People often hear the word meditation without being completely aware of what it is. Meditation is a quieting and balancing of the mind, emotions and body. In it you are consciously seeking to connect with the universe one on one.

Most people think of meditation as a Buddhist practice and it was through meditation that Buddha achieved enlightenment. However, one of the best-known practices of meditation is yoga, which is a Hindu tradition. Christian nuns and priests regularly participate in retreats where they spend time each day in quiet contemplation. This is also mediation. Meditation is unique in that it is an aspect of all religions and yet is not a religious practice in and of itself. You don't even need to be religious or have a belief in the divine in order to meditate and gain the benefits.

So why should you meditate? For starters, your blood pressure lowers, your metabolism slows, and the hemispheres of your brain balance. You gain access to the subconscious, and achieve a space where you can resolve inner discord. Meditation helps you to relax, reduces stress, improves health, and allows you to achieve a sense of well being. It brings balance to your life and improves your ability to access other skills, such as those used in magic techniques. It has also been used to deal with chronic pain, addictions, sleep disorders, psychosomatic problems, and self-control/anger issues.

After meditating you will notice immediately when you become tense. You will be more in touch with your body, and your ability to concentrate will improve. By repeatedly bringing yourself back to the meditation you are strengthening the part of your mind that decides what to think about.

All of this happens because as you meditate, your brain wave patterns move into what is known as the alpha state. Here, naturally occurring chemicals called endorphins are released. These "feel good" chemicals, in addition to lightening your mood, also boost your immune system.

If you think that meditation is hard to learn or fit into your life, nothing could be further from the truth. The only thing required for meditation to work is your desire to begin. In fact, it can be thought of as a natural ability that we have merely forgotten about, a skill we are rusty at. Meditation helps maintain optimum physical, mental, and spiritual well being. It is a small investment in time that rewards you for the rest of your life.

Meditation is best done as a daily practice. It does not have to take very long; 20 minutes a day will work. This discipline will prove very useful as you move on to visualization, and raising and sustaining energy.

It's important to be patient and take your time. The first thing you'll need is a quiet place where you can be undisturbed. You can use one of several forms of seated meditation as long as it works for you. Make sure that your legs are comfortable and free from any tightness or restriction from clothing or physical position.

In order to relax mentally, you must first relax physically. One way of preparing to meditate is to employ a tension relieving stretch session. Spending 5 minutes on gentle stretching will go a long way towards loosening up muscles, which will help greatly. Once you've stretched out your muscles it's time to relax your mind.

Focusing on the breath is one of the most common and easiest techniques to reach the meditative state. Breath connects us with the world around us. We draw the world into ourselves as we breath in, and share our individual "breath of life" with the world as we breath out.

Close your eyes, breathe deeply and regularly, and observe your breath as it flows in and out of your body. Give your full attention to your breath as it comes in and goes out. If your attention wanders, gently bring it back to your inhalation and exhalation. It is natural that thoughts will intrude. Acknowledge each thought and let it go.

As you progress and become more comfortable with meditation, you will become less aware of your breathing and be more centered inward. This is often described as being "in the moment." Once you have achieved this, begin to move your awareness through each part of your body, working your way from one end to the other. Scan for any muscular tension or tightness. Breathe into any tension or tightness and release it gently with each exhalation. Relax and become as comfortable as you can. You are learning to establish a condition of ease in the body. As time goes on, this will become more natural and take less time.

Practice for approximately 20 minutes every day. Don't set an alarm, but sit with a clock in view if necessary. Once you are comfortable with the basics you can move deeper. Use the following two exercises to begin with and from there, feel free to create your own.

The Well
This exercise involves going into the very center of your being. Close your eyes, breathe deeply and regularly, and imagine that you are going deep, deep into a well within your center. Visualize that this beautiful, deep well goes infinitely down and down. Breathe in as you descend, and absorb the cool, soothing, healing energy that is buried deep in this well. Breathe out as you descend, and expel all negative thoughts and energy that you have accumulated during your day. Note that the negative energy is drawn away from you and absorbed back into the Earth to be cleansed and renewed.

Your deep inner world has its own essence, its own reality, and its own light. Feel the silence, peace, and calm; no noise can reach you here. Breathe deeply and slowly, experiencing your deepest, most serene self in the silence of your deep well.

Your Haven
Close your eyes and breathe deeply and regularly. Imagine yourself in a beautiful natural place amongst the mountain pines, on a deserted beach, in a spring meadow---anywhere you feel surrounded by the glory of nature. Picture yourself at this special place, a place you know and feel safe at. This is your place alone and nobody can ever find you here. It can be a room, a house, a garden or a place in nature. Be as detailed as you can, allow your imagination to run wild. See yourself sitting comfortably, safe and peaceful, surrounded by what you love. Notice the fragrances and the sounds; let your eyes take in the beauty.

This place is your sanctuary, available to you anytime, through meditation or just a thought.

Meditation can be complex and structured, or it can be as simple as a walk in the woods. It is an attitude rather than an activity. It can be done intentionally while sitting in the lotus position, or occur naturally while engaged in other activities. Regardless of how you choose to sit or what techniques you use, meditation is one of the foundations of health as well as an excellent training ground for learning to work with energy. It is simple to learn and the benefits will stay with you for life.