Common Problems Your Likely To Experience With Meditation

In my previous post I explained a very simple meditation technique to try. Whether you're a complete beginner to meditation or a pro there will always be times you experience problems when trying to meditate. Frustrating though it may be it is a completely normal occurence. Sometimes you can overcome it on your next attempt. Sometimes you may experience problems for a longer time. No matter what the problem is and how frustrating it becomes you are not alone. It is perfectly normal. It doesn't mean your no good at it or that meditation isn't for you. So let's take a look at a few of the more common problems people can face during meditation. 

Being Unable To Get Or Remain Comfortable 

Some meditations can take a while, it's not uncommon for meditation sessions to last thirty, forty-five or even sixty minutes in length. Naturally it can be very difficult to remain comfortable for such an amount of time. During meditation you shouldn't be experiencing pain or discomfort. If you are then  you are in the wrong position. 
The lotus position is probably the most well cited position for meditation, yet it doesn't suit everyone. It takes a lot of practice to be able to master the lotus position without feeling pain or discomfort. It can cause a lot of tension and pain in the hips and ankles if you are not used to it. If it is really uncomfortable try the half lotus position, if that is still causing discomfort try just crossing your legs instead. 
If you do find yourself sitting on the floor try sitting on a large pillow for added comfort. 

Sitting on the floor isn't for everyone. If you get a backache or find yourself slouching try sitting in a comfortable chair. It is perfectly acceptable to meditate in a chair with both feet flat on the floor and your hands resting on your lap. 

Many people, myself included find it easier to meditate when lying down. You can do this on a yoga mat with a pillow if you wish or by lying on your sofa or your bed. Whichever is going to make you more comfortable. 

Finding Time To Practice Meditation 

These are busy times we live in so it can be common for you to struggle to find the time to meditate. Meditation is most beneficial when practiced every day. If you can't manage it everyday, then try to do it every other day or even just once a week to begin with. It will still be beneficial to you, then as you get more used to it you can increase your sessions. 
Finding the right time of day to meditate is a completely personal choice. For some people it works very well for them to meditate first thing in the morning. For others the afternoon works better. If you are busy during the day then there is absolutely no harm in meditating in the evenings. I find the afternoons a good time to meditate then I meditate again just before bed. If it works for you then stick with it. Meditating in bed just before going to sleep is beneficial to many as it'll help you go into a deeper more healing and peaceful sleep. Nighttime meditation isn't for everyone and if your just too tired at bedtime then don't attempt it and instead find a more suitable time. 

Being Unable To Visualise Anything 

This is more common a problem then you may think. In fact it is entirely normal with beginners and the more experienced. Many meditations involve you visualising something, if this is something you struggle with this will make meditation tricky for you. There are ways to overcome it. Go back to basics and try to visualise a colour, blue for example. Instead of just thinking of the colour blue try instead to think of something which is coloured blue, a clear blue sky, a deep blue sea, then combine the two so you'll see a crisp clear sky and a beautiful calm sea, add in an animal, a seagull perhaps or a dolphin, you become aware of fish in the sea, what colours are they? Then build on the scene you see.
If you still struggle and the above technique doesn't work then play some meditation music, or a cd of sounds of the sea. The sounds should work on your subconscious and you'll be imagining the scene. It's not your imagination you are visualising it. 
If you can't visualise anything after attempting these techniques then accept that it isn't the right time for you. Try again in a few days or even in a week. Instead do a basic mantra meditation. 

Being Unable To Quieten Your Mind 

The one big problem everyone will undoubtedly face. I agree it is annoying. I sympathise, you settle down, begin your meditation and wham your minds wandering off elsewhere, thinking of other things, not concentrating. I've been there many times. There are ways to beat it. If you do find these interrupting thought patterns as you start to meditate, acknowledge the thought then let it pass. Do the same for any recurrent thoughts. If you can't settle your mind at all and it feels like it's spinning and full of every thought imaginable except for the one you should be focusing on, see in your mind a big wave crashing through your mind, washing the thoughts away. As it pulls back out to sea watch your thoughts disappear, on the next wave see clarity and clearness. Then try again. This technique works really well for me. 

Falling Asleep During Meditation 

Whoops! You fell asleep. I've done it. If this happens just accept that your body needed sleep at the time. If this happens regularly then try changing the position you meditate in or the time of day you practice. Once you find the right time this won't be a problem anymore.

Basic Beginners Meditation Technique

Beginning meditation can often be tricky to master. There are so many different ways to meditate. transcendental meditation is very popular among beginners, personally I found that style difficult to master. If you are very new to meditation try this simple technique, this is the first technique I learnt and it will fully relax you. As you become more used to practising meditation and go onto more complex deeper meditations you can always use this technique as a preparation for meditation, which is what I do. 

To begin, sit or lie comfortably. Whichever is more comfortable for you. 

Take three deep healing breaths, as you breathe in deeply allow your mind to quieten, as you exhale let go of any worries or stresses. 

As you continue to breathe in deeply focus on your own heartbeat, feel your own unique rhythm, listen and focus on your breathing. 

On an inhale Feel your feet becoming heavy, so heavy that you can barely move them. This is grounding you. 

With every breath feel a sensation of warmth move up your legs, into your knees. You will begin to feel a warm energy surrounding you. 

Allow to warmth to travel up your thighs and as it reaches your buttocks feel yourself sinking into your chair or bed. 

you feel it move up around your torso, a calming, warm feeling, spreading up your spine 

As it reaches your chest and shoulders feel any tension being melted away by the warm energy. Your shoulders naturally relax. 

As it travels down your arms feel the warmth embracing you like a big healing hug. Feel your hands become limp. 

As it travels back up your arms and around your neck let go of any remaining tension. 

As it finally covers your head feel yourself relaxing. 

You are now in a safe meditative state, your entire body is relaxed and all tension and stress has been melted away. 

Stay in this calm, safe relaxed state as long as you wish. Then on an exhale open your eyes and allow yourself a few minutes to resettle in your physical body. 

Namaste.

The Twinflame Relationship

The Twinflame relationship is something I will write about occasionally on here so here is a brief introduction into what exactly is a twinflame? 

Back when you begin your spiritual journey you start out life as a soul. Our souls are contained within spiritual bubbles containing up to six individual souls. These other individual souls will become known as your soulmates. In the living world these soulmates often come to us in the form of friends with whom we share a much deeper spiritual friendship, perhaps lovers or even family members. As the souls develop they leave the soul bubble to continue evolving. Just before travelling to earth to begin your life these souls split in half. Leaving two halves, your twinflame. It is then your task in the living world to find your twinflame. From the moment the soul splits one half travels to earth to begin its journey through life. The other half can travel at the same time but can also wait for months, years even decades before travelling to begin the life on earth. 

Even though you may not have met in the physical world yet you will feel your twinflame as soon as you open upto them. When you are open to this you will be able to communicate with your twinflame telepathically. Many people misinterpret these telepathic conversations as imagination or daydreaming. Chances are if you've had conversations in your mind you was infact communicating with your twinflame. Twinflames are mirror images of eachother. It is not uncommon for them to resemble eachother physically. Even if you have no resemblance to one another your soul is one. Your twinflame is literally your other half and there will never be anything else like it. It is a very common occurence for you to experience relationships that you can missinterpret as a twinflame. This is not a twinflame, this is your souls way of finding your twinflame. You'll probably notice former partners looking similar in appearance. This is your soul trying to figure it out. When you find the right person you will both feel it simultaneously. As you are about to encounter your twinflame you'll start noticing number sequences. 11:11 is the twinflame number and if this is popping up alot as well as other double numbers 10:10 15:15 22:22 then your twinflame is about to enter your life. You'll also notice these numbers increasingly once you have met your twinflame. It is very common for twinflames to have similar birthdays, phone numbers, door numbers. 

So how do you know when you meet your twinflame? Short answer you'll feel it. Here are ten typical feelinfs upon meeting your twinflame:

Twin Flame Signs

  1. Instant Recognition
You meet eyes with your twin flame for the first time and feel that you recognise them in a deep way despite never having seen them before.  Even their voice or laugh may sound familiar.
  2. Love at First Sight
After meeting and perhaps from the outset you both feel a very powerful and strong bond that you have never felt before with anyone. This can be physical but also goes beyond that, a love to the very core of the other.
  3. Unusual Meeting
Twin flames tend to report that they met under strange and unusual circumstances or coincidences, perhaps both doing something you would not normally do.
  4. Separated yet together
Once together, the two of you become inseparable and when you are separated for any extended amount of time, you both feel lonely and empty, yet in another way you feel some kind of cord linking you telepathically or at least empathetically (where you are in tune with each other’s emotions.)
  5. I know what you are thinking!
Twin flames will frequently find that they know what the other is thinking, even sometimes when far apart from each other.  A look between you can communicate so much even though you don’t really know how it works.
  6. Spiritual Awakening
This one of the more common twin flame signs. You begin to notice new things about yourself and the world around you, and think about life in a new more positive way.
  7. A Divine Purpose?
Often twin souls find that together they have a strong desire to go and help other people in a meaningful way, usually as a team.
  8. You can say anything to each other
Similar to soulmates, another of the twin flame signs is that you will find you can talk together for hours and hours, but particularly with twin flames there are no communication barriers between you and the relationship feels totally upfront and open. You feel as if the level of friendship and intimacy is unlike anything you have ever experienced.
  9. Sexuality
Not only is your sex good and passionate (as it would hopefully be with a soulmate) but also you feel that that having sex with each other is a sacred, almost religious act that expresses the amazing love you feel for each other, in a way you never knew before.
  10. Completeness
Finally more than ever before in your life, you feel a sense of completeness that goes beyond what you ever thought possible.  You grow closer and closer, becoming more and more like a whole, yet still keep your individual identities. This twin flame stage can only really happen if you are a complete person within yourself so don’t neglect your personal and spiritual development if you want to meet and be happy with your twin flame.

Meeting your twinflame can be a very overwhelming experience and it is very common for one twin to detach and become the runner. When a twin runs it is because the feeling they felt initially scares them. They are so frightened of finally finding the one that they become scared that the twin will pick up on their insecurites. Your twinflame will already know about this, there is nothing to fear, your twin will never judge you or make you feel inferior. The running period can continue for many years but eventually your twin will return to you. Having a runner can be a very hard experience. It takes compassion on both sides. If you feel angry, your twin will also feel it. 

Remember your twin feels everything you feel, they may not know what is going on but they will feel your emotions. Often confusing them with their own. Similarly you can often pick up on eachothers thoughts. Have you ever said or done something unusual with no idea why. Chances are its what your twin is doing. Likewise you'll often see and smell things eachother are seeing and smelling. 

More blogs about twinflames will appear here soon.

The Motherstone In Greenwich Park

The Motherstone in Greenwich Park has been a mystery to many, all except the local wiccans and pagans. The stone is called The Goddess Stone by the local pagan community. It honours the dark Goddess, Lillith and Hecate. Although called dark goddesses they are not 'evil' or associated with black magic. The name dark goddesses refers to the goddesses of the dark moon or new moon. 

The stone was originally a fountain which was filled with natural local spring water and a cup used to hang above the bowl for the public to use. That was until the lead from the ancient pipes deemed it unsafe.  

Often when you visit the motherstone you'll find that pagans have left offerings to the dark goddess in the form of roses, crystals, wands and sometimes you'll even find the remains of spells. Recently I saw burnt down candles. This is all perfectly harmless as wiccans can only do spells for their own use, they cannot put spells or curses onto other people, this is just mythical folklore. 

Above the motherstone is an ancient yew tree which is still thriving hundreds of years later. The yew tree is particularly sacred to pagans as it can enhance magical and psychic abilities. Every part of the yew tree is extremely toxic especially to animals so using yew should be done under caution. 

The water filled bowl of the fountain is made of Preseli bluestone, a sacred stone which was used to form the inner circle of stone henge. The stone is becoming popular again now for it's healing properties. 

The motherstone is a really peaceful place to visit, if you need a good spot to meditate locally you can go there or just sit and take in the lovely energy.