Meditation Guide: Simple Steps for Beginners

No doubt you have heard by now of all the health benefits as well as spiritual benefits that can result from meditation. Students from a wide variety of spiritual traditions have been practicing meditation for centuries, mostly to create peace, joy, harmony, commune with Nature, receive messages from higher powers, clear the mind and create manifestations in their lives. Meditation is important in a magical practice in that it can also help in creating sacred space and invite in psychic abilities. In addition to all these spiritual benefits, researchers are finding that mediation can have health benefits by relieving stress which can wreak havoc on the mind and body as well as lower blood pressure and help strengthen the immune system. It gives us a way to find relief from the noise and hustle and bustle of our busy modern lives too. A regular meditation practice has been shown to increase serotonin levels in the body, which can help with depression, headaches, and insomnia associated with low serotonin levels. There are many different types of mediation and these physical benefits seem to be helped even more when the meditation is done while walking.

Awareness of the benefits of meditation has increased over the last few years as popular talk shows and magazines are full of references to the benefits of meditation. I hear from many people however that they have tried meditating and just can't "get it". The main complaint seems to be that they can't quiet their minds. Thoughts of to do lists, family responsibilities, what they "need" to get done next and so on creep in and take over. That leaves many feeling as if they have failed and "can't meditate". We say that anyone can meditate; it just takes more practice for some than others and meditation should not be judged by the results as much as by the effort. In other words, don't be so hard on yourself and give it time to develop. Below we offer this meditation guide to those who find themselves struggling with learning how to meditate.

One of the meditation exercises offered in our ebook, Daily Rituals for Attracting What You Want in Life, goes like this:
1. Find at least 15 minutes of time that you will not be disturbed and a place you can have quiet. This may mean turning off the phone or having your spouse take the kids out for a walk or getting up early before everyone else for some of you.

2. Find a comfortable position to sit in your quiet space. You do not have to do a lotus position or any other position that you find uncomfortable. You can sit on the ground or in a chair, whichever you will be more comfortable in.

3. Close your eyes and feel your breath moving in and out of your body. Don't force your breath or change it, just tune in to the natural rhythm of your breathing.

4. When thoughts come into your mind (and they will – especially when first learning how to meditate), don't fight them. Just let them come up, recognize they are there and let them pass through your mind. Don't chastise yourself or give up with a "see, told you I can't meditate" point of view as many do at this point. Try instead to use this metaphor:

Imagine you are on a river shore watching boats sail by. The boats are your thoughts that creep into your mind. At times you will become very fascinated with a particular boat and want to board it to look around and explore it more. This is what happens with your thoughts when they "carry you away" from clearing your mind. When you find yourself on one of these "boats", just leave and return to the shore and concentrate on your breathing again.

5. Sit for at least 15 minutes. You can sit longer if you wish and can have a quiet environment for longer.

More Meditation Tips
Another tip for those struggling with how to meditate is to use a lit candle, incense or a fountain to distract the mind from drifting away into thoughts. Leaving your eyes open and concentrating on an object such as a candle flame gives you a visual focus that can help quiet the mind. A running water fountain creates a sound that is irregular and hard for the mind to follow which also keeps it distracted.

Other Considerations
15 minutes is suggested as a length of time to strive for initially so as to give the mind time to quiet and open the way for inner quiet. The length of a meditation period is not as important however as how consistent you are with your practice. It is better to do a short meditation everyday than to do long meditations every once in a while. Try not to judge your meditation by criteria such as how peaceful it was or how many times your mind drifted off. It is the effort to reach a quiet place that matters more than the achievement of total quiet in the beginning.

As you continue meditating, you will see positive results in your day to day life. A new way of dealing with people and life events will emerge and you will find yourself being able to deal with situations from an inner quiet and peaceful place. Be sure to enjoy your meditation time as it is time you are investing in your inner development. The more your inner life flourishes and grows the more you will see the same reflected in your outer life. Meditation can help you achieve that and bring other magic to your life.

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Ritual Magic: Rules for Creating Your Own

We have given you lots of ritual magic that you can do on a daily basis in previous articles, newsletters, and our ebook Daily Rituals to Attract What You Want in Life, but you can also create your own ritual magic. If you know how to create your own ritual magic, you can make rituals that are more personalized and fit your own specific aims and goals. Here are a few key things to keep in mind as you create your own ritual magic.

- A ritual should break through the mechanical personalities that usually control our lives. It should allow us to take a break from daily life and connect with consciousness, being aware of spiritual aims and who and where we really are.

- A ritual should connect us with Spirit by quieting the mind or putting one in touch with physical sensation. Attracting what we really want in life is only possible through connection with Spirit.

- A ritual can help us access higher powers and beings which can help with attracting what we want.

- A ritual can help us go to a deeper level and remember what we truly want. As we go through our busy lives reacting in mechanical ways to everything around us we are cut off from accessing our spiritual desires. Rituals can take those spiritual aims and bring them into how we interact with and go about daily life.

- Design the ritual in accordance with Universal Laws, Rules of the Road and principles of the four elements. This not only makes the ritual safer, it can enhance it. So for example if the ritual you are creating has to do with gaining knowledge, then incorporating principles of the Air element will make the ritual more powerful.

There you have it. Taking these few simple guidelines into account when creating your rituals will help make your rituals safer, more powerful, and help you attract the things you personally want in your life. So be creative, have fun, and start designing your own ritual magic.


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What is a Spell Part 1: Whaddya Want?

In the last newsletter article, "What is a Spell?", we talked about the 12 steps of any given spell... and we promised that in future articles we would dig deeper into each of those steps. Well, the future has arrived! In this article we discuss the very first step in any spell: defining what you want.

Defining What You Want
When it comes to how to cast a spell, most people want to dive right into litanies, candle carvings, divinations, and all the other fun "witchy" stuff that goes into a spell. And we don't blame them because those parts of casting a spell are indeed fun and witchy and magical.

But the fact of the matter is that the first step to any spell is the step that is skipped by many new practitioners of magic--defining what is wanted. As they go about designing spells, most people are quite sure that they know what they want... and they do. The problem is that most people only know what they want in a general sort of way. For instance, see if any of these sound familiar.

I WANT ...

• more money
• a better life
• a soul mate
• to be happier
• a better job
• better health or a better body

Do these ring any bells for you? They might. They do for a lot of people who email us requesting help with spellwork. These are all admirable goals and we applaud people for knowing what they want. But when it comes to how to cast a spell that actually works, this level of wanting isn't enough.

Defining What You Want... Magically
Defining what you want in life and defining what you want in magical terms are two fairly different endeavors. Why? One reason:

"Magic is a precision science."

That means that using a spell to get "more money" isn't going to be more effective. That kind of loosely-defined desire, probably WILL net you more money. You just won't have a clue how much more money you will get. You may get any amount from one cent to ten thousand dollars. You may get a million dollars, but the money may not arrive until the day before you die.

Are you getting the picture? In other words, when you define what you want in magical terms, you have to think like a reporter. You have to answer questions about who, what, when, where, and how. You don't have to answer the "why" of the spell. As a planetary citizen, you have every right to ask for and get what you want. You can expect the Universe to deliver exactly what you request, which means you need to define your request exactly!

So when you think about casting a spell to get what you want, pause for a moment. Before investing a single moment into the actual "methods" of the spell, take as much time as you need to define the terms of what you want clearly, exactly, and definitely. Once you have done so, then you are ready to move on to the next step--deciding which type of spell to cast.

We'll discuss the different types of spells--and their appropriateness for different situations--in the next article in this series... so stay tuned! In the meantime, work on defining what you want in magical terms, and enjoy the process! You know what they say about the journey versus the destination.

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Protection Magic: A Simple Protection Spell or Three

When you start practicing magic, you may find that you will have the need for protection magic. This quote by author Clarissa Pinkola Estes is very appropriate in the practice of magic - "If you have beauty in your life, know that it will attract the dark as well as the light. Don't be surprised. Be prepared." There are several factors that can occur with the practicing magic that make this statement true and will require the use of protection magic.

Protection Magic: Defending Yourself
When you practice magic you inevitably begin attracting the attention of magical beings. Most of the beings you encounter will fall into a category of benevolent and/or non-threatening. There are beings however that are of a more threatening nature and your increased energy and force can attract their unwanted attention. You may also attract beings on different levels that while are not necessarily threatening, do seek to interfere with your path in some way or other. Since everyone has the right to sacred space and to practice magic, protection magic may be necessary and falls within your rights according to laws of magical practice. According to Western magical practice, "You have a right to be here and follow your own path so long as you hinder no one else in doing likewise." This foundational principle asserts our right to exist and follow our own path and by extension, our right to defend ourselves against those who might seek to prevent us from walking our path.

Protection Magic: Self Defense Rules
In many spiritual systems, it is actually considered a crime to not defend yourself appropriately. In doing so, you are enabling the perpetrator to NOT learn spiritually appropriate behavior; therefore, prolonging his or her lack of growth. Generally speaking, any infringement on your sacred psychic or emotional space gives you the right to defend yourself with protection magic. More specifically a good rule of thumb to follow when it comes to self-defense or protection magic is:

"In cases of direct and violent personal harm you are entitled to defend yourself by any means available provided you did nothing to encourage or provoke the attack."

"Direct" specifically means anything that is upon your body, mind or spirit which would include attempts by any outside force or influence to draining your energy or impose their will upon you. "Violent" more specifically refers to anything that's damaging to your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual well being.

3 Simple Protection Spells
Protection magic covers a vast variety of magical techniques from using amulets or talismans to constructing fire shields or omnils. Here are 3 very simple techniques for using protection magic.

1. Sun Candle – this technique helps clear your space of unwanted, junky or negative energies. It can also create sacred space for you. You will need a Sun Yellow candle (a bright yellow candle that has no orange overtones) and paper or wooden matches. To create sacred space with the Sun Candle, you will need to "charge" it, or program it to do so. To charge the candle:

• Stand or sit in the South facing North with the Sun Candle in front of you
• Light the candle using wooden or paper matches (do NOT use a lighter)
• Wait until the candle flame is steady and tall
• Hold your hands up to and around the flame, focusing your attention on the candle and flame.
• Say the charge verse below in a voice of command (a strong, powerful voice)

"Child of Wonder,
Child of Flame,
Nourish My Spirit,
And Protect My Aim!"

Leave the candle burning in the room for at least 30 minutes (be sure the candle is on a protected surface such as a plate and is not a fire hazard). At the end of 30 minutes or when you feel ready, blow out the flame (don't snuff it out).

2. Walking litany – This is a technique that is part of the Navajo Beauty Way and actually a spell in motion. It can create sacred space around you and move with you creating sacred space as you go. There is a long form of the litany and a short form. The particular attribute (power in the example below) in the litany changes according to what you are working on or wish to accomplish. The litany should be said aloud or sub-vocally, but not just mentally. Here's how you do the short version of the Walking Litany in protection magic.

• pick a distance of at least 2 city blocks to walk
• say the following out loud or sub-vocally. Just saying them mentally does not work.

"With Power Around me, I walk in the world.
With Power Within me, I walk in the world.
This One walks in Power,
This One carries Power."

• walk to the rhythm of the litany lines and when you get to the end, go back and start them over. 
• keep repeating the litany-sequence until you have walked the required distance.

3. Hiring an angel – this technique can be used as protection magic for yourself or others or even to take care of your property when you are gone. There are angels for everything. Let's take the example of hiring an angel to protect your property while you are away on a trip. Here's how that would work.

• say out loud or in your mind, "I would like to a request (or hire) a protection angel"
• wait a few moments until you feel a presence, or, just wait a few moments. They don't take long to get there. say:

"Protection angel, I would like to request your help protecting my house, property and belongings there for [name specific dates] while I am away on my trip [specify where and when]. Thank you in advance for your help." 

• Once you return from the trip and find everything which you have asked for has occurred, thank the angel again. It is VERY IMPORTANT to thank angels so they will be willing to help you later.

These 3 protection spells will help get you started on creating and protecting your sacred and magical space. You can learn many other spells, rituals and magical techniques for protection, healing, communicating with other beings and a wide variety of other topics in our courses, ebooks, and Kindle books.

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Got Ghosts?

Check out our video on how to tell if you have spirits around.




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