The Dart Maker Blog

When it comes to meeting and conquering the negativity in your life, here is a key question: what can you do, starting today, that will make a difference? What can you do during economic chaos? What can you do when everything has gone wrong? What can you do when you’ve run out of money, when you don’t feel well and it’s all gone sour? What can you do?

Let me give you the broad answer first. You can do the most remarkable things, no matter what happens. People can do incredible things, unbelievable things, despite the most impossible or disastrous circumstances.

Here is why humans can do remarkable things: because they are remarkable. Humans are different than any other creation. When a dog starts with weeds, he winds up with weeds. And the reason is because he’s a dog. But that’s not true with human beings. Humans can turn weeds into gardens.

Humans can turn nothing into something, pennies into fortune, and disaster into success. And the reason they can do such remarkable things is because they are remarkable. Try reaching down inside of yourself; you’ll come up with some more of those remarkable human gifts. They’re there, waiting to be discovered and employed.

With those gifts, you can change anything for yourself that you wish to change. And I challenge you to do that because you can change. If you don’t like how something is going for you, change it. If something isn’t enough, change it. If something doesn’t suit you; change it. If something doesn’t please you, change it. You don’t ever have to be the same after today. If you don’t like your present address change it you’re not a tree!

If there is one thing to get excited about, it’s your ability to make yourself do the necessary things, to get a desired result, to turn the negative into success. That’s true excitement.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Special Note: Be part of the 1% that makes a decision to achieve all their goals in 2004! Enroll today in the Jim Rohn One Year Success Plan. For details visit http://jr1.jimrohn.com or call 800-929-0434.

Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn’s Weekly E-zine.
Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved
worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn’s Weekly E-zine, go to
http://Jim-Rohn.InspiresYOU.com

At 26 degrees of Sagittarius, the Galactic Center of the Milky Way is hidden behind a veil of dust and gas. With Pluto, our Solar System’s outermost planet (symbolic of the parts of ourselves we’re least able to access) moving over this same degree, we are experiencing seismic shifts deep in our universal unconscious. The last time this occurred was in 1745, the birth of the industrial revolution. Daily life changed irrevocably as workers moved off the farms to gun production because of the Jacobite rebellion in Britain and textile expansion. The polarity of religious fundamentalism and religious exploration was represented by the birth of Hasidism and of Universalists. Ben Franklin ran with his kite to harness electricity. And of course, the voices of the American and French Revolutions were gaining momentum.

In the 1500s when Pluto was at this degree, the first map of America was published and the Protestant Reformation swept through Europe, laying the seeds for the ground on which the United States was established. Each time Pluto confronts the Galactic Center, we experience a death of the familiar routine of life while we embrace the “new birth”. It becomes impossible for us to go back to the way things were before, while we grapple with changes that we may not be able to cope with in the most progressive way.

When Pluto traveled through this point in the 1250’s, eyeglasses were introduced and Marco Polo headed for China. The illuminating piece about looking at a transit historically is we can see parallels of what occurred in the past with the present. Our medical technology continues to provide options for people, but we must deal with its ramifications. As of today, the wounded US soldiers from Iraq that cannot return to duty totals over 7500. Our technology has altered the potential casualties of this war, but the long-term consequences of maimed survivors with limited services available to them will have a far-reaching impact on our society.

Historically we see how technology has changed how we “see” life. At this time, a spa owner tells me how her clients don’t relax in the massage or treatment. Everyone has her cell phone on or Blackberry lit; we have become “married” to technology and it seems to have the signatures of a codependent relationship at best, or a battered one at worst.

Another theme has been religious expression and fundamentalism. The USA has its roots in this and we continue to struggle with the inherent paradox of giving complete freedom of religion to all. Pluto’s message is always about meeting the Shadow in the mirror. Do we embrace and integrate it or do we try to eradicate it, never meeting its lessons?

As the retrograde Pluto returns to the point of the Galactic Center, we are given the opportunity to choose how we will cope with the Age of Destruction the Mayans foresaw. We can reassess choices made when earlier explorers tried to capture new worlds to make them their own. We are integrating cellular changes caused by the increasing electromagnetic field caused by our technology, which will affect the evolution of all life forms on our planet. We can choose if we will re-visit the Sagittarian celebration of the earth and the inherent information we can glean from it. When we stepped forward into the Industrial Revolution, did it have to be at the expense of an agrarian culture and the solidity of the family? Can we balance the freedom technology should avail us with a sophisticated cooperative of farming and education? We have the power of choosing what will be destroyed and what will be born. But make no mistake about it, the more each individual takes responsibility for our culture’s destiny, the more spiritually evolved our decision will be. We have the opportunity to align our spiritual evolution with our technical evolution and each time we miss the opportunity, it gets more challenging to catch up. The thrust of Pluto’s path is to allow us a chance to go light years in a lifetime.

© copyright 2006 Pamela Cucinell All rights reserved.

Pamela Cucinell is a professional astrologer certified through the National Council of Geocosmic Research. She has studied symbols and psychology at the CG Jung Institute in NYC and is a tarot consultant. She is a Reiki Master, a sensitive and an artist, working with the symbols of her disciplines in a spiritual and mythological way. Phone sessions available. Pamela is the owner/caretaker of Sunburst Oasis, gift store & wellness services in Mt. Kisco, NY. Find out more at http://www.sunburstoasis.com

“But the Lord said, `You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow…But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left…Should I not be concerned about that great city?’” (Jonah 4:10,11).

Jonah is one of the more interesting people in the Bible. He was that most human mixture of strength and weakness; Godly yet bigoted, selfish and mean spirited, just like the rest of us.

And yet God seems to say to Jonah, “Come, let us reason together, Jonah. You are concerned about this measly vine which I have destroyed with a worm, and you are so angry about it you could die. And yet I want to save this nation, people and animals, and you seem so unconcerned about them. I want no more controversy with you, Jonah, for I am both sovereign and merciful. You are merciful to this gourd which is as nothing to the people in Nineveh, and yet you are angry that I want to overlook their sins and accept their repentance.”

This passage from Jonah tells us of God’s concern for the population. The great city is as much His distress as the sparrow. God is a God of peoples as well as persons. His Son wept over Jerusalem, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often I have longed to gather your children together…but you were not willing” (Matthew 23:37). Here Nineveh is willing to repent, and God is willing to forgive. The Book of Jonah is filled with lessons and warnings. One warning is for us to beware of expectations interfering with our present obligations. Jonah expected God to destroy Nineveh, not realizing that God’s plans are flexible. Another lesson is to let God lead rather than give in to our own inclinations. Jonah ran the other way and God still caught up with him, for God does know best. Our direction in duty is God’s direction. All benefit when all obey. Nineveh did, and probably so did Jonah, after God reasoned with him.

(Chinese Solar Year : 04.02.2006 to 03.02.2007)

Flying Stars or Fei Xing is a powerful form of Feng Shui derived from the famous Xuan Kong Fengshui. It is an Analysis of the Five Elements and Star Combinations (representing certain energy patterns) that occupy every building. Each new year these annual stars change, Qi (energy) shifts happen, bringing good and bad energy with them - thereby producing different effects.

In February 2004 all the Feng Shui Energy Patterns underwent huge transformations to the NewAge of Land Luck called Period 8 Energy Cycles. It means that a large scale evolution of the human race with completely new energy dynamics has started. The significance is that the new, vibrant energies of Period 8 impacts on the buildings differently than before and energies that were previously activated now need to be remedied, in order to reduce any bad effects from the past influences.

The Flying Stars Chart or the 9-Grid Meteor Plan for the Bing-Xu, Year of the Yang Red Fire Dog has been plotted and the effects of their energy patterns are analyzed. The analysis also contains suggested remedies/cures for reducing the impact of negative energy and recommended enhancers for increasing and improving upon the beneficial energy.

For the remedies/enhancers to be effective, they should be cleansed, energised, blessed and programmed not only for the particular individual/family but also for the specific purpose/problem. They should also be placed in the indicated location.

The direction in which your main door lies is very important to any form of Geomancy, including Fengshui & Vaastu. The primary reason for this is that the air currents and energy flow in and flow out through the mouth of the main door. Thus you receive positive energy for the year, if the main door faces a direction of auspicious stars or meteors (powerful energy bodies) and receive negative energy for the year, if the main door faces a direction of evil stars or meteors. In case negative impacts are forecast, you can simply offset the negative energy by installing the recommended remedies there. Any or all of these remedies can be reused for the coming years, the only thing is that they should be repositioned according to the new year.

Please note that the effects may be felt in varying degrees depending upon the exact compass degree of the main door.

ANNUAL FORECAST & REMEDIES FOR FLATS/HOMES/OFFICES/FACTORIES WITH MAIN DOOR FACING EAST :

An excellent year that brings you fame and fortune. Your negotiation skills are in their peak. Employees get to have more power, promotions and increments. Patronage of superiors is assured. Businessmen get growth in the form of expansions. It is a lucky year to embark on a new venture too. Your regular customers will bring in more new clients. Frequent travels and overseas posting/business are possible.

Students and those appearing for professional/competitive exams will do good. Sportsmen will perform well. Travelling opportunities will be plenty. If you are in marketing line, show business, tourism; or a lawyer or running a flower shop or nursery, you will flourish more. Money luck and prosperity will be in plenty. Events to celebrate, like marraige, could happen. Place a Fengshui Water Fountain near your entrance to enhance the qi still further. There could be some interpersonal relationship problems among your family members. Growing a potted water plant near your main door will offset it to a certain extent. Excellent love luck in the air. Singles will get ideal partners. Married couple should be wary of love triangles or third party intrusions. Use a brown door mat for the bedroom door, to dissipate extra love luck.

Display the “Safety Talisman for 2006″ in the North West sector and carry a miniature version of it always.

Door Mat Colour for the Main Door : Green (on the inside, for love luck, if you need it) and Earth Brown (on the outside).

COMMON MINIMUM REMEDY FOR ALL BUILDINGS FOR 2006 :

To minimise damage due to gossiping and rumours, arguments and disputes, avoid the colours green and blue in the center of your home. Do not place any moving water features like fish aquarium or water fountains here. Display 8 red roses without thorns and leaves in the center of your home/office/building and light up a small red coloured bulb which will burn continuously, 24/7. This is applicable for all buildings, irrespective of the direction of the main doors.

This is copyrighted work. Permission is granted to republish (both in electronic media as well as print media) the article in it’s entirety only, including the full bio of the author and his links. All links should be “clickable” hyperlinks. An acknowledgement mail from Republishers will be appreciated.

The Author of this article Sri Janarrdhana Guptha is an Energy Consultant, Vaastu & Fengshui Researcher, Crystal Master and a Clairvoyant Karma Reader. His speciality is in permanent, life-time Remedial Solutions, especially Crystal Energy Fields. His wife Srimathi Kalpana Guptha is also a Psychic Reader. The Energy Couple can be reached through crystalvaastu@yahoo.com
or either of their websites:
http://www.newage-kabbalah-numerology.com or
http://www.crystal-vaastu.com/home.htm.

Janarrdhana Guptha has authored the book titled “Guide to Fengshui Good Luck Symbols”. He writes regularly in leading English & Tamil Magazines from India. More of his articles can be read at his blog : http://www.spaces.msn.com/members/crystal-vaastu/.

Talking in terms of magic and magical thought doesn’t mean to reduce the importance of the rational and material aspect of things: the magical cycle of life doesn’t deny the rational order of the events, but set itself as a precedent cause. Nowadays the human being is used to think in terms of cause-effect and explains the reality by using this logic and denying the possibility of a different possible order. The magical vision of life, that is the idea that the law of the sequence of events goes beyond the cause-effect principle, is just the heritage of ancient cultures, esoteric schools and initiatic societies. Magic, magical thought and magical vision are related with a way of understanding life not just as a casual fluctuation of events which are organised in a rigid scheme of causes and effects, but as a Whole which dynamically interacts with the individual and collective use of the mind. Nevertheless this way of thinking doesn’t deny the evidence of the relation between cause and effect - at a more elementary and immediate level of observation -, but asserts the parallel existence of synchronised different agents which are simultaneously distributed on different plains of our reality.

Each one of us has got its own inner Grail to look for. It is that true and clean point inside of us representing our real essence. This essence keeps the power to solve all the contradictions the daily life puts in front of us and to achieve in having an authentic energetic exchange with this life. Often it seems that we and the reality are travelling on totally different plains: we are immerged in the vortex of things that occur around us but we are not capable to contact the real substance of these things and events. It is from the distance between us and the world that all those problems of frustration, adaptation and aggressiveness are born. However, there is a part of our soul from which the exchange and the communication between us and everything surrounding us proceeds and grows up. It is the deep matrix of our comprehension and real happiness.

Socrates said: “Know yourself and you will know the world”.
This is our Quest.
Another example: what is the Meditation?
Meditation is sitting.
In appearance it is doing nothing. But in this “nothingness” there is intense action: you are cultivating tranquility and awareness.
When you are fully aware and serene, even your action changes in nature: it’s relaxed, free and satisfying.
Even if for an instant you do “nothing” , you will refind yourself in your centre - you are simply existing. You are meditating.
Meditation does not clash with action. It is not a case of “running” away from life.
In contrast, it’s about learning to live.

Carlo Dorofatti (1970, Milan). Spiritual Healer, Egyptologist, writer and founder of the Horus Centre, organisation for philosophical and esoteric studies (http://www.horuscentre.org).

Quotable quotes are nothing more than flowery words… And anyone
given enough time and cognitive power anyone can put one
together. Yes, they may strike a chord or make you feel good,
but their true value resides in what they encourage and excite
you to put into action. Ideas not followed by action have very
little power.

Here is one for you: “Only that which is eternal has any true
value.” Now you think about that quote and in some circles it
might be considered pretty quotable. So does this mean that if
this online message lasts for eternity that it has true value?
Actually the author is attempting to convey something more
profound (I happen to know him pretty well).

The only thing which is eternal (quotable or non-quotable) is
that which lies within you — your spiritual core. This is your
true identity and therefore anything that cannot stand the test
of infinity is but a passing fancy. What does this have to do
with quotable quotes? Well a lot..hang with me.

If you are focusing on the infinite then you must take the
action necessary to strengthen and escalate the Power of the
Infinite within yourself. The next logical question may be,
“Well how do increase this power within?”

All great teachers, sages and saints since time immemorial have
told us in one-way-shape-or-fashion that the power to win in
your life comes quite simply from two things. You must
constantly:

1. Study, understand, and immerse yourself in that
   which brings you power.
2. Avoid all that weakens you.

Unfortunately, you live in a world that will inundate you with
that which weakens. Increasing your Infinite Self then becomes a
matter of critical action; and here is where we tie this
conversation into quotable quotes.

The fact that you are alive in this century guarantees that you
are highly exposed to negative input from the media, friends,
school systems, family members and various other energy
vampires.

Now while you may not find all of above factors as negative in
your life, we can be pretty well assured that unless you avoid
television, newspapers and magazines all together (something you
might strongly consider), you have at minimum some negative
energy to contend with. If you are barraged by negative media
input on a daily basis you must actively seek input to the
contrary just to stay at equilibrium.. much less get ahead of
the energy game. Enter quotable quotes.

The infamous quotable quotes could indeed be a part of your
action plan to offset negative input from other sources.
Ultimately you will become that which you think about all day
long, for thoughts breed action and actions breed results.

Read the quotes as well as other pieces of inspiration and
power; and then most importantly…act boldly in accordance with
this line of thinking and pull yourself from the quagmire of
collective limitation. You were born into greatness but have
been conditioned into mediocrity — and you can quote me on that
one.

James Arthur Ray of James Ray International is an expert in
teaching individuals how to achieve Harmonic Wealth in
all areas of their life by focusing on what they want, opposed
to what they don’t want. He has been speaking to individuals as
well as Fortune 500 companies for over 20 years and is the
author of four books and an inventor of numerous learning
systems. His studies of highly successful people prove that they
continually achieve results by taking control of their thoughts
and actions to create and shape their own reality.

The Power to Win seminar (http://www.ThePowerToWin.com)
will explain in detail how success is state of mind and how the
principles of quantum physics (as seen in the movie What the
Bleep) can be applied to proven success-building techniques.
James will also cover why people who are successful in one
area of their life tend to be successful in all areas. For more information,
visit http://www.ThePowerToWin.com.

Once upon a time there lived two bears in a jungle. Like all bears they loved Honey. But getting Honey was not easy, it was risky, honey bees were ready to attack anyone who tried to get Honey.

Out of those two bears the First bear tried for Honey and honey bees attacked him. He failed in first attempt. He was so scared of honey bees that he desired for honey but never dared to try again. He played safe. He lost the opportunity to gain strength and vigour he could have got from Honey. He remained an ordinary bear. He lived safe and died safe.

The Second bear was also in quest for Honey, he failed once. But he derived strength from strong desire for Honey. He made many attempts, was attacked many times by honey bees. The tenacious bear finally got Honey he desired for. He gained enormous strength from Honey. Thereafter the Second bear tried many times for Honey, each time with more strength and more confidence, and most of the times he got that.

Now you decide two things, Whose path you want to follow? The one followed by First bear or the one followed by Second bear?

Decide what is Honey for you; great job, profitable business, b-school admission, faithful companion, peace of mind or just anything you desire for. Give your best shot for it and Don’t give up. Its better to be sorry than to remain safe.

Your Honey is waiting for you. Go Get It !

About Author -

A Simple Person trying to understand this complex world.
Blogs at - http://theignorant.blogspot.com

Read Better Sorry than Safe with comments.

I see this world with eyes of a curious child, In my mind questions gallore, All why’s and how’s I want to explore , My Blog is about my endless curiosity, The way I see the world, I am not an expert, neither wise nor gifted, I am The Ignorant, a curious child.

There is a bottle of perfume sitting on my dresser that I was given when I was ten years old! As you can tell I have pack rat tendencies! For me that pattern started as a young child. I could never bear to throw things away. There was more to it than not wanting to throw things away. I loved the feeling I had when I would receive something new, and would not want to spoil it by using it unless it was for something special. I would want to save it for a special occasion. A new dress would sit in the closet, until a special event to wear it. Perfume would sit on my dresser, not to be used for everyday, but for a special ’something’. This was a pattern in my life for many years.

Perhaps, however, this is not the best perspective to view life. It is reminiscent of the woman on the Titanic, who when was being lowered into the lifeboat said…”If I’d known this was going to happen I would have had that Chocolate Mousse dessert.” It is a view of life that speaks a lie. The belief is that if I enjoy something now, I won’t be able to look forward to anything good like that in the future. This belief steals the joy from living in the present, and also lies about what the future might hold. Often it takes sad or traumatic situation to cause a person to stop and take stock their life’s perspective and lifestyle. For example, let me tell you how it happened for Ruth.

One day, out of the blue, Ruth got one of those devastating ‘phone calls’ that we all dread receiving. Her sister Jane had passed away unexpectedly. Ruth went over to the home to help her brother in law with the sad task of preparation for the funeral. They were in the bedroom deciding on clothes Jane would wear as she was laid to rest. He pulled out of the drawer some beautiful lingerie wrapped in tissue. Ruth gasped as she saw the astronomical cost on the price tag. “Jane bought this in Paris 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. I guess this is it.” he said. It was exquisitely, handmade in silk, with a delicate cobweb of lace .As he slammed the drawer shut he said something that changed Ruth’s life for ever. “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion!

After the funeral, Ruth began to evaluate her life from a different perspective. She began to see life as something to be enjoyed not endured. Ruth started to make changes, although small at first, for Ruth they had great significance. She sat in the garden more and didn’t worry about the weeds. She wore expensive perfume on ordinary days, after all co workers and cashiers have noses that function just as well as party goers! She lit that candle that had been sitting as a centre piece on the dining room table collecting dust. She got that cracked window fixed, that she’d been meaning to do for years. She invited those friends round for dinner that she’d seen at the last sixteen weddings, and said we must get together.

Ruth determined that she would live each day as if it was her last. Now every morning when Ruth opens her eyes, she tells herself that this day is special. Every day, every breath, every minute of her life is truly a gift from God.

Your life perspective changes when you start living each day as if it was your last. You start to look at all the things that you want to accomplish in life and actually get started!! You stop watching everyone else doing it. Have the courage to start thinking “It’s my turn now” and do what is in your heart.

Grandma Moses began a painting career at age seventy six. Golda Meir was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969 at age seventy one.Lucy is in her eighties and has in the last two years, been white-water rafting, and hiking in the Himalayas. She is excitedly planning her next trip!

Don’t wait years, or until something traumatic happens to get your attention. Start now to reflect on your life’s perspective and begin living without regrets.

Peter Sage, speaker and entrepreneur said:

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, “Wow - What a Ride!”

Barbara White is President of Beyond Better Development, which is dedicated to empower people towards excellence in their personal and professional development. The Living Beyond Better website has more
self improvement resources

I knew I should have hit the ball more to the right.

The tee shot felt good, but then the wind caught it. Slightly at first, then a little more as it began its downward flight. Sure enough, the ball landed within the group of trees off to the left of the fairway.

As I got into the cart with Gary, my good friend and golfing partner, we talked about trees and what a nuisance they can be. Should I chip around them and burn a stroke to get a better shot at the green on the next swing, or go for the green through the trees with the hope of punching out cleanly on the other side?

“Trees are 90% air,” he said with a grin. “If you pick a spot through the trees, take dead aim, and follow through with your shot, most times you’ll get through OK.”

How true it is in business too.

We’re all faced with “trees”– difficult business challenges– every day. You need to fire someone. A key client isn’t paying you on time. A new, aggressive competitor is coming to town. What to do?

We can be frozen in our fear of the situation and its ramifications. Many times, however, we do far more damage by doing nothing than by acting on any of the choices we had.

You need to fire someone, but there’s no one else to take her place and you don’t have the time to conduct a search, so you give her one more chance. You have a collection problem with a key client, but you don’t want to upset them by asking for the money, so you let it slide for a little bit longer. You learn that an aggressive competitor is coming to town, and you know it will mean changes in your organization, but you put off addressing the issue until you know they’re actually coming.

Problems don’t go away. Unfortunately, the mere presence of problems can stop even the best people in their tracks from time to time.

When you’re confronted with a difficult situation, ask yourself a basic question: What am I really afraid of?

Most fear only exists in our mind. Small issues can get blown out of proportion, and we can create oversized mental pictures that are ridiculous when we compare them to the facts.

You can re-word the question in several ways. What do I fear most? What do I fear in the future? What do I fear right now? What deeper problems can I avoid by taking action sooner rather than later? Reflective thinking over good, sound questions like these can give you clarity, and allow you to focus on the real issues.

We all experience fear at one time or another. The only true way to overcome fear is to confront it. How you confront it is what determines whether or not you will be successful. Courage to confront your fear is crucial to success. And, like success itself, you build this courage one step at a time, through small incremental changes that reach to the core of your belief system. No great castles or monuments were built until someone placed one block of stone on top of another.

Back on the course, I made my decision. I selected a 7-iron, took dead aim at the green through the least branch-laden path I could find and over the tallest tree, and swung with confidence. The ball sailed through the branches, over the tree, and landed squarely on the green.

“90% air,” I said, smiling.

What big issues are you putting off right now? What actions need to be taken now instead of next week or next month? What are the ramifications of waiting? And what good things could happen if you acted swiftly, decisively, and completely?

Take action. Don’t wait. Put your fears aside, take dead aim, and do the thing that must be done.

Bill Guertin, The 800-Pound Gorilla, was one of the youngest licensed Radio broadcasters in the state of Illinois at age 16. His 25+ years of real-world, on-the-street experiences in broadcast sales, service sales and marketing have given him a broad understanding of how and why people do the things they do.

He is currently the Director of Market Development for Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, IL, and Chief Enthusiasm Officer of The 800-Pound Gorilla, a professional speaking and consulting company in sales, customer service and marketing. He can be reached at (815) 935-3272, or on the Web at http://www.The800PoundGorilla.com.

He can be reached at Bill@The800PoundGorilla.com.

Meditation students often come to me and ask what they can do to improve their meditation. Success in meditation is not the result of any one single factor but depends on sustained and systematic effort over a period of time. However, there are a few tips for meditation, that will help you to improve your performance, regardless of the meditation method that you follow.

1. Prepare your body for meditation

Your physical condition has a tremendous influence on your mind. This is true for your day to day activity, but even more so when it comes to meditation. You can prepare your body for meditation by eating the right food, and by coming to meditation with an empty stomach. Eating the right food, means food which strengthens the body but doesn’t have any adverse affect on the mind. If you consume products that make the mind dull or over-stimulated then it will be much harder to meditate. And whatever your diet is, when you sit down to meditate, it should be on an empty stomach. That is why one of the best times to meditate is in the morning, before you have had your breakfast. Another good time is in the evening, before the evening meal.

2. Prepare Your Mind for Meditation

Just as your body must be prepared, so must your mind. Before you start meditation you must convince yourself, that this period of meditation is your time for personal growth, and that it is important, as important as anything else in your life. When you close your eyes to meditate, you should not jump up to answer the phone, or get ready to leave your meditation due to some slight disturbance. If you convince yourself of the importance of meditation, then your example will also convince others around you and they won’t disturb you during meditation. So, remember your periods of meditation are one of the most important parts of your daily routine, and treat them as such.

3. Sing Before Meditation

The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore once said, “God respects me when I work, but He loves me when I sing.” That explains the place of song and music in all the great spiritual traditions. Before you begin meditation you can sing spiritual songs, whose meaning elevates your mind. It doesn’t matter if you have “good” voice or a “bad” voice, sing from the heart, and your mind will go to a point that will be the ideal starting point for your meditation.

4. Sit in a Proper Position

Remember when you were in school and the teacher looked around and saw someone slumping in his or her seat, and she said “sit up straight!” She had a good point; when the back is straight the mind is alert. Sit in a position that will keep the back straight. Sit with cross legs in a simple position, or a half-lotus or a full lotus. In addition to making the mind more alert, these positions help you to rest the various motor organs, and provide a peaceful physical base for your meditation.

In the beginning these positions may seem difficult or uncomfortable, but if you can get used to them, they will help you to deepen your meditation.

5. Follow the Meditation Instructions Exactly

Remember carefully what your meditation instructor taught you and do your best to carry it out, exactly according to the instructions. Don’t experiment and make up your own method. The various systems of meditation are based on thousands of years of experience, so you don’t have to try to figure out what to do. Take advantage of the age-old knowledge of the past, and you will make rapid strides towards a bright future. If you have forgotten any part of your meditation method, go and see your instructor and get a review of your lesson.

6. Be Regular in Your Meditation Practice

This is one of the key factors to success. Meditation works, if you work. If you only do meditation once a month or on whim, when you feel like it, then it will be impossible to be successful and realize the benefits of meditation: mental clarity, inner peace, love for others and spiritual awareness. Make meditation a part of your daily routine. Just as surely as the sun comes up each day, do your meditation without fail. Fix a time for it in the morning and evening and do it on a regular basis If you get into the habit of doing your practice regularly, then you have taken one of the single most important steps towards success in meditation, and indeed, in your life.

7. Be Patient

“Rome wasn’t built in a day,” and similarly you cannot make miraculous changes in your personality or in your spiritual life in just one sitting of meditation. Don’t be discouraged if you feel that nothing is happening. Meditation is a subtle art, the changes come slowly but surely. Keep on practicing and your meditation is sure to deepen and you will indeed be successful.

About The Author

Dada Vedaprajinananda has been practicing and teaching meditation for the past 33 years. He is a senior teacher with the Ananda Marga spiritual movement and also the webmaster of the Ananda Marga website (www.anandamarga.org). Dada is also a writer, singer and songwriter and his work can be found on his website, www.dadaveda.com.

dada@dadaveda.com