Set Your Intention

Set up your altar, prepare for your ritual or manifestation, and get ready to put your energy behind it with meditation. A focused intention, streaming from your consciousness, to create what it is you want. There is no one ‘right’ way to meditate, see what your goal is and go from there. Stones, oils, photos, mantras, the elements, Mudras and other tools can accompany your meditation or use nothing at all. There are four main types of meditation we can work with, and not all will work for everyone. Check out my meditation and coaching journal here to begin your practice of connection and transformation! 

Here are some main ways we can work with meditation:

• Using a topic: If you’d like to use a topic for your meditation you can pick something such as ‘Peace’, ‘I am present and aware’, ‘I will work to release and not hold onto my anger’, or ‘I have gratitude for everything and everyone in my life’. Whatever you need from your meditation at that time, set your intention and create your own Mantra. The word Mantra is Sanskrit, Man meaning mind, and tra meaning instrument. So a Mantra is a mind instrument, much like an affirmation. Creating a mantra & setting an intention is a declaration you make to yourself, something you hope to cultivate and achieve. This is good to do before any practice.
• Using a focus:You can find something to focus on for your meditation. The flame of a candle, a photo of loved one, an inspirational quote. Using your breath as the focus of your meditation works very well and is a great way to get centered and set your intentions for your practice. Some choose to use a task as their focus, a walking meditation, for instance. Some find peace in everyday tasks such as washing the dishes or folding the laundry. Find what works for you and you can turn anything into a mindful practice.
• Using your senses: There are many ways we can incorporate our senses into our meditation practice. Listening to music, nature sounds or anything that calms and inspires you. You can listen to guided meditations with someone else speaking and leading you through your practice. Some choose to use their voices to sing or chant mantras, the vibrations resonating in the body to create higher states of consciousness. Essential oils or calming scents may be added, used to induce relaxation and inspire you. 
• Using mindfulness: This can be used as the sole tool for meditation, but know that any meditation must use mindfulness. Being mindful is allowing yourself to be in the present moment, not distracted by the past or worried about the future. Quieting the mind, allowing yourself to be aware of what is happening right here and now.  You allow yourself to refine your awareness; on your breath, the sensations your body feels as you breathe, the birds outside, the clock ticking on the wall. We don’t need to tune these things out, we need to be present and aware.  A regular meditation practice using mindfulness can carry over into your everyday life, making you more aware of yourself and the world around you. We start to be present and off auto-pilot!