Silence Speaks Volumes

I have been absent on the internet regarding this blog. The absence gave me time to hear the silence. I am taking this space to meditate and reflect. Colors appear more vibrant, communication with nature seems more acute and the taste of food is enhanced. Everything around me feels heightened as I breathe in the stillness.

Meditation is the communication I am pursuing at this time. I sit two times daily for 15 minutes and then journal all experiences and messages. Meditation circles are also a part of my routine when I am not traveling or working. When I am ready to write again on this blog I will return. I am sure it will be sooner than later.

You may actually want to try this yourself. Take some time to monitor how often you are on the internet and make a conscious effort to reduce it. In turn take those moments you may have been sitting in front of a computer and apply this to another part of your journey. Perhaps you will connect with nature, improve a relationship or just have time to meditate. Start today and honor yourself by finding the messages given to you daily in silence.

To learn how you can meditate please read my book Sæ-sii Meditation: How to Find Your Bliss in 15 Minutes a Day

Meditation Mojo

Why would anyone want to sit in silence and think of NOTHING?Meditate. meditate |ˈmedəˌtāt|
verb [ intrans. ]
focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.  (Oxford Dictionary)
As I am beginning to look for a desirable location to teach meditation in my community, I am realizing that some people have some preconceived ideas about what exactly they will learn.

There are many forms that have different titles and if you do a search you will find various methods. I teach Sæ-sii meditation. It is not religious and does not require any belief system other than the fact that you desire to "let go" of all thought. Thought is a living thing and if you hold on to it you cannot be sure if the garden you have just imagined is in fact a spiritual journey or your imagination. I do not wish to place any ill thoughts toward other methods in stating this, it is a matter for you to choose what works for you.

Meditation can be achieved in many ways and in teaching this I respect that chanting or sitting in a certain position may be something that others find valuable. I teach a method that requires no music, no guided audio or instructor and no visionary cues. Why do I choose this method? Because I can go to my inner harbor of peace...and that is exactly where I go... at any given time. I can go while I sit in an airport and someone is talking non-stop on their cell phone. I can go when I am waiting in a doctor's office or sitting under a hairdryer at a salon while a television spouting non-stop negativity is placed before me. How? Because I have learned to switch off my mind without the need of any aids or devices or special seating posture.

How often should you meditate and for how long?
When I first embarked upon this I was exploring different techniques and I was meditating at least an hour a day and honestly I often just fell asleep. I tried videos, candles, music and read books and I began to feel nothing but frustration. Why couldn't I have these "magical" experiences...what was wrong with me? That's when I realized I needed to stop everything I was doing. All of this reading, watching, listening was just making my mind more active with the very thing I was trying to let go of... THOUGHT.
Now I sit in total silence in a comfortable position in the same room every day at approximately the same time for no longer than 15 mins. I say a prayer for protection (for step by step details see link below), I set my intention and then I allow my mind to come to complete rest. If anything floats in and I begin to give it attention than I am NOT meditating I am thinking, and so I will pull away from it and say "later...scoot" and then I just rest comfortably. When I first started doing this it was for mere seconds...than a minute...now it is 15. By doing this you are disconnecting to the chattering input of your brain and allowing your higher conscious to communicate with you. You may not even be aware of it, and that is the beauty of it. Your realization will come at other moments in your day when you are inspired and are able to move with confidence knowing your actions are purposeful and lead to a higher good for you and others.

All of my teaching centers upon how to move thought into action by NOT THINKING. Sounds bizarre huh? Well actually it is a process that takes time but once you begin to "let go" of all thought you will be able to open the door to your subconscious. I cannot describe what that will be like for you, as each of us is unique. Your experiences will be vastly different from mine as they will be from others you may encounter.

It is what YOU experience and what you learn from YOUR higher self that will give you the greatest joy. Meditation allows you to strip away the layers of day to day activity and have a connection to someone that loves you beyond measure...yourself and of course the guides that walk with you daily.
I hope to open my meditation studio very soon. The goal is to help others move their thoughts into action by the vehicle of their beautiful SELF guidance. They will be meditating in their own space at their own time and they will not need a group. The instruction will be giving them the confidence to make this effort to apply this to their daily walk as it will help them to move with their passion of purpose.

To learn how you can meditate please read my book Sæ-sii Meditation: How to Find Your Bliss in 15 Minutes a Day

Update: This was written in 2012. I now meditate twice daily for 15 minutes. Everyone has a time that works best for them, mine is at dawn and around 3pm. I have taught many workshops and I have written a book on meditation that will be published very soon. Meditation brings self-love that spreads world wide, I am ever the student of this magnificent ALL THAT IS.

The Library in Your Mind is Now Open

Some people approach meditation to improve mental health much like dieting...and then they just stop. When asked why they discontinued meditation their answers varied:
"I never really "saw" anything or "went" anywhere and I got bored."
"It's too hard to sit and not think and I usually fell asleep."
"I can't "do" it like the books I've read or the videos I've watched."
"I don't have time and I hear it's something that you have to do daily."

Just like dieting for improved physical health there is no one-way-fits-all. As life energies I believe we are all connected; however I do not believe we all are wired to meditate in the same way. It is important to find one that works for you. Do not look for hurry-it-up instructions to achieve quick results. The method I teach, for example, is one of silence. Once I began dedicating 15 minutes daily, it became easier to drift away to my inner harbor of peace.

How can we move past that part of us that wants to use this like a diet? Of all the obstacles that can derail you, I find the worst is comparing yourself to others. This is the beauty of the meditation, it is your unique way of hearing your own voice. Find the method that works for you. Meditation can come in taking a walk by yourself, doing a household chore or soaking in a tub. Maybe listening to recordings of nature or Tibetan singing bowls (all available on downloadable mp3s) will help you to "let go" of thoughts and allow your mind to disconnect from noise and tune in to YOU.

We have all experienced power outages at one time or another. Our world comes to a halt as we look for candles and flashlights. Communication on the internet ceases and the TV zaps off. You had no choice but to sit in silence. If you really think of it you can find 15 minutes of daily disconnection.

Find the moment and space that works for you, whether it's dawn or evening it doesn't matter. What matters is that you value yourself. I used to get caught up in the noise and chatter of the world and now I don't even own a TV, but I feel better informed than most of my neighbors. Why? Because I have learned that I can find guidance within. Meditation is like using a compass to find your way in this murky world. It can help you form better relationships, make wiser decisions, relieve senseless stress and help you to love yourself in a way that removes all doubt that you are less. You are a beautiful spirit that has an entire library of how-to books all in your head...you just need to learn how to open the door and apply them in your life.

To learn how to meditate in silence please read How to Begin.