Meditation – Getting Started

On March 12, 2009October 27, 2013 By RosemaryIn Alternative Therapy, Healing, Holistic Therapy, Natural Healing

Candles, Orchid and Some White Pebbles Any body can learn to meditate. All it takes is patience and perseverance. You don’t have to be religious or into any new age philosophy. When you decide to give it a go, you need to create the right conditions.

Your Meditation Space
It would be ideal to set aside a room which is kept for meditation only, so the spiritual energy you generate can build up and cleanse the room. However, this is the ideal and if you are unable to have the luxury of a separate meditation room choose a space perhaps in the corner of your bedroom, where you can sit and meditate without being disturbed. The area ideally will be simply furnished; all you need is an upright chair (not an armchair or comfy chair) and a table. Keep the space/room neat and tidy; open the window frequently to let fresh air circulate to cleanse it. Decorate with uplifting pictures, perhaps some crystals, candles, fresh flowers and some relaxing music in the background. This is your special place, your sanctuary.
Try to make time to meditate for 15 minutes morning or evening to start, increasing to 30 minutes or more when you become more experienced. The quality of the meditation is far more important than the quantity. Early morning is generally considered the best time for meditation, before you become absorbed in the business of the day. Choose a time which suits you and stick to it. Regular practise helps to condition and train the brain/mind. The more you meditate the easier it becomes.

Posture
The traditional posture is the lotus position, particularly in the East. However if we have not grown up doing yoga this can be uncomfortable and put you off meditation. Therefore, we can meditate just as well on a chair providing it is firm and upright. Your spine needs to be erect, your body should be relaxed and your feet firmly on the floor, hands resting lightly on your knees. The main rule for meditation is to be comfortable, this includes clothing. The purpose is to forget about the body so the mind can be free. The room should be dim and restful, not too dark that you doze off. The temperature should be warm but not stuffy and hot. Adhering to these guidelines will help you to adopt the correct mental attitude – and you will be less likely to fall asleep.
When you first start, it can be hard to ignore the noise around you. You are in a very sensitive state when you meditate, so loud noises and interruptions can jar the nerves. So ask family and friends not to disturb you, take the phone of the hook and shut the door. In order to meditate effectively you need to be relaxed. Most people carry far more tension than they realise, both in the body and in the mind. Until you are able to release this tension, it is harder to enter a condition of stillness. There are many relaxation meditations available on the internet, or you can just focus on your breathing.

You are now ready to begin a journey of self discovery.

If you would like to find out more about the benefits to the body meditation has read my previous post on Meditation here.

If you still find it hard to meditate, and would like to release your everyday tension, please contact me, I can work with you using Energy Healing to help you relax so your mind, body and spirit can work together, the result will be a balance of thought, awareness and well-being. It is in this state that healing of other illness can occur on multiple levels. Meditation can also help balance our seven chakras.
Please contact me to find out more information on meditation or to book a session.

About Meditation and the Benefits

On March 10, 2009August 24, 2019 By RosemaryIn Alternative Therapy, Healing, Holistic Therapy, Natural Healing1 Comment

Meditation is good for personal development and feeling of calm and peace. Regular meditation has been known to greatly reduce depression. If you haven’t done meditation before you need to build up slowly, and find a way of meditating which suits you personally. Feelings of emotional discomfort can accompany meditation; it may bring blocked issues to the forefront of your mind, which you may find a need to heal. The conscious mind is the tip of the iceberg, the unconscious mind lies beneath this, and beneath that lies the level of consciousness of which we are all joined, the universal consciousness.

There are different levels of the mind, caused by the different brainwaves explained below.

Beta (13- 40 cycles per second)
Beta is associated with our waking activity. During a day we experience all the brainwave patterns with a predominance of Beta.

Alpha (8-13 cycles per second)
The first pattern discovered in 1908 by an Austrian Psychiatrist named Hans Berger. Alpha pattern appears when in wakefulness where there is a relaxed and effortless alertness. Light meditation and day dreaming. It is recommended practicing your creative visualization and auto-suggestion technique in alpha state.

Theta (4-7 cycles per second)
Associated with creativity, dreams and Extra-sensory perception for the student the theta state is something to learn to go at will.

To obtain these different levels you have to quiet the mind by concentrating on a mantra or your breathing. The times you feel most resistant to meditating is the time your body will need it the most. Meditation puts you in contact with the things that are buried in the unconscious mind. The reason we bring our subconscious painful memories to the surface is because they are affecting our lives today. Just because we do not remember them does not mean they are not influencing our lives. Many of the beliefs upon which we run our lives rest on decisions we made as a child. Meditation can help you work through and overcome fears that stop us being our true selves. Meditation also helps you find that place within where you feel calm and peaceful at all times, even when life is tough. You will feel happier, be able to make changes when you want to, accept and be in the present and plan for you future.

Research – Benefits to the body

Improved Health
A study of health insurance statistics of 2000 people practising meditation consistently over a five year period revealed that their rate of hospitalisation was less than half of the other groups with comparable age, gender, profession, and insurance terms. Meditators also had fewer incidents of illness in 17 medical treatment categories. Some of the results were quite outstanding; 87% less admissions for cardiovascular disease, 55% less cancer, 87% less for diseases of the nervous system, 73% less for nose throat and lung problems. Psychosomatic Medicine 1987.

Lower Blood Pressure
At the Harvard Medical School Dr. Herbert Benson found that meditators develop what he calls the “relaxation response” to difficult or dangerous situations. This is a much healthier response than the very common “fight or flight” reaction. He also observed that during meditation the heart rate decreases on average by three beats a minute, and that the rate of breathing also decreases. The blood pressure of those who have hypertension is reduced during meditation. Dr.Benson found that all the traditional methods of meditation evoke this response. He also found that four basic elements are needed. They are in a quiet environment, an object for the attention to dwell on, a comfortable posture and, above all a non-discriminatory attitude towards meditation. This is exactly what the Buddha taught two thousand five hundred years ago.

Reduced Anxiety
A study conducted at Stanford University reported a reduced level of anxiety among the participants who meditated. Journal of Clinical Psychology (1989)

Decreased Stress
A study of meditators showed a reduction in plasma cortisol, a stress hormone, during and after meditation. Hormones and Behaviour (1978)

Deep Rest
A scientific measure of deep rest is the amount of basal skin resistance and lower respiration rates. Experiments comparing meditation to resting with eyes closed have shown that meditation is significantly more effective. Similarly meditation also reduces the amount of lactate (a root cause of anxiety, panic attacks and high blood pressure). American Psychologist (1987)

Reversal of the Aging Process
A study group of long-term meditators (practising meditation for five years or more) were physiologically twelve years younger than their chronological age, as measured by reduction of blood pressure, and better near-point vision and auditory discrimination. Short-term meditators were physiologically five years younger than their chronological age. The study controlled for the effects of diet and exercise. International Journal of Neuroscience 1982.

Increased Perception and Memory
College students instructed in meditation displayed significant improvements in performance over a two-week period on a perceptual and short-term memory test involving the identification of familiar letter sequences presented rapidly. They were compared with subjects randomly assigned to a routine of twice-daily rest with eyes closed, and with subjects who made o change in their daily routine. Memory and Cognition (1982)

In a basic Energy Healing session you will be encouraged to relax and go to the Alpha level, where the mind, body and spirit work together, the result is a balance of thought, awareness and well-being that is unmatched. It is in this state that healing can occur on multiple levels. This includes our seven chakras.

Please contact me to find out more information on meditation or to book a session.

Chakra Balancing

On February 10, 2009October 27, 2013 By RosemaryIn Alternative Therapy, Chakras, Healing, Holistic Therapy, Natural Healing, Pamper Events

The purpose of a Chakra Balance healing.

In most people most of the time there are imbalances between the front and rear aspect of each chakra and between the seven main chakras. An imbalance means that there is more energy moving through one part than another. This creates an unbalanced personality and physical body. Often when one aspect is tense, contracted or shut down then the energy will try to flow in a vicarious way.

So for instance if someone is scared of showing their loving feelings so that the front of their heart chakra is contracted, then the rear aspect will overcompensate by expanding, such that they become overly willful.

So this technique is to help create balance, even out energy flow and improve ‘communication’ between the different aspects of ourselves
A chakra balance healing is often done as part of an energy healing session rather than on its own.

For more information on the therapies Soul Essence offer visit my therapy pages or contact me

If you would like to receive a 20 minute chakra balancing healing come along to a pamper event

More information on each chakra see my previous posts

Crown Chakra – Where it is and what it relates to

On January 27, 2009March 14, 2023 By RosemaryIn Alternative Therapy, Chakras, Healing, Holistic Therapy, Natural Healing7 Comments

Common problems are the chakras’ being blocked, excessive (over active) and deficient (under active).
Energy Healing can balance your chakras by channelling colour, light and love to them and restructuring if necessary.

Each chakra has a different psychological aspect I will cover the Crown (Sahasrara(thousandfold)) chakra located in the cerebral cortex here:-

The Crown chakra is the last of the seven major chakras and the colour is violet to white. It is related to God, religion or spirituality, connection to the divine and trust. Your negative thoughts and fears around God, religion, universal source and trusting your intuition, will unbalance or block this chakra

Issues: – Transcendence – Immanence (to remain within the mind) – Belief systems – Higher power – Divinity – Union – Vision.

Developmental Phase: – Early adulthood and after.

Balanced Characteristics: – Ability to perceive, analyze and assimilate information – Intelligent, thoughtful, aware – Open minded, able to question – Spiritually connected – Wisdom and mastery, broad understanding.

Traumas and Abuses: – Withheld information – Education that does not encourage curiosity – Forced religiosity – Invalidation of one’s beliefs – Blind obedience(no rigt to question or think for oneself) – Misinformation, lies – Spiritual abuse.

Symptoms of Deficiency: – Spiritual cynicism – Learning difficulties – Rigid belief systems – Apathy – Excess in lower chakras – Materialism, greed, domination of others.

Excessive Symptoms: – Over intellectualisation – Spiritual addiction – Confusion – Dissociation from body.

You can have deficient and excessive symptoms in a chakra depending on circumstances.

Glands and Parts of Body Chakra Effects: – Pituitary – CNS – Cerebral Cortex

Physical Malfunctions: – Coma – Migraines – Brain tumours – Amnesia – Cognitive delusions.

Healing Practices: – Re-establish physical, emotional connection if chakra is excessive – Re-establish spirit connection if chakra is deficient – Learning and study – Spiritual discipline – Meditation – Psychotherapy: – Examine belief systems – Develop inner witness – Work with higher powers

Affirmations
– Divinity resides within
-I am open to new ideas
– Information I need comes to me
– The world is my teacher
– I am guided by higher power
– I am guided by inner wisdom.

More information on each chakra see my previous posts

Download my Chakra e-book for more information on the seven chakras.

For more information on the therapies Soul Essence offers visit my therapies page

Third Eye, Brow Chakra – Where it is and what it relates to

On January 25, 2009October 27, 2013 By RosemaryIn Alternative Therapy, Chakras, Healing, Holistic Therapy, Natural Healing6 Comments

Each chakra has a different psychological aspect I will cover the Brow (Ajina(to perceive and command)) chakra located in the forehead, brow, carotid plexus, third eye here:-

The brow, third eye chakra is surrounded by energy and radiates a deep indigo blue colour. Doreen Virtue says “your third eye records a movie of your life, including everything you think, feel and do. It also records all the emotions felt by everyone with whom you come into contact. After you pass on to the other side you will watch this movie during a life review”. The third eye is related to the future, past and beliefs about spirits. Your negative thoughts and fears around the past, future and your spiritual beliefs will unbalance or block this chakra

Issues: – Image – Intuition – Imagination – Visualization – Insight – Dreams – Vision.

Developmental Phase – Adolescence

Balanced Characteristics – Intuitive – Perceptive – Imaginative – Good memory – Good dream recall – Able to think symbolically – Able to visualize.

Traumas and Abuses: – What you see doesn’t go with what you are told – Invalidation of intuition and psychic occurrences – Ugly or frightening environment (war zone violence).

Symptoms of Deficiency – Insensitivity – Poor vision – Poor memory – Difficulty seeing future – Lack of imagination – Difficulty visualizing – Poor dream recall – Denial (can’t see what’s going on) – Monopolarised (one true right and only way)

Excessive Symptoms – Hallucinations – Delusions – Obsessions – Difficulty concentrating – Nightmares.

You can have deficient and excessive symptoms in a chakra depending on circumstances.

Glands and Parts of Body Chakra Effects: – Pineal – Eyes – Base of skull – Brow

Physical Malfunctions: – Headaches – Vision problems

Healing Practices: Create visual art – Visual stimulation – Meditation – Psychotherapy: – Colouring an drawing art therapy – Working with memory – Connecting image with feeling – Hypnosis – Guided visualisations – Past life regression therapy.

Affirmations
– I see all things in clarity
– I am open to the wisdom within
– I can manifest my vision.

More information on each chakra see my previous posts

For more information on the therapies Soul Essence offer visit my therapies page

Throat Chakra – Where it is and what it relates to

On January 22, 2009October 27, 2013 By RosemaryIn Alternative Therapy, Chakras, Healing, Holistic Therapy, Natural Healing7 Comments

ach chakra has a different psychological aspect I will cover the Throat (Vissudha(purification)) chakra located in the throat, adams apple area, pharyngeal plexus here:-

The Throat chakra spins at a fast speed, and is one of the upper chakras and the colour is sky blue. It is related to speaking your truth, communication and asking for your needs to be met. Your negative thoughts and fears around giving and receiving love and relationship attachments will unbalance or block this chakra

Issues: – Communication – Creativity – Listening – Resonance – Finding one’s own voice.

Developmental Phase: 7 to 12 years

Balanced Characteristics – Resonant voice – Good listener – Good sense of timing and rhythm – Clear communication – Lives creatively.

Traumas and Abuses: Lies mixed messages – Verbal abuse, constant yelling – Excessive criticism (blocks the creativity) – Secrets (threats for telling) – Authoritarian parents, not allowed to talk back – Alcoholic, chemical – dependant family (don’t talk, don’t trust, don’t feel)

Symptoms of Deficiency – Fear of speaking – Small weak voice – Difficulty putting feelings into words – Introversion, shyness – Tone deaf – Poor rhythm.

Excessive Symptoms – Too much talking, talking as a defense – Inability to listen, poor auditory comprehension – Gossiping – Dominating voice – Interruptions.

You can have deficient and excessive symptoms depending on circumstances.

Glands and Parts of Body Chakra Effects: – Thyroid – Parathyroid – Throat – Ears – Mouth – Shoulders – Neck

Physical Malfunctions – Disorders or the throat, ears, voice, neck – Tightness of the jaw – Toxicity (related to the chakra’s name, which means purification) .

Healing Practices: – Loosen neck and shoulders – Release voice – Singing, chanting, toning – Storytelling – Journal writing – Automatic writing – Practise silence if chakra is in excess – Non goal orientated creativity. Psychotherapy: – Learn communication skills – Complete communications – Letter writing – Inner child communication – Voice dialog.

Affirmations
– I hear and speak the truth
– I express myself with clear intent
– Creativity flows in and through me
– My voice is necessary.

More information on each chakra see my previous posts

For more information on the therapies Soul Essence offer visit my therapies page

Heart Chakra – Where is it and what does it relate to

On January 20, 2009October 27, 2013 By RosemaryIn Alternative Therapy, Chakras, Healing, Holistic Therapy, Natural Healing9 Comments

Each chakra has a different psychological aspect I will cover the Heart (Anahata) chakra located in the centre of the chest, heart, cardiac plexus here:-

The heart chakra spins at a medium fast speed, and is the beginning of the upper chakras and the colour is grass green. It is related to your relationships, love, people attachments and forgiveness or un-forgiveness. Your negative thoughts and fears around giving and receiving love and relationship attachments will unbalance or block this chakra

Issues – Love – Balance – Self-love – Relationships – Intimacy – Anima / animus – Devotion – Reaching out and taking in.

Developmental Phase – 4 to 7 years

Balanced Characteristics: – Compassionate – Loving – Empathetic – Self loving – Altruistic – Peaceful, balanced – Good immune system.

Traumas and Abuses – Rejection, abandonment, loss – Shaming, constant criticism – Abuses to any other chakra particularly the lower ones – Unacknowledged grief, including parents’ grief – Divorce, death of a loved one – Loveless, cold environment – Conditional love – Sexual or physical abuse – Betrayal.

Symptoms of Deficiency: – Antisocial, withdrawn, cold – Critical, judgemental, intolerant of self and others – Loneliness, isolation – Depression – Fear of intimacy, Fear of relationships – Lack of empathy – Narcissism.

Excessive Symptoms: – Co-dependency – Poor boundaries – Demanding – Clinging – Jealousy – Overly sacrificing.
You can have symptoms from excessive and deficiency depending on circumstances.

Glands and Parts of Body Chakra Effects: – Thymus – Lungs – Heart – Circulatory system – Arms – Hands

Physical Malfunctions – Disorders of the heart, lungs, thymus, breasts, arms – Shortness of breath – Sunken chest – Circulation problems – Asthma – Immune system deficiency – Tension between shoulder blades, pain in chest.

Healing Practices -Breathing exercises, pranayama(breath control) – Work with arms, reaching out, taking in – Journaling, self discovery – Psychotherapy: Examine assumptions about relationships – Emotional release of grief – Forgiveness when appropriate – Inner Child work – Co-dependency work – Self acceptance – Anima-animus integration(balance of masculine and feminine energies).

Affirmations
-I am worthy of love
-I am loving to myself and others
-There is an infinite supply of love
-I live in balance with others.

More information on each chakra see my previous posts

For more information on the therapies Soul Essence offer visit my therapies page

Solar Plexus Chakra- Where is it and what does it relate to

On January 18, 2009October 27, 2013 By RosemaryIn Alternative Therapy, Chakras, Healing, Holistic Therapy, Natural Healing13 Comments

solarplexuscol — Solar Plexus Chakra Symbol

Chakras exist on all levels of the human energy field, some as connections between the levels. If functioning well they act as anchors between these levels.
Light energy and love is always trying to get through the vortices.
When we get inspiration this is energy moving.
We should not let emotions, feelings within get suppressed. We should process these feelings and by feeling them, understand and let go.Common problems are the chakras’ being blocked, excessive (over active) and deficient (under active).
Energy Healing can balance your chakras by channelling colour, light and love to them and restructuring if necessary.

Each chakra has a different psychological aspect I will cover the Solar Plexus (Manipura) chakra located in the naval, solar plexus here:-

The solar plexus chakra spins faster than the root and sacral chakra, the colour is therefore yellow. It is related to your power and control. Your negative thoughts and fears around others trying to overpower you, control you, or a major desire to gain power will unbalance or block this chakra

Issues – Energy – Activity – Autonomy – Individuation – Will – Self-esteem – Proactivity – Power.

Developmental Phase – 18 months to 4 years.

Balanced Characteristics: – Responsible, reliable – Balanced, effective will – Good self-esteem – Balanced ego-strength – Warmth in personality – Confidence – Spontaneity, playfulness, sense of humour – Appropriate self discipline – Sense of one’s personal power – Able to meet challenges.

Traumas and Abuses – Shaming – Authoritarianism – Volatile situations – Domination of will – Physical abuse, dangerous environment, fear of punishment – Enmeshment – age inappropriate responsibilities (parentified child) – inherited shame from parent

Symptoms of Deficiency – Low energy – Weak will, easily manipulated – Poor self discipline and follow through – Low self esteem – Cold, emotionally and or physically – Poor digestion – Collapsed middle – Attraction to stimulants – Victim mentality, blaming of others – Passive – Unreliable.

Excessive Symptoms – Overly aggressive, dominating, controlling – Need to be right, have last word – Manipulative, power hungry, deceitful – Attraction to sedatives – Temper tantrums, violent outbursts – Stubbornness – Driving ambition (Type A personality) – Competitive – Arrogant – Hyperactive.
You can have symptoms in both depending on circumstances.

Glands and Parts of Body Chakra Effects: – Pancreas – Adrenals – Digestive system – Liver – Gall bladder

Physical Malfunctions – Eating disorders – Digestive disorders, ulcers – Hypoglycaemia, diabetes – Muscle spasms, muscular disorders – Chronic fatigue – Hypertension – Disorders of stomach, pancreas, gall bladder, liver.

Healing Practices – Risk taking if chakra is deficient – Grounding and emotional contact – Deep relaxation, stress control if chakra is excessive – Vigorous exercise – Martial arts – Sit ups – Psychotherapy: build ego strength; release or contain anger; work on shame issues; strengthen the will; encourage autonomy

Affirmations :
-I honour the power within me
-I accomplish tasks easily and effortlessly
-The fire within me burns
-Through all blocks and fears
-I can do whatever I will do.

More information on each chakra see my previous posts

For more information on the therapies Soul Essence offer visit my therapies page