Ohm Yeah: How to Meditate for Beginners

When I talk to others who aren’t as well versed with meditation, more often than not, the two things I hear most are, “I don’t know how to,” and “I have tried but I just can’t seem to turn off my mind/thoughts.” However, meditation is not an objective practice with a right and wrong way of doing it, and it most certainly is not about turning off one’s thoughts.

So, what is meditation all about?

Throughout this article, we will discuss what meditation is, common misconceptions about meditation, a step by step guide to meditation, and various techniques that will assist you in transcending yourself further.

What is the Art of Meditation?

At its core, meditation is a work of art. It requires steadfast dedication and practice to be able to tune into higher frequencies more rapidly and easily. As such, turning it from a new practice into a habit can be a difficult task. What makes meditation an artform is that it is a truly subjective practice, meaning that everyone has a different way of doing it that works for them. Not only does it enhance creativity and remove creative blockages, but the practice in and of itself is grounded in creative expression.

Meditation is simply the act of getting in touch with yourself on an intimate level and observing your inner workings with appreciation and wonder. When it comes to meditation, there are multiple kinds of meditations that strive to cultivate different energies and heal different wounds such as Kundalini, Mindfulness, Merkaba, and Chakra cleansing meditations.

I always enjoy envisioning meditation as “play time,” in that, your consciousness is the playground and meditation is the act of exploration. It is a practice that urges you into higher states of being through diving deep into yourself and discovering parts of yourself you didn’t know existed. So, relax. No matter what you do, you can’t make a mistake with meditation, and no matter what fear you feel as you traverse the uncharted terrain within yourself—don’t let it hinder your exploration—it is only you.

Misconceptions about Meditation

As I mentioned earlier, many people have misconceptions as to what exactly meditation is all about. One of the most common ones is that people think that stillness requires stopping one’s thoughts; however, this is a fallacy. Stillness is not the destination reached once thoughts are halted, but rather, it is the silence beneath the noise—the space in between the thoughts.

Another misconception is that one must adhere to the traditional stereotype of meditation—cross-legged, palms up, incense burning and repetitive mantras — but yet again, this isn’t so. Meditation is acting out of one’s own personal freedom and furthering one’s liberation. It is also about stepping into the unknown within oneself and granting oneself the courtesy of surprise. I can guarantee you that in practicing meditation you will discover your capacity to be more than you ever thought possible.

So, let’s get into the process I have found to be most beneficial.

Step by Step Meditation for Beginners

1. Safe space: To get the full effect, it is important to make sure that the environment in which one is meditating propagates a sense of peace and calm. This can be done through lighting incense, sage or palo santo, using candlelight, and putting on some binaural beats or relaxing instrumental music (music with words can tend to create a distraction and pull one’s attention away from the self and onto the lyrics).
2. Pose: Whether you are sitting in a chair, sitting in the traditional lotus pose, or lying down, it is important that you are comfortable, yet alert. Otherwise, there is a possibility that you may fall asleep during the process.
3. Physical Awareness: As you dive into yourself, you will want to begin by directing your awareness to your breathing. Breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth is a great way to welcome in deeper states of consciousness. It is also important to breathe with your belly and not your shoulders—this too will promote further relaxation.Once you are tuned into your breathing and in a normal pattern, bring your attention to your pulse. Feel it throughout your body—in your temples, your eyes, your fingertips, your toes, etc. —and appreciate the life force that is moving through you.

   From here, spend some time giving appreciation and gratitude for the whole of your physical being—how your voice sounds, how your nose looks, the shape of your lips, the color of your hair, your reproductive organs, the color of your eyes, etc. —and really spend some time loving yourself.

4. Psychic Awareness: Next, bring your awareness to your mind. Allow your thoughts to come and go freely and simply observe them like a television screen. If you begin to notice negative thoughts, simply allow them to be. In the end, it is only you.After you have spent ample time watching your thoughts and showing them appreciation and gratitude, it is time to fall into the silence beneath the noise.
5. Spiritual Awareness: After the following steps have been conducted, you can fall through the cracks in between the thoughts and find what is called inner peace or stillness. It is in this space that you will discover a warm emptiness within you that is the very core of your being, where you come from, and where you will return to. Some refer to this space as God, Consciousness, Yahweh or Qi. Relish in this vibrational space as long as you please.
6. The Return: Once you have spent ample time exploring yourself and getting in touch with your spirit, you can return this physical reality. In doing so, simply acknowledge each level you have transcended with gratitude and appreciation as you climb back up the rungs of the ladder. Once you have given appreciation to your spirit, your psyche, and your body, you can open your eyes and become present in your physical self once again.

Now, this is not the only way to meditate — it is important to remember that — however, this is the template I use when guiding beginners, and it is a great way to get into the practice.

Well, there you have it, a beginner’s guide to the beautiful art of meditation. I hope that the information that this article finds you well, and moreover, that your bouts of self-exploration are more abundant than you could ever imagine.