The Reiki Cafe 

Dear Friends,

Well, it's not that silly, it's a real problem. When I'm meditating, focusing on my breath and all that good stuff, I don't really have a problem clearing my head of thoughts. But the darnedest thing is that any tune I've heard recently keeps going through my head and I can't close it out. It's very distracting, and keeps me from getting the most out of my meditation. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Roxy

Hi hon,

sing along?

bagl

sorry couldn't help myself. :-))

those tunes can be a really annoying can't they. :-))

hugs

Walk in beauty,
Rebecca

Otoharo!

Roxy, this is a wonderful example of the action of ego. It does not want you to be in meditation and will distract you any way it can. What I do is simply keep my focus underneath whatever else is taking place. It is up there! I have gone down in my elevator below all the head stuff.

finality

Dear Roxy,

As far as distractions and the monkey mind when meditating? Tune = thoughts. Assuming you're doing mindfulness meditation (we do know that assumption is the mother of all screwups, but there it is regardless) simply note "There's that tune," and return to the breath count.

Bright blessings; hail Eris!
goldenisis

In fact what you describe is very common, but the establishment either ignor or adopt denial as to what is happening, don't worry there is a way to overcome the problem.

I add for your benifit a technique that overcomes the monkey mind and allows for meditation to really be effective.

Try this.

Introduction Exercise. Gateway; Meditation & self healing

Relaxation and to settle and calm the Body & Mind.

Preparation; be sitting or standing and have before you a small pillow or towel or handkerchief to be used as a proxy.

Placing your hands beside your body in line with your navel on your hips then hold that position for about 15 sec, then bring them forward to a position about 8” in front and about 2-4” apart, try to feel an energy ball, a something between your hands, with practice you may feel this energy ball quite strong and bigger than the 2-4”, just go with it and feel it and hold that position for about 30sec.

Then move your hands to the position of Gassho, breathing slowly and deeply.

The intent is to only combine the Earth energy to the Spiritual,

Pause and wait in the Gassho position for about 30sec, then indicate to the Universe that you nominate the proxy to the energy, then move your hands to the proxy picking it up.

“ To the Universe I now nominate ( whatever item that you have selected ) as the proxy to the energy ”.

Some may feel the energy as an immediate response, for others it may take sometime to experience.

Q. How long do you hold the position for.
A. The longer the better

This exercise can be done at any time and is an introduction. If you use a proxy such as a small towel or a handkerchief, by wrapping it around your hand so that it covers your palm you will be able to continue without sitting down and just let the energy do its job.

Further exercises open the person to self-healing and all forms of trauma counseling.
Len Thomas.

Ms. Roxy,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- always return to the breath

- and, do not worry that these distractions arise

- just acknowledge them, and let them go, and return to the breath

- practice, practice, practice

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Hi Roxy,

Sorry for the late response. Been so, so busy. Hardly ever get to this board anymore.

You've been given some good advice re Meditation per se.
But I would offer another thought.

Lately I seem to be getting some really helpful messages through songs, music and radio. A single sentence on the radio suddenly stands out amongst the general background droning. A song will come on the radio, that seems particulary pertinent to the space I am currently in. I'm convinced that my guides are speaking to me this way. OK, maybe I am mad too :-) 2 things are happening this way:-
~ I get specific messages ... one was "The solution to Loneliness, is Solitude"
~ I get the opportunity to really feel and express and let go of, very strong emotion, that I have been denying or surpressing.

Anyways, pardon my rambling. But I just wanted to point out, that it may not be just 'noise'. It may well be something you need to notice and work through in other ways.

Just another thought. Hope you're doing well.

Namaste
Nats

nats,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- a few folks I know that meditate try to keep a meditation journal - after each meditation period they jot down as many of the thoughts that arose during the meditation as possible - these might be useful but the goal is actually to become proficient in meditation so that the number if arising thoughts decreases

>:-}}

- solitude is the art of being alone, not lonely.

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Peter,

Long time, no chat :-) Hope you're keeping well.

a few folks I know that meditate try to keep a meditation journal - after each meditation period they jot down as many of the thoughts that arose during the meditation as possible - these might be useful but the goal is actually to become proficient in meditation so that the number if arising thoughts decreases

I can see that keeping the journal is useful. However, I can also see that may encourage the person to hold on to those thoughts (so that they remember when they write), rather than let them go, which is contrary to the goal of TRADITIONAL meditation. I highlight traditional, because I know the process I was describing and offering is not traditional. Heck, I don't know the word for it would be :-) I was merely pointing out to Roxy, that she may want/need to explore other meditation ways, in addition to traditional. I don't believe 'one glove, fits all' and it's worth honoring that and not just sticking with more recognised ways, just because people say you should.

solitude is the art of being alone, not lonely

I agree. That was the message I took from hearing that line. I also took it too mean that often people who are scared of loneliness, deliberately avoid solitude, often confusing the 2. And it is only in trying solitude, that the difference becomes clear. It is also the time that you really get to know yourself, and hence loneliness is negated.

Namaste
Natalie

nats,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- quite well, thanks.

- I trust you are also.

- it is important not to confuse letting the thoughts go at the time (and returning to the breath) and forgetting those thoughts altogether

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Peter,

I am doing well thanks. Learning alot about myself, energy (Reiki & Qi Gong), shamanism (through Michael Harner's Core Shamanism) and wicca. And taking much stress at work :-) But it pays the bills, nonetheless.

I am not sure how to do what you mention. When in a deep meditation, and thoughts intrude, I try to let them go and just concentrate on the breathe. Later I can never remember those thoughts.

Namaste
Natalie

Otoharo!

Somehow all these references to the thoughts that come and how they come reminds me of a discussion in New Revelations, where God replies,"Ask me anything. I will contrive to give you an answer....the whole universe I will use to answer. But watch, listen. the words of the next song you may hear, the information of the next article you may read, the storyline of the next movie you watch, the chance utterance of the next person you meet, or the whisper of the next river, the next ocean, the next breeze that corresses your ear."

finality

Hi Finality,

This is exactly how I feel...that the universe/God/Higher Self/Guides/Whatever uses everything around us to communicate. It's up to us to hear.

Would you happen know the specific reference in the Bible?

Namaste
Natalie

otoharo!

I took these words from one of the books which Walsch had published. He was always asking God questions. One day he began getting answers. He had all these Conversations with God published in the series, called that. I think this particular one comes from the fourth volume which is named the New Revelation (God' choice of name). I have them underlined because I quoted them. It may take some time to find them again unless I made a footnote somewhere in my notes. If you like this language you may enjoy reading this series of four books.

God continues to reveal God's self to us.

finality

nats,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- if one can remember dreams, then one may also have some recollection of the thoughts that arise and are 'let go'

- the brain is quite capable of what we call incidental learning and incidental memory

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Dear Mr. Firekeeper,

Yes, of course, "practice, practice, practice". It should be my mantra by now.

I do have one question, though. As you progress in your practice, does it beome easier to shut out distractions? Frankly, I'm getting awfully discouraged.

Blessings,
Ms. Roxanne

Ms. Roxanne,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- I have seen people fall asleep on their gomdens (as opposed to being in deep meditiational state - DMS)

bagl

- I suppose falling asleep is one way to shut things out, so to speak

bagl

- but, I would say that if one exerts energy at shutting things out, the 'thought' of shutting things out becomes a repetetive "arising" which becomes very difficult to let go

>:-}}

- but, more succinctly?? Yes, the more easily you are able to stay on the breath the less frequent will be the intrusions

- but, do not beat yourself up over thoughts that arise

- compared to really dedicated and "career" meditators, most of us only meditate "casually", I would say - and that is OK - any effort that improves mindfulness and engenders some time in our waking life that is peaceful has merit and earns merit

>:-}}

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Thanks Mr. Firekeeper,

That's encouraging. Perhaps you can shine some light on another problem I have meditating...I can't seem to relax, I feel physically restless as I'm sitting. Can you give me a suggestion for dealing with that?

Thanks again,
Ms. Roxanne

Ms. Roxanne,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- so, where are you thinking you'd rather be than sitting and meditating?

>:-}}

- and, sometimes, the manner in which one sits needs to be 'customized' a little more - if you are not physically comfortable, then discomforting thoughts will 'arise'

- I know folks who are not comfortable on the floor - so they do their meditations sitting in straight-back chairs with maybe a thin cushion for the backside

bagl

- hope this helps

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper