Group 'Space-Clearing' Meditation
This meditation involves working together as a group, using visualisations based on a simplified version of a modern kabbalistic 'banishing ritual'.
Here we work as a group, using visualisation to improve the space in which we find ourselves. In the text we assume that it's done in a room, but this is the kind of thing we can do outdoors just as well. We need to sit more or less in a circle.
In our mind's eyes we are going to imagine pentagram shapes on the walls. Don't worry, we're really not get into any occult 'wierdness'. The pentagram is traditional among occultists but I promise you we could choose another shape for what we're going to do here, which will be quite simple and life-affirming and non-intrusive.
First of all spend a short time getting into the swing. Let your body relax. Jiggle about until you feel comfortable- if there are any areas of tension then let the tension fall away. Then let your breathing find it's natural slow deep rhythym. Now we need to centre consciousness in a place that's just above the eyes- almost in the forehead, but not quite. If you keep your eyes closed, then imagine that you are looking slightly upwards. When it feels natural, and when it's easy to see washes of colour behind your eyes, or imaginary images, then you've found the place. This is good place to start from in visualisation.
OK. Now, if you can, without opening your eyes I want you try and imagine, or visualise, the room we're sitting in. Try and gain a sense of all the people here, sitting in a circle, surrounded by four walls. Some people are better at visualising than others, and most people get better with practise. Even if, like me, visualisation does not come naturally to you, it's still a worthwhile exercise. Don't worry about it. If your mind gets distracted just gently bring it back, and try and keep the concentration going.
OK. Now we're going to take the creative visualisation a step further. Visualise the back wall, the wall opposite the door. Now imagine that you are drawing the pentagram one line at a time. The point is at the top, so starting at the bottom left, draw a line upwards to the point at the top. Then continue the line from the top down to the bottom right. Then draw the imaginary line diagonally up from bottom right to the point on the left hand side. Then go straight across to the point on the ride hand side, tracing it diagonally down from there back to the starting point at the bottom left. OK.
Now try and keep a sense of the whole shape in your mind's eye. This is the east side. Imagine that this pentagram is yellow, and see it as the pentagram of the element of air, or mind. As we visualise this glowing yellow shape, we are going to make an 'intention'. You don't have to use these exact words, but the intention should be along the lines of 'let the energy of mind be clear in this space. Let there be protection, and let there be resonance with the Universe's perfect evolution...'.
Ok now imagine or visualise the wall with the door in. This is the West, and we're going to draw a blue pentagram here for the element of water. Water is the element of emotion. Starting at the bottom left, draw a line in your mind upwards to the point at the top. Then continue the line from the top down to the bottom right. Now draw the imaginary line diagonally up from bottom right to the point on the left hand side. Then go straight across to the point on the ride hand side, tracing it diagonally down from there back to the starting point at the bottom left. OK. Try and keep a sense of this whole shape in your mind's eye. We are going to make a similar 'intention' again here. You don't have to use these words, so do it for yourself, with an intention along the lines of 'let the energy of emotion be clear in this space. Let there be protection, and let there be resonance with the Universe's perfect evolution...'.
Now go through a similar procedure for the south side (left of the west side when you face the west). Draw the pentagram of fire this time, in a red-orange colour. This is the element of will. Finish on this side with a similar intent for greater clarity, protection, and resonance with the evolutionary fiery stuff in the Universe at large.
And do the same for the north side. Here the element is earth, and the colours are earth colours, that is, greenish-brown. End on this side with a similar intention.
Now keep a sense of all of four pentagrams, in the place where all four walls are. Concentrate on the area of your chest where your heart is. OK. Now keeping a sense of your heart, and the boundaries of this space around us imagine that together we are creating an energy of yellow healing light in the space around us. This energy is very gentle, and it's healing and it's clear. Don't force anything, but just try and maintain an awareness of that energy. Let's just stay with this for a few minutes in silence. Try and maintain your concentration and the visualisation of this yellow healing energy.
OK. We can leave the pentagrams there for a day. In your own time come back to your own heart, and your own body. Time to be more separate again, but keep hold of the idea that even though we are separate, that healing energy still connects us. In your own time, come back down and finish the meditation.
Contribution: Richard Ebbs, Leeds, England.
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