Ask Astrid: What's the Best Way to Meditate?

I find that meditating every day in the shower works best for me. You need five to 10 minutes to yourself, where you can consciously cleanse and clear your mind and body. Doing this at the same time every day makes for a great meditation routine.

Meditating is about clearing your mind, relaxing your body and initiating contact with your higher self and other dimensions.

When I meditate in the shower, I start with a cleansing, intending the water to relax and clean my body. I use the Qigong technique of massaging my scalp, face and ears where energy points stimulate the flow throughout my body. I’ll sometimes do some fake push-ups against the wall and stretch my toes and fingers to activate the flow within. I’ll do my prayers for the day, talking directly to God and Mother Mary about whatever intentions I have for myself in that moment or for the day. Then I’ll do a little visualization to open up my mind and my senses to receiving messages.

Imagine, for example: a beautiful beach with glistening waters, soft, warm sand under your feet and a slight breeze in your hair (opening up the window to the outside helps!). Imagine yourself strolling along the beach without a care in the world -- birds chirping, animals grazing nearby. It’s a calm, relaxing setting where you can just be.

This in itself is sufficient to engage your mind into alpha and theta brain waves, where light to medium trance states of meditation are engaged. It doesn’t take long before your mind relaxes sufficiently -- it opens up to more of the billions of bits of information we have coming to us, 99% of which we filter every day.

I also find it empowering to take a break during the focused hours of the day and simply sit back and relax, allowing my thoughts to go by like birds in the sky. Also, as someone who practices clear consciousness as much as possible, before I go to bed or just as I awaken, I allow myself to drift into a light dreamy state that triggers the “good-feeling” chemicals in my body. This helps me to have a great day or a great night!

Lastly, I ask for the presence of guides and angels whilst my mind opens up. That way, when I’m ready, their messages come that much faster and clearer to me.

Find something that you naturally do every day: taking a shower, brushing your teeth, praying, cooking. Any regular activity can allow you to “let your mind wander.” Then simply practice relaxing in that moment and opening your heart and mind to the space of pure potentiality, where anything and everything is possible. Gently guide your thoughts toward this open space of love and well-being -- and voila! You’re in the alpha brain wave mode, where light and empowering meditation happens.