Ah! Meditation! My favorite "most hated" spiritual practice. I have been urging my students to develop a regular practice of meditation for years, and it remains a hard sell.
On the one hand, a spiritual seeker says that they want to become more intuitive, more grounded, more directly in touch with Divinity, more magickal, more inspired, and happier in their everyday life. On the other hand, they feel this is a far-off fantasy, completely out of reach.
My answer is simple: spend 15 - 20 minutes in meditation every day, and you will soon have all you need to achieve your goals.
But for some reason, it's not an answer that most people want to hear. They want a spell, or a charm, or a ritual that will transport them to the lap of the Goddess and become all-wise and knowing. Well, the magic carpet that gets you to that Sacred Destination is meditation.
It is very difficult to maintain a daily practice. You need self-discipline. Fifteen minutes isn't a lot, but you do have to make a commitment to yourself, and keep it. Only you can commit to you and make this happen. There's no one to complain to if you don't do it. You have to place your spiritual goals high enough on your daily "to-do" list that you actually do it, every day. It's just as important as brushing your teeth and showering. Think of meditation as essential self-care. It's good spiritual hygiene.
How you meditate will likely be as individual as you are. There are many tried-and-true methods to begin your practice, until you find a method that suits you. Try each method for a few weeks before you try another. Consistency is the important ingredient for success in meditation.
Since I practice daily yoga, I most commonly practice the zazen form of meditation. This is the "traditional" form we usually think of as meditation... sitting silently in the lotus position. But I also meditate while laying down, and also while walking, dancing, chanting, doing yoga, or playing a drum. Meditation techniques run the range from silent seated methods to noisy movements. Explore to discover what works best to focus and concentrate the mind.
It will likely take at least two weeks of daily practice before you start getting comfortable with it, and lose that sense of "isn't this all so silly". Give yourself permission to get serious with yourself. Use this time to nurture and explore yourself. Gradually, you'll be able to extend the time you spend in meditation each day. You'll know that day has arrived when you want to continue longer each day.
It gets to the point where you crave your moments of meditation, and can't imagine how you ever managed to get through a day without it. As your capacity to enjoy life deepens and expands, the whole world becomes a more beautiful place. You can explore and define your own inner truths, and arrive at new insights that help your spirit grow and expand.
I've been meditating for more than twenty six years, although my practice has ebbed and flowed over the years. I hope to inspire you to begin your own practice. You will be glad you did. Namaste.
~Flame RavenHawk
August 28, 2002