Learn to Meditate

Dear Friend,

This journey is an invitation to meet whatever is present - be it pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral - with kind, curious, loving awareness. Appropriate for both beginners and experienced meditators alike - you will be guided to start exactly where you are, to awaken your senses, and to meet physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions with care. The more we practice coming into loving awareness - the more we alchemize our relationship with our inner experience, ourselves, each other, and the world into one of freedom, balance, peace, and care.

This is a choice-based, go at your own pace series that provides lots of options for participation. You’ll be encouraged to practice: in whatever shape supports your body, with whatever meditation anchors work for you (we will explore many), within your window of tolerance (resourcing suggestions provided), and with whatever modifications would serve you. If mindfulness meditation has felt too difficult or inaccessible for you before - I’ve been there, too. This series was created for you. Mindfulness meditation is for everyone, wherever they are, however they’re feeling, whatever their background, whatever their abilities - in all their parts and wholeness. You belong here.

With Love & Encouragement,

Kelsea

Photo Credit: Kate Warren

My preface and introduction to my very down-to-earth and practical meditation approach.

Meditation might seem straightforward, but upon delving into its depths, it becomes clear there's more than meets the eye. Or mind. Today, let's unravel what meditation encompasses and brush aside some prevalent misconceptions.

### My Definition of Meditation

Meditation, to me, isn't about halting the endless chatter of thoughts or being swept away by a tide of guided visualisations. Rather, it’s about stepping aside from the consistent mental evaluations and judgments, a faculty inherent to us all. The path I propose, especially through the Meditation Daily project, isn't rooted in erasing these thoughts but in gifting oneself moments of freedom from them, through transcendence - not force.

### The Misconceptions of Meditation

One pervasive thought is that meditation equates to the suspension of thinking, which is neither feasible nor the primary goal. On the other end of the spectrum, many meditate by actively engaging in guided visualisations - an exercise of imagination meant to evoke certain mental states. While this approach is valid, it doesn’t align with my personal view of meditation.

Interestingly, I recall being a young child, guided through a visualization by a visionary teacher. It demonstrated how certain practices can steer the mind into various states, like salivating at the mere notion of tasting something salty. This childhood memory exemplifies how visualization can condition us into new states, thus forging a connection with the traditional chants and serene mantras.

### The Mind: A Constant Thinker

Despite these varied methods, there's an undeniable truth: our Western mindset finds pseudo-tranquility through constant thinking. It's become a hallmark, almost a survival trait, to the extent where the mere notion of halting thoughts can spark anxiety. I once encountered a meditation participant who feared cessation of thought equated to non-existence - a perspective I'd counter by noting our continued existence during sleep-filled nights.

### A Different Direction

So, where does this lead us? My advocacy isn't aimed at perpetuating constant thought, nor is it a crusade against thinking altogether. Although, in practice, I do sometimes encourage thought-provoking techniques, and other times efforts that reduce thought. The essence of meditation, as I view it, is broader - it is about 'rising above' thought; about cultivating an expansive awareness.

### Practicing Awareness

To meditate, to 'my mind', is to nurture this awareness, to hone the capacity for observation and noticing, both within and outside the self. It's a practice of consistent effort, akin to discipline in any art or sport. Much like mastering any other skill, meditation too demands routine and dedication. Until it's unnecessary.

*The Takeaway*

As I share these insights, my main message is simple: practice awareness. Whether through scheduled times in 'Meditation Daily' or in the quietude of your own making, make the effort to develop a broader view. Dive into your own experience the liberation that comes with expanded awareness.

Dear Friend,

This journey includes a series of quick (7-minutes or less) mindfulness meditations to support you in taking a moment of pause, however and wherever you may be. You’ll be guided to ground in this moment, awaken the senses, and come into deeper presence. There’s nothing to change, fix, or “get right” - instead, we practice meeting whatever’s here with loving awareness. All of you is welcome here, just as you are.

In just a few minutes, these practices can help you reset, settle the nervous system, anchor into the present moment, improve focus and mental clarity, and build the skill of meeting the full spectrum of experience with kind, curious awareness.

These are choice-based practices with different options for participation provided throughout. Please think of my guidance as suggestion, make any adaptations that serve you, and practice in whatever shape works best for your body. Remember that it’s natural for the mind to wander - noticing and gently returning is mindfulness itself.

May this journey support you in coming into greater presence and ease.

With Love,

Kelsea

Photo Credit: Kate Warren

If you are one of those people who don't have time to meditate, this course is for you. It will give you a new motivation to make meditation a daily part of your life. In just 21 days, you will open the door to a new, more mindful and bliss-full world where life becomes a breeze. The only investment needed is to treat yourself to 13m33s of ‘me time’ a day for 3 weeks.

The quality of our sleep deeply affects the quality of our waking days. This journey shows you how to ease into sleep and how to enjoy the cusps between being asleep and being awake. There's even a treat on how to enjoy the benefits of a power nap and lots of relaxing ambience to help you doze off.

This book is an introduction to mindfulness and to mindfulness meditation. In addition to exploring the benefits to our health and well being, as a practical ex-BBC TV engineer, I explain how we can use the practice of mindfulness meditation to get real world results. Just imagine then by meditating for just 10 minutes every day that you could improve not just your health but your increase your wealth too. Just imagine if you could generate more time and give both your creativity and productivity a boost. Just imagine being luckier in life and in luck. Just imagine stepping into a new way of being in just 21 days - download the companion workbook at the end to find out how.

This journey contains four companion meditations - the first three are mindfully, timefully and kindfully 10 minutes long each and the last bonus track takes you on a metaphorical journey to discard unwanted baggage and to equip yourself for a new way of being ahead.