Is i safe to meditate in the evening during sunset?

[Violetlight]

In one of the meditation workshops, I was told not to meditate in the evenings during sunset as the dark forces are active & there is a risk of a psychic attack. Is this true? Or is it just a superstition?

I suffer from anxiety disorder & depression. I have panic attacks & unwanted fears which has hampered my life completely People have also told me about black magic. I don't want to believe all this but I'am extremely paranoid & scared to meditate.

Is it safe to meditate at any time of the day? How long & how many times should I meditate?

PLEASE HELP!

[Karmoh]

Originally Posted by Violetlight

In one of the meditation workshops, I was told not to meditate in the evenings during sunset as the dark forces are active & there is a risk of a psychic attack. Is this true? Or is it just a superstition?

I suffer from anxiety disorder & depression. I have panic attacks & unwanted fears which has hampered my life completely People have also told me about black magic. I don't want to believe all this but I'am extremely paranoid & scared to meditate.

Is it safe to meditate at any time of the day? How long & how many times should I meditate?

PLEASE HELP!

Hi Violetlight,

Oh! Not sure what type of meditation workshop you have attended, but that statement is hogwash. Statements like those are intended to place a belief, creating a hold on you. Black magic and any sort of ritualised conditioning should be avoided at all costs, especially if someone like yourself who has anxiety disorder & depression.

There are some that believe that an hour before sunrise and after sunset, the forces and energies of the cosmos and the earth are at their peak at these two junctions, but this is more an observation. Our world does seem serene and peaceful at these times, not at war with the darker nature of the human condition

Mediation is a powerful inner way to assist in your search for peace and harmony. For myself, I will meditate almost immediately upon awakening. That sets the mood for my entire day and i quite often grab smaller meditations throughout the day, as and when the opportunity arises. The main point though is this, It is not about what time, it is about when YOU feel is a good time. Meditation will help you to create a peace within, so, pick a time, when your inner knowing says this, or that time is best. Use your instinct.

Rest assured there is No-thing to be afraid off while meditating at any time.



Peace

[GilesC]

Hi Violetlight and welcome to the Project Meditation community,

I completely agree with Karmoh, these sorts of statements are made by people who have, what some would call, a "control drama". These are made in order to make themselves seem more important and "knowledgeable" in order to gain respect from others towards themselves and ultimately boost their own ego.

As Karmoh says, go with how You feel about the time you choose to meditate. If you find that the evenings and/or sunset are a peaceful time for you and you'd like to meditate at that time, then go for it. The only "psychic attack" is what we do with our own minds creating fear and other negative emotions within ourselves, though it is often brought about by listening to other people who put these ideas into our minds.

You have an intuitive knowing within yourself what is ok, so just pick up on that before your mind and it's tricks take a hold.

Meditation is safe, and you won't be attacked by anything. You may get lots of thoughts in your mind during meditation, but that is normal, and with practice those thoughts will lessen.

Let us know how you get on.

Hugs

Giles

[GilesC]

Originally Posted by Violetlight

Is it safe to meditate at any time of the day? How long & how many times should I meditate?

Oops, forgot to answer this bit.

Yes, meditate at any time of day, though it's usually recommended you leave some time if you have just eaten in order to let your food go down and make your meditation more comfortable (also your metabolism can slow down during meditation, so it's best to let the food digest somewhat before you do meditate).

As for how many times, most regular meditators will practice a couple of times a day, usually in the morning and the afternoon/evening. If you're new to meditation then start with just 10 minutes and over a few weeks build it up to around 20-30 minutes as you feel comfortable.

Have you tried downloading the free "Discover Meditation" course from Michael? The link is at the top of the page.

Hugs

Giles

[Hazelkay]

A warm welcome to the forum - you can see there are lots of people willing to support you.

You have some great advice already and I'll just join in to say that there are no dark forces waiting to pounce at sunrise or sunset. Some of my loveliest, most peaceful meditations are at sunrise when I have deliberately got up early and driven off to a nearby hill to meditate as the sun is rising and to marvel anew at the 'coming alive' of the world.

Just a note of caution because you say you are suffering from anxiety, depression, panic attacks and unwanted fears.

Meditation gives us a still space which can be very peaceful and very healing. This still space can also allow all this unwanted stuff which we have locked inside to come to the surface. Some meditation sessions can, therefore, not be peaceful, but full of agitation, fears etc. This does not mean they are 'bad' sessions. On the contrary, they are absolutely wonderful.
We are safely sitting in a quiet space with the opportunity just to observe whatever is happening with us. If we can objectively observe what is coming up its hold on us is lessened and we are much freer.

For example: you are sitting quietly, nothing is wrong and then gradually you start to feel fearful. Instead of responding with 'Oh no, I'm frightened, I'll have to stop this, what will happen to me! etc etc' you can just look at what is happening. 'OK fear is arising. How do I know? What is it that is happening in my body that tells me fear is arising'

Some reaction is bound to be happening in the body that is related to the fear - could be coldness and shivering, could be some tightness in some parts, could be tension - it will be your own individual reaction. This objective investigation will take all the heat out of the experience. Of course, it will take time. Maybe to begin with you look objectively for 1% of the time and 99% with fear. Next time the ratio will change and in time the fear will totally collapse as a reaction. It could be fast or gradual - there is no particular time limit. The more objective you are, the faster it diminishes.

This is true also for depression reactions, anxiety reactions and panic reactions. Take out the 'I' and objectively look at the state as it is happening in the body.

Be clear that the meditation is not putting anything in, it is not making anything happen. Rather it is allowing unhelpful states to come to the surface and be recognised and observed.

You may feel this is not what you would want to happen and I could sympathise with that - you probably have a lot to deal with already. If you think, though, that these states happen anyway, when you are least expecting them and often when you are unprepared to react positively. it could be better for them to arise when you are in a safe, quiet space with nothing else to do but observe exactly what is going on.

Be cautious as Giles advises, start with short sessions and only increase the time when you feel really good about how you are handling things. Whenever you remember during the day, take a deep breath in and as you let it out allow the body to relax and let the tension flow away.

let us know how you doing,
peace and joy
Hazel

[Violetlight]

Thanks so very much Karmoh, Giles & Hazel for all your support It's very reassuring. All of your detailed explanation has helped me a lot & eased my tension to a great extent!

THANKS AGAIN!

[Marina_J]

Meditation is generally an internally-invoked, personal practice, which an individual can do by themselves. Prayer beads or other ritual objects may be used during meditation. Meditation may involve invoking or cultivating a feeling or internal state, such as compassion, or attending to a specific focal point. The term can refer to the state itself, as well as to practices or techniques employed to cultivate the state.

[pollyanna]

Hi Violetlight and welcome to the community

You've been given some great advice already - here is a link to some great info which has helped so many here:-

Principles of Meditation & Entrainment

hope this is of help and I wish you an abundance of peace and joy

[Violetlight]

Thanks Marina_J...Pollyanna thanks a ton for the link, it's of great of help.