meditation | the blog for ForesightYourCtPsychic

For more information on Catherine’s books, “Adventures in Palmistry”, “The Practical Empath – Surviving and Thriving as a Psychic Empath”, her urban fantasy “The Lands That Lie Between” and her new book “Manifesting Something Better” all from Foresight Publications, click here

www.foresightyourpsychic.com

Want to Start a Meditation Practice?

Posted in meditation, tagged "Adventures in Palmistry", "The Lands That Lie Between", Catherine, Do As One, Foresight, Foresight Publications, Manifesting Something Better, meditation, meditation practice, The Practical Empath- Surviving and Thriving as a Psychic Empath on March 26, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

…then check out the resources at a wonderful site called Do As One. Lots of great meditation tools and the chance to meditate together with other people all over the world.

Enjoy

Catherine

Foresight

3/26/13

The Peace of the Season…..

Posted in Food for the Spirit, Life Improvement, Living in a Magickal Universe, meditation, personal growth, tagged Foresight, meditation, the peace of the season on December 20, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

In amongst all of the hustle and bustle, I’d like to invite you to put everything aside, take a deep breath, and spend a minute getting in touch with the peace of the season…

Peace be with you.

Catherine

Foresight

12/20/11

Gifts for the Holidays – 4 More Gift Ideas from the World of Alternative Health -

Posted in Alternative Health, Life Improvement, Living in a Magickal Universe, meditation, Metaphysical Basics, tagged 4 More Gift Ideas from the World of Alternative Health -, accupressure, alternative gift giving, alternative pain relief, Foresight, massage on December 15, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas ( or Yule, or Hannukah, or Solstice, or Kwanzaa…) , and while many of us are well under way with our holiday shopping, there’s always someone who’s hard to buy (or make) for.

Fear not (to paraphrase a certain angel). Alternative health is back and it’s got you covered….

It’s important to remember that, while there are certain things that are good for everyone, everyone’s approach to health is individual and unique (so remember to give something your recipient would enjoy, as opposed to what you think they should want. Hiking shoes for the person who’d prefer gentle tai chi is not a caring gesture…)

Brain stimulation –

Studies find that our brains stay in good shape longer if we use them (and I’m not sure why that would surprise anyone…), so things that make us think keep us mentally clear and active. Puzzles, mysteries, games that involve quick thinking are all a part of this.

Related to this, meditation and games using biofeedback, such as Quest for the Wild Divine and the Star Wars Jedi Trainer game can help us learn to more easily achieve the brain wave states associated with health, stress reduction and mental clarity.

Massage –

Massage not only feels great, but it also relaxes tired muscles, reduces stress, stimulates the immune system and helps our bodies release toxins.

A massage pillow, or a gift certificate for massage is a great gift.

A new way to exercise -

Right now, we’re in the holiday season with all of its parties and tempting foods, but soon we’ll be in the New Year, and people will start thinking about holiday pounds.

Exercise not only helps folks to shake loose some of those cookies, but also builds a healthy body that’s more resistant to illness. Unfortunately, many people either don’t like to exercise, often because they’ve gotten bored with what they’re doing or never found a type of exercise they like, but there are lots of fun and interesting ways to exercise, whether it’s bellydancing, tai chi, swimming, skiing, swing dancing or something else.

Got someone who wants to exercise but is tired of their routine? Gift certificates to a center with lots of different options, a video gift card with the designation “for exercise video of your choice” , or a certificate that says you’ll try something new with them as their exercise buddy may be a god choice.

Non-medicinal pain relief -

And related to the above, whether after a workout or the coldness of the season, sore and achy muscles are common at this time of year. Analgesics can help, but there is a limit to how much you can safely take, and the aches and pains can outstrip the recommended dosage

For those with achy bodies, the massage noted above can help, as can accupressure (one book I’d recommend is “Accupressure Potent Points” by Michael Reed Gach)and rubs including elements such as capsicum (element in hot peppers – great for aches, but don’t get it in your eyes).

By now, I’m hoping that you’re beginning to see the light at the end of the shopping tunnel, and are finding some time for yourself to enjoy the beauty of the season.

Catherine

Foresight

12/15/11

5 Minute Meditation- Pulling It All Together

Posted in Alternative Health, Living in a Magickal Universe, meditation, self improvement, tagged 5 minute meditation, a breathing exercise, a relaxation exercise, a walking meditation., an eating meditation, any daily repetitive routine can be transformed into a meditation, Do Nothing for Two Minutes, Foresight, guided visual relaxation on November 3, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

We’ve talked a lot about 5 minute meditation; about how even small bits of meditation can have a positive effect on your health and well-being in body, mind and spirit; and about ways to fit little bits of meditation into your normal routine.

So the final step here is to actually make it happen. And for that, it helps to have a plan.

Take a moment or two and think about what your routine is like. Where could you fit in a 5 minute meditation or two?

If you’re waiting for a ride, you could listen to the world around you ,

If your’re standing in line at the grocery store, you could do a walking meditation,

If you’re having lunch, you could do an eating meditation,

If you’re sitting in front of the computer, you could do nothing for two minutes or do a guided visual relaxation,

If you’re waiting for an appointment, you could do a relaxation exercise,

If you’re at a traffic light, you could do a breathing exercise,

And almost any daily repetitive routine can be transformed into a meditation.

All you need are the elements of focus, relaxation and a willingness to come to that calm, still center within you, and meditation is there.

So sit back, and give some thought to where 5 minute meditation might fit in your life. Have a plan and build a routine. Give yourself reminders, if you need to, to take a little meditation break. ( I find index cards saying “Breath” in my Dayrunner and taped to places like my car dashboard, and beside my bathroom mirror are helpful.)

And make 5 minute meditation a good part of your life.

It does a body good.

Catherine

Foresight

11/3/11

5 Minute Meditation- Foresight Says “Relax”….

Posted in Alternative Health, Life Improvement, Living in a Magickal Universe, meditation, Metaphysical Basics, self improvement, tagged 5 minute meditation, Foresight, Relaxation, relaxing deep breathing, whole body relaxation on October 20, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Because we live in a busy, busy, multitasking, “six impossible things before breakfast” kind of world, we tend to build up a lot of tension; and many times, that tension can settle in our muscles and joints.

The jaw. The neck. The shoulders. The back. Any part that’s a part of you can get tense and tight and painful because you’re stressed.

And meditation, even for 5 minutes, can help with that.

Pick a time when you’ll be free from interruptions for a few minutes. (Hide in the bathroom, or in your car is you need to.)

Put yourself in a comfortable position, sitting or lying, with your arms and legs uncrossed (so they won’t go to sleep).

Close your eyes.

Start by doing some relaxing deep breathing .

As you feel your body start to relax, begin to gently look at the different parts of your body, starting with your toes and working your way upwards.

Where are you holding your tension? Your neck? Your back?

When you find a part of your body that’s tense, stop there and breath. Picture yourself breathing light into that part of the body – light that fills it, heals it and lets it relax.

Be aware of that part of you as it relaxes. See how good it feels? That’s how it’s supposed to feel. Make a note of this feeling, so that, the next time it starts to get tense, you’ll be aware of it, and know you need to do some more relaxation

Once that part of your body relaxes, move on to the rest of it.

And, when your time is up and your body is relaxed, open your eyes.

This is a very simple but effective technique. You can do your whole body, or, if you’ve only got a minute or two, you can focus on the parts of your body where you know you tend to carry your tension.

Either way, it’s good for your head and good for your body as well. (Tense muscles are more vulnerable to injury).

So, go ahead. Relax!

Catherine

Foresight

10/20/11

5 Minute Meditation – A Part of Every Day

Posted in Alternative Health, meditation, self improvement, tagged 5 minute meditation, Alternative Health, focus, Foresight, making other parts of your daily routine part of your meditation practice?...., meditation on October 13, 2011 | 2 Comments »

We’ve been talking about 5 minute meditation – about ways to include little bits of meditation as part of your normal day. We’ve looked at such things as breathing, relaxation, fire, eating, waiting, standing online, and listening.

But have you thought about making other parts of your daily routine part of your meditation practice?….

By now, you’ve probably noticed that one of the most key points in meditation is focusing your attention on a single thought or experience. The act of focus helps us to relax, calms the monkey mind, and brings us to our centers and the peace that we can find there.

And we can certainly find a focus in any regular practice or activity.

Whether you’re doing the dishes, or paying the bills, or cleaning the bathroom, almost any basic repetitive activity has the potential to also be an exercise in presence, relaxation and meditation.

You breath deeply. You relax. You focus totally on what you’re doing, being present with it. And you let the acts that fill your day become a meditation.

A 5 minute meditation.

There are no limits to meditation. The only question is what are you going to bring your peace and presence to today?…..

Catherine

Foresight

10/13/11

5 Minute Meditation – the Sound of Silence

Posted in meditation, tagged 5 minute meditation, Foresight, meditation, the Sound of Silence on October 6, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Talked a bit about sound in the last 5 Minute Meditation post. Let’s go further on that

When you’ve got 5 minutes, settle yourself in a comfortable position, sitting, reclining or lying down. If you’re running on too little sleep, sitting is usually better, as you may drop off if you’re lying down (and while, if you need the sleep, I’m happy for you to get it, that means that you miss the meditation part)

To start, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Hold it for a moment, then breath out, feeling tension and stress leave your body with the breath. Repeat at a leisurely pace until you’re feeling calm and centered.

Once you’re feeling a bit more calm, centered and focused, keep your eyes shut and start to listen to what you hear around you.

What do you hear?

Do you hear the sounds of people around you, or vehicles passing by? The sounds of nature, or the enviromental sounds of your surroundings, like the humming of lights, or the gurgle of water in pipes in the wall? The sounds of your heart beating or your own breathing?

What do you hear?

We tend to screen out a lot of the sounds around us, unless its a sound that’s important. We can use these sounds as ways to focus and go inwards, and find our center.

Don’t make this into a test or a challenge. Just relax, and focus on the sounds around you.

Can you tell what you’re hearing?
Once you do, can you start to play with this?
Can you focus on one sound to the exclusion of others?
Can you shift your focus from one sound to another?
Can you hear the silence that lies between the sounds and connects them?

Spend a little time with the sounds and the silence that lies between. And, when you’re ready, take a deep breath, return your focus to your body and open your eyes again…

When you’ve got a moment, spend it with the sound and the silence, and renew your spirit.

Catherine

Foresight

10/6/11

5 Minute Meditation – a Room of Your Own

Posted in Food for the Spirit, Life Improvement, Living in a Magickal Universe, meditation, Metaphysical Basics, tagged 5 minute meditation, Foresight, free, Gaiam on September 28, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Sight and sound are two other ways that we can tap into the inner stillness of meditation.

And here’s a wonderful way to do that.

Click this link to visit the Gaiam Life Meditation rooms - 6 free environments to help you move your mind into peace and center easily and quickly.

Turn on your sound, pick a room and enjoy

Catherine

Foresight

9/28/11

5 Minute Meditation – I Walk the Line

Posted in Alternative Health, Life Improvement, Living in a Magickal Universe, meditation, Metaphysical Basics, personal growth, Spirituality, tagged 5 minute meditation, Foresight, meditate while standing in line, presence in the now, walking meditation, whole body relaxation on September 15, 2011 | 1 Comment »

In the last post on 5 minute meditation, we talked about a way to incorporate meditation into your day while waiting. We did a whole body relaxation that can be done while waiting for a meeting, a doctor’s appointment or a car repair.

Now, let’s look at a different kind of meditation while waiting.

Let’s meditate while standing in line….

Everyone stands in line. At the grocery, at the post office, at a store or restaurant or amusement park. Standing in line is one of the biggest time wasters in every one’s life.

Unless you meditate while you do it.

We’re going be doing a miniature version of a walking meditation, while we’re standing in line.

Start by broadening your stance slightly, improving your base of support and balance. You can close your eyes if it seems safe to do so, otherwise you can do this meditation with your eyes open.

Take a deep breath, breathing out any tension or anxiety, as we did in the last meditation. (If it’s been a tough day, take as many deep breaths as you feel the need for.)

Briefly do a whole body run through – a quick version of the body relaxation we did last time. When you find tension in your body, stop and breath to relax it.

Bring your attention to your feet. Pay close attention to the contact your feet have with the ground – how your body pushes downwards against the earth, and the earth pushes up against your feet.

Sway gently back and forth. Focus on how the pressure and other sensations shift as different parts of your feet take more or less weight.

When the line permits, take one step forwards, but do it as s-l-o-w-l-y as you can without the people in line behind you throwing things at you.

Slowly lift one foot and swing it forwards through the air. Place your heel down, paying close attention to how that feels, then s-l-ow-l-y roll your weight onto your heel, over your arch, and onto the ball of the foot.

Then repeat, stepping s-l-o-w-l-y onto the other foot.

As you move onto the other foot, focus on how your first foot pushes off with your toes s-l-o-w-l-y.

And then repeat the process with the next step.

The process of presence in the now – of doing a simple action slowly and focusing totally on it can help to still the mind and relax the body.

And you’re doing it all while everyone else is wasting their time standing in line.

Clever you….

Catherine

Foresight

9/15/11