How the Heck do I Start Meditating?

​That is exactly what I asked myself three years ago when I was at my ultimate low, coming out of a five year marr​iage and transitioning my life into the unknown. I was alone with fear, anxiety, pain and all the dark, lower energies. But in my Soul I was able to feel a tiny hint of hope, excitement and a new adventure coming my way. 

The challenge was to battle the sadness and depression. But how? I wanted happiness NOW!!! I wanted the pain to go away NOW!!! But the Universe wasn't going to give me instant gratification because I needed to grow through my Journey. And I knew that meditation was the first step to take...it was kind of like a portal for me to go through to get the the next level of where I wanted to be.
 
Back then, meditation was something that I've always wanted to practice because it was scientifically proven to calm the mind, to feel more vibrant and healthy, more aware...but never got a chance to because I was "too busy" with other things such as work, cleaning the apartment, dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. I was "to busy" surfing the web, watching endless hours of Netflix, cleaning the apartment some more and reading self-help books (which really helped to my advantage). "Too busy" getting drunk and high, going out to eat, being a glutton in many different ways and of course, worrying and punishing myself for what I'm doing to my body.  
 
I knew ON A SOUL LEVEL that I needed to start meditating. Like, right now. So I got myself to sit my ass down on my pillow and really made an effort to meditate at least once a week. That is the hurdle one must overcome, ladies and gentleman. Yes, how do you start? JUST DO IT! 
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And I did. What a wild ride of awakening I've been through the past three years ever since that seed was sown. Yes, it has been an emotional, raging roller coaster ride at some points, but so worth it because it has become such a profound spiritual journey. It has been about looking inward to find my own strength, courage, power and love. It helped me realize that I've got to stop being the victim, the helpless person, the blamer of everything, the pessimist, the complainer, the gossip, the manipulator, the control freak, the psychic vampire...
 
Meditation helped me find my true passion...to spread the word about Love, how to heal myself with Love in order to EMPOWER myself and others. It became my focus, passion and drive to help others along their journey of awakening. 
 
The meaning of meditation continues to deepen every time I practice it.
It is how I clear myself and my mind.  It allows me to communicate with the Divine Intelligence/Source/God, so I can go out into the world more focused with Love and compassion. Feeling the Breeze. Listening to the Ocean. Looking at the Moon. Smelling Mother Nature. Seeing myself in everyone else and everyone else in me. 
 
If you are a beginner and feel called to meditate, the simple instructions below will help you start practicing. Over time, you will develop your own methods, learn from many others and see what works for best you. 
 
By the way, I use an app that I love called Insight Timer. It has a free meditation timer with the sound of a singing bowl to indicate your start and end time. Insight Timer also has a wonderful community of people that you can chat with, and they have an array of guided meditations that you can choose from at any time. A really cool feature is after a session you can see how many people you meditated with across the world!
 
Meditation definitely takes practice. And it is worth it. 
 
Much love to you, and I wish you the BEST on your journey of meditation. Please know that whatever challenges you are going through, they will eventually pass, so be gentle to yourself.
 
Forgive yourself. Love yourself. Hug yourself. TREAT YOURSELF! 
 
Sat Nam! 
 
Angela
 
Quick note: During the meditation, no worries if your mind wanders. 
It happens to all of us ("Oh crap, why did she say that? It made me feel angry and insecure" or "What are we going to have for dinner tonight?")

Just acknowledge your thoughts and then let it go.  The beauty of meditation is that we're always practicing...and in this case, we're practicing the art of letting go.

 
BEGINNER'S FIVE-MINUTE MEDITATION

SIT ON THE FLOOR cross-legged or SIT ON A CHAIR with your bare feet planted to the floor.
Relax PALMS ON YOUR KNEES or THIGHS - palms facing up to receive more energy or palms facing down to ground yourself into Mother Earth...
Gently CLOSE YOUR EYES...
BREATHE IN...2, 3, 4, 5, 6...
HOLD THAT BREATHE for as long as you can...2, 3, 4, 5, 6... 
and FEEL THE BREATH MOVING AROUND YOUR BODY...
and BREATHE OUT...2, 3, 4, 5, 6...
HOLD THAT BREATH for as long as you can...2, 3, 4, 5, 6... 
and FEEL THE BREATH MOVING AROUND YOUR BODY...
 
--- repeat this 2 more times (a total of 3 sets) ---
 
THEN...slowly and gently BREATHE IN AND OUT without holding your breath in between.
BREATHE IN...2, 3, 4, 5, 6...
and BREATHE OUT...2, 3, 4, 5, 6...
 
ON YOUR NEXT INHALATION, imagine at the base of your spine and at the bottom of your feet there are roots growing down into the earth.  
 
EXHALE as you VISUALIZE the roots spreading down into the Earth's layers.
MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN INTO THE EARTH'S CORE. Feel how this energizes and grounds you. 
 
INHALE and EXHALE a for  a few moments.
 
ON YOUR NEXT INHALATION, imagine WHITE DIVINE LIGHT shining down through the crown of your head, showering your whole body.  Visualize the white light eliminating any negative or dark energies from your body into the Earth. You can also visualize GOLDEN light, VIOLET light or RAINBOW light.
 
When your 5 minutes of meditation are up, gently lift your roots back up to the base of your spine and bottom of your feet and allow the white light to slowly diminish.
 
Finally, put your HANDS TOGETHER IN PRAYER POSITION, tilt your head down facing your hands and THANK THE UNIVERSE for allowing you to have time for a meditation practice.  

Namaste. 
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