Meditation is used to relax the mind, to focus and train your mind to harness energies and ideas which are around it. It allows people to gain control of their thoughts and emotions. It allows one to focus on a particular thought or emotion, helping to find answers in chaos and in peace.
Meditation can be used for spiritual enlightenment, helping one gain insight into themselves and their motivations. It can open one up to themselves and that which lies within.
Meditation can also help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and aid in concentration. One does not have to be Religious or spiritual to benefit from meditation, although many faiths practice it as a way to get closer to the divine.
You may Meditate for as long or as short as you wish. You may meditate many times a day or once a year. There is nothing saying that you HAVE to meditate twice a day for at least 45 minutes at a time. Let it come naturally. Open yourself up to your natural rhythms and your natural pace. Don't force yourself into doing anything which your body does not want to do. Remember, no pain means no pain. Do not over work yourself; even meditation can be strenuous.

~~Meditation Techniques~~

Well, to prepare, find a place and relax. Sit in a way which is most comfortable for you. You might want some music playing or perhaps silence, that is up to you. Remember that you don't want to be suddenly jolted out of meditation. Make sure the lighting is not distracting and the temperature is comfortable. I have noticed that when you are not comfortable Meditating, the displeasure of these things consumes your thoughts and meditation is hard. Make sure that you won't be bothered in any way when you start your Meditation.
The most important thing in meditation is being relaxed. Aloow your mind and body to slip into a relaxed state. remember, one cannot relax without the other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Basic Meditation~

1. Breath slowly and deeply, keeping a steady rhythm.
2. Relax, allow all tension to be released from every muscle in your body.
3. Try to control your heart rate through steady breathing. This will help reduce blood pressure and stress in your muscles.
4. Clear you mind. Try not to dwell on any one thought. If you have trouble with this, try thinking about everything at once, this generally helps you draw a blank.
5. Try to Focus your energies on melding into the earth. Attuning themselves with the power and solidity which resides within it. This is refered to as grounding. Picture the earth energies rising up around you while you root your own energies into the ground.
6. Focus your energies inward. Allow yourself to become one with them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Egyptian Sun Meditation~

Find a place in the sun, if it is possible this works best outdoors, if not a sunny spot by a window works well too. Get a comfortable chair and sit with your back straight, your legs together and your palms resting on your thighs. Close your eyes and feel the warmth of the sun on your body, let it relax you. When you feel relaxed, imagine the sun as a glowing golden ball floating just over your head, feel that this ball has a strong masculine personality that knows and loves you. When this feeling is strong, imagine a beam of light shooting out of the ball and entering your head through your third eye (middle of the forehead) feel the light entering your head and cleansing your mind of negative thoughts and energy. Next, imagine a second beam coming from the ball and entering your throat. This beam cleanses your aura, burning negative energy and outside unbalances away. Now you should imagine a third beam entering your heart. The energy should warm and comfort you, bringing your emotions into harmony. Imagine a fourth beam entering your stomach, this beam energizes your body, providing nourishment and leaving you feeling healthy and invigorated. Now raise your hands to the ball, palm up in the egyptian sign of worship. Imagine a fifth and a sixth beam piercing your palms. The energy that flows here should bring you in tune with nature and the universe. Rest in this position as long as you feel comfortable, allowing the sun's energy to cleanse and invigorate you. When you feel ready to stop, cross your arms over your chest and gather the beams to your body making them one with your essence. Imagine the golden ball gently withdrawing and drifting back to it's place in the sky. When it has completely retreated open your eyes. The meditation is complete.

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Rainbow Crystal Meditation ~

Lying in a comfortable position on your back, place a quartz crystal on your third eye and allow the tension to melt out of your body. When you are relaxed, see a beam of pure white energy entering through the crystal and suffusing your body. As the energy flows through the crystal see the light shifting until it is a deep red, let the red light fill you. Next, see the light shifting to orange, then yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, letting each color suffuse and permeate you before proceeding to the next. When you reach violet, you should be in a deep trance state, and feel a warm tingling filling your body. This meditation can be used alone or as preparation for some other meditation or magickal operation like astral projection, or spell casting.

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Passive Meditation (Single Focus Meditation)~

1. Clear you aura of any negativities. Picture The earth rising up around you and forming a circle around your body. Then within this circle, picture the fires of clensing and purification surrounding you. This should ground you as well as get rid of any negativities which have been attatched to you.
2. Pull in the energies which surround you. Create a center within yourself of these energies. Feel them within yourself and balance your own energies to them. Let everything around you flow openly.
3. Clear you mind. Allow your self to relax further into yourself.
7. Create an image in your mind. It can be of anything, a flower, a person, a shape, etc. Allow this image to become a part of you.
8. Allow the image to blur in your mind. Become a part of the image and allow yourself to feel the energies within it.
9. Relax into the absence of activity in your mind. Let everything around you be still and silent. Allow the energies around you to settle.
10. Allow yourself to drift back into an active mind. You should feel refreshed and energiezed.

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Active Meditation~

1. Do steps 1-6 the same as the Passive Meditation.
2. Create a picture in you mind's eye. Make it as complex or as simple as you want.
3. Allow the picture to evolve into whatever you want. Let the images focus into yourself. Allow the meaning to let itself flow with the energies around you and within you.
4. Try to put yourself in the images which you see. Understand how they relate to you and the energies present in your life.
5. Relax into a Passive Meditation. see where your thoughts have taken you.
6. Relax into a silent, restful state.
7. Allow your mind to become active as you see fit.