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Feng Shui In Its Essence

By Maggie Z. Mathews

Feng Shui in its essence centers on finding the ideal site, the ideal spot and shapes of your land, home, rooms and furnishings.

The ideal Feng Shui site is said to be where the descending heaven qi meets the ascending earth qi. There is no hard and fast rule about the perfect site but there are general conditions that you can look for. Generally halfway up a hill facing the sun is considered good feng shui because you will have a distant view. Further you will get cool summer breezes and warm winter ones.

The ideal Feng Shui spot for a house is called the xue (shu). It has an open space in front, the “bright hall” or ming sang, with four mythical animals or spirits surrounding it. The red bird is the distant front view, the black tortoise is the protective hill at the back; the azure dragon is to the left and the white tiger to the right. Ideally you should have a stream flowing across in front of the site because water is regarded as a source of food and a means of transportation. It is also believed that the heaven qi descends down the hill and is contained by the water.

You will find that the value of this protective armchair shape can be applied not only to the site of your home but to the feng shui of a particular room, where the chairs are placed so that the backs are protected and there is an open space in front of you, or to your garden, where you can plant protective trees at the back if there is not a hill. After all feeling safe and secure is a very large part of being happy.

Next in the basics of Feng Shui is the actual geographical shape of your block of land, your house, your rooms and even your furniture. These shapes play a most important part of the intrinsic Feng Shui of your home and indeed of your community and communities. Symmetrical shapes are considered ideal – an L-shape, for instance and example, poses problems as it is fundamentally considered incomplete and unbalanced. Simply said when you have irregular shapes, you need to look at how you can balance them.

The shape of your land will come into play. A rectangular block of land, wider on the northern and southern ends, is considered to have the very best Feng Shui values. There are a number of ways to balance your block of land. Firstly put a lamp or plant a tree in the opposite corner, if a corner juts unto your block of earth. Next plant a creeper or hedge around the offending corner to counter any negative energy ( sha qi) that this land might be generating. Lastly if the plot of land is triangular make sure to fill out the corners so that the qi does not get trapped inside.

It can be said that square or rectangular homes are thought to be the most beneficial because homes that are of an irregular shape leave rooms in a condition of “dangling” outside the flow of the vital qi.

If you do have an L-shaped house then you can fill out the missing corner by either – planting a tree or shrub, using a lamp or spotlight or building a conservatory or patio. If your abode is an apartment and you are not permitted by the property owners to install or upgrade the property try instead installing a light or handing winds chimes or a mirror to square the L shapes.

Lastly furnishings finish and enhance the completeness of Feng Shui. Symmetry is important when it comes to your home’s d

Feng Shui And The Environment

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By Juliana Abram

In our modern world, concern for the natural environment has been escalating on a global scale. Most people are now aware of the problems associated with the different type of wastes disposal, the greenhouse effect, depletion of the ozone layer, the dilemmas created for our wildlife due to the felling of our old forests and the dumping ground our oceans have become. It is becoming more widely accepted that should this assault on our environment continue then it will at the very least, compromise life as we know it and also undermine our attempts to improve conditions for the millions of other people ravaged by war, poverty, hunger and illness.

Whilst individuals and various cultures have varying attitudes toward the natural environment, more people are becoming aware of the importance of re-evaluating the way in which we view nature and in so doing, how we’re going to deal with it.

I was at a function recently and during one conversation I was stunned that the view espoused was that humanity was separate to nature. Also, that science can determine all aspects of nature having the ability, through scientific evaluation to predict and manipulate the environment with little or no consequential impact should science desire this to be the case.

Science generally encourages the belief that its current explanations of nature are the absolute truth. Western science is considered to describe physical reality with absolute precision – as a result, the ancient and traditional theories of other cultures such as Feng Shui, is ridiculed as being merely superstition. An authentic Feng Shui consultant encourages an attitude of respect and caution towards nature and would never make recommendations based on superstitious beliefs. As I’ve mentioned before – Feng Shui came about as the result of lengthy and committed study of nature by the Chinese.

Feng Shui has traditionally played the role of fine tuning the relationship between humanity and nature by allowing environmental modification only if it was considered to not disrupt natural balances and harmonies. Feng Shui encompasses the assessment of water courses to a given environment, soil stability and fertility, vegetation, aspect, animal life etc… It was a joy to work with a young couple recently that shared this view – wanting to build on 80 acres and showing due respect for the environment by taking extreme care with the placement of the home ensuring the most minimal change to the environment.

In Feng Shui, the environment is considered to be a highly intricate living whole and includes humanity. All parts of this whole are inherently connected and the balances between them are delicate to say the least, consequently harmony between all elements of nature must be protected. In Feng Shui the fundamental attitudes towards nature are respect and caution recognising that an interpretation/analysis of the natural forces at play within a given environment may change over time and in view of any new evidence. With all this in mind Feng Shui may be able to give us insight, possibly even solutions, to the environmental problems we are experiencing both at home and on a global scale.

About the Author: Juliana Abram is one of the leading Feng Shui consultants in Australia having been traditionally trained in Hong Kong by Chinese Feng Shui Master Raymond Lo. Juliana specialises in ‘Flying Star’ Feng Shui and the Four Pillars of destiny. Juliana runs her own Feng Shui consultancy ( see http://www.fengshuicentre.com.au ) and her own online Feng Shui store ( see http://www.fengshuishop.com.au ).

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A Brief History Of Feng Shui

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By Charles Chang

Feng Shui (pronounced as “fung schway”) literally translated means “wind and water.” It is an ancient Chinese art and science of placement and arranging objects and space within the environment so as to achieve harmony and balance. The object is promote and nurture the flow of good Chi (pronounced “chee”,) which is a Chinese word similar to “energy” in English.

Feng Shui is not simply a decorating style. In fact, it is a discipline with rules and guidelines that can be adapted to fit with many different decorating styles. Truly it is a belief system which combines many different religious, geographical, astrological, mathematical, and philosophical ideas, as well as aesthetic values.

The origins of the term Feng Shui have been said to come from the Jin Dynasty (265-420.) In the Burial Book written by Guo Pu, Chi rides the wind and stops at the boundary created by the water. Ancient Chinese believed in manipulating the Chi so that it was directed with purpose and not wasted. Since this art and science was based on the wind and water, the term Feng Shui was born.

Today, it is a widely held belief that all Feng Shui books were burned during the Qin dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC.) One of the most authoritative works on the subject was written by Huang Shi Gong and given to Zhang Liang during the latter part of the Qin dynasty. Later, in the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907,) Yang Yun Song and his disciples wrote several books on the subject. Those particular works are the most authoritative work used by all Feng Shui schools. Unfortunately, the books were very cryptic and used knowledge largely passed down through the oral tradition.

Feng Shui is also believed to be intuitive and derivable from our own common sense and our sense of what is natural in our environment. Eitel, a German Missionary in China in the latter half of the 19th century, wrote in his work, Feng-Shui, Or, The Rudiments Of Natural Science In China(1873), that the origin of Feng Shui is a belief system that is unique to the writings of Chu His and other writers from the Song dynasty (1126-1278.) Chu His is more well known for influencing Confucianism, and while his writings and commentaries may have become the foundation for Feng Shui, Feng Shui’s roots truly go back as far as original Chinese Philosophy.

By the mid 19th century, Feng Shui had become such a part of life that the Chinese government published all the materials necessary for use in the practice of Feng Shui. In fact, as English speaking settlers came to China in the mid 19th century, they had a difficult time adapting to the way of Feng Shui. Much like modern day contractors have to conform to building codes and other community rules and regulations, the English settlers had difficulties in construction and renovation because their design ideas did not conform to the Feng Shui principles, and were therefore rejected.

Further early introduction of Feng Shui to westerners did not go well either. When foreigners wanted to purchase land, and those foreigners were not welcome, they would be directed to land that did not lend itself to good Feng Shui. Early western writings on the subject of Feng Shui were equally as unkind. In 1885, one author wrote that “if any one wishes to see what a howling wilderness of erratic dogmatism the human mind can arrive, when speculation usurps the place of science, and theories are reverenced equally with facts, let him endeavour to fathom even the elementary principles of that abyss of insane vagaries, the science of Feng-Shui.”

Over the last few decades, many English books have been published on the topic of Feng Shui. They usually focus on interior design, decorating, architecture, or landscape design. Reception from English audiences has often been skeptical, particularly towards the use of crystals, wind chimes, fountains, and mirrored balls. Claims that Feng Shui can improve one’s life, finances, and relationships are dismissed by some as mythology and new age mysticism. Still, others in the west have adapted Feng Shui to their own lives and report overwhelming positive benefits.

About the Author: Charles Chang is a Feng Shui enthusiast and author. He enjoys helping others with feng shui tips through his articles and website. Visit http://www.feng-shui-pro.com for more information.

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Feng Shui – From The Beginning

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By Tracy O’Brien

Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art said to increase the flow of positive chi, (aka positive life energy), in a space.

Through increasing the levels of chi and allowing it to freely move within and around a given space, Feng Shui can help it’s practitioners to reach their personal goals. For millenia, the principles of Feng Shui have been used to bring success in the relationships, in business dealings and also helping to win new friends and allies.

The literal translation of Feng Shui means “wind and water”, two of nature’s most powerful symbols. Feng Shui practice helps create an optimal environment for chi to flow freely and easily, just as wind or water does in nature.

Feng Shui has traditionally been practiced by experts.

It was created by a spiritual master who was first and foremost a student of nature and the spiritual realm.

More than 3 millenia ago, he created a basic set of rules meant to optimize the positive attributes of an area by increasing positive chi. His dream of making auspicious homes and workplaces which helped those living and working within to attract good luck and prosperity whilst at the same time enabling them to make the most of opportunity when it comes knocking at their door.

Feng Shui quickly increased in popularity and credibility in China. People began to gain knowledge and skill in the subject.

Eventually, Feng Shui found new followers all over the globe. Today many home-owners and business-owners consult Feng Shui experts when decorating rooms. Feng shui consultants have thousands of years of accumulated knowledge at their disposal.

An expert can transform the energy of any kind of an area.

Over time, several different schools of Feng Shui have emerged, each with its own perspective and strategies. The main schools are:

* The Compass School

* The Form School

* The Black Hat Sect

Down through the centuries, practitioners have refined the art into a mathematical science. Feng shui is much easier to apply to a space today than it used to be because there are clearer guidelines to allow even an untrained person to apply this knowledge to the home or office space.

Feng shui can help you create a feeling of balance and harmony in any space of any size. A little bit of knowledge can indeed go a very long way.

About the Author: Tracy O’Brien is a long time student/practitioner of the art of Feng Shui and also founder of http://FengShuiAstrology.com. Visit now for more Feng Shui Tips and a FREE Feng Shui Astrology Personality Profile:
http://www.fengshuiastrology.com

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Feng Shui Your Home

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By Jeena Anderson

Feng shui in Chinese means wind and water. In other words, it is an art of positioning objects, especially furniture, based on a belief in yin and yang, that in Chinese philosophy mean the beginning of femininity and virility, and the flow of chi. Feng shui offers to place objects so that they could bring harmony to the environment.

Feng shui

In order to get harmony, energize and improve your life, it’s strongly recommended to follow basic feng shui principles. Firstly, tell the Universe how you want to change in your life and what you want from your life. Then you need to apply Bagua, which symbolizes nine building blocks of life – health, love, wealth, career, wisdom, reputation, children, helpful people and center of chi. It is like a Bagua map, that you have to apply to your home, room or work place.

Systematically apply Bagua map to your living or working place:

1. Make a plan of your room; divide your floor plan into nine equal squares. Decide which room relates to each Feng shui area.

2. Now you know which rooms relates to every Feng shui area. It comes time to place specific objects, symbols that will enhance power of Feng shui. For example, in the love and marriage corner at your room place you wedding picture, a book of love poems and etc.

Feng shui tips

Here are some feng shui tips that will help to improve you life:

1. Add mirrors to increase a size of a small room

2. Place the bed where you have the biggest view of you room and do not place mirror above it.

3. Throw away dried flowers and replace them with fresh ones.

Feng shui products

Feng shui specialists recommend to place symbols, statues and other feng shui products in nine Feng shui areas. Here are some popular products:

1. Energy balls – an ancient Chinese way to good health;

2. Feng shui money bag of Abundance – symbolize money flowing in your life

3. Windchime – the most popular tool for many Feng shui situations.

The information above is only the small part of great Feng shui secrets.

About the Author: More information is available on http://feng-shui.doubleget.com website.

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The 7 Schools Of Feng Shui

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By Ron King

Everyone has heard of Feng Shui, but what exactly is it? Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese belief that involves the study of both the natural and the created environments. To achieve a balance between the 2 affects the energy of a room.

7 Schools Of Feng Shui

There are many different versions of Feng Shui, each influenced by culture, geography, and religion. There are 7 predominant types or schools of Feng Shui:

1. The Compass School uses the 8 trigrams of the I-Ching. They are known collectively as Pa Kua, which is based on the 8 main directions of a compass. Each direction is associated with a specific chi. For example, southern is vibrant energy.

2. The Form School, based on the landscape’s shape, uses 4 symbolic animals to identify the landscape. Easy to use, the Form School (along with the Compass School) increases chi both in and out of the home.

3. The Black Hat Sect uses a fixed entry point to determine the area. Although similar to the Compass School philosophy, it has differences. The Black Hat Sect also consists of psychology, Buddhism and basic design principles.

4. 8 Mansion School, also known as the 8 House Feng Shui, is based on the individual number of the person living in the home. That number is used to bring harmony and balance to the home. People who use this system have both lucky and unlucky numbers, with the west numbers being 2, 6, 7, and 8 and the east numbers being 1, 3, 4, and 9.

5. The 9 Star Key School uses stars to help identify lucky and unlucky days. This school of thought uses complicated math formulas to pinpoint when a person will get married and the astrological sign of the future marriage partners. It will also tell the practitioner how to live based on his house.

6. The most common form of Feng Shui, based on astrology and numerology, is the Flying Star Philosophy. Difficult to understand and learn, it is also based on mathematical principals and is used to determine a person’s fate.

7. Four Pillars, the final school of thought, is not very common. Based on astrology tied to the person’s date of birth right down to the minutes, this form of Feng Shui is also used to determine a person’s fate.

5 Elements Of Feng Shui

After determining which school of thought is best for an individual, it is important to understand the 5 elements of Feng Shui. They are: Earth, Fire, Water, Metal, and Wood. Balance and harmony can be created in a home through the use of these elements. If used incorrectly, however, the energy can be lessened or even destroyed.

Each of the 5 elements is also associated with a direction:

Earth — Southwest

Fire — South

Water — North

Metal — West

Wood — East

Beauty And Balance

In a Feng Shui home, all rooms should achieve a balance of these elements, although some items may weigh heavier than others. A chair might score 3 times more than a throw pillow, for example, because of the size difference.

Properly applied, Feng Shui brings both beauty and balance to the home or office.

About the Author: Visit http://www.fengshui4u.info to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer, visit his website at http://www.ronxking.com Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact and the links live.

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What Is Feng Shui?

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By Lorraine Simpson

Feng Shui means “Wind and Water” – literally it refers to the topography of our planet and the way these forces of nature have shaped our landscape. It is a mystical practice blending ancient Chinese wisdom dating back at least 4000 years with cultural superstitions. This wisdom lays down guidelines for identifying and establishing favourable and unfavourable land sites and provides instructions on designing home layouts to dramatically enhance quality of life.

In the home Feng Shui features create harmonious relationships between partners, between parents and children, promotes good health and prosperity. In the workplace good Feng Shui creates opportunities for growth, attracts customers, increases profits and elevates prestige. An aura of goodwill pervades promoting good working relationships.

Good Feng Shui exists when the winds and water surrounding your home or workplace are well-balanced. Bad Feng Shui brings disasters, accidents, illness, lost opportunities and damaged reputations. Most of all bad Feng Shui causes unhappiness.

Feng Shui promotes living in harmony with the earth and it’s energies. It contends that the environment is full of powerful invisible energy lines, usually referred to as Sheng Chi – the Dragon’s Cosmic Breath. Some of these lines are auspicious while others are hostile. Feng Shui dictates ways of arranging you living or work space so that these energy lines create harmony rather than discord. The energy lines are harnessed to ensure they travel gently through the home and then gather and settle to bring good fortune. Inauspicious energy lines, Shar Chi, represent the killing breath. Feng Shui strongly warns against living or working in places hit by these hostile energy lines.

While the theory of Feng Shui is based on the Chinese view of the Universe the fundamentals are easily understood and applied. It’s laws relate to basic concepts of harmony and balance in the environment. There are two major schools of thought in Feng Shui; the Form School which diagnoses balance in terms of the shape and form of the terrain and the Compass School which takes a more precise view and uses the Luo Pan Compass extensively. Both schools of thought are equally important and both should be used to get the best from Feng Shui.

At it’s most basic Feng Shui is about the balance of opposites described as the Yin and the Yang – terms that most of us are now familiar with. According to Chinese wisdom all things are either the female Yin or the male Yang. Together these opposites make up the Universe and give each other meaning. One cannot exist without the other, for example without the Yin of darkness there cannot be the light of Yang. Feng Shui always includes an analysis of surroundings. Rooms that are too Yin lack sufficient energies to bring prosperity. Rooms that are too Yang have too much energy causing accidents and misfortune. A home must have balanced Yin and Yang to be auspicious and will be even more so if there is balanced Yin and Yang outside the home as well.

Buildings built too near hospitals, abattoirs, graveyards or prisons are too Yin because of the associations with death these places have. Also places of worship (churches, mosques, temples) give out too much Yin because of the mourning rituals associated with them. Rooms that have little sunlight or that are decorated in blue or grey, narrow or cramped rooms or rooms which have been occupied by a long time by a sick person have too much Yin.

Buildings constantly exposed to bright sunlight or heat, too near an electrical transmitter or large factory chimneys are too Yang. Rooms which have constant noise and that are painted in bright red, orange or yellow are too Yang.

A room should have elements of both Yin and Yang but never too much of one or the other. Black and white colour schemes are an example of Yin and Yang harmony but sounds and activity are also important. A silent room is too Yin, a noisy one too Yang. Remember that Feng Shui is a subtle blend of complimentary opposite energies and that is what you should strive to create.

About the Author: By Lorraine Simpson,Director,Fifth Ace Ltd.
http://www.cleoscaveonline.com
For more information on Feng Shui go to http://lsimpson.26feng.hop.clickbank

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Strengthening the Connection With Reiki and Meditation

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By Ryan J Bell

People who are just beginning to learn how to use Reiki to heal themselves and others can gain practical momentum through meditation. Regardless of whether you’re earning your first degree or have already become a Master after graduating from a third degree course, meditating pushes you to the next plateau. In fact, many practitioners who have faithfully adhered to the practice’s underlying principles claim they began to see a new level of progress only after meditating regularly.

Below, we’ll explore the ways in which finding quiet and solitude on a regular basis can strengthen the connection you feel with the Reiki energy. I’ll explain the fundamentals of meditation and how you train yourself to schedule time for it. I’ll also describe a 3-week program that you can use to contemplate your goals and seek answers.

What Does It Mean To Meditate?

Many people confuse prayer with meditation. It’s worth clarifying the difference. Prayer is speaking with God. To meditate is to embark on something entirely different. It is the act of quieting your mind and listening to what God has to tell you. Many Reiki practitioners prefer to begin each day by meditating on how they should use the universal energy into which they tap.

But, it’s a mistake to think that meditating must be done according to a schedule. In truth, many of the most revelatory moments are experienced during spontaneous meditation. A lot of Reiki devotees find themselves tapping into hidden stores of spirituality even while doing mundane things like driving, washing the dishes, or exercising. The key is to appreciate the meaning behind meditation and how it fortifies your connection with the Reiki energy.

Finding The Time

There will always be reasons to procrastinate meditating. Our lives are busier than ever and time is a valuable commodity. It’s too easy to keep telling yourself that you’ll meditate later in the day after you’ve accomplished everything on your “to do” list. But, that seldom happens. Other things will continue getting in the way.

This is one of the reasons why many Reiki Masters devote time during the early morning to their meditation. They realize that spending time alone and communing with God is critical to being able to focus on their spiritual growth. In doing so, they gain a better understanding about the healing nature of Reiki and the relationship they share with the universe.

A 3-Week Program To Strengthen The Connection

To be sure, there are many approaches to developing the habit of meditation. The program that follows is used by many practitioners because it helps them build the habit while strengthening their focus and spiritual empowerment. It is a 3-week process through which you can open your mind to your connection with the universe’s healing energy.

Week 1 – During the first week, you’ll concentrate on the Usui symbol of power. Each day will start with a specific question. Find a quiet, secluded place and meditate on the symbol for 20 minutes. Keep a small legal pad nearby to write down any notes that form in your mind during your session. They can include words or symbols. It is not important that you understand your notes; rather, it is important that you record them.

Week 2 – The second week will focus on the mental and emotional symbols of Usui. Each day will begin with another question. As before, meditate on the symbols for 20 minutes in a secluded area where you will not be disturbed. Keep your legal pad nearby and record any thoughts or images that appear in your mind.

Week 3 – The last week focuses on the distant healing symbol of Usui. You’ll spend the entire week meditating on this symbol for 20 minutes each day. Write down any notes on your legal pad.

Ideally, the above program should be used by students and practitioners who have passed the second degree of training. Those who have become Reiki Masters can add to the program by including additional symbols. Remember, the first step is building the habit. Only then can you truly connect with the universe and explore that connection with the Reiki energy.

About the Author: This article was provided by Programs of Light, a provider of reiki training courses and animal reiki programs. Check them out online at http://www.ProgramsOfLight.com

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Mindfulness Meditation by Jon Kabat Zinn

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By Ben Sanderson

One thing that many people have in common is the fact that they’ve been told to live in the future rather than the moment. You’ve more than likely heard it growing up: “Look ahead! Plan for the future! Know what you want!” Okay, knowing what you want might be a good idea, but if you ever find yourself planning conversations with people in your mind rather than actually having the conversation with them, you might have a bit of a problem.

So how do you go about living in the present? The future is important, but you need to understand that the way the present plays out today will affect how the future unfolds tomorrow! Mindfulness Meditation is a course that will teach you to live your life as it unfolds rather than living in the future! There are a few misconceptions regarding meditation, one of them being thee fact that mediation is intended to ‘blank’ the mind. In Mindfulness Meditation by Jon Kabat Zinn you will find that meditation can be used to experience life to the fullest, and change the way you perceive your problems.

The idea of course is to ensure that your fears and your problems do NOT control you. Rather you should be in control of THEM, and you should have the ability to transform your relationships, understand life, and strengthen your creativity. Another misconception you might have at this point is that you are using this method to run away from your problems. Running away is never the solution, and Mindfulness Mediation is more about facing your problems, and ensuring that you can transform them into something useful.

With Mindfulness Meditation you will be able to access your own deep inner resources for learning, enrich your day to day experience, and even reduce stress levels. As you probably know, stress is responsible for a number of different problems which range from trouble with relationships and even issues with job performance. Do you feel you have limitations? Do you believe they are keeping you from performing your job? If so, then there may be a way to fix them, but for now you can learn to work within those limitations, ultimately creating a better environment for yourself.

Finally, you can reduce or even completely overcome addictive behaviors that are holding you back! This is the control over your live that you’ve always wanted. You can operate far beyond automatic reactions, and you can find yourself growing like never before! These are revelations and advancements that many people will only DREAM of, and with Mindfulness Meditation you can take hold of those achievements and run all the way to home.

Are you ready to live a better life? Do you have what it takes to be the person you’ve always dreamed you could be? If so, then now would be a great time to take a look at this course and determine what it can actually do for you. It may not be too long before you’ve finally carved a path into the great unknown, ready to start this adventure called life.

About the Author: Please visit The Personal Development Company if you would like to learn more about Mindfulness Meditation by Kabat Zinn

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Exploring Mindfulness And Meditation

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By Roy Thomsitt

In our every day lives, we are all guilty of neglecting our minds, allowing our brains to be lulled into a lazy, neglected, and unaware state. It is as if we are allowing ourselves to be sculpted by bland and repetitive consumerism, our individuality being chiselled away by a tedium we cannot even be bothered to challenge with any will.

Life need not be like that. We are each blessed with a powerful mind; but normally people have forgotten or, most likely, never even knew how, to use it. It is such a waste of our own greatest resource.

One way to start to extricate ourselves from the mindless quicksand is to gently exercise our minds, using mindfulness and meditation as a way of bringing ourselves more emphatically into the real world, and start the process of exercising control over our minds and our lives.

Creating a mindfulness meditation is a gentle but powerful exercise. But how do you go about it?

A Simple Mindfulness Meditation Exercise

As with any meditation session, you need to get into a relaxed and comfortable position, eyes closed, and then commence with deep nasal breathing, focusing your thoughts on the breathing to ease yourself into a meditative state.

Once you feel that you are calmed by your breathing and that your breath is under your rhythmic control, then you can move on to focusing on your own body, a part at a time. I was first taught this at yoga class, where we were taught to concentrate first of all on the left foot, focusing on it from a position above ourselves. Then move up the body slowly, left ankle, knee, thigh and so on. When reaching your head, you then do the same in reverse on the other side of the body: right shoulder, right elbow, right hand and so on.

Once you have completed your tour of your own body, as if you were someone else examining it, then it is time to open your eyes and increase your mindfulness of your surroundings.

To do this, focus on any object in the room; it does not have to be anything special: a cup on the coffee table, a vase, a plastic flower, anything. Try to maintain that focus for half a minute, and then move on to any other object. You can repeat this several times, always maintaining a focus on your own body and your own breathing, creating a triple harmony with each object on which you focus.

By using this simple mindfulness meditation you are increasing awareness both of yourself and your surroundings, in a very gentle and easy way. It can serve as a prelude to some mental task, as well as being part of an ongoing mindfulness campaign to strengthen and expand the use of your own mind.

For example, most days I write, but sometimes I just do not seem able to concentrate on what I am supposed to be writing about. I find this type of exercise, even just for 10 minutes, will snap me out of that inexplicable malaise, and I can get right on and write what I should have written earlier.

About the Author: This meditation and mindfulness article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Routes To Self Improvement website.