If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​reading​ ​this,​ ​you​ ​probably​ ​are​ ​one​ ​of​ ​many​ ​that​ ​realize​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​going​ ​on​ ​at​ ​a​ ​deeper level​ ​of​ ​your​ ​being.​ ​Meditation​ ​is​ ​an​ ​amazing​ ​way​ ​to​ ​access​ ​a​ ​deep​ ​awareness​ ​of​ ​your​ ​“Higher​ ​Self;”​ ​one you​ ​know​ ​exists​ ​beyond​ ​your​ ​thoughts,​ ​or​ ​the​ ​voice​ ​you​ ​hear​ ​in​ ​your​ ​mind​ ​when​ ​no​ ​one​ ​is​ ​around.

Some​ ​believe​ ​meditation​ ​is​ ​a​ ​“passive”​ ​exercise,​ ​where​ ​you​ ​simply​ ​sit​ ​with​ ​your​ ​eyes​ ​closed.​ ​But, meditation​ ​is​ ​a​ ​dynamic​ ​exercise​ ​that​ ​aids​ ​in​ ​emotional​ ​healing​ ​and​ ​also​ ​restores​ ​inner​ ​balance.​ ​Your chakras​ ​are​ ​portals​ ​of​ ​energy​ ​through​ ​which​ ​the​ ​pranic​ ​energy​ ​is​ ​distributed​ ​to​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​being,​ ​and meditation​ ​helps​ ​keep​ ​your​ ​chakras​ ​open​ ​and​ ​balanced.​ ​Healthy​ ​chakras​ ​ensure​ ​a greater​ ​influx​ ​of​ ​internal life-force,​ ​allowing​ ​us​ ​to​ ​enjoy​ ​greater​ ​health​ ​and​ ​well-being​ ​at​ ​all​ ​levels.

Another​ ​important​ ​thing​ ​to​ ​acknowledge​ ​is​ ​that​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​have​ ​to​ ​follow​ ​a​ ​specific​ ​“religion”​ ​or recognized​ ​“belief​ ​system”​ ​to​ ​practice​ ​routine​ ​meditation.​ ​When​ ​contemplating​ ​the​ ​meaning​ ​of meditation​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole,​ ​it’s​ ​essential​ ​to​ ​fully​ ​understand​ ​the​ ​differences​ ​between​ ​the​ ​MANY​ ​different FORMS​ ​of​ ​meditation.

The Forms​ ​of​ ​Meditation

Though​ ​there​ ​are​ ​arguably​ ​MANY​ ​types​ ​of​ ​meditation,​ ​luckily​ ​there​ ​are​ ​a​ ​few​ ​that​ ​span​ ​many​ ​aspects, making​ ​it​ ​easier​ ​to​ ​understand​ ​many​ ​of​ ​these​ ​different​ ​types.

Spiritual​ ​Meditation:​ ​​This​ ​practice​ ​is​ ​more​ ​about​ ​seeking​ ​spiritual​ ​growth​ ​while​ ​appreciating​ ​the​ ​power of​ ​self-reflection.​ ​A​ ​spiritual​ ​meditation​ ​normally​ ​includes​ ​elements​ ​of​ ​loving​ ​as​ ​it’s​ ​core​ ​-​ ​kindness​​; and compassion​ ​ ​while​ ​working​ ​on​ ​the​ ​dark​ ​and​ ​avoided​ ​parts​ ​of​ ​ourselves…before​ ​we​ ​can​ ​be​ ​of​ ​service​ ​to others.

Mindfulness​ ​Meditation:​ ​​This​ ​type​ ​of​ ​meditation​ ​can​ ​be​ ​said​ ​to​​ ​​originate​ ​from​ ​Buddhist​ ​teachings, while​ ​another​ ​well-known​ ​proponent​ ​is​ ​Eckhart​ ​Tolle.​ ​This​ ​type​ ​of​ ​meditation​ ​is​ ​a​ ​crucial​ ​step​ ​to understanding​ ​how​ ​our​ ​conscious​ ​and​ ​subconscious​ ​mind​ ​works,​ ​serving​ ​as​ ​a​ ​foundation​ ​to​ ​achieve​ ​the wisdom​ ​to​ ​overcome​ ​your​ ​own​ ​dissatisfaction.

Focused​ ​Meditation:​ ​​This​ ​is​ ​an​ ​attention​ ​meditation​ ​technique​ ​in​ ​which​ ​you​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​one​ ​thing​ ​and nothing​ ​else.​ ​By​ ​focusing​ ​on​ ​only​ ​one​ ​thing,​ ​we​ ​silence​ ​the​ ​mind​ ​and​ ​feel​ ​contentment​ ​between​ ​thoughts. As​ ​you​ ​notice​ ​your​ ​mind​ ​wandering,​ ​you​ ​observe​ ​emotional​ ​and​ ​thinking​ ​patterns​ ​that​ ​shed​ ​light​ ​on your​ ​higher​ ​self.​ ​​ ​If​ ​the​ ​mind​ ​wanders,​ ​you​ ​notice​ ​-​ ​and,​ ​without​ ​judgment,​ ​then​ ​shift​ ​attention​ ​back​ ​to the​ ​original​ ​object.​ ​This​ ​meditation​ ​creates​ ​awareness​ ​of​ ​the​ ​present​ ​moment,​ ​and​ ​by​ ​being​ ​mindful​ ​we can​ ​free​ ​ourselves​ ​from​ ​worrying​ ​about​ ​the​ ​future,​ ​(or​ ​the​ ​past!).

Visualization/Guided​ Visualization​ ​Meditation:​ ​​Visualization​ ​is​ ​a​ ​technique​ ​where​ ​one​ ​creates​ ​a soul deep​ ​image​ ​in​ ​the​ ​mind​ ​that​ ​evokes​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​feeling.​ ​Based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​laws​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Universe,​ ​this​ ​will not​ ​only​ ​attract​ ​that​ ​in​ ​the​ ​physical,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​create​ ​those​ ​positive​ ​feelings​ ​felt​ ​in​ ​the​ ​physical. Guided​ ​visualization​ ​meditation​ ​is​ ​a​ ​technique​ ​that​ ​uses​ ​a​ ​“coach”​ ​to​ ​guide​ ​you​ ​through​ ​the​ ​meditation​  intriguingly,​ ​this​ ​practice​ ​is​ ​adept​ ​at​ ​guiding​ ​one’s​ ​thoughts​ ​while​ ​predicting​ ​the​ ​mind’s​ ​pattern,​ ​giving cues​ ​to​ ​alleviate/encourage​ ​certain​ ​actions​ ​that​ ​can​ ​interrupt​ ​meditation.

Raise to a Higher vibration

Meditation​ ​helps​ ​us​ ​experience​ ​​ ​higher​ ​consciousness,​ ​raise​ ​our​ ​awareness,​ ​and​ ​assist​ ​in​ ​our understanding​ ​of​ ​this​ ​Earthly​ ​existence.​ ​Making​ ​it​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​daily​ ​routine​ ​will​ ​result​ ​in​ ​higher vibration emotions​ ​like​ ​acceptance,​ ​willingness,​ ​gratitude,​ ​prosperity,​ ​and​ ​inner​ ​peace.

Meditation​ ​helps​ ​strengthen​ ​concentration​ ​and​ ​discipline​ ​your​ ​mind​ ​so​ ​it​ ​serves​ ​as​ ​a​ ​constructive​ ​tool. Someone​ ​with​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​self,​ ​(after​ ​practicing​ ​looking​ ​within),​ ​has​ ​increased​ ​awareness​ ​of​ ​what makes​ ​life​ ​miraculous…but​ ​also​ ​that​ ​which​ ​isn’t​ ​worth​ ​negative​ ​outward​ ​energy.

For​ ​example,​ ​when​ ​a​ ​person​ ​who​ ​has​ ​a​ ​disciplined​ ​mind​ ​experiences​ ​tragedy,​ ​they​ ​face​ ​it​ ​head-on, knowing​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​much​ ​higher​ ​purpose​ ​that​ ​assists​ ​acceptance​ ​of​ ​circumstances.​ ​All​ ​doubts​ ​and​ ​fears subside,​ ​while​ ​mental​ ​clarity​ ​ensues.​ ​A​ ​clear​ ​mind​ ​is​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​asset​ ​during​ ​emergencies,​ ​(where​ ​your emotional​ ​and​ ​logical​ ​decisions​ ​can​ ​alter​ ​a​ ​life-changing​ ​decision).

By​ ​connecting​ ​with​ ​our​ ​own​ ​inner​ ​energy​ ​and​ ​divine​ ​power​ ​from​ ​which​ ​we​ ​stem,​ ​we​ ​can​ ​literally observe​ ​relative​ ​changes​ ​that​ ​occur.​ ​We​ ​begin​ ​attracting​ ​positive​ ​phenomena​ ​into​ ​our​ ​life,​ ​but​ ​best​ ​yet; we​ ​generate​ ​psychological​ ​and​ ​physical​ ​health​ ​benefits.

The Benefits of Meditation include:

● The​ ​nervous​ ​system​ ​runs​ ​stronger​ ​due​ ​to​ ​mental​ ​relaxation​ ​that​ ​accompanies​ ​meditation. Eliminating​ ​anxiety​ ​to​ ​develop​ ​inner​ ​peace.

● Expressing​ ​articulate​ ​and​ ​clearer​ ​thoughts

● Improves​ ​depression

● Generates​ ​improved​ ​self-worth​ ​and​ ​confidence

● Builds​ ​empathic​ ​capabilities​ ​and​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​recognize​ ​intuition

● Blood​ ​pressure​ ​stabilization

● Insomnia​ ​alleviation

● Chronic​ ​pain​ ​reduction,​ ​especially​ ​when​ ​chakras​ ​in​ ​the​ ​body​ ​are​ ​affected

● Immunity​ ​improved

● Headaches​ ​reduced​ ​(restructuring​ ​in​ ​brain​ ​cells)

● Longer​ ​life​ ​expectancy

It​ ​is​ ​obvious​ ​that​ ​meditation​ ​has​ ​countless​ ​benefits,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​should​ ​be​ ​noted​ ​this​ ​is​ ​only​ ​a​ ​small​ ​percentage of​ ​the​ ​benefits​ ​of​ ​meditation.​ ​​

There​ ​are​ ​many​ ​methods​ ​to​ ​connect​ ​and​ ​while​ ​one​ ​chooses contemplative​ ​meditation,​ ​another​ ​practices​ ​yoga,​ ​journaling…or​ ​even​ ​gardening!​ ​Whatever​ ​enables​ ​you to​ ​feel​ ​fulfilled,​ ​(free​ ​of​ ​all​ ​outer​ ​judgments,​ ​fears​​, and​ ​conflicts),​ ​can​ ​be​ ​considered​ ​meditation.

Meditation​ ​helps​ ​you​ ​explore​ ​under​ ​the​ ​layers​ ​of​ ​your​ ​egotistical​ ​and​ ​instinctual​ ​desires.​​ ​This enlightens​ ​your​ ​mind​ ​and​ ​prepares​ ​it​ ​to​ ​receive​ ​the​ ​higher​ ​cosmic​ ​truths,​ ​with​ ​intuitive​ ​wisdom, conscious​ ​clarity,​ ​and​ ​higher​ ​understanding.​ ​Meditation​ ​reinforces​ ​your​ ​divine​ ​connection​ ​with​ ​the Universe.​ ​

As​ ​you​ ​become​ ​acquainted​ ​with​ ​divinity,​ ​materialism​ ​and​ ​ego​ ​begin​ ​to​ ​wane​ ​away​,​ ​this releases​ ​you​ ​from​ ​the​ ​forces​ ​of​ ​this​ ​world​ ​that​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​compel​ ​mankind​ ​to​ ​live​ ​in​ ​servitude​ ​that​ ​is​ ​not​ ​in alignment​ ​with​ ​your​ ​spiritual​ ​health.

There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​one​ ​or​ ​wrong​ ​way​ ​to​ ​practice​ ​meditation;​ ​it​ ​simply​ ​starts​ ​with​ ​consciously​ ​building​ ​a personal​ ​method​ ​that​ ​builds​ ​yourself​ ​to​ ​a​ ​high​ ​awareness​ ​being​ ​that​ ​continues​ ​to​ ​search​ ​for​ ​more.

What type of meditation do you practice? I would love to hear, comment below or here.