BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Wicca Meditation Help

Hi, I'm new to the forum, but I'll just cut to the chase.
I have been studying wicca and magick for 5 years. I'm not terribly advanced at anything because during those 5 years, I was in school, which screws a lot of study time up. I'm actually still in school, but it's college now, which puts me in a better situation.
Here's the problem I'd like to ask you all about: I seem to have lost the ability to meditate.
I don't know how or why. I used to meditate a lot, using the method found in DJ Conway's "By Oak, Ash, and Thorn". However, I think it was about 2 and a half years ago that I stopped, I think because of how hectic school was. I know that should have made meditation more important to me, but I had to look realistically at it and think about getting into college.
Last summer, I tried to begin doing it again, but found I was unable to slip into the state of consciousness that I once found so easy to reach. I gave up again out of fear. I changed some things in my life that I thought might be affecting it, and so today, I tried again. And again, it was to no avail.
For the past 2 years, I have had these terrible headaches. Actually, I've had headaches and migraines all my life, but never anything quite like what I have now. I wanted to begin meditating again to try to relax my body and rid myself of these pains. I am starting to think that my lack of meditation helped to make me vulnerable to these headaches, but at the same time, I wonder if the headaches are keeping me from meditation.
If anyone has any advice about what I could do, I would truly appreciate it, or if you think that I should contact someone in my area for more personal help, tell me so. Thank you all so much.

You may want to try a couple of different types of meditation.

First if you haven't been doing it start centering, grounding and shielding. That may help with the headaches if they are tension related at all. Also it should help with relaxation prior to meditation.

If sitting still and meditating isnt working try simple breath meditation like breating in and out counting your breaths. Also you might try walking meditation.

Hi Lyra,

I'm the meditation editor here at Bella and I had headaches when I began meditating at 30 years old. Turns out I was 'working' at trying to not think anything - which just doesn't work!

I would also recommend that if you are sitting to just thinking about counting your breaths. And if you are walking try one count for every two steps. Now, 27 years later from my meditation beginning I still use those techniques. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Susan

Fabulous advice Susan thank you!
Meditation has never been one of my strong suits but I have found breath and walking to be very effective

i'm not very experience at meditation but there was a time when i did it every day, and like you had to stop cause i didn't have any time. I am also trying to get back to meditation and all i can say is start out with realy small and simple things and then work your way up. I don't know anything about headaches cause i never had them but good luck.

dark shadow

Hi Lyra,

I'd like to second everyone and say that; getting back to exercising, especially out in nature, was one of the best things I did to relax and regain a meditative state. I also found that using visualizing during meditation, perhaps using a tarot or oracle card, has also helped me focus and made it easier to get into the meditation.

Good luck to you, and I hope you feel better soon.

Hey Lyra,

I'm guessing that you should just start out like a beginner. Don't try to reach that state of consciousness. When I meditate (coughrarelycough) sometimes I'll just say to myself, "breath in; breath out". It gets me focused on one thing so my mind doesn't really wander. Another way is focusing on a white candle. I agree with Susan in trying different meditative techniques.

Light
and Love,
Josh

An excellent technique that I was using this weekend is repetative movement. In its best form you can form a circle with frends, close your eyes, and then to the sound of a heart beat drum everyone steps to the right. But this requires lots of support as you need drummers and watchers.

A method that works well by yourself is to simple get a tape with a heartbeat drum and a rattle. Then you stand with your feet together, on the beat step the right foot to the right, then on the next beat step you feet together. Then again right and right. Then switch left and left, then left and left. Now you end up with your feet together back where you started. Its much easier to see this than to describe it. But you continue for there. When you have the step down add your own rattle sound to the steps. You can do this alone or with any number of people.

While it may sound a bit odd its very effective for people who have a hard time with the "Monkey Brain" and these sorts of rythms keep the monkey brain busy and let the upper parts of the mind wander.

I too am having problems with meditation. I suffer from migranes and have for a long time. And recently, went into menopause. That was fun too. Anyway, I'm not sure when I meditate if I suceed or not when I try to do it. My mind likes to wonder alot and visualization is null and void. I've started working with the book the Inner Temple of Witchcraft. I'm starting out as a beginner again! I hope to achieve a good meditative state. It's very frustrating to me as well.

I wish you luck Lyra and don't worry, you will achieve your meditative state again and get rid of those nasty migrains! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />