Well, it should come as NO surprise to you that one of my go-to methods of meditating includes holding onto a crystal or stone.
Especially for those of us who are fidgety, having something physical to hold and focus on can be especially helpful.
Today we're going to chat about 2 different ways to use crystals to enhance your meditation practice: by holding a particular stone and then through using Meditation Beads.
Crystals for Meditation
First let's talk about choosing a crystal or stone to use during your meditation. You can either choose one specifically for its metaphysical properties or you can just let your intuition guide you and choose the one that "feels right" to you today. Personally I like to narrow my choices down to a few I know would suit what I need for the moment and then go with the one(s) I feel pulled to.
Here's a list of some of my favorite stones to use during meditation:
You can find most of these in the shop: Meditation Bundle & other Meditation Helpers.
As for what to do with the stones you've chosen, you can using them in a variety of ways during meditation. You can hold them in your hands or place them around you. You can use them as a focal point, much as you would stare into a flame, and concentrate all your attention on the crystal. At times I like to lie down and place the stone I'm using over my heart on my sternum.
As with anything, you can find a complicated version of meditating with crystals. There are elaborate full body grids and some will tell you there is a "right way" to use these stones or that only certain stones should be used. My philosophy has always been to make things simple where I can. Trust that your intentions are in the right place and whatever stone you grab and however you use it has been divinely guided for your highest good.
Meditation Beads
Meditation Beads are honestly my favorite way to combine crystals and meditation. Similar sets of beads show up in many cultures and religions, like rosaries or malas. Since I am not Catholic, Hindu, or Buddhist, I call the sets of prayer beads I make and sell simply "meditation beads."
Traditionally a full set of beads includes 108 beads, plus a focus bead. You choose a single mantra, or a set of 3 mantras or affirmations, to repeat as you thread each bead through your fingers until you complete a trip around the whole set.
If you are looking to do any sort of affirmation or mantra work, these are a great way to keep you focused and remind you to repeat them daily.
While 108 is a traditional number, honestly it takes a while to do a full trip through all the beads. The strands can be long and heavy, making them more suitable for something that stays in a safe space, as opposed to something you can keep with you.
Thus the idea for a Pocket of Peace was born. Each Pocket of Peace is created using the same ancient traditions as a full set of prayer beads, however at 27 beads long, they are a quarter the length. 27 is also a divine number at 3 x 3 x 3 and lends itself perfectly to mantra work for a busy person like you - you can finish an entire meditation with these in less than 10 minutes. They are also "pocket-sized," which means you can carry them with you as a reminder of your intentions and affirmations.
Each set of meditation beads I make is infused with a suggested set of 3 affirmations designed to work with the properties of the stones being used. You can always change them to something that feels truer to you by simply using your chosen mantras with your set of beads. That's all you need to do in order to reprogram them!
Watch the video below for a demonstration.
**This email and the video below are excepts from my signature Meditation course, Meditation in Moments.