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Meditation is a valuable tool both to those on a spiritual pathway, as well as those simply seeking the fruits that silence has to offer. It can be used as a key to access and connect with the spiritual planes, as well as a tool with which to alleviate our levels of stress, and improve our overall health - in mind, body and soul! Firstly, let us explore exactly what meditation is and what it involves.

Why meditation?
There are several reasons as to why people seek meditation. There are those who seek it for spiritual reasons - to still the mind and allow space for the voice of Spirit of the Divine to be heard, and that is an art in itself. Stilling the mind takes practice.
Yet others seek meditation to bring peace and inner balance in a chaotic and stressfull world.

High levels of stress are a big problem in today's busy world, and many have found the benefits of a regime of exercise and/or meditation.
There has been much written on the benefits of meditation. It helps to decrease levels of stress and tension, which in turn achieves a healthier state of being. It encourages a more successful way of dealing with stress and tension than smoking for example. Many people I know smoke when they are stressed, and yet meditation is a far healthier form of stress control than a packet of cigarettes. Those who suffer from high blood pressure, heart problems, phobias, and fears are only some of those who would benefit greatly from regular meditation. Meditation means that we put aside some personal time where we can relax and ultimately reduce the level of anxiety and stress in our lives..

We live in a busy and chaotic, noisy world that is constantly demanding that we are ever vigilant, watchful, and ready for action. This constant demand means that we do not get the chance to allow our minds to be relaxed or peaceful, or quiet. How many of us put aside time to sit in the garden and simply sit in the moment and enjoy it? How many of us contemplate a butterfly, or watch the clouds float by, or enjoy the breeze on our faces - and if we do, how many of us are not thinking ahead? How many of us do not feel guilty for taking a few moments to do something beneficial and enjoyable for ourselves? Not Many!!

It is hardly surprising that we live in a society that has a rising incidence of depression, mental disorders, neuroses, anxiety and other stress related illnesses. Yet it is accepted that if we run a piece of machinery every minute of every day of every year without a break, it will overheat, breakdown and have a shortened life span. This is also true of our minds and our bodies.

Perhaps we could argue that sleep should be enough to rest and therefore bring balance and inner harmony. However, it seems that if we do not actively and regularly seek a meditative state in some form during our waking hours, then even our sleep may not be restful, deep or healing.

Certainly the world in which we live today, does not encourage us to seek inner harmony and a balance between mind, body and soul. Indeed the soul may not be considered at all!

Yet the result of regular meditation is that we function better on all levels in our daily lives. Sadly, many beleive that they have neither the time nor the inclination to spend a few moments in meditation even though meditation provides more energy and increased powers of coping.

So even if you are not seeking spiritual knowledge, growth or the path to enlightenment, time set aside for meditation is still a valuable pursuit for it will help you to become more rested and balanced. This in turn will help you to cope with your everyday life more effectively

Ways to Meditate
Many seek to learn the art of meditation in a class setting. Classes teaching meditation are fairly common even in smaller communities and can take a variety of forms. Many combine yoga with meditation. However, all seem to incorporate similar techniques to encourage menatl and physical relaxation.

These techniques may include soft relaxing music, subdued lighting such as candles or a darkened room, and the use of a soft tone of voice. A comfortable position - either sitting or lying down with pillows, blankets or rugs, is encouraged so that the body can be as comfortable as possible. If the body is not totally comfortable it will keep focusing on the discomfort rather than the meditation.

Lighting is important because harsh, bright lights are not conducive to meditation. Candles, lamps, or a drakened room all encouage relaxation. Some people also like to burn incense and there are some scents that are particularly meant for meditation or spiritual connection - so have fun looking and trying them out to see which you like. Remember that something overpowering will become a focus, so aim for a scent that is relatively unobtrusive.