Paths to Inner Peace
Archive for November, 2009
What is a Guided Journey?
Nov 19th
A Guided Journey is a narrated meditation or visualization which usually follows a certain format. They are also known as Pathworkings. You begin by some relaxation and breathwork to release all the events of the day and to get you into the right space of mind and to allow your body to relax deeply enough so you won’t be disturbed during the journey. There may also be some energy work to cleanse the aura and prepare you even further.
Then you will be guided through a doorway or an opening to another realm of existence where you will encounter guides and guardians, angels or Ascended Masters or perhaps a more Shamanic journey where you will shapechange into the form of an animal teacher and learn valuable lessons from them. The journey takes place within your imagination, making thorough use of that innate ability to travel and encounter your Inner Realms and to meet with your guides and angels.
The guided journey is completely safe and promotes change, transformation and healing. You gain more knowledge about yourself as you undertake these journeys and also bring back wisdom and inspiration for use in your day to day life. The Guided Journeys promote healing and balance and bring you back towards wholeness. They remind you of what a powerful being you are and of all the skills you possess that we can sometimes forget during the course of our lives. They heal from the inside outwards, gently bringing your body, mind and emotions back to their original divine blueprint.
You can find more information on each of our Guided Journeys on the Meditations page.
How to use these meditations
Nov 18th
First of all make sure you will not be disturbed for at least 45 mins. Take the phone off the hook, including your mobile. Ask whoever you live with not to interrupt you.
Make your self comfortable. Lying down to meditate is not recommended unless you have a lot of experience as you are most likely to fall asleep. The ideal position is the god-form position as seen in many statues of Egyptian gods (see picture). So choose a chair with a firm back where you can sit upright with a straight spine, your feet close together and your palms resting downwards along your thighs. This position will keep you alert and allow the energy to flow properly when you meditate. A straight spine also helps you to go more deeper and to connect better with universal energies.
You could also use the more Eastern cross-legged position with hands resting on the knees. This position focuses your attention away from the Earth so is particularly suited to Ascension meditations or accessing the Cosmos. Grounding afterwards is highly recommended. The god-form position is more suited to connected to balancing Earth below and Sky above.
You then need to relax as much as possible. Use the Relaxation meditation first if you wish which will take you into a deep state of relaxation but also keep your mind gently alert. This is the required state: body deeply relaxed, mind gently alert and calm.
Then listen to your chosen meditation and allow the images to unfold before your minds eye. Everyone is capable of visualizing though some people only get a ‘feel’ for the scenes and images. This is fine and you will still benefit greatly from the Guided Journey. Visualization is a skill that needs to be learned and improved upon. As in all things – take it easy on yourself.
When you have finished the journey, come back full to consciousness. Have a good stretch and focus completely on the room around you. Make sure you are completely back in your body. Having a snack after meditation is excellent and will ground you further. We are human beings living in this world and must be able to function successfully in reality. We can however journey to and bring back wisdom from other worlds and use that wisdom in our day to day lives.
These meditations are very powerful and will promote change and transformation. We recommend using the longer journeys only once a week. The shorter clearing and cleansing exercises can be used more often.
Archangels of the Quarters
Nov 9th
The Archangels of the Quarters can be invoked to appear in the 4 main directions of the room to provide protection, peace, guidance and strength.
They are to be visualized, as strongly as possible as follows, beginning with Raphael in the East. (You will need to work out the directions of the room either using a compass or judging where the sun rises and sets) The East is the place where the light begins to grow and then moves in a clockwise direction around the room. The Archangels are also to be visualized with outstretched wings touching the corners of the room, wingtip-to-wingtip, facing inwards.
RAPHAEL
The Archangel Raphael is to be imagined in the EAST, in the element of AIR. He wears robes of bright yellow flecked with violet. He holds aloft in his right hand a wand. Behind him are mountains and clouds. From this quarter a gentle breeze can be felt entering the room. This breeze cleanses as it moves through the room. Raphael is responsible for healing conditions of the mind and can be called on in relevant situations.
MICHAEL
Michael is found in the SOUTH, in the Element of FIRE. He wears light golden armour, and his colours are of fiery red and emerald green. He holds aloft in his right hand a flaming sword which can be used to cut negative ties. Behind him can be seen a sea of flames in a desert landscape. From this quarter warmth flows into the room, promoting deeper relaxation and also burning away negativity as it moves. Michael can be called upon any time we need more courage or protection. He also assists in deepening our intuitions.
GABRIEL
Gabriel is in the WEST, in the element of WATER. His robes are of blue flecked with orange and he holds aloft in his right hand a Chalice brimming over with water. Behind him can be seen a lake into which cascades a magnificent waterfall. From this quarter and from the waterfall, a watery vapour flows into the room cleansing and charging. Gabriel can be called on when we need to work on cleansing our emotions.
AURIEL
Auriel is in the NORTH, in the element of EARTH. His robes are of citrine, olive, russet and black and he holds aloft in his right hand some sheaves of corn. Behind him can be seen fertile fields and every type of tree. From this quarter strength and stability flow into the room. Auriel can be called upon when we need assistance in grounding or in times when we need the courage and strength to endure.
The Psychic Protection Handbook By Caitlin Matthews – review
Nov 9th
The title of this book is somewhat misleading as this book contains much more than just Psychic Protection. I would almost go so far as to say this is a Manual for Life and an excellent sourcebook for healing and transformation.
Of course she covers general Psychic Protection skills and techniques but this book goes so much deeper. There are a lot of exercises which build on each other and are well worth working through. If you work through them all I believe you will come out the far end a far better person, more confident and much more in control of your life.
Highly recommended to all.
The Middle Pillar
Nov 9th
The Middle Pillar is an exercise in light and visualization which promotes balance and self-healing. It is drawn from Qabalistic tradition and has been in popular use for over one hundred years. This exercise calls for us to create in your imagination five spheres of coloured light, roughly football sized in dimension, running from the crown of your head down through the body. The light that is drawn in is then circulated so that every cell and atom of the body is refreshed and revitalised, and charged with the healing power of the universe.
To begin, sit in the God form position on a chair – spine erect, feet uncrossed placed firmly on the ground, hands palms down on the thighs.
Take several deep breaths using the diaphragm to relax the mind and centre yourself. You may also wish to spend some time focusing on different muscle groups actively relaxing them.
When you are ready, take a deep breath and then visualize a sphere of radiant brilliant WHITE light above and touching the crown of the head. This is the SPIRIT centre of the body and resonates with your I AM presence. It is known as KETHER. Spend some time building up this centre.
Take another deep breath and as you exhale drawn light down from the Spirit centre in a column to the throat and here visualize a sphere of LAVENDAR light. This is DAATH and this is the AIR sphere of the body. This centre governs communication as well as your logical/mental abilities. Spend some time building up this centre.
Take another deep breath and draw the light down to the heart centre and here visualize a sphere of golden yellow light. This is TIPHERETH and this is the FIRE centre of the body. This centre resonates with your intuitive function. Spend some time visualizing this centre.
When you are ready, take another deep breath and as you exhale draw the light down to the pelvic girdle and here visualize a sphere of VIOLET light. This is YESOD and this is the WATER centre of the body. This centre works on an emotional level. Spend some time building up this centre.
Take another deep breath and as you exhale, draw the light down the body to the feet and ankles and here visualize a sphere of warm russet red-brown light. This centre is known as MALKUTH and this is the EARTH sphere of the body. This sphere deals with your practicality and grounding, bringing you into greater contact with the Earth. Spend some time on this centre.
So you have now made yourself a beam of brilliant white light, running from the crown of the head down through the body to the feet and ankles. Superimposed on this column are five spheres of radiant light. Brilliant white at the Crown, lavendar blue at the Throat, golden yellow at the Heart, violet at the Pelvic Girdle and warm russet red-brown at the feet and ankles.
We are now going to circulate this light so that every part of our being is vitalised and refreshed.
When you are ready, place your attention on the white light at the crown of the head. Take a deep breath and as you exhale, draw light down from the crown, picking up colours from the other spheres as it passes through till it reaches the feet and ankles. Then as you inhale thrown the light outwards around the body, like a fountain in reverse, so that every part of you partakes of this energy.
Do this for several breaths.
It is now time to make an ending.
Place your attention on the centre at the feet and ankles. As you exhale, close the EARTH centre and draw the light back up to the pelvic girdle. (You can imagine the centre growing smaller and smaller.)
Take another deep breath and as you exhale close the WATER sphere and draw the light back up to the HEART.
Take another deep breath and as you exhale, close the FIRE sphere and draw the light back up to the THROAT.
Take another deep breath and as you exhale, close the AIR sphere and draw the light back up to the CROWN.
Then in your own time, very gently and very slowly, close this last sphere.
Now imagine that you are drawing about you a cloak of brilliant light, in whichever colour you prefer. Make sure that it covers all of you and be sure to place the hood up over your head. You may also notice a clasp at the throat that can be any symbol you desire.
Regular practise of this exercise promotes balance, self-confidence, increased energy, sensitivity, cleanses and charges the chakras gently.
