Meditation Centering

There are many meditation centering techniques available. Centering is the goal or act of meditation.

As we live our lives, we often find ourselves blown from place to place, subject to things that we have no control over. Using meditation centering techniques is one way that we can take control, find the power within ourselves rather than be the victim of our circumstances. Through thorough contemplation and reflection, we realize that all along, we have had control.

Meditation centering can probably be compared to the eye of a hurricane. It is a "calm center" in the middle of what can be destructive chaos. Being centered means keeping this area of calm deliberately and with conscious thought throughout your day. 

The first benefit of this is that you have imposed control over your life. Whatever else might be going on, you have a piece of space inside which you have created, a space that cannot be taken away. Another benefit is that you have created a space where you can take shelter.  Your inner light has a place to refresh itself from stressful circumstances and negative influences.

At its most useful, meditation centering is not something that requires long uninterrupted periods of deep thought devoted to it. A good centering technique will eventually require only a small amount of deliberation, allowing the majority of the attention to be focused on the task at hand.

To begin, you may wish to find a place that is calm, where you are not likely to be disturbed.  At the beginning, meditation may require more concentration, but you will soon find that the positive effects come with less and less effort. 

You can start by meditating on your breath, realizing that your body functions without conscious thought.  By focusing on this simple act, and perhaps breathing more slowly and deeply than you usually do, you will begin to be able to bring your thoughts to a place where you can look over them.  Imagine that with each inhale, you are pulling your scattered thoughts and energies back into your body, reclaiming them and making them work for you.

Similarly, on your exhale, push your negative energies out of your body, letting them go and relinquishing your claim to them.  One exercise might be to contemplate the things you would like to keep and the things you would like to release.  An example of things to release might be negative emotions, like anger and frustration.  While the causes of these emotions might still be there, you have bought yourself some thinking time where you can consider them objectively and perhaps discover something that will let you permanently release them from your life.

Another powerful meditation is to picture a sun glowing from a centering point, like your heart, a steady, joyful light that comes from deep inside and revitalizes you.  The sun warms your spirit and nurtures you, letting you grow and stretch.  This is a warmth that can be carried with you through the dead of winter, and can cheer your spirit if you allow it.

Meditation centering brings you back to yourself and helps you realize your own power.  You can find a place inside yourself from which you draw strength and calm, grounding you and making you stronger.

By Uma Johnson