna:
THANKS! This really works! What an amazing difference for me. I am very, very grateful. Write a book or something, for goodness sake!
And thanks, Angela, for your wonderful blog. I’m a fairly new subscriber, and I love it.
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
It’s a pleasure meeting you. I look forward to getting to know you better.
I’m so glad you got a lot out of Anna’s post too.
Me too! If it makes meditation easier for even one person, then mission accomplished. So glad it was helpful for you! 🙂
Thanks for reminding me the tip by Jose Silva. I had quite forgotten about it. I have found that relaxing the mind from the top to the toes very helpful for myself as I go into meditation. I enjoy my quiet time tremendously and cannot go on long periods without a meditation session.
Thanks for reading, Evelyn! I know how you feel. I can’t even get through the morning without meditating for at least half an hour, or else I feel fuzzy-headed and blah all day long. But once I’ve gotten into that nice calm state for a little while, I find it’s much easier to return to it during the day for little mini-meditations of maybe five minutes or so, which is as refreshing as a little nap might be. I recommend it.
I still don’t think I could handle waterskiing and such like you do, though. You’re a lot braver than I am. I’m impressed! 🙂
Oh *grin* do not meditate while driving!
Originally I had resistance to meditation, but when I began taking yoga class, meditation became easier for me. For me it’s about being in this moment, exactly as I am..acceptance and love..I also find when I am most hesitant to take to the mat–either meditation or yoga–it is because I already Know the answer, yet would prefer to ignore it rather than process it. I am known to be calm, peace filled, balanced and I know it is the combination of yoga and meditation which helps me maintain my energy/vibration level.
Thank you for sharing some awesome tips!
HI Joy,
I’m so glad you enjoyed Anna’s guest post. She’s awesome and had a fantastic sense of humor.
Yes, you come through as very calm and peace filled. I actually marvel at that!
Yoga and meditation are a winning combination for both inner and outer balance – no wonder!
Wow, yes, you do seem very aptly named! I’m glad everything has turned out okay with your boat so far. I will send some good energy in your direction. Thank you for reading my post, and I hope it helps in some small way!
Hey these are great tips! I’m going to try them now 🙂
Hi Cristina,
I’m glad you’re going to try them.
I wish I could “try” your gluten free cake!
Me too! I can’t really have carbs, although if I could they would be vegan and gluten free, ideally! But I can meditate about them. That’s not even fattening. 🙂