13 best meditations

Meditation is a practice that involves training the mind to focus and redirect thoughts. It has been used for thousands of years as a tool for relaxation, stress reduction, and spiritual growth. There are various types of meditation, each with its own techniques and purposes. Here are some common types:

Mindfulness Meditation:
- Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment.It often includes focusing on the breath, bodily sensations, or observing thoughts and emotions as they arise.
Transcendental Meditation (TM):
- TM is a technique where practitioners repeat a specific mantra silently to achieve a state of deep relaxation and promote self-awareness.
Guided Meditation:
- In guided meditation, a teacher or recorded voice leads you through a specific meditation, often focusing on relaxation, visualization, or achieving a specific goal.
Loving-Kindness (Metta) Meditation:
- Metta meditation involves cultivating feelings of love, compassion, and kindness towards oneself and others. It often includes repeating phrases of goodwill.
Yoga Meditation:
- Yoga incorporates physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Zen Meditation (Zazen):
- Zen meditation is a central practice in Zen Buddhism, involving sitting in a specific posture and focusing on the breath to gain insights into the nature of existence.
Progressive Relaxation:
- This technique involves tensing and relaxing various muscle groups, promoting physical relaxation and reducing stress.
Breath Awareness Meditation:
- Breath awareness meditation involves focusing on the natural rhythm of the breath to bring attention and calmness to the mind.
Chakra Meditation:
- Chakra meditation focuses on the energy centers within the body (chakras) to balance and align them, promoting physical and emotional well-being.

Books on meditation can provide in-depth guidance and insights into different techniques and philosophies. Some popular books on this topic include "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle, "Wherever You Go, There You Are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn, and "Radical Acceptance" by Tara Brach.

As with any health or wellness practice, it's important to find a meditation technique that resonates with you and to practice it consistently to experience its benefits.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best meditations on the market

Meditations: A New Translation

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Meditations (Penguin Classics)

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Meditations

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Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday

Althea Press

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Finding the Breath: 5 Minutes

The body is always breathing, and the breath is constantly moving. Your breath is not only the best place to start; it’s a constant you can return to anytime you need a little centering.

In this first practice, you will gently find the breath in the body. There is nothing to figure out, there are no problems to solve, and there’s nothing special you need to do. Constantly return to your direct experience of the body breathing. You are training the mind to be with one experience without distraction.

The Creative Flow: 10 Minutes

Taking the time to be creative during your day can build lasting benefits in all areas of your life. Creativity can boost self-awareness, relieve stress, and help you solve problems more easily. In addition, you can cultivate mindfulness while indulging your creative side.

Do this exercise with your activity of choice, and remember that you can pause at any time and use this technique to encourage present-time awareness.

Breathing and Noting: 25 Minutes

This is an alternate way to work with open mindfulness. This combination of intentional concentration and open awareness is inspired by the Burmese monk Mahasi Sayadaw.

Breathing and Noting is a popular practice among students of mindfulness across the world.

The Secrets of Buddhist Meditation: Visionary Meditation Texts from Early Medieval China (Kuroda Classics in East Asian Buddhism)

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Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation

Llewellyn Publications

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Praise for Psychic Witch:

"A rare jewel that radiates clarity of spirit that is genuinely manifest therein."—Maxine Sanders, co-founder of the Alexandrian Tradition of Witchcraft

"An ambitious work that stands at the crossroads where witchcraft, energy work, and psychic development intersect."—Michelle Belanger, author of The Psychic Energy Codex

"Mat is majickally and energetically connected, well read, and well researched."—Laurie Cabot, official witch of Salem and author of Power of the Witch

Meditations: The Philosophy Classic (Capstone Classics)

Wiley-Interscience

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From Darwin to Nietzsche, Freud, and beyond, these classics never go out of style

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