"MEDITATION CHAPTER 6"
CREATIVE VISUALIZATION
I wish that I could be right there with you for this chapter. I
find that people generally understand creative visualization best if
they are talked through it at least once.
I cannot be with you, but I can explain it thoroughly so that
you can have an indepth understanding of the process. In this way
you can let your imagination run wild and create at will.
Creative visualization is just what the words imply. You are
going to create what you see. We do this everyday, whether we
realize it or not. Sometimes we day dream, at night we have vivid
dreams, which are all being created by the mind. The difference
now will be that you will be consciously orchestrating your
visualization.
The key is to use things you are familiar with. In this way the
mind simply goes into its vast array of files and pulls up what is
already there waiting. If you have never been to the ocean or seen
pictures of it, then don't take yourself there. It will be harder to
try imagining what the ocean would look like while you are trying
to picture it in its entirety. However, if you are a mountain person
and love being in the mountains, have camped out numerous times
and know every facet of the terrain, go there. It will be much
easier to access and formulate your vision.
Usually before I start people out on a journey I start with
basics. One of the best models for this is the lemon. We have all
had lemons at sometime or another, whether in lemonade, tea,
salad, or as a child when we were foolish enough to eat them as
you would an orange. We all know that lemons are sour, but smell
delicious. If you do not know this simply go to the grocery store
and purchase one. Bring it home, peel it and take a big bite....you
will not ever forget this moment...hehehe.
Go to your favorite meditation spot and get in position.
What I want you to do is visualize the lemon. First get the shape
in your mind, then add color, texture. Keep picturing this lemon
until you have it all the way down to the green at the end where
the stem was once connected. Once you have this lemon totally
pictured I want you to take a knife (in your mind's eye) and cut it
down the middle. Watch as the juice flies sending a fine mist into
the air. Notice the color on the inside, and the seeds that are now
exposed. As I am writing this I can see the lemon. I can see it
glisten and feel the texture of it. I can smell it and taste it, all
from seeing it in my mind's eye.
Now you will notice that I say seeing in your mind's eye.
There is a reason for this. Seeing with our physical eye is not the
same. Looking at the lemon and imagining it for me is not the
same as looking at a picture of a lemon. I can see it in my mind's
eye and have my eyes wide open typing this at the same time. Do
not look for it to be the same, just accept what it is. I do not
know how to explain it other than that. It is different for
everyone. Some people don't get this because they try too hard,
rather than relaxing and accepting what comes.
We have each done this many times, especially as children.
We let our imaginations go free to explore where we guide them.
That in essence is what you are doing, except you are controlling
the exploration. Remember when you were in school and you sat
and daydreamed, or at home when you were supposed to be doing
your homework. Go back to those memories if you have trouble
with this and remember what it felt like to let your thoughts drift
where you wanted them to.
Once you feel you have exhausted the lemon, move on to an
orange. This is another fruit that is very distinctive and easy to
identify. From the orange to the pineapple.
Once you have accomplished this first exercise completely
successfully (in other words you have no problem seeing the
lemon, and experiencing it fully) then you are ready to move on.
THE JOURNEY
For this meditation we are going to go to one of your most
favorite spots. It doesn't matter if that spot is in the mountains,
desert, forest, lake or in iceland. The point is that you take
yourself to a place where you have been before and really enjoy
going to. Go to a place that is peaceful and go there alone. Do
not take other people with you on this journey and do not imagine
other people there when you arrive. You are going to be alone for
this all the way. You can picture objects, even people if they are in
the distance and you have no communication with them.
The point is that you do not want to get wrapped up in
semantics. You want to keep it simple, especially at first. These
meditations are relaxing, fun, but most importantly help a great
deal with developing your concentration skills, in a very pleasant
way.
I will talk you (or should I say write you) through a
meditation to give you an example. You might want to go to this
place the first time out. Then after you get the hang of it, go
where you want to go. You are not actually leaving your body, so
don't worry. You are only allowing your mind to wander and take
you places that only the imagination can go.
Get into your meditation position. Make sure you are alone
and that no one disturbs you. This meditation can be unpleasant if
you are disturbed in the middle of it. You won't be hurt, but you
will be aggravated for being drawn out of a very good relaxing
pleasant time.
Take three deep cleansing breaths and let the air out slowly.
Now close your eyes. No not cross arms or legs, as usual. We are
going to go to the ocean (because that is my favorite place).
You are walking on a beach where the sand is white and
warm beneath your bare feet. The sun is shining softly and there
is a soft wind blowing in off the ocean. You can smell the ocean
and hear the rhythmic ebb and tide of the surf. You look up into
the sky and see beautiful white fluffy clouds. There are sea gulls
circling overhead lazily. You walk down the beach for a few more
steps and spot a beautiful flat gray rock just a few yards ahead.
You start walking toward the rock and seat yourself facing the
ocean. You look out into the distance and see the sun starting to
set. There is a red haze filling the sky ahead. In the distance you
see a sailboat floating idly along. You hear the surf as it comes in
and goes out. Now you can also hear the seagulls calling to each
other overhead. You hear the music of nature and feel totally at
peace with yourself and the world.
As you sit on the rock, you can feel the warmth come up
through your clothes. It comforts you and you feel nothing but
love and one with nature. The sand beneath your feet seems to
carress your toes and your toes dig into the warmth of the sand.
You gaze out to sea and see the last reflections of the sun
upon the water as it is setting. It causes the water to look like it
is topped with diamonds. All shining and moving with the ebb and
flow of the water. Everything seems to have a soft red glow from
the sun and it looks as though you could almost touch it.
You notice that the birds are now quiet and seem to be taking
in the beauty of the moment with you. The sail boat is drifting
closer to shore and you can now make out the sails as they flap
gently in the breeze. You feel this soft breeze on your face as it
gently sweeps your hair back and cools your face. There seems to
be a rhythm to life and you feel your body softly and slowly
rocking to that rhythm. You feel totally one with nature.
You sit and enjoy this until you know that twilight has come
and it is time to return. The moon is already on its upward spiral
and it is time to slowly come back. So you rise slowly from the
rock and walk slowly back toward home.
JOURNEY VARIATION
You now have an idea of what a journey is. It is time to take
yourself on your own very special journey. It doesn't have to be in
this time, era or even on the same continent you are on.
Go wherever you feel like you would like to be. If you would
like to be in another century, go there. Remember the rules
though. No talking to people. They are only to be in the distance
and not close enough for communication. Surround yourself with
nature and relate to that.
SIDELIGHT;
When doing these exercises bear in mind that you want to
imagine every detail that you can. Down to fine lines. Be as
involved in your journey as you would be watching a soap opera on
television, or a movie that just seemed to suck you into its reality.
The more detailed you are the better and deeper the
meditation. You will come back from these feeling totally relaxed
and perhaps in the mood to travel...hehehe. However, this mode
of travelling is much cheaper and does not require time off from
work.
This exercise also works to fulfill whatever it is you desire in
your life. If you wish a certain piece of furniture, a house, car,
advanced spiritual knowledge, you can create all these things
through creative visualization.
SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE;
If you wish to learn at an accelerated rate and feel that you
are ready then you can teach yourself through these exercises.
Get into your meditation position. Relax and take three deep
breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly.
Imagine yourself in a room that is a library with books
covering every inch of wall space. There is a comfortable chair
with a light behind it. You are going to imagine every facet of this
room, even going so far as to read some of the titles of the books
by looking at the bindings.
You realize that all of these books are of higher spiritual
learning. You go to the shelf and pick one up, aware that the
book you need will be the one you take. Sit down on the easy
chair, get comfortable and open the book. Start reading the pages
and you will see what you need to see. Don't put any limitations
on yourself. Be free to notice everything and skip pages if you
like. What is important will come up again and again.
CREATIVE VISUALIZATION VARIATION;
As a sidelight to the meditation; I believe that we each create
our own reality, whether aware of it or not. As a direct result of this
we can have conscious input into our reality if we so desire. Part of
that can come about through creative visualization. Visualization is
a link between our subconscious, which is a direct link to spirit.
It only makes sense then, if we connect to the spirit we will
have direct conscious input concerning our lives. If we wish to have
something on this material plane, simply visualize it. Spend time
each day meditating on exactly what you want.
Make sure that you meditate in detail. Don't leave anything
out. In other words, say you want a new minivan. You might want
to get a brochure and look at everything you want in the minivan
down to the color. Meditate on this everytime you visualize the
minivan, making sure to put in every detail. The path for you to get
the van will open, the time frame is up to you and depends upon
your faith and belief.
I am not saying that someone will hand you a minivan, what I
am saying is that the door for you to get one will open up before
your eyes and you only need walk through.
This goes for anything you want on any one of the three
planes.
MIRROR MEDITATION
For this meditation you will need to be sitting up, with a mirror
positioned in front of you. Make sure that the mirror is large
enough for you to see your face easily, yet not encompass the entire
room in its image.
You will want to be sitting on a chair with the mirror on a table
in front of you. Make sure that you position the mirror at a level
that easily views your face. Get comfortable. Take three deep
breaths and exhale slowly.
You are going to keep your eyes open for this meditation.
Start looking in the mirror staring at your face. Study your face,
concentrating only on your face. As you stare allow your eyes to go
out of focus, which they will do easily on their own as they get tired
from staring. It is alright to blink, in fact, probably very necessary if
you are to keep your eyes open without them watering.
Keep watching your face as it fades in and out of focus. If
something else appears in the mirror, such as images or visions, let
them come and go of their own volition. When they are gone do not
try to understand their meaning, only go back to staring at your
face.
This method can be used for scrying and is very good at
opening up the psyche. It can also be done with a crystal ball, but if
it is put the crystal ball on a black surface, such as a piece of velvet.
You don't want to blur the images by having the surface it is on
interfere with the image.