The Techniques Digest for Meditation

[forynav]

OK, so I thought (and now manifest ) it would be a good idea to have one thread that discusses the different techniques we use to reach a meditative state such as Alpha, Theta.

Maybe this thread could be made a sticky to have an easy reference for newbies like myself.

Let me start of by describing what I did and what I felt yesterday:

1. Put on binaural beats using earphones. The mp3 I listened to is: Binaural Beats - Theta MP3 : The Thoughts

2. I focused on my breath. Just regular breathing, but inhale and exhale a little more slowly. I inhale deep, till I get to the point where I feel "full" and then I slowly exhale.

I tried to count inhaling and holding and exhaling. I got tired of that (counting), and just focused on inhaling, holding, and then exhaling.

3. Also, I did autogenic mediation:

I am completely calm. x1
My right arm is very heavy. x6
I am completely calm. x1
My right arm is very warm. x6
I am completely calm. x1
My heartbeat is very calm. x6
I am completely calm. x1
My breathing is very regular. x6
I am completely calm. x1
My abdomen is very warm. x6
I am completely calm. x1
My forehead is very cool. x6
I am completely calm. x1

That's all.

Now, what I experienced was this:

1. I had weird random images and sounds (like mini-dreams) come into my mind. This is what happens when we are just about to sleep. The "just about to sleep" state is called Theta as far as I know.

I forced myself to again focus on my breathing because I thought these were distracting thoughts.

2. My left leg started twitching. Some 2 to 3 times, it did this. I was annoyed that this would get me out of the Theta state. But, it seems, as I read somewhere here, that this actually is a sign of Theta.

I just restarted the whole process. Didnt have any twitches the second time. And never could tell whether I reached Theta or not.

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I found this excellent post by Acting Like Godot to further help us:

Basically you can reach alpha in quite a number of different ways. The countdown technique taught in the Silva Method is just one way. (I am a Silva graduate, by the way).

No, there are no dangers into getting into this state.

How to tell whether you are in alpha? (Or for that matter, theta). Don't obsess too much about it, the main thing is that you have to get familiar with the state of being deeply relaxed, yet very conscious and alert. For most people, they only get to that kind of relaxation level when they sleep, but in sleep you won't be able to do any conscious creation with the LOA.

As you grow familiar with the alpha state, you will experience different sorts of physical sensations and you will learn, over time, to tell from these sensations how deeply you've gone. You can also read about these sorts of physical indicators in books about meditation or hypnosis, except that these book may not use the phrase "alpha state".

I think that the physical sensations vary from individual to individual. These are the types I get:

1. seeing lots of pulsating colours (purples, greens, blues) even though my eyes are closed;

2. sensation of the body growing very heavy or very light

3. tingling sensations in the hands / arms

4. sudden, odd, little twitches in different parts of the body. I think this is actually due to little muscles spontaneously relaxing and unknotting themselves in alpha relaxation

5. sensations of "sinking" deeply into your own mind (a "going down" sort of feeling, that is kind of "layered", like sinking through different layers)

[Wax Frog]

Ah, a "meditation symptom" post again! I've taken a break from it to concentrate on an emotion-unblocking process, but when I was doing it I got plenty of #1, mostly purple. I can also get to the point where I am virtually unable to feel my arms and legs. Not sure if I've experienced any of the other list items. BTW, I use a 'binaural' CD set called "Gamma Meditation System".

Since I've reason to believe I'm "doing OK" in the meditation department, I must again assume I have been doing something else incorrectly... I'm hoping the "unblocking" will have a positive impact on my soon-to-resume manifesting efforts!

WTTB!