When I train people in Crystal and Energy Healing, I also have to give them training in various brain skills.  As we advance in healing work, we need more and more skills in modulating our brain wave states, as well as the ability to monitor and change the brain wave states of our clients.

One of the first brain skills that must be learned, is how to shift the brain waves from beta to alpha. Alpha is the brain wave state of meditation, so therefore, it is useful for Healers to learn how to meditate.

I think it is unfortunate that meditation is depicted as so difficult. I’m not convinced that meditation practices, according to set rules, for long periods of time, with a totally “empty mind” goal, are the only “correct” versions of meditation.

The only “formal” meditations that I have done were very short periods of sitting on the floor and closing my eyes before Yoga and Taekwondo classes. I have never trained in a specific meditation technique like Zen or Transcendental Meditation, because I was put off by what I consider to be an overly demanding standard. Or rather, to be brutally honest, I can simply admit that I don’t like sitting still for long periods of time – it hurts!

Since I have never trained in meditation, I could say that I do not meditate.  Except … since I was a child, I have been subject to a strange occurrence: I naturally fall into a kind of trance that my husband, Neil, calls a “fugue state.” It is very odd and works like this — after my morning shower, if I sit down, like on the edge of the bed, I just fall into this “state” that usually lasts for about 20 minutes. It is as if the rest of the world disappears and it feels like I’m floating. It took me a very long time to click that this is natural meditation.

After recent reflection on my morning fugue, I began to track its effects and found that on the days that I allowed myself to sit, and thereby fall into this trance, I was in a MUCH better mood! I felt right and the day felt right. Not only that, my brain felt clearer and fresher, my creativity was enhanced and I enjoyed a sense of flow. As a consequence I decided to entirely change my routine.

Instead of getting up early, going to work early and trying to get finished with work early, I swung everything around. Now I only begin work at 10:30 in the morning. I have adopted a slow morning routine that allows me as much as an hour, or even more, of “fugue” time. I love it! I make a big pot of coffee or tea, go downstairs to the deck, switch on the outside lights and the fountain, and just sit there … Fabulous! Listening to the sound of the fountain is an ideal meditative practice. In the winter, I sit at the fire and watch the flames instead.

I can also get the same “floating” feeling in certain pleasant and repetitive activities, like walking in nature, floating in the ocean, organizing my crystals, cooking, gardening and even when writing.

I think it is a pity that meditation has taken on the same status as exercise: Something we’re supposed to do, to avoid the scary pitfalls of stress, heart disease and obesity. Unless we are actually enjoying our meditation, and feeling successful, we’re not going to engage in the activity for any length of time.

Even though I spend most of my day moving between different states of consciousness, I especially enjoy my morning meditation. Whereas my work is for the benefit of others, my morning routine is for me – and, there is a very big bonus: this time for me greatly enhances my work and my creativity, so that I am able to contribute even more to others. I highly recommend for people to choose their own personal style of meditative practice – a mild, easy and enjoyable way to relax that relieves the mind and soul from the stresses and strains of modern life.

For more information about Meditation and other Brain Skills, please visit www.crystalhealingtechniques.com