Meditation FAQ

• What is meditation?

  Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years, so there are countless variations and definitions of the practice. Most offer relaxation – primarily through a quieting of the mind – and create a “pause” from the rapid pace of our life to let our mind and body “catch up,” rebalance, and re-center. Some meditations rely on complete silence, some employ the repetition of specific words or “mantras,” some offer guided imagery and/or affirmations, some focus on specific energy “centers,” some have very ancient roots and traditions. And there are many more varieties and combinations. Some meditations focus primarily on relaxation and the well documented health benefits associated with this. Other meditations, like Meditations2Go audio meditations , go beyond relaxation to help us reconnect with the deeper clarity, power, and wholeness within each of us.

• What’s the best meditation for me?

  It’s hard to imagine any of the wide variety of meditations that would not be beneficial. Of these varied types of meditations, the “best” type is simply the one you find most beneficial … the type that best matches you. So do experiment.

• What kind of meditation does Meditations2Go offer?

  Meditations2Go audio meditations certainly fall into the “guided” variety … and they certainly offer deep relaxation, complete rebalancing, and a welcomed soothing for the mind and body. They do, however, go well beyond this to help you discover and access your abilities to replenish your own strength, to bring natural and powerful healing where it is needed within you, to find your clarity, and to awaken your natural joy. Perhaps most importantly, Meditations2Go help you reconnect with your own “inner” guidance and integrate your own “higher knowing” … so that what you do, what you create, and how you use your new strength and power truly support you and your life. [For more information, see Our Approach]

• Are Meditations2Go audio meditations religious?

  No … nor are they meant to replace or conflict with traditional religious beliefs and practices. The Meditations2Go meditations do, however, have a “spiritual” component, in the sense of “mind, body, spirit” – and are meant to address your deeper nature. The Meditations2Go audio meditations also make references to “life-force energy,” to “chakras” (or energy centers), and to “energy fields” – as do other types of meditation, and other practices like Tai Chi and Qigong.

  Meditations2Go meditations do not make references to “God,” though they do reference “higher-source” knowing (your “higher-source” knowing) and may be suggestive of a connection to a “universal” or “divine” light.

• How often should I meditate?

  Meditation should not be or feel like an “obligation” – though, needless to say, you will have to make time to do it. Once a week is a good start. If you can meditate more often, all the better. Doing a “brief” meditation at the beginning and/or end of the day can be extremely beneficial. Also see next question.

• Sometimes I don’t have enough to time to do the entire meditation. Can I do just part of it?

  Yes, absolutely. While Meditations2Go audio meditations range from 25-35 minutes in length, the first 8-12 minutes or so of each is designed to establish a firm basic balance, calm, and energy alignment. Meditations2Go meditations are consistently constructed in this way simply because this “foundation” is necessary to properly support the higher-, deeper-level meditative techniques that follow. Fortunately, this first 8-12 minutes also provides an excellent “foundation” for you (and your day) as a stand-alone meditation when you’re short on time or just need a quick “balancing.” You’ll need to find your own logical ending point in each meditation. And, if you do end the meditation early, you must build in a couple of minutes to “return” gently and fully from the meditation.

• Can I use a particular Meditations2Go meditation more than once?

  Yes. Absolutely.

  Each and every Meditations2Go audio meditation is designed and constructed first and foremost to restore your fundamental balance, calm, strength, and alignment. And all guide you through deep relaxation, energy clearing, healing, and source connection. So you may use any of the meditations for your occasional or regular ongoing meditation practice.

  Each individual Meditations2Go meditation also offers a particular emphasis (see individual descriptions), incorporating meditative energies and exercises tailored to specific challenges (e.g., “emotional release,” “creating,” “healing self-esteem,” etc.). We plan to add to the selection on a regular basis, to cover more of these “challenges,” and to give you some variety.

• Can I listen to Mediations2Go while I drive?

  NO. Never listen to or play your meditations while in the car. Please read:

  Disclaimer: Meditations2Go audio meditations are intended to encourage relaxation and may promote sleep in you and/or any person within hearing. Never listen to or play these recordings when you and/or any person within hearing are operating a vehicle or engaged in any activity that requires alertness, or at any time when becoming drowsy or falling asleep may endanger you or others. All content on this website, including texts, articles, and audio recordings, is general information, and is not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, or other professional advice.

• How do I know if I m meditating correctly?

  The first rule of meditation, at least for Meditations2Go meditations, is: You cannot do it wrong.

  These meditations are designed, first and foremost, to return you to you. And you cannot experience you (or your process) incorrectly. In fact, trying to “do it right” – efforting – is really the only obstacle to meditation. So when you find yourself “working at it” or struggling … that’s simply your signal to pause, return to your breathing for a moment, and let this impulse go. Also see the next few questions.

• Does Meditation “work” right away?

  Yes absolutely … and no. Every meditation will almost certainly provide some immediate relaxation and relief from stress, fatigue, and emotional tension. In any given meditation, however, your experience can range from truly extraordinary (in terms of the depth of nurturing, clarity, release, and healing you find) to simply calming. And while one day your meditation may be incredibly vivid and profound, the very next day you may struggle a bit. So, be prepared for this.

  This “range of experience” is difficult to explain, except to say that meditation is an extremely “organic” process. Because it aligns you with your own “higher” energy and knowing, it will provide what you need and what you’re ready for at any given time. And this will vary.

  A key factor in this variation is that, over time, meditation heals and empowers at deeper and higher levels, so there will be peaks and plateaus (… but you’re actually always moving forward). In this regard, the meditations work subtly, but very powerfully with regular practice and over the longer run.

• I find sometimes that I get caught up in my thoughts during the meditations. What then?

  You should expect this to some extent; more so if you’re new to meditation or if you’re particularly stressed at the time. Don’t let it worry you. Part of the normal process of meditation is allowing your thoughts to “run themselves out.” Your mind is a thinking instrument; this is not a flaw. Even if you were a “master” at meditation, if you use your mind, your mind will need time to “wind down.” The less you worry about this process (worry is actually the mind “at work”), the sooner your mind will rest and recede out of your way. Focusing lightly on your breathing is a natural mechanism to “shift” you away from your thoughts – hence the emphasis on “breathing” at the start of each meditation and throughout. If thoughts intrude at any time, relax and return your focus to your breathing. If you can, try to treat these thoughts as separate from you: seeing them as clouds moving freely across the sky is a very effective imagery. Don’t attach to them. Just breathe and let your thoughts move lightly on their own way.

• Sometimes I can’t follow the imagery in the meditations. Am I doing it wrong?

  As for following the guided imagery, you may find some colors and images easier to “see” than others. This too will become more fluid and natural for you over time. But if it’s not there, please do not “struggle” to see or imagine it. You’re not doing it wrong if every detail is not clear. And, again, your key to finding and following the energy of the meditation is in relaxing your impulse to effort and do it right. Try not to “judge” your experience at any given point: be patient and let the experience unfold.

  Having said this, if after giving Meditations2Go audio meditations some time, the “guided” imagery (or any other aspect of the Meditations2Go meditations) just doesn’t feel right to you, try a different kind of meditation. There are many. You might also find a more active meditation-like experience – like Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, etc. – more to your liking.

• I sometimes just fall asleep soon after I start listening to the meditations.?

  This is not uncommon. As mentioned elsewhere in this section, Meditations2Go are designed to connect you with what you need at the moment. And sometimes what we need most – for our balance, clarity, and strength – is sleep. Having said this, if you meditate while lying down (on your bed, sofa, floor), you are very likely to fall asleep. You should be comfortable when you meditate, but the strongly recommended posture is sitting in a chair with your back (reasonably) straight and upright (to keep your spine straight) and both your feet flat on the floor. Some prefer sitting on the floor, as they feel a more “grounding” connection with the earth; this is also fine. As for sitting “Lotus” style, if this is comfortable for you, by all means do so; but, it’s not required.

• Sometimes I’m following the meditation just fine and then at some point I just “go away” … and come back later or right at the end of the meditation, not remembering what happened in between? What’s this about?

  This also is not uncommon and may happen from time to time. In meditation we draw in energies we need – healing, peace, higher guidance – at various levels. As we move deeper into the meditation, we may reach a level where some aspect of our awareness would impede this needed energy. It may be physical or emotional tension that blocks an area where we need healing or rest. Often it’s information or knowing we need to integrate that simply can’t be filtered through our conscious mind. At such times, we may be “shifted” for a time out of consciousness (or “out of body”) so that we may receive this needed help or rest.

• What’s the best "posture" for these meditations?

  See answer to “I often just fall asleep soon after I start listening to the meditations” above.

• Why the constant emphasis on “breathing”?

  See answer to “I find sometimes that I get caught up in my thoughts. What then?” above.

• What are "Energy Centers" or "Chakras" … and what if I don’t see them when I meditate?

  The notion of “Chakras” is as ancient as meditation itself and also plays an integral role in “eastern” medicine and a variety of spiritual and healing disciplines. Consequently the exact nature of these “energy centers,” their respective roles, even their number and exact locations in the body (and beyond the body) can vary with traditions. Chakras are often represented as “wheels” upon which spiritual and/or life-force energy “turns” (from which the Sanskrit word “Chakra” derives), and together they form the central axis of the “etheric” body. Chakras can be associated individually with specific physiological functions and organs, with particular spiritual and emotional attributes and strengths, with particular colors, vibrations, sounds, visual patterns, etc.

  The Chakra meditations incorporated into the Meditations2Go audio meditations do utilize many of these “associations” for specific healing, strengthening, clearing, and integration. You don’t, however, need to understand all the subtleties to receive the benefits. It’s really enough to know that these seven primary “energy centers” run from the base of your spine to the crown of your head. (See image.) And you don’t even need to memorize this, as the meditations walk you through step by step.

  If you’re new to meditation, it may take some time before you actually “see” or sense your Chakras. As always, don’t worry and don’t struggle with it. Just try to follow the guided imagery, and be patient. Visualizing a turning “wheel” or a glowing sun at these locations in your body is a good approach.

  If you’ve practiced a great deal of Chakra meditation and are accustomed to a different “model” or arrangement of Chakras from that described in the Meditations2Go meditations, by all means feel free to follow what feels right for you.

  One more thing. Though Chakras are associated with your “etheric” body, with time you’ll discover that the guided Chakra exercises offer very practical benefits, with an extraordinary power to balance and enrich you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually – all at the same time. Indeed, the Chakra exercises are a frequent element in Meditations2Go audio meditations, because they both align and integrate all the many levels and aspects of our strength, our knowing, and our nature. Also see answer to “Sometimes I can’t follow the imagery in the meditations. Am I doing it wrong?” above.

   

• What is the role of "light" and "energy" so frequently mentioned in the meditations? And what do the various colors signify?

  “Light” and “energy” are terms used somewhat interchangeably in Meditations2Go audio meditations, referring to both vital and subtle life-force energies within us and available to us. Known by other names in other traditions (“ch’i,” “prana,” etc.), these energies are said to be carried and generated within all living things, within the earth, and within the higher realms. These energies are in one sense universal and all connected, and at the same time widely varied and each unique.

  In the context of the Meditations2Go meditations, particular kinds, sources, and colors of light and energy are evoked for their special qualities. They may be drawn in or directed for their power in a particular kind or area of clearing, healing, strengthening, balancing, calming, etc. On an even more subtle level, various shades, vibrations, and modes of light and energy are used singly or in combination because our “energy” (in various states) naturally responds to these.

  Through the meditations, we re-energize, re-balance, and awaken our own life-force energies. We also clear and strengthen the pathways through which this energy flows within us, around us, and to us – to support our wholeness, our clarity, and our creative power in the world.

  If you have other questions about your meditative experience, please use the Comment form, and we will do our best to provide answers.