Post: #41

(10-18-2011 01:23 PM)Luis_magalhaes Wrote:  I'm telling you, but don't use it, I don't want to be responsible if you turn into a zombie or something. I mix two doses of ibuprofen with two doses of paracetamol, 2 capsules of efeverscent concentrated vitamin C, 2 kiwis, 2 oranges, an egg, and a spoonfull of honey.

It hasn't killed me yet. But I still wouldn't recommend trying it.

Sounds slightly disgusting I dont really take ibuprofen or paracetamol (NSAIDs like ibuprofen arent great for you) so I dont think I'll be trying that part of your shake, but the ~500mg vitamin C, kiwis, honey and oranges bit sounds great to boost the immune system! I'd stick a powdered zinc (~30-40mg) in there too and some slippery elm to soothe the throat.

(10-18-2011 01:23 PM)Luis_magalhaes Wrote:  I just woke up very excited today, and as a started meditation I had a couple of really nice ideas to revamp one of my old websites.

That *is* exciting Is this the games one?

(10-18-2011 01:23 PM)Luis_magalhaes Wrote:  Plus during my dreams one of my old mentors congratulated me on the good job I am doing presently.

aw that's cool

(10-18-2011 01:23 PM)Luis_magalhaes Wrote:  So all in all, I was to excited to properly focus. I guess that's not too bad a reason.

In my opinion good excitement like this should be enjoyed I think rather than subdued by meditation! There's a time for everything, and today was a time to bathe in excitement

Post: #42

Yeah it's some neat ideas for my old gaming website. I need to scratch up a project and then make some time to go ahead with it, should make it a long weekend project.

And yes, it was a great way to start the day, it making meditation harder was just a minor annoyance.

Post: #43

(10-19-2011 04:04 AM)Luis_magalhaes Wrote:  Yeah it's some neat ideas for my old gaming website. I need to scratch up a project and then make some time to go ahead with it, should make it a long weekend project.

cool I'm sure your readers will be happy to receive any neat ideas you feel like bestowing on them!

Post: #44

Day 12:

Meditated sitting for 40 minutes. The usual soundtrack.

I went back to visualize my sanctuary, I hadn't done it for a while so some upkeep was necessary, but I did manage to visit and visualize all of it's parts.

So maybe next time I'll be able to add to it.

Today it felt quite good again. Back to being able to fall into a deeper meditative state.

Post: #45

Day 13:

Meditated for 43 minutes.

Nothing very new today, I think I'm settling into a pretty comfortable groove. It feels that my mind has emptied most trash now, it is much quieter than when I first started meditation.

Today I felt that I meditated quite deeply, in fact I'm unsure if I didn't fall asleep halfway during it. Have you guys and girls had that feeling before?

Post: #46

(10-20-2011 02:14 PM)Luis_magalhaes Wrote:  Day 13:

Meditated for 43 minutes.

Nothing very new today, I think I'm settling into a pretty comfortable groove. It feels that my mind has emptied most trash now, it is much quieter than when I first started meditation.

Today I felt that I meditated quite deeply, in fact I'm unsure if I didn't fall asleep halfway during it. Have you guys and girls had that feeling before?

At the beginning when I first started meditation I was actually lying down and I was falling asleep all the time

The Amazons: http://higherpotential.wordpress.com/

Post: #47

Hey Saf, thanks for posting, nice hearing from you.
That's also a good way to describe it, feeling lighter. I did not think of it that way, but it's true, I feel somewhat pulled up. Is it normal that it starts on my hands and then spreads along the body?

______________________________________________________________________Hey Luis...haven't been on the journals for a while...so I completely missed this post :-) It's different for everybody where it starts...when I first started feeling this "sensation" it started on my legs and hands which were on my knees, now I feel it in my upper back and my head to the point where my head starts lifting up straighter...it's pretty neat...I'm sure you will be experiencing this more and more as time goes on!

---

(10-20-2011 02:14 PM)Luis_magalhaes Wrote:  Day 13:

Meditated for 43 minutes.

Nothing very new today, I think I'm settling into a pretty comfortable groove. It feels that my mind has emptied most trash now, it is much quieter than when I first started meditation.

Today I felt that I meditated quite deeply, in fact I'm unsure if I didn't fall asleep halfway during it. Have you guys and girls had that feeling before?

____________________________________________________________________Hey Luis...I've definitely fallen asleep before and it's happened for me about halfway through as well! I think sometimes when your mind is empty and there isn't a lot of mental clutter left then it tries to shut down and makes you fall asleep...not really sure, or it could be a deeper awakening, they do say that once you meditate a lot you will reach a dream like state, so maybe this is the beginning?? Another thing to note is during my Vipassana and Yoga classes, the teachers always say that you shouldn't go into the void and stay in the present with the breath, this is supposed to be a more active meditation and through this you hear the conscious more clearly....just some things to consider...I guess

Post: #48

(10-20-2011 02:14 PM)Luis_magalhaes Wrote:  Today I felt that I meditated quite deeply, in fact I'm unsure if I didn't fall asleep halfway during it. Have you guys and girls had that feeling before?

This has happened to me only when doing guided meditations and *extremely* tired and lying down.. I actually started hearing myself snore Not sure if proper sleep is what happened to you though..

I wonder if in your case it might have been something like just reaching a trance-like state / activating the sleep-like brain waves etc. (Theta waves? something like that). I need to read more about what happens when these brain wave are activated.

(10-21-2011 04:12 AM)Saf Wrote:  Another thing to note is during my Vipassana and Yoga classes, the teachers always say that you shouldn't go into the void and stay in the present with the breath, this is supposed to be a more active meditation and through this you hear the conscious more clearly....just some things to consider..

Very interesting! It's quite easy to focus on the silence so much that you just get enveloped by the void and potentially just zone out completely into sleep land . Great tip about using your body's breath and sensations to keep you awake and present

Post: #49

(10-21-2011 04:12 AM)Saf Wrote:  when I first started feeling this "sensation" it started on my legs and hands which were on my knees, now I feel it in my upper back and my head to the point where my head starts lifting up straighter...it's pretty neat...I'm sure you will be experiencing this more and more as time goes on!

It feels pretty good, I really wish I could achieve it more often, it's very pleasing!

Quote:Hey Luis...I've definitely fallen asleep before and it's happened for me about halfway through as well! I think sometimes when your mind is empty and there isn't a lot of mental clutter left then it tries to shut down and makes you fall asleep...not really sure, or it could be a deeper awakening, they do say that once you meditate a lot you will reach a dream like state, so maybe this is the beginning?? Another thing to note is during my Vipassana and Yoga classes, the teachers always say that you shouldn't go into the void and stay in the present with the breath, this is supposed to be a more active meditation and through this you hear the conscious more clearly....just some things to consider...I guess

Yeah, I thought as much, that's why I even use a mantra, to try and keep me grounded on the present, but I somethings feel like I "black out" and when I come to myself I realize I've totally stopped with the mantra. So that's why I suspect, but am not sure, that I've fallen asleep.

(10-21-2011 05:13 AM)Leah Wrote:  I wonder if in your case it might have been something like just reaching a trance-like state / activating the sleep-like brain waves etc. (Theta waves? something like that). I need to read more about what happens when these brain wave are activated.

Hahaha I want to believe that, oh yes I do!
Thanks.

Post: #50

Day 14:

Today my head was still heavy, I guess I still got a bit of a cold. I'm sick of it so I decided this cold ends today.

As I meditated i focused on my mantra, and made a hard attempt to not lose consciousness. I think it worked pretty well and I even started feeling that tingly feeling on my extremities - it gets stronger if I tilt my head backwards.

I've never had that feeling as big as in the first time I had it, a shame, it feels really nice.

Well, I started visualizing myself on my sanctuary. This time I wasn't even looking at the sea or under a bit of wall, I was in the center, with the campfire behind me. I was feeling the rain wash over me, felt it wash me inside, course through my body and wash away the illness. I felt the wind and thunder joining in vortex above me and coming down to envelop me and purify.

After that, I left my sanctuary and kept meditating while focusing on my mantra. In whole, I meditated for 40 minutes.

I feel better now. I'm not naive enough to believe that my cold is gone just like that, but it will be soon.

I hope everyone has a nice meditation practice today.

Post: #51

aw I'm sorry you havent been feeling that great.

Sounds like a very creative use of visualization today! I love hearing when people create such cool ones. Good stuff! Fingers crossed it will speed up the healing process.

Post: #52

(10-22-2011 11:18 AM)Leah Wrote:  aw I'm sorry you havent been feeling that great.

Sounds like a very creative use of visualization today! I love hearing when people create such cool ones. Good stuff! Fingers crossed it will speed up the healing process.

Thanks! Well, I feel better today, so I don't really care what made me get better, I'm just happy to be.

Day 15:

(41 minutes)

I'm finding that I meditate bettwer after exercise and showering, I guess I'm less inclined to fall asleep.

I had another go at visualizing and keeping my mantra up but still no good, it's either one or the other.

Visualizing didn't work that well today, I just refreshed my memory of my sanctuary and then I worked on my mantra for consciousness.

On the last minute I started feeling quite cold, I wonder if it had anything to do with it, or if it was just my body losing warmth from not moving for 40 minutes.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Post: #53

Day 16:

Ahhh Sunday morning. I gave it the usual 40-minute shot, but I'm too tired from partying to have any productive meditation!

Did not feel like doing it at all, but obviously it felt good once I started, if only on a lazy, relaxing way.

No deep experiences to talk about today, but the breathing did help me clear out my airways a little bit.

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

Post: #54

Day 17:

Already day 17? This went by fast.

Today I was mostly recovering energy from a busy weekend. I visited my sanctuary again, and meditated for 42 minutes.

I had a repeat of my earliest vision, where I am descending some stone steps in the rain carrying someone. But this time it was different; I could see the person more clearly, it was a woman, I'm guessing around my age, with auburn hair. She didn't move or say anything, and her eyes were closed, but she was smiling.

I don't really recognize her, but I felt nice.

Unusually, after the meditation, I felt quite lazy.

Have a great week, everyone.

Post: #55

Serious kudos for keeping up your 40+ minutes a day so faithfully. I'm so impressed you are being so consistent!

Interesting vision

Post: #56

(10-25-2011 10:01 AM)Leah Wrote:  Serious kudos for keeping up your 40+ minutes a day so faithfully. I'm so impressed you are being so consistent!

Interesting vision

Thanks! It was hard on a couple of days, especially on weekends, but mostly it was ok. I'll probably cut back on it once the challenge ends, and still do it daily but only for 20 minutes or so, because it's cutting a bit into my writing time.

Day 18:

Usual 42 minutes of sanctuary meditation today, still with sounds of rain. New thing, though:

While meditating, it came to my mind the question of how to deal with someone in my workplace, as I wanted to ask her to do something for me but she's usually very grumpy.

My mind started running possible scenarios and at a certain point I felt like I should try to quiet it and just let things flow. And that's when another thought popped up - "Could I apply something that I learned from Dale Carnegie's How to Make Friends and Influence People ?"

Fascinatingly, with little effort on my part, my mind conjured up a version of Dale Carnegie himself, (well, how I imagine him to be, anyway, since I don't think I ever saw a photo) and he gave me short and to-the-point advice.

He then proceed to hang out in my sanctuary, which was pretty cool, but I couldn't bring myself to go talk to him, it just didn't feel right - I don't think I could do it, I didn't feel completely in control of what I was visualizing.

I wonder if he'll still be there tomorrow? Probably not, but I feel that if I try to visualize him, it will probably happen. I feel like I have broken a barrier of sorts.

Post: #57

Wow!! That's very exciting! Speaking to Dale Carnegie..! Certainly this is a great achievement! It is something I've never considered for a meditation - to talk to anyone who might be able to help with a situation. It's a fantastic idea!

Let us know what happens when you try out the advice!

Post: #58

(10-25-2011 10:55 PM)Leah Wrote:  Wow!! That's very exciting! Speaking to Dale Carnegie..! Certainly this is a great achievement! It is something I've never considered for a meditation - to talk to anyone who might be able to help with a situation. It's a fantastic idea!

Let us know what happens when you try out the advice!

Ah, the advice was pretty sound.

Basically it was to stop being an ass and do the thing myself, I can do it with little effort and would just be dumping it on an overworked colleague for my convenience.

I said he gave me advice, I never said he was nice to me.

Post: #59

For the past two days I gave one more shot to meditating lying down, mostly because I wasn't at home and couldn't use my usual chair.

Day 19: 40 minutes

I tried using the mantra to keep conscious, but it wasn't very successful. I suspect I might have fallen asleep once or twice before I finished. :/

Day 20: 43 minutes

Today I tried using a harder pillow to prop up my head. I think that worked, and I don't think I drifted out of consciousness so much. But I still don't think I can focus as well this way.

Also, today I used a name as a mantra, because there's a person I'd like to hear from. I could see fleeting images of that person during my meditation, I wonder if something will happen today.

Have a great day, everyone.

Post: #60

Well, those 21 days went by fast, hum?

Today I meditated for 40 minutes. It was a mix of simple, breathing meditation, and visualizing my sanctuary. I feel pretty comfortable there now.

Lets review my starting objectives:

Quote:1) Why I want to cultivate meditation?

Well, I mostly want to share the experience and hear from others doing the same.

I also want to use meditation to build a sanctuary inside my mind, an anchor to all that is me. Yes, I realize the concept may seem weird. And I'm not sure it is possible. But possible is overrated anyway, the impossible is much more fun.

Well, I did get an awesome experience following all of the meditation journals that I did. Everyone had a different yet meaningful experience, and I feel like I learned a lot about the effects and what to expect from meditation in others.

So thank you all for being awesome, and congratulations on the challenge. I'm just sorry I couldn't find the time to follow more people.

The sanctuary didn't go as well as I envisioned. I wanted a grand place full of memories and insights, and all I got was a lousy ruin on a rain-swept hill.

But I can't complain much , I enjoy ruins in rain-swept hills.

Quote:2) Time of my daily meditation?

Early in the morning, usually around 6 am, after my early morning run / exercise routine and my shower.

I was mostly able to stick to this; on the days after long nights out, when I overslept, I meditated on the evening.

Quote:3) Duration?

My usual is between 20 to 30 minutes, but I'd really like to extend it to 40.

Well, I was able to stick with 40 minutes per day, so am happy about that. I don't think I will keep it up - 20 minutes feels like enough for me, maybe I will do it twice a day though.

Quote:4) Type of meditation I am going to do?

So far traditional meditation with "Omm" as an anchor has been the best for me, but if I manage to build the sanctuary in my mind's eye, I may start using visual anchors from within it.

Again, this went as desired.

Quote:5) What I wish to get out of my 21-day meditation journey?

I wish to develop a better understanding of meditation and how different people deal with it, so it might inform me on how to teach it to others.

I wish to use it to create and visit a vast space in my mind where I may retire from the outside world at my whim.

I basically wish to end up a little bit wiser and a little bit more experienced than I have started. I'm pretty sure I'll manage at least this one.

Just like I said in the first point, all of this was achieve to some degree. So I guess it was a success.

Thank you everyone for being part of this journey, and especially to MissOhlsson, Leah, Andria Yiasmin, Claire R and livewellplayhard, that followed my journey and were always supportive with their comments. Oh, and thank you to Celes too that dropped by to say my picture looked nice.