Mind Exercises
by Sasha
Ok, here are a bunch of great meds for you guys. Anyone with difficulty concentrating should begin with the visualizations and relaxations. Also getting some guided visualization tapes or making a tape of these is a good idea.
SHADOW PLAY
take a blank sheet of paper and a soft pencil or stick of charcoal. Sit down and observe a scene that interests you. Forgetting about objects, names, and things, observe only the play of light and shadow over various forms. Block in the shadows, not with lines but with patches and broad strokes. Do not be distracted by local color, do not worry about reproducing things. Let the patches of shade create forms. Spend at least ten minutes on this exercise. Remember, the point is not to create a good drawing or to prove artistic talent, the point is to experience another way of seeing, in which separate objects disappear and only pattern remains.
RHYTHM PLAY
Close your eyes. Listen to the sounds around you, forgetting what they represent. Be conscious only of the vast rhythm they create. Even in the city, forget that the whooshes, clacks, thumps, chirrupings, rumbles, and bangs are passing cars, workmen's hammers, footsteps, sparrows, trucks, and slamming doors. Hear only the intricate, organic pattern in which each is a separate beat.
RELAXATIONS
Begin by lying down on your back. Do not cross your limbs, loosen any tight clothing. "in order to know how relaxation feels, we must first experience tension. We are going to tense all the muscles of the body, one by one, and keep them tense annnd then release until we relax our entire body with one breath (breathing is very important, you must breath with your stomach. Pushing it out with each inhalation-sash) don't tense the muscles so they cramp, just tense them lightly. Start with your toes. Tense the toes on your right foot....and now your left foot. Tense your right foot...and your left foot. Your right ankle...and your left ankle...(continue throughout the whole body, part by part. From time to time, remind your self to tense any muscles you have let go slack)now tense your scalp. Your whole body is tense.. feel the tension in every part. Now take a deep breath.. inhale.. exhale and relax! relax completely. You are completely and totally relaxed. Your fingers are relaxed, your toes are relaxed. Your hands are relaxed. Your hands are relaxed, and your ankles are relaxed, etc.... You are completely and totally relaxed, your body is light, it feels like water, like it is melting into the earth. Allow yourself to drift peacefully in your state of relaxation. If any worries or anxieties disturb your peace, imagine they drain from your body like water and melt into the earth. Feel yourself being healed and renewed. Remain deep in relaxation for ten to fifteen minutes. It is good to practice this exercise daily, until you can relax simply by lying down and letting go. People who have difficulty sleeping find this extremely helpful.
GROUNDING AND CENTERING
Before beginning visualization practice, we should ground and center, this is again one of the basic techniques of magical work.(skip this if it goes against your beliefs-sash)grounding means to establish an energy connection with the earth. One way is too see a cord or pole extending from the base of your spine to the earth. Center yourself by aligning your spine along its center of gravity. Breathe from your center, your diafragm and abdomen. Feel energy flow up from the earth to fill you. Grounding is important because it allows you to draw on the earths vitality, rather than depleting your own. When channeling your energy, it serves as a psychic lightning rod-forces run through you into the earth, rather than burning you out.
SIMPLE VISUALIZATIONS
This exercise is for those of you with difficulty visualizing. Ground and center, close your eyes, and imagine you are looking at a white wall or a blank screen. Practice seeing simple geometric forms-a line, a dot, a circle, a triangle, an ellipse and so on. When you are able to see the forms clearly, visualize the screen in color, red, yellow, blue, orange, green, violet and black in turn. It may help to look at a colored object with your eyes open, first, then close your eyes and mentally see the color. Finally, practice seeing the geometric forms in color change the forms and colors until you can mentally picture them at will.
back to articles |
Click to join
SpiritualCompass |
