Easy Steps to Meditation for Beginners

Meditation can be embarrassing and intimidating to some people, and many people are unaware of how to meditate. However, it can be a very easy and helpful practice that more people should be aware of. Meditating is a personal experience that anyone can enjoy; it is a healthy way of relaxing and balancing the mind and body. Here is my favorite way to meditate that is easy to understand and useful for anyone who needs a little peace.

First it is important to find a comfortable place. I like to lay in bed, and sometimes I use this meditation to help fall asleep at night. You do not have to lay down; you may also sit Indian style or anyway that you find relaxing and comfortable. You want to make sure you are not going to be disturbed, and you do not want much outside noise. Turn off the television and unplug the phone before you begin. Lock your door if you are prone to unwanted guests. Remember to breathe evenly and deeply, and after a while you will not have to pay attention because your natural breathing pattern will take over.

Now that you are set up and in your most comfortable position, you may begin. Close your eyes, and think of the colors of the rainbow. Start with red, but really imagine it. Imagine everything you ccan think of that is the color red; you want to keep imagining the color until it is so clear in your mind you can see it vividly. You want to go through the entire rainbow; you want to see red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, and you want to see these colors in that order. I usually think of fruit because there are so many fruits that are colorful. For red I imagine apples and strawberries, orange I obviously imagine oranges, yellow are bananas, and so forth. I also like to picture big cans of paint being thrown on walls so that my entire vision is engulfed by the color. Remember that you are imagining these colors with your eyes closed. If you forget or lose track it is okay to start over, and the more you do it the easier it will become.

After you have gotten through the rainbow, you will picture a staircase. The staircase can be going up or down, and it can look however you want. This is the staircase leading to your comfort place. This place is yours and yours alone, so it can look however you want. I always imagine my staircase being made of wood and wrought iron and going down, but your staircase can be made of marble if that is what you like. Follow these stairs examining every aspect and detail until you come to a door. Once again the door can appear however you see it, and whatever you want it to look like is the way it should look. My door is iron and glass, but yours can be wood or gold or whatever you want.

Now that you have arrived at the door to your comfort place open it, and walk inside. What do you see? A fountain, a waterfall, a field of flowers; choose whatever makes you happy and comfortable because you are now in your safe place. Spend as much time as you like here. When you are ready to leave reverse your steps until you are back to red again; when you will open your eyes you will be feeling relaxed and refreshed. Meditation may seem difficult, but it can be very enjoyable and easy. You can use this practice before bedtime, before you are taking a test or doing something that is stressful to you. Remember meditation is a simple way to bring peace to yourself, and it should be used more often.