New Zealand Ghosts & Other Haunts

Meditation exercise
Sit down comfortably in a chair in a quiet room which should be warm and comfortable Try not to have any distracting lights shining when you do this exercise. Make sure that your back is vertical and supported. Your thighs should be parallel with the floor with your knees slightly apart. Your feet should point forward, although they can be slightly apart. Loosen any tight clothing. Close your eyes. You can now test for any tension in your body by checking each area in turn. Gently roll your head from side to side and concentrate on any muscular tension. Do the same for your face, arms, shoulders and legs by consciously feeling them in your mind. You will be astonished at the tension you have built up particularly the first time you try it. You should say to yourself mentally "I am very peaceful". Now concentrate your mind’s eye on a place where you feel you can be totally relaxed – perhaps lying on a sun-soaked beach with the waves breaking calmly onto the sand. If you find firstly that your images of this scene change and your mind starts to wander, repeat three or four times "Not now – at this time I am very peaceful". You should then find your mind will stay and remain on your relaxation. You may wish to picture a waterfall rushing down a mountain side. Allow the imagination to see and hear it, and every-day worries should be allowed to flow away and complete tranquility should be achieved. You may find that the feeling associated with complete relaxation will be heaviness – this is caused by a complete loss of muscle tension.
The final phase of relaxation is to ensure that your abdomen is totally relaxed. Your breathing at this stage should be slow and steady, just as it is when you are asleep.
To come out of the meditative state, increase your breathing and gently flex your fingers and hands, and enjoy the feeling of stretching each part of the body. Slowly count to ten, open your eyes and stand up. Do not jump up off the chair and rush about – take your time.
The enjoyable feelings of relaxation will most certainly help you recover from the stresses of the day.