Kestrel the Druid

Meditation tip number 2

Preparation is essential for anything you want to accomplish. Getting ready before meditation can help you focus better, relax more, and allow more to happen. So how does one prepare to meditate?

I make a habit of purposely walking to my meditation spot. I have a certain path that I follow. As I follow this path, I try to let cares and worries fall away. I’m not always successful, but I have seen improvement in my focus from doing this. If your meditation spot is nearby, like in the same room, walk around the space. Imagine putting things down as you walk by various items. The things you are putting down are the same cares and worries.

Once in my spot, I start with some simple short breath work. There are various techniques and an endless supply of instructions. Some examples are box breathing, color breathing, and timed breathing. I recommend researching various techniques. Try them out and see which ones work best for you. I currently do a variation of box breathing. I breath in for 4 seconds, hold for 8 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds, and hold again for 8 seconds. This is only about 2 breaths per minute, so don’t try this right away. If you’re new to breath work, start by doing all four parts for only 4 seconds. By spending a few minutes focusing on your breath, it will help clear your mind of various clutter. This in turn can help you focus better.

I would also encourage you to wear comfortable clothing (or none at all if you prefer). Clothing that is too tight, itchy, or otherwise uncomfortable can be very distracting. If you are in a private space, I would recommend trying your meditation without any clothes. It is actually quite freeing. But if this is not possible, then simply find the most comfortable clothes you have. You could also designate a certain outfit as your meditation clothes.

I would love to hear any other things you do to prepare for meditation. Please leave me a comment. I may even include it in my daily meditation practice.