Enter the Wiccan Realm
Home | Shrine of the Goddess | The Horned God? | Musings | The Moon | Correspondences | Beginners Section | Book Of Shadows | Divination | Sabbats | Summer Solstice Ritual | Dedication and the magickal life | Tools of the Craft | The Elements and the Angels | Herbal Grimoire | Magickal names | Meditation
Meditation

Here are some styles of meditation for beginners or intermediates.

Centering and Grounding


When performing meditation, or preparing for a ritual or rite, often it necessary for you to allow yourself a way to clear out any doubts or wandering thoughts. This is called centering and grounding because this process is approached in tow separate parts. First, before beginning anything else, not surroundings, make sure you are comfortable if you are planning to meditate, and then I steady your breathing.


Centering - Center yourself by slowly bringing you awareness inward. Since we spend most of our lives focusing outward it may take some practice to become comfortable with this idea. This is also the time when you have the wandering
thoughts those things that just pop into your head, like what to make for dinner, the meeting you have next week, etc. The hardest part of centering is letting these thoughts come for a time, then simply putting them aside to focus on yourself and what you are about to do. It sounds easy, but think of it another
way how many times have you tried to fall asleep and couldn't because these thoughts kept popping into your mind. Same thing, only your goal is to remain awake! Or at least, to relax enough for meditation, but not so far as to fall asleep.

Grounding - Grounding is a two part process: first to allow any lingering negative thoughts to flow harmlessly away, and second to provide yourself a stable link while you are working. One way is to start by connecting to the Earth through your feet. See it as a cord of energy from your body that reaches down into the Earth, and a similar cord that reaches up to you from the Earth, with the two cords weaving together. Through this cord allow any energy buildup to drain down into the Earth, Knowing that it will be harmlessly dispersed, and feel the stability of the Earth. This is also a major point to remember when working magic: if you do not allow yourself an outlet for the excess energy you have built up, it will remain with you. This is why many Witches cast circles for magical workings, it contains energy until released

Shape-Shifting Meditation


From "Animal Magick" by D.J. Conway

Prepare yourself for the meditaion by being in a quiet room, relaxing the body, and dumping your problems.

Visualize yourself face to face with a leopard. (You can choose any cat you wish.) Feel yourself slowly merging with the leopard until you can look through it's eyes at the scenery around you. The darkness of night is falling around you. You are lying on a limb of a jungle tree. Notice that the way a leopard uses its senses differently from your perceptions. Sniff the breeze; try to sort out the odors that come to you. Feel the breeze ripple through your fur. Be aware of the tree bark beneath you as you flex your claws.

You jump down the tree and glide quietly through the grass toward a water hole. Your ears turn from side to side as you listen to every noise around you. When you reach the water hole, there is a hyena already there. You challenge it with a snarl. You feel your ears flatten against your head, your lips pull back to expose strong white teeth. The hyena flees.

You crouch at the water's edge and lap the cool water. Even while you are drinking, you are constantly aware of what is happening around you. Your senses are highly alert. The rising Moon shines into the water. Licking the last water drops from your whiskers, you stretch and pad back into the high grass.

Now, pull your consciousness back from the leopard and watch it fade away into the darkness. Become aware of your physical body and slide back into it.