Finally getting around to jumping in here, but I will give you a small novel of info. I have practiced some form of meditation for the bulk of the last three decades and I truly believe it has bettered my life. Nothing I really get into around here, but my parents were killed in a car wreck when I was in sixth grade. Going through that at the same time as adolescence certainly gave me a whole lot of issues to work through as I was reaching adulthood. I definitely went through a very self-destructive phase where I tried to find peace through the wonderful numbness of drugs and alcohol. Living in Seattle in the early 90s and I started dating some new wave hippie chick from Eugene, Oregon who also had her own issues to work through. She preached up and down about these guided meditation classes she attended twice a week. Being raised South Side Irish Catholic...I blew it off as stupid hippie shit. She finally wore me down and I went. I know phrases like “inner-peace” seem cliché, but it is exactly what meditation brought me. I have practiced five types of meditation in my life, some far more difficult than others, but I will share those here.
Let's start where I started and that is with Guided Meditation. It is exactly as it sounds. Usually done in a yoga like studio with up to a dozen other people and your “Guide” giving you verbal instructions while using everything from lighting and sound to burning specific incense sticks to walk your through your entire meditation. Best place for a beginner to start. I attended twelve sessions before I really felt like this was something I could now do all on my own by reading up on something called Transcendental Meditation.
Transcendental Meditation is achieved by using what is called a mantra. The most popular being “Om Mani Padme Hum”, but the one I have always used is “Aham Prema” (ah-hem-pree-mah). It means “I am Divine Love” and just always resonated with me personally very well. This involves sitting or even laying flat on your back if sitting for long periods brings you discomfort, closing your eyes in a silent room and repeat your mantra 108 times (don't ask me...it's just the number that was in the book). It puts you into a very dream-like state, but I personally do not remember my dreams. However, I do have very vivid images left in my head from the meditative state. One time early on...it was a name I had never seen before. I would meet that man four months later and he would offer me what would turn out to be the best job I ever had that would get me easily through the rest of the decade. Other times there are just images that if I let run through my mind long enough...it was set my brain on a chain reaction of thoughts that would lead me to answer I did not even know I was looking for. It is really hard to put these into words, but it's an experience unlike anything else I can compare it to.
There are also a couple of much milder forms of meditation. A great one is what is called Mindfulness Meditation. This is just simply letting your mind focus solely on it's own thoughts free of any distraction around you. Shut down all your electronic devices and focus yourself on a simple task. I use this technique while washing dishes. 10-15 minutes a couple times a day can really make a difference in your entire thought process.
There is also something called Metta Meditation. It is practiced the same as Transcendental Meditation in that your are seated or laying down with closed eyes in a silent area and focus yourself on simple words like “Happiness” “Wellness” and “Peacefulness”...then take those thoughts and focus on a loved one that you wish to bring happiness, wellness and peacefulness to. The stronger the bond you have with this other person...the more effective it will be.
Finally there is the Mount Everest of meditation...what is referred to as Vipassana Meditation. It is what the Indian Yogis have practiced for centuries. The goal here is self-transformation through intense self-observation. If there are deeply in grown traits about yourself that you wish to change...this might be a path worth taking. The only time in my life I have been able to reach this level of meditation is by complete sensory deprivation. By that I do not mean the stupid tanks. I mean completely removing yourself from everything. A five day hike through Wyoming was my tank. Three days in...I had eating very minimally, not let a single toxin into my body all week, no sort of sexual release of any type in over a week and most importantly had not spoken a word or had any social contact in the last four days. Then I found me a waterfall and lost four and a half hours to myself. Really intense stuff, but definitely the advanced class of meditation.
So...yeah...I dig meditation.
(You're welcome, OP)
