Meditation vs Contemplation

I’ve recently finished reading a book by Dr Brian Weis “Same Soul Many Bodies”. This book dives deeply into past life regressions as well as progressions. Taking a deep journey into your past life as well as the possibility of future lives to come. It’s quite interesting to me to see how the butterfly effect is such a part of our existing lives but also past and future lives to come. It brought a whole new thought process to the progression of the sins of our father. Anyway, that is a totally different blog that I will explore at a later time.

Dr Weis quoted Robert Thurman “I am daily making myself what I am.” I absolutely love quotes that slap me on the face with a new way to look at life. This quote says a lot in only a few words. It made me think of my favorite fairy tale Alice in wonderland quote, “I could tell you my adventures beginning from this morning,” Alice said “but it’s no use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” Both of these quotes allow us the opportunity to see how we change, but how do we acknowledge the changes? He dedicated an entire chapter to this thought.

I ask you if you realize there is a difference between contemplation and meditation? So closely interlinked but performed two different ways. Contemplation includes the thought process of the mind. The mind brings in strategy, forethought, past experiences. A path that can twist and turn into several conversations in the brain. Concentrating on a specific thought or idea.

Meditation requires the mind to find the quiet in order to visualize and be open to inviting the answers to appear in our mind’s eye. Our higher self reaches out to the realms of help for guidance. I talked about a vision I had and what it meant to me at the time in an earlier blog. (feel free to go back and read it) Profound awareness in the quiet pause of breath. This is meditation.

Meditation takes practice to fully release the chattering of the mind. You can do it, don’t give up. I’m going to guide you in a few meditations later. The mind is not easy to shut down. We are accustomed to contemplating, thinking, doing. It is difficult to just be without out doing something. Learning to turn the volume of the mind down so your soul can come forward. Our mind is our own private hyper active child running around in a playground. You may laugh at this analogy but it fits, doesn’t it?

Let’s reconnect with most loving part of you. If it seems scary, just think of it as going for a visit. Allowing this vulnerability plants the seed to grow, till it will automatically show up. Your higher self has always been there, but it’s hard to hear with all the chatter in your head. In the quiet it appears in the most loving way.

If you are one who believes you cannot meditate because of mind chatter (contemplating?) let’s slow down for a minute for a quick meditation. (You may want to record this so you can listen instead of trying to meditate while reading.) Close your eyes, relax your body, take 3 slow deep breaths. Pay attention to the coolness as the air enters your nostrils, notice the air changes to warmth as you exhale out your mouth. Just be aware of the coolness in and the warmth out. Acknowledge the feeling of the air. Ready? Eyes closed? Relaxed? Breathe in 2,3,4 hold 2,3,4 exhale 2,3,4,5,6 Again breath (cool) 2,3,4 hold 2,3,4 exhale warm 3,4,5,6. Cool in 2,3,4 hold 2,3,4 warmth, 2,3,4,5,6 You did it.! Open your eyes. How did you do? This is a quick meditation you can do anywhere, anytime you need when you want to escape frustration or chaos. As you do this start to notice the motion of your chest rising. When you are aware of the sensations, it aids in also quieting the chatter.

One meditation will not make you a master meditator but it starts the process of clarity. When you contemplate you think about the subject matter; the good the bad and the ugly. Contemplation is the mind’s negotiator, doer, strategist. Mediation is clarity to a solution allowing guidance to appear.

Let’s practice a mediation with the intention of finding clarity of a situation. For an example, let’s focus on wanting to bring more love and joy into your life. Use those words in place of breathe 2,3,4. So it will be love (inhale) 2,3,4. embrace it 2,3,4. joy 2,3,4,5,6.

Ok, let’s try. But let’s set it up for you first. I want you to think about something that brings you joy what make you feel loved. Bring it in. Feel it. What is it? How does it feel? Really feel it? Take it in and remember that feeling. Now as if you were holding that feeling in your hands bring it to your heart. Place your hands on your heart. Slow your breathing down. Close your eyes. Breath in coolness and that feeling into your nostrils then hold it, and exhale the warm love to others and all around you. Breathe in love 2,3,4 hold on to it 3,4 exhale joy 3,4,5,6. Inhale love 2,3,4 hold on 3,4 exhale joy 3,4,5,6. Continue a few more times. No thoughts but love 2,3,4 embrace 2,3,4 joy 2,3,4,5,6. Notice any tension in your body as you continue. Feel it? Beautiful. Breathe light into that area on the exhale. Sending loving light and feel it release. You are doing great. 2 more times inhale love 2,3,4 embrace 2,3,4 send joy 3,4, 5,6 love, 2,3,4, embrace 2,3,4 joy 2,3,4,5,6. When you are ready open your eyes. How did you do? I bet you did fabulous. Even if there were mind interruptions you still did great and I am excited for this new adventure for you.

I’m showing your examples of the possibilities and giving you a few prompts on how to begin. The meditation can be about anything or nothing at all. There are guided meditations available on several platforms. Davidji, search him on google, read about his journey. His story is very interesting. Try some of his meditation. See how they feel. Sample several meditations and find ones that feel right within your energy. If you like and subscribe to Connecting To Spirit With Stacey You tube channel, you’ll find two guided meditations there. One guides you to meet your loved one on the other side and the other guides you to unload the baggage of the past.

Cool right, “but Stacey”, you maybe asking, “What does it mean when someone says they want to meditate on something before making a decision? Isn’t that really contemplating it?” What a great question. My answer is yes and no. Again, when you contemplate your mind is involved for strategy. Meditations are allowing the door to open to allow answers appear. You must get out of your head and connect with consciousness.

Here is an example of what I am talking about. Before you meditate, set the intention for solutions to appear that you may not have already thought about. Call in Creator, your guides, Angels, loved ones who have passed.

Let’s try. Think of something you need help with. Got it? Close your eyes. Breathe, place your hand on your heart like we did before and ask or say I need help in this situation (explain it in one sentence). I am unable to resolve it. I invite you in as I know you have the answers to my questions. Show me where to start. I trust you have my wellbeing in mind. Show me what is best for my higher good and the higher good of those involved. I trust the path. If I miss something, I trust you will show me again. (This is your intention before you mediate) Use these words or your own words. After all you are asking your guides and your higher self for direction, and they know you best.

Deep breath in, hold, release. Relax. Deep breath in hold release. Remember from before breath in love, embrace, release love. Visualize a white light at the top of your head almost like a funned up to the universe pouring warm joyful, loving, light onto you from those you’ve invited in . Good, relax, breathe, embrace, release. Take that light to the innermost part of your heart and you continue to breathe slowly. Feel it, embrace it. You may see swirls of light in your mind’s eye, don’t question it just be within. Breathe, embrace, release. Beautiful, you are doing great. Trust that the answers will appear. Exhale, trust, breathe. Ask for signs and ideas from the higher realm for the good of all. Relax open, shh embrace, release. Trust that the path will appear at the divine time. Relax, inhale loving warmth, embrace, release joyful grace. Feel the warmth of their love and guidance around you. If your mind wonders acknowledge it for later thinking and come back to full release and relaxation. Breathe, beautiful, calm, love, solutions, embrace understanding release, accept and trust. Breathe a few more times as I get quiet with you…Breathe, thank them, ask them to continue to show you even after this time in meditation. Trust, ask them to show up with signs of comfort and guidance. Breathe, hear them, see them and then thank them. A few more breathes…start to wiggle your toes and fingers. Good. Breathe. Move your head from side to side. Breathe. Move your shoulders as you slowly come back. When you are ready open your eyes.

How did you do? Did you see anyone or anything? Do you feel a bit better about the situation at hand? Find peace, or a bit of clarity? Grab your journal and start writing without thinking what thoughts are coming.

All the answers may not have full appeared but they will with practice. The kicker is, that you may not be ready for the answers, so keep that in mind as well. If you go to Bold Brave Media, Connecting To Spirit podcast, you can subscribe and save the episode about mediation. This enable you to rewatch and practice. It can help you on your path. Share it with someone you know could benefit from meditation not just contemplation.

I’m sure you did great. This is a just a start in the right direction of not only connecting to the higher realm but also to your higher self. The answers are all inside of you. Take the time to slow down and listen for clarity. Slow the mind down and stop the tug of war between the right and left brain. Disconnect from the strategist and the guide will appear.

Robert Thurman “I am daily making myself what I am.”

Clarity can start with one slow deep breath to guide you to live the life you love and love the life you live.

Blessings

Stacey