When I meditate

When I meditate I work very hard to make sure I follow a few key things so that it has the most impact, and to ensure that my practice gets better.

The very first thing I do is make sure that I have a coffee or nice cool glass of water. Not cold because that usually makes me have to visit the bathroom soon after finishing it, and it's not a good thing to be feeling the need to visit the bathroom or risk cleaning up.

I find that having a coffee or glass of water gets me into the mood. It has become part of the habit and ritual of preparing to meditate.

While I'm drinking my coffee, and I'm not rushing to finish it, I get all my meditation things together. I have a great cushion, it's nice and comfortable, and thick enough so my butt doesn't get sore. I also get my music selection prepared. I haven't quite nailed a playlist yet but I'm working on one.

As I mentioned in a post about music for meditation not long ago, I prefer to use music during meditation sessions, and that it has to be something that is calming and relaxing.

Once I have a few tracks selected I've usually finished drinking my coffee. The bathroom is the next stop to make sure I'm absolutely not going to be disturbed by my body. I also have my earbuds ready so that I'm not getting outside noise causing a distraction either.

My beautiful wife knows my process and she makes sure she's not disturbing my meditation either.

Then I go for it. I get on my cushion, I wriggle around until I feel relaxed and comfortable and then it's meditation time.

And when I meditate, it doesn't seem to take long these days when I enter, what I think, is a very good meditative state. I'm not thinking anything, I'm not worrying about anything and I'm not feeling discomfort and I'm feeling relaxed.

I've found it pretty easy to focus on my breathing to reach this state and I watch my thoughts scramble to clear out so I can reached a meditative state.

It is actually quite addictive because I have been able to return to places like Medan, Danau Toba and Samosir.

I've been able to criss-cross over the lake to places I haven't physically been to but feel like I would know them when I return there. I can feel the wind in my face, the smell of the lake and places around Samosir and Median. I can taste the foods as I move over the area.

I also "speak " with Ompung, who has revealed himself to be the first King of the Batak people.

I say "speak" because I don't actually move my mouth or hear words but I can hear them in my mind and sometimes the words form as if a printer was at work in my mind with one or two words forming this way. Kind of like a piece of paper in my mind. There is banter and laughter about the days and nights and his invitation to return and wanting to know how the wife is and if we're working on a family.

I also get the chance to have a chat with my spirits that are a part of me. One of them is named Ragnar and he likes to give me a tease about things at home. It's the kind of banter you'd expect between siblings.

The other spirit has no name, and has never offered a name, but he seems very old and between Ompung and him they tell me things. They aren't the mysteries of the universe; they are about what I'm doing and how I can make life better for me and my wife.

After about 15 minutes, I have "returned" and I feel refreshed, calm and happy.

The tracks of music I pick run for approximately 15 minutes, usually 13 to 17 minutes. But I always feel good afterwards and enjoy spending the time meditating.

These visits feel more vivid as I continue to practice each day doing my meditation routine.

I'd be fascinated to hear what your ritual for mediation is and what you experience while you are meditating.

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