Halfway between sleep and awake is a place where we are connected to all that is.  Some of us hear chatter.  Some see colors that may swirl or move.  Some hear music.  Some see a light or star or circular ball.  Some may see pictures.  That is when we know we are plugged in.  This is where we want to get when practicing meditation.

Most common way to meditate is to sit or lay down in a quiet place with no distractions.  Begin breathing in a regular rhythm in through the nose and out the mouth.  Visualize bringing healing energy in, the lifeforce energy from God Source.  Breathe out all negativity, dis-ease, and that which no longer serves us.  It is a way to cleanse and recharge.  A ticking clock or low music may help.  Thoughts may pass through our minds but we know that is the ego mind just doing its thing, and let those thoughts move along.  We may get discouraged because nothing seems to be happening, or we cannot get quiet and it frustrates us.  Across the board, the advice is that is okay, and keep going.  Tell yourself that at the very least, the benefit of a quiet reset to our minds and bodies is worth the time and effort.

I’m hearing more and more about the benefits of meditation.  It is also not being included in some school curriculum.  But there are some who are either turned off by the word or just the idea of meditation.  Some balk imagining seeing themselves sitting in some zen state like a zombie.  For those (my husband, cough,) thankfully there are alternatives.

More active styles of meditation can be practiced also.  Anything that allows us to zone out and relax, letting our mind go on autopilot.  Here are a few suggestions for meditation while being active.

1. Coloring– More adults color in coloring books than we can imagine. Mandalas, famous artwork, stress-relief designs and even some containing swear-words.  Raiding the kids’ crayon box is totally okay, or use colored markers, pens, pencils and even watercolor pencils.
2. Collaging– Cut up anything and get some hot glue and go to town. Doesn’t matter what the result is, it’s the journey that counts.
3. Doodling and unstructured writing– Similar to journaling, but we write whatever comes into our mind. It’s not important if it makes sense or not.  The important thing is to allow the flow of subconscious to come out.  Doesn’t have to be kept, but can be thrown away, or composted.
4. Mindful walking– Not walking to get somewhere, but walking for the sheer pleasure to be able to put each foot down on this beautiful planet that is our home during this life. Each footstep is a deliberate motion, mindful of the ease at which we move.  It can be a very gratifying experience to walk in this different conscious way, expanding out and connecting with our immediate surroundings, in gratitude for each moment.
5. Yoga, Thai Chi, Thai Chi Chih, Qigong, Trataka– Breathing, mindful movement and intention can be the perfect way to get centered and connected with the expansive nature of our true selves.
6. Gardening– Even if we are just pulling weeds, we are getting our hands into the Earth and grounding our energy. Moving along and caring for plants is highly therapeutic and the energy of the surrounding plants will facilitate our meditative frequency.
7. Chores– Instead of grumbling about chores, come at them from the perspective of using that time to center, ground and connect with the flow of life. Humming or whistling can aid that flow through ourselves while getting things done in a more beneficial manner.
8. Puzzles– The tactile-visual nature of jigsaw puzzles really work for some people. Low music in the background can facilitate the flow of energy and allow us to operate on new and surprising levels.
9. Drawing in sand– That little Zen Garden with the rake and stones can be a great little way to get reconnected with our inner self. There are also apps such as Sand Draw.  Or just some quiet time on the beach or children’s playground.
10. Dance and sing– Raising our frequencies and digging deep inside to express ourselves this way can really be what the meditation guru ordered. Slow, fast, on key, off key… doesn’t matter one iota.

In an interview, Dr. Wayne said this about meditation:

 I can’t imagine my life without it. I couldn’t have imagined myself with it a while back! Most people think meditation is something to do to get rid of the stress of your life, something to do to make yourself less tired, to be more energizing and so on. I think Pascal’s statement “All of man’s trouble stems from his inability to sit quietly in a room alone” is very significant. Most people don’t know how to meditate. They don’t take the time, because they don’t understand the value of it. In my opinion, it’s the only way you can come to make conscious contact with God. God is that which is indivisible. You can’t divide it. God is One. There’s no place that God is not. So when you read about people like Gandhi and Maharaj, and Jesus, and people like Ramana Maharshi and Ramakrishna, Mohammed and so on, they’re called non-dual beings, people who have “transcended.” Like it says in the Bhagavad Gita, “they’ve gone beyond the duality of the physical plane,” so that there’s no up and down, right and wrong, beginning and end, rich and poor–there’s none of that. There’s just this ONE.

Through meditation, what we are striving for is to be able to maintain the connection to God and our higher self while going about our daily business in a mindful state.  We may get off track but then we gently and patiently bring ourselves back to center again.  We may find ourselves getting thrown off balance less and less.

And for those uncomfortable at the thought of going inside because they are afraid of what they will find… Once you clear out the baggage, you will find God, and then realize God was inside you all along.  It’s just that you’re becoming consciously aware of it.  And you will walk a little differently on the Earth.

Yes, you are worthy.  Right now, the energy is right for making exciting new inner connections.  The gift of this time in our human experience is such that the energies are helping us unload baggage from our mental, emotional and physical bodies and are assisting us in ways that reaching deeper consciousness can be almost effortless.  We really shouldn’t miss this opportunity, and meditation is a big part of getting there.  For most of us, this incredibly unique and magical time is the reason we came here now.