One of the few times that my brain gets a break from my conscious thoughts is when I am sleeping.  I am content with that.

I have discovered that there are some techniques that will allow me to reach a needed meditative state when I am not sound asleep.  These include hypnosis and guided imagery sessions that are facilitated by a professional.  Should you harbor a great amount of resistance to beneficial relaxation of the mind, I find that working with a professional can be most effective in being able to achieve a ‘wakeful’ and lucid dream-like experience.  Margarita-induced states do not really qualify.

I have attempted many forms of self-guided meditation.  I am my own worst enemy when it comes to quieting the mind.  Several reliable sources inform me that ‘patience’ is essential in the meditative process.  Patience is just one thing that I never felt I needed.

When our kids were much younger, we attended Unity church services on a regular basis.  Mr. Bean and I felt that their teachings were in tune with our own spiritual expansion.  The congregation provided the fellowship that we desired for ourselves, as well as for our children, during this particular stage of religious exploration that we were in at the time.  We loved being a part of Unity and will always appreciate the comfort, fellowship, and insights that we experienced while we were there.

A portion of Unity’s regular Sunday service included a ten to fifteen minute guided meditation session among the entire congregation.  I was the one member in church who would be unable to resist periodically opening one eye to quickly peer around my immediate vicinity.  I would sneak brief one-eyed glances toward Durwood, who was sitting next to me, because I was terrified that he would start snoring.  As any parent of young children can attest, an opportunity to close your eyes (particularly in the form of an encouraging invitation) increases the likelihood of  falling into an instant state of deep slumber.  I had a lot of difficulty in letting myself relax long enough to be able to fully experience the session.  Every Sunday I failed to allow myself the benefit of being in the beautiful moment that was offered.

Now when I recognize my need for a complete mind-release, I enlist the services of  a qualified professional.  My niece Dauphina reminds me that yoga instructors can be quite effective in assisting individuals to achieve the necessary mind relaxation a physical being requires.  I prefer the one-on-one method for myself.  Otherwise, I’m the uptight member in yoga class who cannot keep from continually opening one eye.

In between visits with a trusted professional, I have learned to embrace the nature of my constantly revolving thoughts.  In a recent post, I had mentioned my technique for isolating a particular thought that elicits a pleasing emotion.   Given enough time, one thought has the ability to attract others of its kind.  The few seconds required in order to capture and hold any desirable thought become easier to pin down the more that you practice.

The following is an exercise that may not only assist in the training of your mental-focusing capacity, it will provide (on your first attempt) the confirmation that you possess the power to do it.  This delightful revelation is so often necessary for those of us who may feel that we do not require any patience.

You will need a tree with a trunk width of at least eight inches, and a handful of small pebbles.  Stand at least eight feet away from the tree and find a spot at eye level on the trunk to focus on.  Stare at it.  The tree is a living thing which is pulsating with energetic vibrations, so imagine the waves of vibrations flowing between your physical self and your spot on the tree.  Do not take your eyes off your chosen spot while you begin pitching the pebbles one by one (like you would throw darts) toward the target.  As you focus on your intention to connect, dismiss any initial failures to hit your target on the first few throws, knowing that you have an entire handful of pebbles at your disposal.  With each subsequent throw, practice the feeling of certainty that you are going to connect with the tree.  I promise that unless you are already a professional baseball pitcher, dart champion, or sharp shooter, you will be amazed at how many times you smack those pebbles right onto your spot.

Jeez, Jillian, why didn’t you just say that this is nothing more than a homemade game of primitive target practice?  It is.  Unlike a game of darts, you are not in a crowded bar room, you have not consumed a substantial amount of beer, and you are not competing against any other being but yourself.  In this particular exercise, you have the benefit of solitary training to focus the mind.  With stated intention, you are honing your innate brain power to isolate one thought that can spark the positive emotion required to create.

You might consider these mystical implications the next time that you are in the backyard shooting coke cans with a BB gun.

Tags: conscious thoughts, energetic vibrations, guided imagery, hypnosis, meditative process, meditative state, mental focusing capacity, patience, relaxation of the mind, self-guided meditation, Unity church, yoga instructor