How To Meditate
Firstly, it ought to be said that just as meditation is often practised as a personal affair, each individuals experience of it will be unique and personal too.

With practice and persistence, it will become an extremely beneficial and rewarding experience. In time, many will see shapes forming before their closed eyes. Some will see colours too. But don't be disillusioned if you don't see anything. It doesn't mean that nothing is happening.

So, to get started. Try the following:

1. Once you have Meditation Music.co.uk playing, sit in an upright chair with your back as straight as possible and close your eyes. Begin to breathe slowly, taking leisurely deep breaths, holding each one for a second or so.
   
   
2. Try to visualise a brilliant white light falling all over you. Showering you like water and calming you as it begins to saturate your entire body. As you breathe out, imagine that you are expelling any stress and anxiety from your body. Spend at least 30 seconds to a minute with this visualisation.
   
   
3. When you feel that you are sufficiently calm enough, start to breathe normally. Try to focus on an imaginary spot around four to five inches directly in front of you.
   
   
4. Now you should try to clear your mind of every thought. It may help to try and be aware of your breathing. Perhaps focusing on the rising and falling of your chest. All the time visualising the imagininary spot in front of your eyes. It can sometimes be of help to repeat a word in your head every time you breath out, such as "peace" or "calm" or whatever word you feel like using. DO NOT attempt to count numbers or say letters of the alphabet or anything incremental, as you will begin to concentrate on the sequence. Just a single word, or perhaps two words, one on the in breath and one on the out.
   
   
5. Attempt to maintain this for what feels like ten minutes or so. If thoughts come into your head, acknowledge them and let them go, trying to return to the "empty thought" state of mind. This is basic meditation. It won't be easy at first, but be assured that if you only actually manage to achieve two minutes out of ten in a meditative state, something positive has happened and the affects are cumulative. If you manage to do this once a day for seven consecutive days, you WILL notice a difference in yourself.

Some people find it intensely difficult to achieve a clear state of mind with their eyes closed (especially when they are attempting meditation for the first time), and prefer to stare at something while they do it. A candle flame is a popular choice. If you are having such problems, the image below may help. Just scroll down until the horizon is in the middle of your browser window. Don't worry if the top and bottom of the picture do not fit onto the screen. In fact it may be preferable if the very bottom of the picture is not visible.

Follow the procedure in steps 1&2 above, but when you get to step 3 open your eyes and concentrate on the horizon in the picture below instead.

Remember, ANY time spent while you are able to clear your mind is positive and contributes to your meditative achievements. You may not feel much in the beginning, but persist for a few days and you will definitely feel the benefits.