25. Be Receptive: When we are receptive to the possibilities of higher consciousness, we are open to grace.

26. Allowing: A big part of making progress in meditation is “allowing” progress to happen; “allow” the changes to take place…accept them.

27. Smile: As you begin your meditations, smile. Just a little smile, a hint of a smile. You will notice that it will help to shift your attitude toward your meditations, especially if you find that you are not in the mood to meditate. Smiling can dissolve your inner shadows, and allow the light of Spirit to shine.

•  Right Concentration / Focused Awareness: Maintain a steady mind. Keep focused, whether on the present moment, or on an object of meditation. When the mind wanders, gently bring it back to your practice. This requires effort, but without straining. STEADY CONCENTRATION LEADS TO TRUE MEDITATION

• Right Meditation / Effortless One-pointedness: effortless, steady and focused awareness on the object you are meditating on. Then body sensations, life force, and mental and emotional fluctuations are all harmonized. Eventually you will ascend above all restlessness, into a heightened state of expanded awareness.

18. Fluctuations in your consciousness: Be aware of the fluctuations in your consciousness: the good thoughts, the bad thoughts, the flights of fantasy, the memories and the sluggish, sleeplike state of “no awareness.” Can you rise above your mental and emotional turbulence? Or, are you floating on your sub-conscious.

19. Keep your eyes closed: Most meditations are done with your eyes closed. You want to focus on your practice, and not be distracted by what is going on around you. However, if you feel that your posture has shifted, open your eyes slightly, adjust your posture, re-orient yourself, then close your eyes again and return your attention to your meditation. (There are meditations you can do with your eyes open).

20. Introspection / Self-Study / Self-Analysis: Meditation helps you to get to know yourself. This is not as simple as it seems. You need to make an honest inquiry into your own inner nature. Self-study gives you the perception and wisdom you need to make adjustments to your character, your actions and your attitudes, where necessary.

15. Be Patient, Be Persistent, Be Present: To receive the benefits of meditation, you need to practice with patience….be kind to your self… don’t rush the practice. With regular practice, positive results are sure to come. So you also need to be persistent. If you fall off the bike, you get back on; if you don’t first succeed, try and try again and again. Be Present: don’t let past memories or concerns for the future monopolize your awareness. It may help to be aware of each breath, of the breath in each moment. Be…in the present moment. Be Here Now.

16. Awareness, alertness, attentiveness: Be aware of the sensations arising from the physical body; watch the thoughts and feelings as you watch a parade go by, or a flock of birds fly by, or leaves floating by on a stream: be alert and attentive, don’t let the mind drift. Be the witness. If the mind drifts, be aware that the mind is drifting, and bring it back to your practice.

12. Yearning: It helps “to want” to meditate, to yearn for the benefits of meditation. What you put into your meditation will come back to you. If you put a mild effort into your practice, you will receive mild results; if you put a moderate effort into your practice, you will receive moderate results; if you put a dedicated effort into your practice, you will make the fastest progress.

13. Law of Attraction: Use the basic principles of the Law of Attraction to assist with your meditations.1) determine why you want to meditate and what the desired results are; 2) put your fullest attention on attaining these results – in other words, learn and practice the meditation techniques that will attract what you want (or need); and 3) allow the benefits of your meditation to integrate with your whole being. Accept them.

10. Proper Posture: Meditations can be done sitting in a straight-backed chair, or on a cushion on the floor. Your back should be erect, but not strained. Your back should be away from the back of the chair or the wall. Your chest, neck and head need to be in a straight line. Your hands can be resting on your thighs, either palms downward for grounding, or palms upward in a gesture of receptivity.

6. Prayer: Experienced meditators have found that saying a brief prayer before meditation will help their meditations. Ask for “help” from your inner self, your higher self, the Divine Principle, to deepen your meditations.

7. Right Attitude: Have the right attitude towards your meditations. Feel good will toward yourself and for your practice. If you find yourself thinking “damn, I need to meditate” then your meditation will not be fruitful. If you feel this way, pray and ask for help…practice surrender.

8. Stretch and Breathe Deeply: Before you meditate, stretch out the tensions from your body, and take a few deep breathes. Deep breathing before you meditate will help to oxygenate your blood cells and your brain cells. As your metabolism slows down during meditation, your breathing slows down. You want to make sure that your body has the oxygen it will require for a still and deep meditation.

3. Choose a sacred space: Choose a specific and dedicated space for your regular mediation practice, where it is ‘relatively’ quiet and you will not be disturbed. Make this a “sacred” space. Personalize it with sacred pictures and sacred books. Unplug the phone.

4. Be Regular with your Practice: To begin, try to meditate 15-20 minutes daily. In time, you may want to extent this period, or even add a second daily meditation session.

Welcome to my first blog. Over the next several weeks I will be providing some helpful tips for your personal meditation practice. These tips can help beginners, and experienced meditators alike. Whether your practice is based on contemplation (reflection), is a mindfulness (open awareness) practice, or is a meditation practice emphasizing concentration (focused awareness), there may a tip here that can help you. What is missing in your practice? Perhaps one of these tips can help you deepen your meditations.

Here is the first tip:

1. Give Yourself Permission: Give yourself full permission to meditate. You may be in the right posture for meditation, but are you fully present mentally and emotionally? Be in the present moment! Are you willing to let go of your memories of the past and your concerns for the future? Have you shifted from external awareness to internal awareness?

Stay tuned for more tips…