ABCs of MEDITATION

About ABCs of MEDITATION

Francesca C. Simon is a contributor on Quora.com, writing about meditation, mysticism, creative visualization, law of attraction, creative writing, tarot and qabalah. This podcast is dedicated to teaching you the ABCs of Meditation. She will discuss simple techniques to help you begin your exploration into meditation. #TogetherWeGrow Francesca C. Simon VISIT MY SPACES ON Quora.com ABCs of Meditation Tarot Psychology Creative Visualization Meditative Moments Francesca Poetess

Publisher

Francesca Simon

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Dec 2020

Latest episode

20 Jun 2021

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Jun 2021

   ABCs of MEDITATION: “L” is for LOST Summer Solstice Meditation

   This summer solstice can be a time for a new beginning. We are entering the season of natures abundance. It is a time when the world is filled with brightness and our efforts, so far this year, begin to bear fruit. but for many individuals there is a feeling of being lost. We are just beginning to emerge from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know our lives have changed forever and nothing will be as it was. And that has made many people feel lost. They aren’t sure which direction they want to charge their course in to their future. Many people lost jobs. Many people lost relationships. Many people lost their businesses. Many people lost their sense of emotional stability. Many people lost the opportunity to be in the presence of others. We lost the ability to travel freely. So now we are faced with building a new way of life. Scary?!In my experience, being “lost“ is the beginning of a new adventure. Lost implies that you don’t know where you are at the moment. And often we feel lost, even though we have some idea of where we want to go. The first thing I do when I am lost is to stop in my tracks. This is what meditation is and this is what meditation does! When we sit still, close our eyes as we focus on our breathing we are in “ stop” mode! We are taking a pause from the hustle-bustle world surrounding us, as we move inward to our center —our place of intuitive knowing. Deep breathing leads to a recalibration which helps us to rebalance ourselves. We come back to where we are in the moment. That means we take note of where we are and what we are thinking. Then just “be” — give your a breather!Then we can proceed to rechart our course and to proceed toward our destination. If we feel lost again, we can simply stop and repeat the process. So, when you feel lost, no matter where you are, allow yourself to “stop, breathe and be.” When you meditate on a regular basis using this technique, you were find yourself emerging from your recalibration with a new plan on how to proceed with your day. Or if you are meditating at night, you may find yourself reviewing the events of the day and deciding on a new strategy to be more effective for the next day. This process has also worked for me when I’m working on a creative project and I’m not quite sure how to organize my tasks. Or if I need inspiration to move me forward with my next big idea……………………………………………………….. Sometimes I didn’t get the answers while in my space. I still could not “see” ! However, it never failed that the solutions would show themselves in ways that I could never have imagined. I would be walking down the street and meet a stranger, who held my solution. Or I would get a whisper to call someone and they would tell me my solution. Or suddenly my inner sight would be restored and I could clearly see the solution. Meditation is the metaphysical gas in my physical body car. And I drive on every day knowing that if I feel lost, I simply need to pull over. Then stop, breathe and, be. Doing this reinforces my intuitive knowing that I will find my way to my destination. Give it a try!

2. 

   1 Jun 2021

   ABCs of MEDITATION: Episode # 22 : “E” for EXPECTATION with Guided Meditation

   Don’t get caught up in the trap of expectation when learning meditation. The practice is a journey that unfolds like a Rose. Be open for new experiences. Anytime that you sit still, relax your body, breathe deeply and allow your thoughts to drift by without engaging them, you are meditating — and it counts. Learning to meditate can be preparation for learning the skills of concentration, contemplation and creative visualization. Meditation is a process. It is the way to begin to train your self conscious mind to stop chatting and allow silence to begin to enter your consciousness. It is through cultivating silence that our subconscious mind begins to reveal its inner secrets, such as long last memories or flashes into the future. This takes practice. I have always loved silence. I didn’t have siblings and I was raised by my grandparents, who used to scream and yell and fight and curse. So silence became an escape from the chaos in my every day existence. I went to sleep by the fireplace each night and that beauty and peace led me to have spiritual experiences. Those experiences found me in the silence. Explore! Experiment! Experience!

3. 

   4 Apr 2021

   ABCs of MEDITATION: EPISODE #21. “R” is for “Rejuvenation” Meditation

   Every Easter is an opportunity for us to engage in a rejuvenation ritual. We can put away I want to coats and put on the bright colors of spring with new clothing. We can do the same thing inside our bodies, by focusing our attention on the rejuvenation and renewal of every single cell, tissue, muscle, bone and nerve within our body. Explore! Experiment! Experience! Follow me in Quora.com. VISIT MY QUORA SPACES! ABCs of Meditation Tarot Psychology Creative Visualization Meditative Moments Francesca Poetess

4. 

   13 Feb 2021

   ABCs of MEDITATION: EPISODE #20. A is for “ACTIVE” Meditation

   “WHY DO I THINK TOO MUCH AFTER MEDITATION? This question is an indication that an individual is about to begin discover “ACTIVE MEDITATION”. I have found that the discipline of meditation makes one a mental gardener. Our mind is a fertile field in which seeds are planted by what we watch, what we read, what we touch and what we see, hear and feel. Even a familiar smell can plant a seed or the memory of some candy, fruit or dish can plant the seed of an idea. Often when I need to create a presentation or workshop, or write an article or essay, I will begin by going into what I call a “formal meditation session” in my designated sacred space. My self-conscious has been trained so that there is an immediate recognition that there is serious work to be done. I perform my ritual preparations —lighting incense, candles and reciting a prayer to establish an attunement with higher vibratory energies. I then may begin by meditating with some music playing or use a guided meditation. Afterwards I sit quietly, so I can hear clearly when the influx of inspiration begins to flow. Since I always have notebook and pen in my sacred space, often the inspiration will start to flow and I go where it leads. Sometimes, I can be in my sacred space for hours with candles burning as the words flow from my pen onto the paper. Often I will be directed to grab a certain book from the shelf — I just follow the flow. There have been occasions when I’ve been in my sacred space so long that my candles burn out. But I’ll keep writing. The seeds I planted in preparation for the project will start sprouting on the spot! So I stay in that garden of thoughts harvesting the bounty grown during that meditation session. Silence is like water in the garden of the mind. It nourishes deep buried thoughts and soften the ground of the self conscious so the ideas that spring up, showing you the evidence that an idea should be nurtured. There are times when I’ll do an “instant meditation” session. I read a question here on my app, close my eyes, take a few deep breath and I’ll see the green shoots of my answer clearly on the dark screen of my blank mind. Then I open my eyes and begin to craft an answer. SUGGESTION 1: Decide before your meditation session, if you have a question that needs to be answered — a personal problem, an intellectual puzzle, or a spiritual conundrum or curiosity. Then prepare yourself to enter the silence to receive the answer or be guided to where the information can be found. SUGGESTION 2: If you want inspiration, just enter the silence with your spiritual arms open wide to receive the gift of a new idea, new project or the refinement of something you are already working on. Then when you finish sit before a blank piece of paper and begin to write whatever comes to you. Just write. If it doesn’t make sense to you right away, just sit it aside and let its invisible idea ink become clearer. SUGGESTION 3: There are times when you may sense an idea rumbling around in your head, but it hasn’t risen to the surface yet just sit still and close your eyes. In the dark screen behind your eyelids wait to see if any images float across that screen. Or it may just be a feeling — follow it. And if you don’t have a response, just give thanks for the opportunity to rest and go on with whatever you were doing before. But don’t be surprised when an idea or feeling jumps on the hook of your self-conscious mind. Explore! Experiment! Experience!

5. 

   18 Jan 2021

   ABCs of MEDITATION: EPISODE # 19. V for VIBRATIONS ( How to raise yours!)

   As we prepare to witness the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States , some of you may be feeling a bit of anxiety, nervousness or frustrated as we constantly receive news about the investigation of the attack on the Capitol. If you find it difficult to meditate, here are a few alternative methods of raise your vibrations to change your mood, so you are more relaxed and your mind is calmer. Your emotions are your monitor for your vibrational rate. It’s very simple. You know when you feel good, have a lot of energy and are happy — that means that your vibrational rate is high. If you feel sad, unhappy or depressed your vibration is low. Your nervous system also sends you signals about your vibrational rate. If you are nervous, figidity, or frustrated, your vibration is low. If you are calm and relaxed you are emitting a high vibration. You can easily change your vibrational rate. Change your thought pattern. Are you always focused on the problems of the world, problems with your job or troubles in your family and relationships? Then take a break and think about what is going right in your life. Have a more positive attitude. Be hopeful! Change your environment or location. A messy house or apartment can lower your vibration. Put things in order. Stop going to places where there are people, who are angry, arguing, loud, rude, or negative. Go somewhere that is more quiet, orderly and beautiful. Change the type of music you listen to. If you want to increase your vibrational rate, don’t listen to sad songs, or angry lyrics. Change your physical activity—-don’t sit around and mope. Take a walk, try jogging, or go out dancing. Get moving! Charge your energy in nature. Walking where there are lots of trees gives you more oxygen. Taking a walk on the beach, or in the grass gives you a shot of energy and grounds you. Also, sitting near a fountain, stream, river, waterfall or the ocean raises your vibration.

6. 

   14 Jan 2021

   ABCs of MEDITATION: EPISODE #18 C is for CONSECRATION and GUIDED CREATIVE VISUALIZATION FOR PEACE

   The first step in “building” a sacred alter is to consecrate the most important element — that element is you. You are the energetic center of your altar. The physical objects simply serve as mystical symbols, which allow you to transcend mundane thinking, by focusing your attention on beauty and universal truths. Here are seven steps I would suggest to “build” your altar: 1. Choose a space in your home that is like “ a road less traveled.” It is best if the space does not have a lot of traffic — an area where others don’t walk around. If you have a family, you can choose a tiny corner. It doesn’t even have to be hidden. This area will become your “sacred space”. Stand in that space and do some deep breathing. Dedicate that space for your sacred work. Through that act you will begin to build a “force field” — you will energize that space with your intention. 2. Select a chair that can be dedicated for use in your sacred. It doesn’t have to be fancy. You could even go out and buy an inexpensive folding chair to be used at your altar. Simply draping material over it will beautify it. Sit in that chair in silence. Visualize a soft white light descending into you sacred space. Ask that this sacred space maybe further purified for your purpose. This will intensify the force field of your sacred space. 3. Select a table or stand dedicated for use in your sacred space. You can even purchase an inexpensive folding table and beautify it by draping material over it. Stand or sit before this table consecrating it with your thoughts, further intensifying the force field. 4. Select one or two candlesticks, if you wish to use tapered candles. Or you can simply buy glass enclosed candles. I suggest long white tapered candles to begin with. 5. Select a glass or goblet, from which you can drink water. Dedicate it for use only in your sacred space. 6. Select an incense burner to be used exclusively in your sacred space. 7. Beautify your sacred space with a plant or flower. The Rose has been regarded for centuries as a symbol of the soul, so as a Rosicrucian that is my flower of choice. You have now created a sacred space — an altar — that is comprised of symbols representing the four elements of fire, water, air and earth. But never forget that you are the true altar, for within you the Divine resides.

7. 

   5 Jan 2021

   ABCs of MEDITATION: EPISODE #17 1/5/21 A is for ALTAR

   Creating a sacred space within your home is an excellent idea. A sacred space is an area which you designate and dedicate to meditation. I sometimes even set up a space outdoors to sit in stillness. And you can develop a personal ritual to begin to train your mind to respond to your personal clues. The smell of incense immediately lets my mind know it’s time to begin to relax. Lighting a candle sends a signal to my mind that it is time to narrow my focus. The sound of soft music makes my muscles begin to relax. You must explore and experiment to discover through experience which locale relaxes you or what elements bring you into into a natural state of relaxation. However, drugs, alcohol and any mind altering stimulates, should never be used in an attempt to reach a meditative state!

8. 

   3 Jan 2021

   ABCs of MEDITATION: P is for Persistence, Patience and Progress

   Congratulations on your progress in learning to stop, breathe and be! ! You are a soul, on a meditative journey through your mental forest. Since beginning this meditative journey you have heard mumbling in your brain , but you kept walking. For almost a month you have been walking on a path through your own personality – – you have been persistent. Congratulations on your persistence! You made a commitment to continue the meditative journey even though you weren’t quite sure where it would lead you. You have kept walking, through your mind. Congratulations on your discipline! Funny thing about going on a walk through a forest. When you first begin, you can hear the birds in the trees, the rustle of the leaves, the crunching sound of pine cones or broken branches under your feet. But after a while, the sounds in the forest begin to fade into the background. And you begin to enter a silence, inside yourself. Many times when I was walking through Central Park in New York City, although I was surrounded by the sounds of laughter, cheering, music and even drumming, after a while I would begin to hear my own footsteps. The questions stomping around in my mind would begin to get quiet as I kept walking. I learned to hear the silence. Congratulations you are on the path to discovering the silence! Explore the meditative power of walking for at least 5, 10, or 15 minutes a day, as a meditation. Walking can become a dance, where your body is in motion, but deep inside you there is a a stillness. Outside you’re walking, inside you’re sitting in stillness. Over the past month you may have been waiting for For something to happen. Yes, you may have been a bit restless at times, wanting to get up and quit. But you didn’t. Congratulations on discovering stillness! For the past month you provided your body an opportunity for your heart to slow its beat, your breath to slow down, the muscles in your body to rest and your nerves to relax. Congratulations on giving your body the benefit of recuperation. Now you have stopped walking through your mind and you’re wondering what progress you’ve made. When one takes a walk for relaxation, there is not necessarily a destination. It is simply the walk, for the sake of walking. The essence of meditation is the discipline to do it regularly, to experience stillness and silence and to give your body a breather. You accomplished that through persistence, and patience — that all adds up to progress! Life is a journey — enjoy it! None of us are quite sure where we are going! But day by day we progress. Walk into 2021 with an inner sense of peace, harmony and anticipate progress for all of humanity! 🌹TogetherWeGrow🌹

9. 

   31 Dec 2020

   ABCs of MEDITATION: EPISODE # 15 F is for Fearlessness in Meditation

   One of the biggest mistakes that meditators make is rushing to achieve results as if they are running a race. Meditation is a process that is like the unfoldment of a rose. You must master the basics before moving on to experiment with things you’ve heard about but don’t understand at all! Many people talk about opening the third eye or working with the chakras but they really don’t understand the metaphysical principles and techniques behind them, nor do they understand the structure of the physical body and how it relates to these metaphysical concepts. For instance, what is popularly known as “the third eye” is actually an extremely important physical gland in the center of the brain. So many people are focused on opening up the third eye by force that they don’t realize that through consistent silent meditation the process of unfoldment is a natural progression. Just as a full blown just as a rose in full bloom begins as a small bud, so is the process of the unfoldment of our psychic senses. The ultimate benefit of meditation is that our glands or psychic centers, will begin to unfold their psychic potentials naturally, through consistent, silent meditation.

10. 

    29 Dec 2020

    ABCs of MEDITATION: Episode # 14. Review 2020 &Prepare for 2021 F is for FULL MOON

    ACTIONS TO DO DURING THE FULL MOON 1. Ritual cleansing of body 2. Review New Moon intentions 3. Self-care/ nurturing 4. Clean and reorganize home 5. Review success of new positive habits 6. Rest and meditate 7. Spend time in nature 8. Review vision board success 9. Review journal regarding your progress, experiences and emotions

11. 

    26 Dec 2020

    ABCs of MEDITATION: EPISODE #13

    ABCs of MEDITATION: P is for Pineal Gland

12. 

    24 Dec 2020

    Episode #12 : Guidance, Gifts and Gratitude

    Don’t get stressed if you don’t know what to get someone. Stop! Breathe! Be! Then get quiet and ask for guidance. View it has an adventure — not a chore! Try this guided meditation before heading out to hunt for a last minute gift!

13. 

    20 Dec 2020

    ABCs of MEDITATION: EPISODE # 11 F is for Fearlessness, Focus and Flow

    ABCs of MEDITATION: EPISODE # 11 F is for Fearlessness, Focus and Flow We live in a world of uncertainty and sometimes as we look around us, we become discouraged, frustrated, frightened, or even depressed. One of the techniques I use to find my center, is to seek out beauty wherever I may be in spite of the circumstances. I saw one of the most stunning sunsets of my life, on night before Hurricane Irma hit Sarasota, Florida. I did not know if I would be alive or dead the next day. I did not know what destruction I might see after the Hurricane Irma. But I needed to seek out a deeper inner peace in the midst of the approaching chaos. I went outside as the wind began blowing stronger and felt the dynamic tension of the coming storm. Yet, I could feel a sense of inner peace because of the beauty. View this video on Instagram- Meditation #4: Beauty Before Hurricane Instagram post by Francesca Simon • Oct 10, 2017 at 2:28pm UTC You will find that the more you find time to experience moments of meditation, while you are on the move, the easier it will be for you to sit still and meditate for longer periods of time. This natural training will begin taking place, on a constant basis, increasing your ability to go deeper into your self yourself at a moments notice. You will be amazed at how easily meditation will begin to become second nature. You will begin to desire more moments of meditation. I know this is the not the traditional view of meditation. In actuality, I know so very little, but I do know what I have experienced and the affect it has had on my life. The more the consciousness of meditation becomes a part of you, the more you will desire to meditate. And you will become meditation incarnate, bringing joy, peace and love wherever you are. The world needs you. VISIT MY SPACES on Quora.com ABCs of Meditation Tarot Psychology Creative Visualization Meditative Moments Francesca Poetess THE GODDESS I am The Goddess enthroned at The Beginning of Time. I blow out my breath and stars are born. I roll energy between my hands into a ball and bounce out planets. I move my right arm in a circle and all vibrates and rotates at my command. I extend my fingertips and white light becomes a rainbow of color illuminating my Celestial Creations. I laugh and sound has a voice. I cry and moisture fills all atmospheres. I sigh and the Silence of Love seals my being into All That Is. I am The Goddess. View my kingdom, See my Cosmic Care; Know my Eternal Essence is Divine Love.

14. 

    18 Dec 2020

    ABCs of MEDITATION: EPISODE # 10. A for Awareness/B for for Breathing /C for Calm

    You want to calm your mind in 30 seconds? Actually, you can. We often think that we have to spend a lot of time and struggle to calm the mind. But the secret lies not within the realm of time. The secret lies in the mind. Awareness is the key to open the door and set you free! BREATHE! Our breath is our most powerful tool to use in times of stress. It is our breath that holds the power to help the body rest. Take 30 seconds to breathe in deeply through the nose and breathe out slowly through the mouth. This simple process begins to immediately affect both body and brain. STOP! When you feel the need to calm the mind the first step is simply to stop. Stand still for 30 seconds , whereever you are – – eyes open or eyes closed – – it doesn’t matter. If you can stop, you can refocus and center the mind. So many times tragedies occur because people don’t stop for a second to reevaluate your situation. When you simply stop, you bring your awareness into where you are now. You don’t think about what happened five seconds ago or what may happen five days in the future. You simply center your awareness in the now. In 30 seconds you can give yourself a mental “time out” — it’s the same as saying “Stop it!” It’s like hitting a gong to get attention. BE! After the deep breathing, focus your attention on the present moment. Sometimes I repeat one phrase three times to increase my awareness — “I give thanks.” This pause in the present is a “Be here now!” moment.

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