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What Are Mala Beads? (A How-To Guide)
What are mala beads and how are they used? In this article, you’ll get the complete guide to using mala beads in meditation, manifestation, gratitude practices, and more. Plus get my recommendations for beautiful mala beads you can purchase today.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product using my link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
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For centuries, many different religions have been using prayer beads as part of their spiritual practice. My grandpa was Catholic, and growing up, I remember seeing him pray with his rosary set between his fingers at least once a day. At his funeral, there were multiple stories told of my Grandpa Moose and his rosary, and there was also a service in which loved ones honored his memory by reciting the Holy Rosary as they held rosary beads.
Mala beads have been used as part of a spiritual practice for over 3,000 years, most prominently associated with Hinduism and Buddhism. However, they have gained widespread acceptance among people of various spiritual backgrounds, and in many cultures, they’re used as part of a non-religious affiliated meditation practice.
So what exactly are mala beads?
Mala beads are a string of beads used as a meditation and mindfulness aid. Typically, they have 108 beads, and while each necklace or bracelet is unique, they generally all have the same standard components, such as the Guru Bead, the Tassel, Marker Beads, and Spacer Beads. We’ll define the function of these different components below.
The most common use of mala beads is to recite a mantra during meditation. They’re also often used as a mindful breathing tool, and you can even use them as part of your manifestation practice. Many people who have a difficult time sitting still during meditation find that incorporating mala beads into their practice helps them to relax and cultivate a greater sense of mindfulness as they meditate.
Below, you’ll learn about the various components of mala beads, how to use them, and how to choose the best mala beads for you.
In This Article
- Common Components Of Mala Beads
- How To Choose Mala Beads
- Benefits Of Using Mala Beads
- How To Use Mala Beads
- Mala Beads To Purchase
Common Components Of Mala Beads
As mentioned above, the common components you’ll see in a mala bead necklace are the following:
- 108 Counting Beads
- Guru Bead
- Marker Beads
- Spacer or Decorative Beads
- Knots
- Charm
- Tassel
Here’s the function of each of these components:
108 Counting Beads
Each mala necklace typically has 108 identical counting or primary beads, though some have less, which is okay. In meditation, it’s typical to hold the mala beads with one hand, draped across your fingers, and touch each counting bead with the thumb and middle finger one at a time, working your way through the entire necklace. You’ll complete one full inhale and exhale with each bead before moving to the next. (More on this practice in the How-To section below.)
Guru Bead
The Guru Bead is your starting point. It is typically bigger and has a distinct look from the other beads on the mala necklace or bracelet, though sometimes it’ll be the same type of bead as the marker beads. You’ll usually find this bead attached to the tassel.
Marker Beads
You’ll typically find four marker beads on a mala necklace, spaced at every 27th bead. These marker beads are usually slightly bigger than the counting beads and often a different color. The marker beads are a way to help you come back to your meditation if your mind has strayed. When you come across a marker bead, it reminds you to return to the present moment. In essence, this is a beautiful mindfulness tool. (Note that not all malas have marker beads.)
Spacer/Decorative Beads
The spacer beads are typically smaller (and often flatter) beads placed between larger beads. Depending on the unique necklace, you may see these in different sections, such as between the Guru bead and counting beads or before and after every marker bead. Note that not all mala necklaces have spacer beads. You do not count the spacer beads during your meditation.
Knots
In a typical mala necklace, you’ll find a small knot between each bead. The knot ensures that if the string breaks, the beads will not be lost. This makes your mala stronger, and the knots can also help with the movement of the mala during your meditation.
Charm
Your mala may or may not have a charm on the end, often in place of the tassel. The charm is typically ornamental, though you may choose one that has special meaning to you, such as a lotus flower or chakra symbol.
Tassel
While the tassel may seem at first appearance to be decorative, it’s actually steeped in deep spiritual symbolism. The strings of the mala loop through all of the beads, coming together through the Guru bead and finishing in the tassel. Some view this coming together of the strings to be symbolic of oneness, both with the Universe and each other. It can also be viewed as one’s desire to reach enlightenment. While I didn’t list it here, you can also view the string or thread that the beads are threaded on to be an important component of the mala, as it’s the link that brings everything together.
Want to create your own mala beads? Check out Alice Peck’s Mindful Beads: 20 Inspiring Ideas for Stringing and Personalizing Your Own Mala Prayer Beads, Plus Their Meanings. This book includes the stories and meanings behind 20 types of beads, plus how to instill your own beads with significance, protection, and promise as you string them.
How To Choose Mala Beads
There isn’t a science to choosing your mala, which is a good thing if you’re like me and tend to follow your intuition when making decisions.
Choosing the right mala beads for you is truly an intuitive practice. As you start searching for the right one for you, you’ll find mala bead necklaces that come in all different colors and often are made of different materials. Some of these materials might include gemstones, pearls, wood, and lotus seeds.
This is one of the most important questions to ask yourself as you’re searching for mala beads:
“Do I find it beautiful?”
It truly is that simple. Find the one that speaks to you. If you’re browsing through mala beads and one nudges your heart, it’s very likely you’ve found the perfect mala necklace for you.
I know from personal experience, however, that it’s easy to get stuck in your own head when making these types of decisions. I have a history of over-analyzing my shopping choices, from what yearly planner I should purchase to what pint of ice cream I want to buy (and promptly consume). I love to follow my heart, but sometimes my heart wants mint chocolate chip and cookies n’ cream.
If you’re having trouble choosing, I find it helpful to step back and ask myself, “What are my intentions?” Do I want to use these mala beads to help me cultivate spirituality? Do I want to feel a connection with a higher power? Do I want to improve my meditations? Is this a way for me to feel more calm and relaxation?
Once you’ve established your intentions, you may have a clearer picture of which mala beads you want to purchase.
Finally, if you’re in a physical store, it’s always helpful to pick up the mala beads and get a feel for them within your fingers. Since you’re going to be holding these beads for an extended amount of time, you want to make sure you choose ones that feel good to you.
- You Might Also Like: How to Create a Meditation Table (A Complete How-To Guide)
Benefits of Using Mala Beads
So why use mala beads? We’ve touched upon this a little bit above, but let’s dive into all the reasons mala beads can be beneficial to you:
- Promotes Mindfulness: As you take conscious inhales and exhales with each bead before moving onto the next, you’re more likely to remain in the present moment throughout your meditation. And if your thoughts do drift, you’ll eventually reach one of the marker beads, which will gently bring you back to the here and now.
- Can Improve Your Meditation: This is especially true if you have a hard time sitting still for extended amounts of time. If you find yourself wanting to move around and fidget while meditating, mala beads are the perfect tool for you to incorporate into your practice. It’s, in a sense, mindful fidgeting. (Kind of?)
- Helps Improve Your Breathwork: I tend to be pretty good at consciously paying attention to my inhales and exhales while meditating . . . at least during the first few minutes. I’ve found that mala beads empower me to be more conscious of my breathing throughout my meditation. And to circle back to the two bulletpoints above, this helps to promote mindfulness and improves my meditation.
- Connection With a Higher Power: The mala is more than just its individual components; it’s an entire unit brought together by the thread that links together the counting beads with the marker beads with the Guru bead with the tassel. This unity represents our own unity: unity with our higher selves, unity with each other, and unity with a higher power.
How To Use Mala Beads
Meditation
While using mala beads in meditation may seem overwhelming at first, it’s actually an extremely simple and effective way to meditate that requires little to no technical ability.
Before using mala beads in meditation, I want you to give yourself permission to be imperfect, especially as you’re first learning. It’s okay if you don’t follow all of the steps perfectly when you’re just starting. The most important thing is intention. If your heart is in the right place, and your intentions are positive, this is far more important than perfection.
Furthermore, you can use your imperfections as a way to practice mindfulness, non-judgmental awareness, and compassion. Were you holding your mala beads with the incorrect fingers? Was your mind so distracted, you missed the marker beads? Notice, accept, and keep going.
Here’s your step-by-step directions for how to use mala beads in meditation. I’ll discuss some alternative uses below.
Breathing Meditation
- Find a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed. If you already have an ongoing meditation practice, you may already have a time and space that works for you. If you use the full 108 beads, this practice typically takes 30 minutes. If you decide not to use the full 108 beads, that’s okay. You can choose to stop at one of the marker beads instead.
- Drape your mala beads over your non-dominant hand. Make sure you feel comfortable and that the beads will be easy to move. With your thumb and middle finger of your dominant hand, gently touch the Guru bead. You typically do not use the index finger in this practice, as the index finger is connected to the Ego.
- Touch the first counting bead, and take one full inhale and exhale. Then, move to the second bead. Continue this process, inhaling and exhaling once per bead. You’ll stop when you make your way around back to the Guru bead.
- As mentioned above, you can choose to shorten your meditation by stopping at one of the marker beads. Alternatively, if you wish to extend your meditation, you can turn the mala around and start again. Note that it’s common practice not to jump over the Guru bead. So if you’re extending your meditation, rather than jumping over it to start back at the first counting bead, you’d turn the mala around and go in reverse.
Mantra Meditation
I was first introduced to using mala beads in meditation through the practice of mantra meditations. A mantra meditation is one in which you repeat a specific mantra throughout the meditation (traditionally, 108 times). This form of meditation is also known as japa meditation.
Your chosen mantra should be something that resonates with you. It can be a sacred word, affirmation, divine name, or simply a word such as love or peace.
Here are a few examples of possible mantras you could use:
- Aum or Om (This has many rich and deep meanings. It is known as the word of God, the sacred sound of the Universe, and the union of the mind, body, and spirit.)
- Om Shanti Om (Universal Peace)
- Om Shanti Shanti Shanti (Peace of Mind, Body, and Speech)
- Love
- Peace
- I am love.
- I am peace.
- I am worthy.
- I am enough.
- Love guides me.
To perform a mantra meditation using mala beads, you’ll essentially take the same steps you do with the breathing meditation. However, in place of the conscious inhales and exhales, you’ll repeat your chosen mantra as you touch each bead. You can repeat your mantra either internally, at a whisper under your breath, or out loud. Do what makes you feel most comfortable.
Finally, here’s great 5-minute tutorial on how to hold and use your mala beads.
Alternative Uses
While meditation is the most common way to use mala beads, it’s not the only way. Here are a few other practices for using mala beads:
- Wear Your Beads: Wearing your mala beads is more than just a fashion statement; it’s a profound practice to connect you to your highest self and cultivate mindfulness in your life. When you wear your beads, you can set the intention to remember the same peace and serenity you feel when you’re meditating. The most common ways to wear your beads are as a necklace or wrapped around your wrist as a bracelet.
- Manifestation: The most powerful way to use mala beads for manifestation is to recite affirmations for manifestation as you touch each bead. To do this, you’d follow the same steps I wrote above for the breathing meditation, but in place of the conscious inhales and exhales, you’d recite a positive affirmation. As you do this, consciously make sure to feel the positive energy of the affirmation flowing through you. It’s up to you whether you’d like to recite different affirmations or repeat the same affirmations throughout. For some ideas of affirmations to use, here are some Law of Attraction affirmations and manifestation affirmations to get you started.
- Gratitude Practice: This has become one of my personal favorite ways to use mala beads. Again, you’ll follow the same instructions as above for the breathing meditation, but here, you’ll think of one thing you’re grateful for as you touch each bead. I know it may seem like 108 things is a lot, but it actually becomes pretty easy once you get going. For instance, you can think about each individual part of your body, from your eyes to your lips to your lungs, arms, stomach, legs, and feet (and everything in-between). You can also think about individual people, memories, and luxuries we often take for granted, like air conditioning and running water.
- You May Also Like: 9 Guided Meditations For Manifesting Your Desires
Mala Beads to Purchase
If you’re looking for beautiful mala beads to incorporate into your meditation practice, check out the links below! Note that most of the selections below have more color and stone options when you click on the link.
And that’s it! Have you ever used mala beads in your meditation practice? Or do you have questions about how they’re used? Share your tips and questions in the comment box below.
And for more resources on spirituality, meditation, manifestation, and all things self-love, be sure to connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, where I’m posting positive affirmations and empowering messages daily.
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Pin this for later! What Are Mala Beads? A Complete How-To Guide 
Zanna Keithley is an author, poet, and social media content creator who writes short prose dedicated to inspiring readers to follow their dreams, trust their intuition, and create beautiful and fulfilling lives. You can find her original writing on Instagram @zannakeithley.
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9 Best Crystals And Stones For Anxiety
In this article, discover nine of the best crystals and stones for anxiety, plus get tips on how to cleanse, program, and use your crystals so they best serve your mind, body, and soul.
Pin this for later! 9 Best Crystals and Stones for Anxiety Living With Anxiety
Does it feel like anxiety is a constant, unrelenting part of your life? Are you so used to co-existing with its inevitable presence that it seems inconceivable to even imagine what life without anxiety would feel like?
I know how it feels to live each day with deep-seated, enduring anxiety. Anxiety feels different for everyone. For me, it feels like an all-consuming heat has gripped my chest, squeezing my heart and making everything inside feel tight and constricted.
This overwhelming feeling makes it impossible to think about anything else.
Still, as bad as my anxiety often gets, I know others experience symptoms that are much more debilitating. For some, anxiety makes it feel difficult to even get out of bed in the morning. For others, anxiety affects their immune system and leaves them feeling sick and depleted.
Whether your anxiety comes in short bursts, long waves, or somewhere in-between, there are resources and tools that can help you manage the stress and overwhelm of living with anxiety.
For many, crystals and gemstones can be powerful tools for healing as they go beyond simply treating the physical ailments you experience; rather, they dig deep, moving past the symptoms and finding the true source of your anxiety.
By gently discovering the root cause of your inner battle, crystals help to spiritually heal your entire body, mind, and spirit.
Crystals won’t just make you feel not anxious. When your brain feels heavy, overwhelmed, and/or stressed, crystals can lift this heavy fog from your mind so you can see the path ahead with calm and clarity.
And once you can see things clearly, you gain more courage and confidence to walk forward in your journey. Fear of the unknown suddenly becomes less scary, because you have complete faith and trust that everything happens for your highest good. In the unknown, you see potential and possibilities.
In different ways, all of the crystals and stones for anxiety below will provide you with this clarity as they lift the hold that anxiety may have on you. Some of the crystals help you to cultivate peace. Some relieve tension. Others protect you from the negative energy of external forces. And still, others have the power to transform negative emotions into positive ones.
But what they all have in common is that they will all work to serve your ultimate well-being and support your highest good.
Below are nine of the best crystals and stones for anxiety, as well as a guide on how to cleanse, program, and use your crystals to help you achieve a peaceful, calm, and harmonious lifestyle.
And to help you better understand the role anxiety plays in your life, don’t miss these 30 gentle and calming journal prompts designed to help you gently probe your anxiety with love, compassion, and kindness.
In This Article
- How To Cleanse Your Crystals
- How To Program Crystals & Gemstones
- How To Use Crystals & Stones For Anxiety
- 9 Best Crystals & Stones For Anxiety
Please note that this content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions regarding anxiety and your personal health, please consult your doctor.
How To Cleanse Your Crystals
When you first purchase a new crystal, it’s important to cleanse the crystal before you use it, even if you only intend to have it sit in one spot. Crystals hold energy inside them, and when you first receive them, it’s almost a sure thing that they’ll be holding some kind of energy within from past owners and experiences.
Even if you’re the first official owner of this crystal, it still traveled from source to seller to you. It inherently holds energy just from its travels and all the hands it has passed through.
On top of cleansing your crystals when you first get them, it’s a good habit to cleanse them regularly. Even if you’ve cleansed a new crystal once, it will continue to receive and store energy with time. Eventually, if there’s too much energy stored inside it, it will no longer work effectively. Try to cleanse your crystals at least once a month using any of the methods below.
Water: If possible, try to use clean, natural water like a creek, river, or stream. Hold your stone beneath the surface and rinse it within the running water. If there’s no natural water nearby, it’s okay to use a faucet. Either way, just be sure to first do a quick Google search or consult a book on crystals to make sure water is safe for your stone. You don’t want to use this method for soft stones like Selenite.
Use Selenite or Clear Quartz: Selenite and Clear Quartz are both beautiful crystals that typically have a whitish, clear surface. These crystals are unique in that they are able to cleanse and purify other crystals. Lay your crystal on a piece of Selenite or Clear Quartz for at least 24 hours. If you can’t place your crystal on top, you can also place them side-by-side with their edges touching.
Nature: I like to compare crystals to people when it comes to holding energy. When we store old or negative energy within, one of the most powerful ways to balance our own energy is to spend time in nature. Crystals are the same. Lay your crystals out in nature and let them experience the healing presence of the earth for a day. You can place crystals on the soil, on a tree branch, on a potted plant, among the blades of grass, in your garden, or anywhere else outside where you feel a sense of peace and harmony.
Sun: Many crystals love the bright energy and light of the sun. Just make sure first that this is safe for your stone. Some stones, like Amethyst, shouldn’t be placed directly in the sun for too long.
Moon: You can place your crystals outside overnight anytime, but this is especially powerful during the Full Moon when the moonlight is brightest.
How To Program Crystals & Gemstones
Programming your crystals is the act of setting an intention so that you and your crystal are in alignment. When using crystals to help heal anxiety and restore balance within, your intention will likely have something to do with walking forward on your path with a sense of calm, alignment, harmony, and ease.
Here are a few examples of intentions that you might set:
- My energy is perfectly aligned and balanced. I feel calm, confident, and at ease.
- I am protected from negative energy. All of the energy that flows within and around me supports my highest good and total well-being.
- I cultivate power, courage, and strength within to confidently face all situations.
Your intention might also be more specific if your anxiety arises during certain situations, such as at work or during social events.
Programming your crystals comes after cleansing your crystals. When your crystal has been properly cleansed, find a quiet spot where you can be undisturbed for at least 10 to 15 minutes. If you have a sacred space or a meditation table, this is the perfect time to use this space. Feel free to light some candles or cleanse your space before you begin.
Hold your crystal within your hands and state your intention out loud. Lift your crystal to your mouth and gently breathe on it. As you breathe, internally state your intention. Ideally, you will be in a high-vibrational state while doing this. Repeat this for several minutes, or until you feel ready to move to the next step.
You can lower your hands now if you wish, keeping your crystal within your palms. Close your eyes (if they aren’t already closed) and visualize your intention coming to life. Visualize the life you imagine for yourself with this intention coming true. See your highest, most authentic self living your most confident life – a life where anxiety doesn’t have a hold over you.
And as you visualize, allow yourself to truly feel all of the positive emotions associated with your vision.
Continue your visualization until you feel that the crystal has been programmed with your intention. (This feeling will be a deep inner knowing. It won’t be anything big or flashy. Think of it like a small, gentle nudge within.)
How To Use Crystals & Stones For Anxiety
Keep in Your Office/Workspace: Keep your gemstones visible in your office or workspace, or if you have a job that requires you to walk around, see if you can keep it in your pocket or somewhere accessible to you. Blue Lace Agate is the perfect crystal to keep with you while you work as it calms your mind, soothes your spirit, and helps you to maintain tranquility.
Meditate with Crystals: Find a quiet, safe spot and hold your crystal(s) as you meditate. You can also place the stones over their corresponding energy center while laying down. I list the chakras (energy centers) for each stone below. To learn more about chakras, check out my introduction to your body’s energy centers here.
Wear Crystals as Jewelry: Rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings are a beautiful way to keep your crystals with you at all times. By wearing your gemstones as jewelry, your chosen stones can protect your energy, calm your mind, and soothe your spirit throughout the day. Learn more about protection jewelry here.
Recite Affirmations: In a safe space, recite positive affirmations while holding your crystals. If you’re at work, a social gathering, or another public place, see if you can find space to silently repeat affirmations to yourself as you hold your crystals. (Or if you’re wearing them as jewelry, focus your attention on the power of their presence). Here are 65 positive affirmations for anxiety to help you get started.
Create a Sacred Space: Crystals, candles, essential oils, pillows, books, plants . . . any and all of these components can be used to create a sacred space for yourself. Whatever you want to include, make your sacred space your own. Allow it to be a safe place filled with positive, healing energy. You can fill your sacred space with any and all the crystals listed below, along with other beautiful gemstones you feel called to. Allow this to be a place where you can meditate, journal, or simply sit and hold your crystals, restoring harmony and peace within.
For more details on how to use crystals to protect your energy, manifest your dreams, and help you heal from within, get the full guide for using crystals here.
9 Best Crystals And Stones For Anxiety
Amethyst
Amethyst is a beautiful crystal to promote peace and calm within. If you often come home from work feeling scattered and overwhelmed, allow Amethyst to calm your mind and soothe your spirit. And if tranquility and stillness is what you seek, Amethyst is the perfect stone to bring into your life.
Amethyst is a stone of balance, so if external forces disrupt your inner peace and leave you feeling like you’re going in a million different directions, Amethyst will gently guide you back to a place of harmony within. It also decreases stress and tension and even helps you get a more restful night’s sleep.
By promoting a sense of calm within, Amethyst will clear out the negativity in your mind so you can find clarity on your journey. With clarity, your creativity and courage are able to shine, and you can walk forward on your path with a sense of purpose and inner knowing.
Apophyllite
If anxiety is a constant companion in your life, let Apophyllite take its place as it soothes and heals your mind, body, and spirit. As one of the most powerful stones for healing anxiety, Apophyllite is known for being a stone of light, and it infuses its light into your spirit, relieving your tension and unease. You might think of Apophyllite as a beautiful, calming presence that doesn’t just relieve your stress and worry; it transfers its high-vibrational energy to you and truly lifts your spirits.
By soothing your worries and calming your mind, Apophyllite will help you to come up with actionable solutions during times of stress. It makes heavy situations feel lighter as it gently guides and supports you to release negative energy and cultivate true joy and happiness within.
Chakras: Heart, Third Eye, Crown
Blue Lace Agate
You know those times when your mind seems to be running at a million miles per hour, and you just can’t seem to slow it down? Blue Lace Agate is just the stone you need to calm your mind, soothe your spirit, and relieve your stress. It’s especially helpful if you have a big presentation or interview coming up as it will help you to relax and stay calm, no matter the situation.
Known to be a powerful stress relieving stone, Blue Lace Agate is the perfect crystal to keep in your office or cubicle as it helps you remain calm and at ease throughout your work day. Take deep, cleansing breaths and envision that the soothing blue of its surface is a peaceful summer sky or a stunning winter lake, restoring harmony and balance within.
Chakras: Throat, Heart
Hematite
Hematite is the ultimate grounding stone. When you find your mind is spinning in circles or when the world is crashing over you, Hematite will clear the chaos and pull you back to earth.
Associated with the root chakra, your body’s first energy center, Hematite restores your strong and steady foundation and promotes feelings of ease and security. And as it does this, it also allows you to release stress, worry, and anxiety.
Additionally, Hematite is a protective stone, so you can wear it as jewelry or keep it with you throughout your day, and it will help you to remain centered and grounded while protecting you from negative energy and toxic vibes. If you’re an empath, this stone is a must-have as it will protect you from taking on the negative energy of others.
Chakras: Root
Lepidolite
Lepidolite is the gemstone version of your best friend; it listens to your emotions and then gently guides you to a place of healing. When you’ve been stuck in a state of heartbreak, depression, or permanent stress, Lepidolite helps to heal your broken heart and restores your sense of confidence, enthusiasm, joy, and purpose.
And going one step further, as you’ve discovered a renewed sense of purpose, it helps you to embrace change and step into the next chapter of your life.
If you’ve been living in a state of worry, stress, chaos, or perpetual sadness, Lepidolite will help you to move forward into the next phase of your life with joy, confidence, and faith. For women, this stone will also help to retain harmony during the most emotional times of your cycle. And for all, it promotes a rejuvenating and restful night’s sleep.
Chakras: Works with all chakras, especially the upper three (Heart, Third Eye, Crown)
Obsidian
Like Hematite, Obsidian is also a powerful grounding stone that allows you to realign with your foundation when your mind, body, and spirit aren’t in harmony. And like Lepidolite, Obsidian is also kind of like your best friend, except this is the best friend that you may not always want but that you always need.
Obsidian tells it like it is and shows you both your positive and negative traits. If you’ve been suppressing negativity, Obsidian carries it to the surface so you can face it head on. However, it’s not going to leave you high and dry to face this negativity alone. Like a true friend, Obsidian will help to clear any negativity and darkness and guide you toward the path of light, love, hope, and faith.
In addition, Obsidian is also a powerful protective stone. It helps to guard your energy and protects you from negativity and darkness, both externally and within.
Chakras: Root
Onyx
Like Hematite and Obsidian, Onyx is a grounding stone associated with the root chakra. It helps you to relieve stress and restore harmony within your being.
But what makes Onyx really special is its ability to guide you through fear.
When facing our fears, we often feel stressed, worried, nervous, and anxious. Onyx absorbs these negative energies and helps you to restore confidence and self-belief. It also helps you to make life choices that support your ultimate well-being and guides you down unknown paths with strength and courage.
If you’re feeling anxious and worried about the future, Onyx will give you the courage to face your fears and the strength to keep walking forward, no matter what.
Chakras: Primarily Root; can also work with Solar Plexus, Third Eye, and Crown
Rhodonite
Rhodonite is a beautiful stone associated with the heart chakra that nurtures inner healing and moving past difficult situations. This is one that you want to have in your spiritual first aid kit as it provides emotional support when you’re in the midst of painful situations.
When dealing with anxiety-producing situations, Rhodonite will help you to remain centered and calm your nerves. Rhodonite also helps to open your heart and empowers your highest self to live your most joyful, peaceful, loving life. This stone clears negativity and lifts your vibrations, no matter what you’re currently going through.
Chakras: Heart
Smoky Quartz
Smoky Quartz is a powerful stone to help you release negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, stress, and unease. When you’re in the midst of an overwhelming or anxious situation, feel the calming effects of this stone almost instantly by stepping back, taking a deep breath, and holding your stone over any areas of your body that feel tense and constricted. A bonus to using Smoky Quartz is that if often complements and amplifies the energy of surrounding stones.
Smoky Quartz will help you get through the difficult moments of life, provide clarity in uncertain situations, and transform negative emotions into positive emotions. And if anxiety often leaves you feeling overwhelmed, Smoky Quartz will transform overwhelm into insight so that you can effectively understand and work through any problems that may be disrupting your peace.
Chakras: Root, Solar Plexus; can also work with Crown
And there you have it: nine of the best crystals and stones for anxiety. Do you have any special practices that you use to heal inner turmoil? What crystals and stones have you found work best to restore balance and harmony within? Be sure to share your experiences in the comment box below!
And for more resources on spirituality, meditation, manifestation, and all things self-love, be sure to connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, where I’m posting positive affirmations and empowering messages daily.
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Pin this for later! 9 Best Crystals and Stones for Anxiety Zanna Keithley is an author, poet, and social media content creator who writes short prose dedicated to inspiring readers to follow their dreams, trust their intuition, and create beautiful and fulfilling lives. You can find her original writing on Instagram @zannakeithley.
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9 Guided Meditations For Manifesting Your Desires
In this article, discover nine powerful guided meditations for manifesting love, abundance, success, and so much more. (With links to each meditation so you can begin your manifesting journey today.)
Pin this for later! 9 Guided Meditations For Manifesting Your Desires Getting Started: Guided Meditations For Manifesting
Meditation is a profound way to connect to your heart’s deepest dreams and desires. Not only can meditation help you to cultivate inner peace, tap into your intuition, and lean a little deeper into gratitude, but it can also be a powerful way to visualize and align with the thoughts, feelings, and images of having your desires in this present moment.
And guided manifestation meditations are a powerful place to start.
First, what exactly is a manifestation meditation?
A manifestation meditation is a meditation specifically designed to help you align with the positive thoughts and emotions of your dreams and desires, lifting your vibrations so that you become a magnet for all of your deepest dreams.
Guided meditations for manifesting can be an easy yet profound way to help you set intentions, cultivate gratitude, lift your vibration, and visualize the truest, most beautiful life you can imagine for yourself.
And the best part? They don’t actually have to take very much time.
As you’ll see, most of the guided meditations below are only about ten minutes long, yet they’re filled with tools to help you embody the vibration of already having your dreams and desires in this present moment.
While you can do these meditations any time of the day, I especially love to listen to them in the morning shortly after I wake up. I’ve found that by starting my day with a meditation, I set a positive foundation for the day ahead.
And when you specifically listen to a guided meditation for manifesting your desires in the morning, you can carry that positive energy from the meditation with you throughout the day.
Below, I’ve linked to nine of my favorite guided manifestations for manifesting love, abundance, and more. You’ll notice that all of these meditations are available for free through Insight Timer. I have no affiliations with Insight Timer and don’t receive anything for these links. I’ve been using Insight Timer for years, and it’s by far my favorite app on my phone. I’m including it here because I wholeheartedly recommend it.
If you want to download the app, you should be able to find it on your device’s app store. You can also check out their website to learn more about what they offer.
I sincerely hope these guided meditations for manifesting your dreams can serve and support you on your path as you move forward in creating a life that feels good and true to you.
And know that it doesn’t matter if you’re new to meditation or an experienced meditator; these meditations will serve you throughout your entire journey. (I’ve been meditating for years, and I still come back to many of these same meditations repeatedly.)
Guided Meditations For Manifesting
Manifesting A Positive Day
Liza Colpa’s entire catalog of guided meditations is a treasure chest filled with beautiful and profound tracks dedicated to helping you set intentions, cultivate gratitude, and release what no longer serves you to make space for more love, peace, and abundance to come into your life. Her voice is effortless and soothing, and I find myself coming back to her meditations multiple times a week. With over 425k plays, her 10-minute Manifesting A Positive Day is her most popular track – for good reason. In this track, Liza gently guides you through a series of affirmations as well as a visualization practice designed to help you envision your best possible day. When you’re finished with this track, you’ll be ready to step forward feeling a sense of confidence, contentment, trust, and groundedness that will remain with you throughout your day.
Attracting All That You Desire
Carrie Suwal is another Insight Timer teacher who has an effortlessly gentle and soothing voice that will help you to feel relaxed and at peace as you follow her soft yet powerful guidance. Her Attracting All That You Desire meditation uses practices rooted in visualization, gratitude, affirmations, and positive vibrations to help you connect to your goals and dreams. This is a beautiful meditation for beginners and experienced meditators alike. If you’re like me, you’ll want to bookmark it and repeat it over and over again.
Being In The Energy of Millions, Billions, Trillions
If you’re looking to manifest financial wealth and prosperity, Hayley Carr’s Being In The Energy Of Millions, Billions, Trillions is the perfect guided meditation to help you vibrate at the frequency of unlimited abundance. In this powerful meditation, Hayley guides you to visualize receiving your desired amount of money (no amount is too big) as you feel all the wonderful feelings of having that amount of money right now. Hayley’s voice and words are pure magic. This is another one you’ll want to save and play on repeat.
Achieve Your Greatest Desires
Vanessa Michele’s Achieve Your Greatest Desires is another powerful manifestation meditation that takes you on a journey of envisioning your ideal life. Before diving into the visualization, Vanessa does a wonderful job of helping you to relax, soften your muscles, and breathe intentionally and effortlessly. She then helps you to notice your current vibration and gently guides you to raise your vibration through visualizing your deepest dreams and desires surrounding you right now. Vanessa’s calm guidance will leave you feeling grounded, centered, and ready to create the beautiful, abundant life of your dreams.
Believe
If you’re feeling uncertain about your ability to manifest the life you want, Annemaree Rowley’s Believe is the perfect meditation to help you realign with your true power. As she states, positive thoughts will bear positive fruit, and negative thoughts will bear negative fruit. But there’s no fake positivity here. Through her calm yet strong guidance, Annemaree gently guides you to a place of deep trust, knowing, and belief in your power and your path.
Manifest An Abundant Life
Amanda Sellers’ Manifest An Abundant Life is another profound guided meditation that uses the power of visualization to help you vibrate at the frequency of having your desires right now. What I love about this meditation is that Amanda begins by guiding you to harness the power of your breath to ground you in this moment. She then reminds you that the first step in manifesting is being grateful for all that you already have. Through gratitude, visualization, and positive vibrations, this guided meditation for manifesting an abundant life will help you walk into your day feeling inspired and empowered.
Live Your Desire Now
Lucy Love’s Live Your Desire Now is all about knowing what you want and focusing your energy on the presence of it as if it’s already yours – the perfect recipe for manifestation. Lucy gently guides you from living externally to living internally, focusing on your own inner world. In a calm and relaxed space, you’re called to think about something specific that you authentically desire and begin imagining what it would look and feel like to have your desire today. This short and sweet track is the perfect meditation for living your desired manifestation today.
New Moon Meditation
This one’s a little different, as it is specifically created for manifesting with the energy of the New Moon. In her New Moon Meditation, Camilla Sacre-Dallerup guides you through the process of setting intentions that align with what you truly want in life. I especially love the calming visualization experience she takes you on, as you connect with the energy of the New Moon and the new beginnings it represents. This is a quiet, soft, gentle guided meditation that helps you to focus on what truly matters in life – what you want to give your attention to, what you want more of, what’s worth giving your energy to – and release all the rest.
Manifest Love – Creative Visualization
No matter where you are in your life journey, Sharon Kirstin’s Manifest Love meditation is a powerful reminder that love has never left you. Sharon gently reminds you that the key to manifesting the love you desire isn’t outside of you; it’s within. I love all the wisdom Sharon shares, especially the gentle reminder that we must take intuitive action to manifest what we truly want in life. Sharon takes you on a powerful visualization journey where you see yourself connected to and wrapped in love at all times. By vibrating at the frequency of unconditional love, you invite even more love to come into your life – thus becoming a magnet for everything you desire.
What are your favorite meditation apps? Do you have any favorite guided meditations for manifesting love, abundance, and more? Share your favorites in the comment box below!
And for more manifesting tips, daily affirmations, and lots of positive vibrations, be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram.
More Manifestation Resources
- The Importance Of Taking Small Steps (For Manifestation)
- How To Manifest On Paper In 5 Easy Steps
- Morning Routine Checklist For Manifestation (Free Printable PDF)
- Manifestation Challenge: Free 30-Day Manifestation Calendar
- Candle Colors For Manifestation (A Complete Guide)
Zanna Keithley is an author, poet, and social media content creator who writes short prose dedicated to inspiring readers to follow their dreams, trust their intuition, and create beautiful and fulfilling lives. You can find her original writing on Instagram @zannakeithley.
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How To Connect With Your Higher Self
Discover how to connect with your higher self using powerful practices you can incorporate into your daily routine. Plus, get questions to help you connect deeper with your higher self, and discover the connection between your higher self and manifestation.
Pin this for later! How To Connect With Your Higher Self (A Complete Guide) Your Highest Self
Take a moment to pause. Breathe deeply. Ground yourself in this present moment.
Now ask yourself: who am I?
Start to paint a picture of yourself in your mind’s eye. See yourself, exactly as you are in this moment right now.
Now, slowly begin to shed the layers of anything you’re carrying that doesn’t actually belong to you.
Remove your fears. Remove the daily stress and worries you carry. Remove the pain you’ve suffered as a result of external experiences. Remove everything that’s weighed you down, kept you small, and made you believe that you’re somehow lesser than you truly are.
The person you see when you remove the layers of pain, shame, stress, fear, worry, distrust, and suffering is your highest, most authentic self.
Who Is Your Higher Self?
Hold this vision of your higher self in your mind’s eye for a little longer. See this version of you stepping into your daily life. How does your higher self look? How do they talk to other people? How do they interact with the world? Do they choose faith over fear? Do they believe they are worthy and deserving of manifesting their dreams? Do they offer love willingly? And do they receive love with an open heart?
Your higher self is your essential self. At the core of your essential self is the following:
- The essential self is untouched by external circumstances. No matter what happens around you, this deepest part of you is unchanged because it is the very essence of who you are.
- This part of you exists beyond your body and physical appearance.
- This deepest part of you is what you might refer to as your soul. It is eternal, measureless, and infinite.
- Nothing outside of yourself can shake or disrupt your essential self. This part of you is free from fears, worries, and limiting beliefs.
If you stripped everything else away, this part of you would remain: the real and true you.
Now, here’s what a lot of us get wrong when it comes to our higher selves: we mistakenly believe that the highest self is something we must become. We strive to be better. To be someone worthy of the Universe’s infinite love. To become more than we believe ourselves to be.
But your higher self isn’t something you become. Your highest self is who you already are.
You don’t have to strive to become this person because this person is already you.
And this is important. Striving is the antithesis of manifestation because ingrained in it is the belief that you don’t already possess this thing. But you do. Everything you’re looking for already exists within you. Manifestation occurs when you stop living from the outside in and instead begin to live from the inside out.
So it’s never about striving to become your highest self. It’s about knowing you already are this person. Your highest self exists within you. And as you begin to remove the layers of fears, distrust, and self-doubt that have prevented you from connecting with the real and true you, it will become easier to align with your highest, essential self each and every day.
How To Connect With Your Higher Self
To begin connecting with your higher self, it’s important to first go within and uncover the real, true, infinite you. Below, you’ll find some questions to ask yourself to connect deeper with this part of you. (You might find it helpful to journal your answers.)
- Who am I without my fears?
- Who am I without my stress?
- Who am I without the worries that keep me up at night?
- Who am I without the external circumstances that I’ve defined myself by?
- Who am I when I’m doing what I love most in the world?
- Who am I when my heart is on fire with joy and passion?
- Who am I when I act from a place of love?
- Who am I when I feel connected to myself, other people, and the Universe?
- Who am I when I feel connected to something deeper and more profound than my daily external experiences?
- Who am I when I feel connected to my purpose?
- Who am I when I close my eyes and picture the truest, most authentic me?
Once you have a clear understanding of who your essential self is, you can make it a daily practice to connect with this deepest part of you. To do this, it’s important to take some time each day – even if it’s just for a minute or two – to step away from the external noise and go within. Take a deep breath and remember who you are.
Below, you’ll find a list of practices to help you connect with your higher self each and every day.
Meet Your Higher Self In Meditation
Meditation allows you to step away from the outside world for a bit and meet yourself exactly where you are. It isn’t about being perfect. It isn’t even about clearing your mind. It’s simply about being, exactly as you are. Meditation is a natural bridge to connecting with your higher self. It allows you to gently shed the layers of everything you’re not to return to who you are. Infinite. Divine. Measureless. Whole.
One powerful practice is to consciously meet your higher self in meditation. To do this, envision that you’re somewhere you feel completely safe and at ease. You might imagine that you’re in a meadow, near the ocean, or somewhere else in nature that feels like home to you. As you’re walking along a path, you see someone in the distance. You approach closer until they’re in full view; it’s your higher self. Imagine what your higher self looks like and how they carry themselves. See them greeting you with so much love and compassion. If you have any questions you’d like to ask your higher self, ask them now. Listen to what they have to say. Remember that your higher self is connected to the light and energy of the entire universe, so trust their responses. This is divine guidance speaking directly to you.
Create A Higher Self Morning Routine
How would your higher self greet the new day? Your morning routine can set the foundation for the entire day ahead. When you begin your mornings as your higher self, you’re more likely to continue to connect with this truest and deepest part of you throughout the day. Instead of rushing through your mornings to get out the door, practice mindfulness as you step into the first hour of this new day. You might meditate, journal, recite positive affirmations, stretch, practice yoga, go for a jog, read a chapter out of a personal growth book, or do something else that feels fulfilling for you.
As you begin each day, remember that you are in control of your mindset. You’re in control of your emotions. You’re in control of how you perceive this new day.
Recite Positive Affirmations Aligned With Your Higher Self
Positive affirmations are encouraging, uplifting statements designed to boost your confidence and self-belief. The classic intro to any positive affirmation is two simple yet powerful words: I am.
You have the power to end that sentence in any way that feels right to you. I am worthy. I am powerful. I am brilliant. I am open-hearted. I am brave. I am extraordinary. I am infinite.
Recite positive affirmations that resonate deeply with you. Carry these empowering words with you throughout your day. Repeat them frequently. Write them on post-it notes. Create phone reminders that pop up at random times during the day affirming your undeniable worthiness.
The more you repeat these positive affirmations, the deeper they become ingrained into your subconscious mind. Keep repeating them over and over again. Affirm what feels true and real and good to you.
(Looking for affirmations? I have thousands of affirmations across this website. Click here to find the right ones for you.)
Release Limiting Beliefs
A limiting belief is a deep-seated belief that holds you back from realizing your true potential and living the life that you desire. Limiting beliefs aren’t a natural part of your essence and being; they weren’t a part of you when you were born onto this earth. They’re a result of your lived experiences. And most of the time, you’ll find that your limiting beliefs are rooted in fear: fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, fear of not having what it takes, fear that there isn’t room for you to succeed, fear of being seen for your true self, fear of failure, and even fear of success.
Limiting beliefs keep you from aligning with your true self and stepping into the life that’s waiting for you beyond your worries and fears.
Identifying your limiting beliefs requires meaningful self-reflection. What fears are you hiding behind? What’s stopping you from being your truest, most authentic you? Once you’ve identified your limiting beliefs, you can consciously choose to create new, reframed beliefs. Ask yourself, what beliefs would my higher self hold? For instance, if you have a limiting belief that you’re not smart or talented enough to make it in a certain field, your reframed belief might be that you are more than capable of succeeding and thriving (and that the Universe put this dream into your heart for a reason, so you can release your worries and choose to trust).
Be Your Higher Self
Embody your highest self in how you interact with friends and strangers throughout the day. In every situation you encounter, ask yourself, what would my higher self do? How would my higher self react? What choices would my higher self make? Would my higher self be critical or compassionate? Would my higher self worry about the future or trust that everything will work out? If your higher self is endlessly kind, loving, and compassionate, then give love, kindness, and compassion freely, just as your higher self would.
Live In This Present Moment
You have a past, and you have a future, but you don’t live in either of those spaces. You live here, right now. You’re breathing in this moment. Your heart is beating in this moment. Your power is here, right now, in this present moment. And this is where your higher self lives. Your higher self isn’t reliving the past or worrying about the future. Your higher self knows that the best thing you can do for your future is to love this moment right now. To find gratitude in this moment. To discover the miracles that this moment can offer when you open your eyes to uncover them.
So keep coming back to the present moment. It’s okay to think about the future. It’s also okay to think about the past – to wonder, even, what would’ve happened if you had made different choices.
The key is to not dwell in those spaces.
Keep coming back to this moment right now. Keep breathing. Keep being. Keep noticing. You’ll be surprised by how much you discover about yourself and the world around you when you simply pay attention.
Your Higher Self & Manifestation
So how can aligning with your higher self help you to manifest your dreams? Let’s consider what it looks like when you’re out of alignment with your highest self versus when you’re in alignment with this essential part of you. (See the table below.)
Out of Alignment In Alignment Fearful Fearless Held back by limiting beliefs Free from limiting beliefs Buried under self-criticism Lifted by self-compassion Trusts only what you can see Trusts what you feel deep within Easily shaken by external circumstances Grounded, centered, and trusting, no matter what happens in the external world Feels disconnected from the outer world (and often feels disconnected from self) Connected to yourself, other people, and the Universe as a whole Weighed down by negative thoughts and feelings (fear, worry, stress, anger, distrust, disconnection, scarcity, lack of faith) Natural state is positive vibrations (love, gratitude, joy, peace, community, compassion, hope, faith, freedom, abundance, empowerment) Often views life through a mindset of lack and scarcity (because you measure your abundance by what you see outside of yourself) Views life with an abundance mindset. Knows that infinite abundance is available to all. Also knows that abundance doesn’t start outside of you; it begins within. Simply put, the more you align with your higher self, the easier manifestation becomes. Not only does it become easier to vibrate at the frequency of your desires, but you’re more patient, trusting, and at peace with all that’s happening in your life. You honor your inner knowing and are guided by faith over fear. You create a life of true abundance not from the outside in but from the inside out.
Once you can tap into this essential state and consistently align with the abundance within, you’ll see it manifest in all different forms outside of you.
To be clear, you can manifest things in the short-term without consistently aligning with your highest self, as long as you consistently align with the positive emotions of what you want. But long-term manifestation without the highest self isn’t sustainable. It will constantly feel like you’re striving to become something rather than simply being. The work you do now to consistently align with your higher self will ultimately make your long-term journey more joyful, peaceful, and simply easier. It will become less about doing and more about being.
The importance of aligning with your highest self goes beyond manifesting for the future. It’s about knowing your worthiness right now. And you are worthy and deserving of living a life that feels good to you. To wake up each morning in alignment with the real and true you. To experience feelings of joy, love, peace, abundance, and freedom as your permanent, natural state.
And you deserve to know that you are worthy of receiving your dreams just because you’re you. You don’t have to do more. You don’t have to be more. You don’t have to achieve more. You get to receive because who you are, exactly as you are, is always enough.
That’s what your higher self gives you.
Less striving. More receiving.
Your Greatest Teacher
Have you ever searched for answers outside yourself when you knew the right answer deep within the whole time?
One final note I want to make about your higher self is that this part of you is often your greatest teacher. If you’re seeking answers outside of yourself and having a difficult time, allow yourself to pause. Take a step back. Close your eyes, and picture your higher self. Ask your higher self the questions that are weighing on your mind. (You might try this practice in meditation, if it feels right.)
While the Universe will provide you with signs and synchronicities to deliver messages, ultimately, the most profound messages come from the eternal, infinite part of you that exists within. This is the life force of the Universe flowing inside you. You may not quite trust it yet because you’ve been taught to trust your logic and reason over this deep inner knowing. But the eternal energy flowing within you is your greatest guide and greatest teacher. As you learn to trust it, answers will come more easily, and you’ll be able to tap into your intuition to lead you to your next step.
Start practicing coming to your highest self when you have questions about your life path. Have patience if the answers don’t come to you right away. Sometimes, you might ask a question, and then an answer will come to you in the middle of the afternoon several days later.
And if an answer comes that doesn’t seem logical, don’t immediately dismiss it. Explore this answer with gentle curiosity. Your mind will likely immediately try to find all the reasons why it must be wrong, so allow yourself to flip your perspective and look for the reasons it might be right.
How do you connect with your higher self? Share your tips and experiences in the comment box below!
And for more resources on spirituality, meditation, manifestation, and all things self-love, be sure to connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest, where I’m posting positive affirmations and empowering messages daily.
You May Also Like:
- What Are The 12 Laws Of The Universe? (A Complete Guide)
- 33 Profound Spiritual Healing Quotes To Guide Your Path
- 30 Journal Prompts For Self Growth (& Deeper Self-Love)
- What Is The Art Of Allowing? (A Complete Guide)
Pin this for later! How To Connect With Your Higher Self (A Complete Guide) Zanna Keithley is an author, poet, and social media content creator who writes short prose dedicated to inspiring readers to follow their dreams, trust their intuition, and create beautiful and fulfilling lives. You can find her original writing on Instagram @zannakeithley.
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How To Visualize (For Manifestation)
Below, learn how visualization can help you achieve your goals, plus discover exactly how to visualize in order to manifest your deepest dreams and desires.
Pin this for later! How To Visualize (For Manifestation) What Is Visualization?
My favorite way to describe visualization is intentional daydreaming. You might also consider it daydreaming on purpose.
Which, if you’ve been told your whole life to get your head out of the clouds, may seem kind of weird.
Why would we want to daydream on purpose? What’s the point? Isn’t daydreaming just an illogical way to pass the time?
Not exactly. In fact, I’d argue that daydreaming with clarity, purpose, and intention is one of the most worthwhile ways you can spend your time.
Just hear me out.
In manifestation, visualization is a tool you can use to connect your dreams with your current reality. It allows you to simulate the experience of already having your desires in the present moment. Not only can you see your dreams and desires unfold in your mind’s eye; you can also experience the sights, sounds, and feelings of this ideal world, too.
What makes visualization truly powerful is that it helps you to get in alignment with universal energy. This makes you more receptive to connecting with your intuition and taking inspired action.
But there’s even more than meets the eye when it comes to the power of visualization. Here’s why visualization is so important when it comes to achieving your goals and manifesting your dreams:
Visualization is a creative practice. When you visualize, you activate your creative subconscious mind. In turn, this opens your mind to discovering creative opportunities and previously unseen possibilities for achieving your goals. You’re more open and receptive to paths you may not have noticed before.
Visualization helps you to become more mentally resilient. One of my favorite examples of this is Michael Phelps, who regularly used visualization as part of his Olympic training.
He didn’t just visualize everything going perfectly, though; he’d visualize all potential scenarios, including things that might go wrong, like water getting into his goggles. This made him more mentally prepared the day of the actual competition. It paid off, too, because when water actually did get into his goggles during an Olympic race, he didn’t freak out. In fact, he set a world record in that race, even with this potentially devastating obstacle.
Through visualization, you can prepare for anything. If challenges and obstacles arise in your outer world, you have the strength and resilience to persevere because you’ve already overcome this challenge in your mind many times before.
Visualization increases your motivation. Part of the magic of visualization is that your brain can’t actually tell the difference between your powerful visualization and reality; it has the same activity whether you’re physically doing the action or envisioning it in your mind. The more you practice visualization, the more real this image becomes for you. After visualizing something multiple times, you may even develop more courage and confidence to actually do the thing–all because in your mind, you’ve already done it before.
And finally, visualization helps you to vibrate at the frequency of your desires, thus activating the Law of Attraction. The longer you hold onto this vibration, the more you’ll effortlessly become a magnet for all that you want. (And the more often you practice this, the easier it will be to hold this positive vibration.)
Below, learn how to visualize for manifestation, and discover several powerful visualization practices you can start incorporating into your life today. Plus, learn about the power of combining visualization with positive affirmations to achieve your goals and manifest your dreams.
How To Visualize
Meditation
One of my favorite ways to practice visualization is through a manifestation meditation. A manifestation meditation is a meditation specifically designed to help you align with the positive thoughts and emotions of your desires, lifting your vibrations so that you become a magnet for all of your deepest dreams. This practice is a powerful way to get clear about what you want to manifest, lift your vibrations to match your desires, and let go of limiting beliefs and resistance within.
Visualization is the cornerstone of a manifestation meditation as it allows you to see in your mind’s eye exactly what it is that you want to manifest. Many guided meditations will take you through a day in your dream life; you’ll be able to visualize all the details of your ideal life, including the house you live in, who you’re surrounded by, and what you do during your day. The key to a successful visualization is to not only see the details play out in your mind but to feel all the high-vibe emotions of having your desires right now. When you do this, you directly connect yourself to the experience of having the thing(s) you desire, becoming a magnet for your dreams to manifest in your reality.
Here are the steps to practice a manifestation meditation utilizing visualization:
- Find a comfortable spot where you won’t be interrupted. Set aside at least 10 minutes to do this practice, though you can take more time if you’d like. You can sit cross-legged or on a chair with your feet on the ground. Relax your shoulders and open your chest so your heart center is open to receiving. Place your hands on your knees or thighs with your palms facing the sky (in receiving mode).
- Spend a minute or two getting relaxed. Unclench your jaw and breathe into any tension you feel in your body. Then, breathe it out. Take a few deep, conscious inhales and exhales before letting your breath steady into a normal, comfortable rhythm.
- What do you want to manifest? Bring it to the surface now. Visualize a perfect day in which all of your dreams and desires have already come true. Start with seeing yourself waking up. Where are you? How do you feel when you awaken for the day? Picture all the details of where you are, who you’re with, and what you do throughout your day. As you visualize, allow yourself to feel all of the positive emotions of having all your dreams and desires right now. If you want to manifest love, allow yourself to feel truly loved, protected, and cherished. If you want to manifest career success, allow yourself to feel successful, joyful, and thriving. Feel into these positive emotions in every cell of your being. You can even let a soft smile lift your lips if you’d like.
- Finish your visualization by picturing yourself sitting or laying in bed at night. Breathe in gratitude for this beautiful life you’ve created. Feel grateful for all that you have and all that’s coming. Inhale gratitude and exhale it back into the world. Allow yourself to sit in sincere appreciation for a minute or two as you reflect on your beautiful life.
- Repeat a few high-vibe affirmations that further increase your vibrations and align you with the positive feelings of having all your dreams and desires.
- Finish your manifestation meditation by picturing yourself letting go. Visualize your desire as a balloon, a ball of light, a paper lantern, or anything else that feels right to you. Release it into the universe and see it flying up into the starry sky. Watch it until it disappears, then smile and lean into ease knowing that all of your dreams are on their way to you right now.
Note that you don’t necessarily have to visualize a day in your dream life. If you want to manifest love, you might visualize your perfect first date with your soulmate. You could visualize the moment you realize you’ve fallen in love or your first holiday together. Truly, the possibilities are endless, so feel free to get creative here. You might write down all the scenarios you want to visualize and check them off one at a time.
Want help getting started with this? Here are a few of my favorite guided visualization meditations in the Insight Timer app:
- Visualization To Manifest Your Dreams by Maja Savic
- Achieve Your Greatest Desires – Manifestation Practice by Vanessa Michele
- Pursue Your Dreams by Liza Colpa
- Manifest An Abundant Life by Amanda Sellers
- Abundant Day – A Guided Visualization by Sara Robinson
Vision Board
A vision board is a collection of words and/or images that represent your highest self living your ideal life. Common components of a vision board include your career, relationships, home, car, health, wealth, spirituality, lifestyle, hobbies, self-care activities, and anything that represents the life of your dreams. There truly is no limit to what you can include on your vision board as you’re the only one who knows the dreams in your heart.
Vision boards are typically used for goal-setting purposes and can be a powerful tool in manifestation. They help you to set your intentions and get clear about what exactly it is that you want to manifest into your experience. They can also be used for the purpose of raising your vibration. In fact, this is where a vision board truly shines.
A vision board isn’t purely about setting goals; it’s about allowing yourself to experience all of the positive feelings of having all of your hopes and dreams right now. Is your board filled with images of travel, adventure, and freedom? Or is your deepest desire to have stability, a beautiful home, and a loving relationship?
Whatever it is that you dream of, allow yourself to feel all of the positive emotions of having it all right now.
Allow yourself to feel freedom. To feel love. To feel passion. To feel abundance. Feel all of these positive emotions now, knowing in your heart that everything you desire is already yours.
When you focus on the lack and absence of your desires, you attract more lack into your current experience. But if you vibrate at the frequency of already living the life of your dreams, you attract more of this beautiful abundance to you.
And that’s the magic of the vision board.
It isn’t simply about slapping some pretty images on a poster board and glancing at it from time to time.
It’s about knowing that you have the power to create your life and showing the Universe exactly what you want – then, through your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions, drawing that life to you.
Here are some tips for creating your own vision board:
- Think big. When you start to create your vision board, you might be tempted to only add things to it that seem “realistic.” But who actually says what’s realistic and what isn’t? Fill your board with the biggest, most extravagant dreams you’ve got. All of it. Let limits be a part of someone else’s story. You’re the one writing your story. You’re creating your path. You. Are. Limitless.
- Add quotes. Empowering quotes and affirmations are an often overlooked yet profound part of your vision board. Find quotes and affirmations that truly resonate with you. Add them to your vision board and read them aloud each day.
- Create in a state of joy. When you create your vision board, try to find a time and place when you’re free from distractions. As you create your board, allow yourself to feel all the positive feelings associated with your dreams. Let joy and peace permeate your being. Know that you’re on the right path, and this is exactly where you’re meant to be.
- Choose authenticity over perfection. When you create your vision board, you’re not just envisioning your perfect life; what’s more important is creating your authentic life. What feels true to you? Maybe it’s not something that would make sense to anyone else, and that’s okay. It doesn’t have to as long as it feels right to you.
Scripting
Scripting is the practice of writing about your dreams and desires in story-like form, as if you already possess everything you want to manifest. It’s similar to the visualization practice described above in the meditation section, except instead of sitting and visualizing it all in your mind, you’re writing this vision down on paper.
If you want to manifest your dream job, you can script a typical day in the life of your dream job as though you already have it right now. If you want to manifest better health, you can write about how it feels to be perfectly healthy, fit, and strong. And if you want to manifest love, you can script a day in the life with your perfect partner, as though this person is already in your life in this moment.
Like other visualization practices, the key to unlocking the magic of scripting is not just to write the words but to truly feel the positive emotions of already having everything you desire. Allow yourself to feel joyful, peaceful, free, happy, healthy, and loved now. When you invite these feelings into your inner world, you become a magnet for even more positive feelings and experiences to manifest in your outer world.
If you’d like to learn more about scripting, check out this article, where I explain scripting in detail and also provide you with a free downloadable scripting template to help you get started.
Start Scripting Your Dream Life With The 30-Day Manifestation Journal
Do you want to fully immerse yourself in the positive vibrations of all your dreams and desires? Check out 30 Perfect Days, a digital manifestation journal available in my online shop! Each day, you’ll discover a unique scripting prompt that will help you to live as if you already have your dreams and desires right now. Additionally, you’ll find space for daily gratitude, acknowledging the miracles that appear in your everyday world, uplifting affirmations, and more. Comes with editable text fields so you can choose to either type directly into the journal or print and hand write! Click here to learn more!
Live As If
“Living as if” essentially means to live as though you already have received your desired manifestation. You’re already working in your dream career. You already share a life with your soulmate. You already live in the dream house and drive the perfect car. Like other practices, the key is to truly feel the empowering feelings of already having these things in your current experience.
Find moments throughout your day where you can practice living as if. For instance, let’s say you’re driving home from work. While you’re driving, imagine that you’re driving your dream car. Touch the steering wheel as though this is the steering wheel to the car you’ve always wanted to drive. You might take it a step further by also envisioning that you’re driving home from your dream job. Even just practicing this for five minutes at a time can raise your vibration and help you get into that good feeling place of already having your desires.
You might continue this practice when you get home. Visualize yourself pulling up to your dream house. Feel excited when you pull into the driveway. Allow yourself to feel immense gratitude for this incredible place you get to call your home.
You can practice this throughout your day: when you wake up, as you’re driving to work, while you’re shopping at the grocery store, while you’re eating, as you’re getting ready for bed, and any other time it feels right for you. To make it less overwhelming, start with just three to five minutes at a time. Eventually, you might increase this to ten, fifteen, twenty minutes, or even longer. This is a great method for incorporating visualization throughout your day (as opposed to just practicing visualization in one sitting for ten minutes a day).
Combining Visualization & Positive Affirmations
Visualization is a powerful practice on its own. Using visualization and positive affirmations is a game changer. This lifts your vibration and fosters mental strength and resilience. By continually visualizing your ideal future and affirming your undeniable worthiness, you train your subconscious brain to believe you already have what you desire.
When you first start using affirmations, it may feel kind of weird at first. You’ll likely have to continually remind yourself to use them throughout your day. In time, though, you’ll no longer have to remind yourself because it will become second nature. And eventually, you won’t even need to use them at all. Why? Because the empowering words you’re affirming will become part of your subconscious brain – part of the very foundation of who you are, woven into the fabric of your being. You won’t have to affirm that you’re worthy because your inherent worthiness will be so ingrained within you, you’ll already know this at a subconscious level.
This makes visualization and positive affirmations a powerful pair. If you practice a manifestation meditation, incorporate affirmations into your meditation. If you have a vision board, see if you can have an accompanying affirmation for each image. Continue to practice visualization and repeat positive affirmations so that they come so naturally to you, your brain truly believes you are everything you’re visualizing and affirming. (Because you are. Truly. You are worthy. You are powerful. You are more than enough. You have so much to offer. You really can have it all. You are limitless.)
You can click here to start exploring the thousands of positive affirmations I share across this site.
What are your favorite visualization practices? Do you have any tips for how to visualize your deepest dreams and desires? Share your tips and experiences in the comment box below!
And for more manifesting tips, daily affirmations, and lots of positive vibes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!
Pin this for later! How To Visualize (For Manifestation) Zanna Keithley is an author, poet, and social media content creator who writes short prose dedicated to inspiring readers to follow their dreams, trust their intuition, and create beautiful and fulfilling lives. You can find her original writing on Instagram @zannakeithley.
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Holiday Gift Guide 2021: Meaningful Gifts For Spiritual People (& More)
Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase a product using my link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
Choosing Meaningful Gifts
Are you looking for a meaningful gift for the dreamer, manifestor, or spiritual growth seeker in your life? Below, I’ve gathered some of my favorite manifestation tools, self-care products, meditation room decor, inspirational gifts, and more. Each item has been carefully chosen with quality and care in mind. I’ve included descriptions of each product below each image, and you can also click the image or text links to learn more about the items.
And for more gift ideas, be sure to check out the digital resources available now right here in our online shop. Here, you’ll find manifestation journals and workbooks, chakra healing tools, and more. Choose your item, then schedule it to be delivered to your recipient on the date you specify with a personalized message from you! Whether you’re shopping in advance or picking out a last-minute present, these digital resources make the perfect gift for any spiritual soul on your list.
Click on the links below to skip ahead:
Holiday Gift Guide 2021
Gifts For Manifestors
I’m a big fan of Art of the Root’s manifesting oils as a profound manifestation aid. Just dab some oil onto an object (like money or photos), wear it on your body, anoint a candle with it, or even use it to enhance your manifestation journaling practice. These oils are the perfect present for the manifestor in your life, and they have plenty of choices geared toward manifesting love, money, success, and more. Check out their designated Manifestation Oil, or visit the Art of the Root store to check out all their manifesting oil options!
And while you’re checking out the Art of the Root store, be sure to take a look at their manifestation candles as well. Their Money Candle Set includes three candles – Abundance, Money Drawing, and Good Fortune – and is the perfect gift for the manifestor in your life. They’re also handmade with Natural Soy Wax, Real Herbs and Essential Oils and are beautifully scented!
With a new year approaching, a manifestation planner is an ideal gift to help someone start the year with a positive, goal-oriented mindset. This Law of Attraction planner includes space for setting goals, creating an action plan, reflecting on your progress, cultivating gratitude, and more. Plus, it comes in plenty of color and design options, so you can personalize your choice based on your recipient’s preferences.
The Mindful Collective’s Prosperity Crystals Set is one of those gifts you’ll actually want for yourself. It includes seven premium healing crystals (Selenite, Citrine, Tiger’s Eye, Raw Aventurine, Honey Calcite, Desert Stone, and Peach Moonstone) and 50 affirmation cards, all in a beautiful keepsake wooden box that makes this present ready-to-go. This is a beautiful and thoughtful gift for anyone seeking profound spiritual growth.
Gabrielle Bernstein is a household name in the manifestation space, and for good reason. She’s the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Universe Has Your Back and has written multiple bestselling books. What makes Super Attractor so special is that it’s essentially a complete how-to book on manifestation, outlining all of the essential methods for manifesting a life even greater than what you could ever dream of. What I love about Bernstein’s writing is that she writes like your loving, supportive friend, and above all, she encourages fun, relaxation, joy, and feeling good. This is the book that removes difficulty and struggle from manifestation and shows you how fun it can be to create the life of your dreams.
And to go with the Super Attractor book, you’ll also want to check out Gabby Bernstein’s Super Attractor manifestation cards. I’ve seen a lot of different types of affirmation and tarot cards, and Gabrielle Bernstein’s are some of the most beautiful and inspiring ones out there. Each card offers an inspiring mantra to support you on your manifestation journey. And if you have more spiritual souls in your life who you’d like to give a meaningful gift to, be sure to check out her other card decks as well: The Universe Has Your Back 52-Card Deck and the gorgeous Spirit Junkie 52-Card Deck.
Self-Care Gifts
This Self Care Bucket List box has 100 cards completely dedicated to helping you destress and focus on your own happiness. The cards are color-coded, so depending on your mood, you can choose a yellow card for a challenge, a red card for loving yourself or others, or green for a reminder to enjoy life’s journey. Activities range from cuddling someone or something to walking in the rain to decluttering your wardrobe. This is one of those thoughtful gifts that your recipient probably wouldn’t buy for themselves, but once they have it, they won’t want to be without it.
Gratitude is one of the most powerful forces in the world to create profound positive change in a person’s life. That’s why I love gratitude journals. Most only require a few minutes of your time in the mornings and/or evenings, but their effects go a long way. One of my favorites is this Gratitude Day and Night Reflection Journal. Every morning, you can write your daily focus, some uplifting affirmations, and things you’re grateful for and excited about that day. At night, it gives you space to reflect on good things that happened that day and positive thoughts to carry you to sleep. These are powerful habits for a person to cultivate, and it makes for a super thoughtful present that will have a profound effect on anyone on your gift list.
Morgan Harper Nichols’ All Along You Were Blooming is like a love note for your mind, body, and soul. Not only is it gorgeously illustrated, but the words feel like sunshine pouring into every cell of your body. They remind you to live fully in this moment and that even through your challenges, difficulties, and imperfections, nothing about you is a mistake. (Self-love poetry books make for a timeless and thoughtful gift for any recipient. For more poetry book suggestions, click here.)
If your gift recipient is anything like me, there’s no such thing as too many candles. The Mindful Collective’s Self-Love & Intention Crystal Candle is especially meaningful, as it includes crystals (including Rose Quartz and Citrine) in the actual candle. Not only is this candle absolutely beautiful, but it smells divine. This one’s guaranteed to be a hit with the candle lover in your life.
Affirmation cards can uplift, inspire, and help set the foundation for a positive day ahead. These Dessie Affirmation Cards make for a super thoughtful gift, as not only do they include 60 different empowering affirmations, but they also include over 100 questions rooted in self-love and self-belief. This is a truly meaningful gift that your recipient can continue to use for years to come.
Like candles, blankets are one of those gifts someone can never have too many of. Not only is this Compassion Blanket soft and warm, but it’s covered in inspirational words to provide an extra dose of encouragement and love. This is the perfect blanket for your recipient to wrap themselves up in during those cold nights and practice a little extra self-love and self-care. (I have it in teal and use my blanket literally every single day.)
If you’re looking for a unique gift, look no further than this gorgeous Teabloom Flowering Tea Set. Teabloom’s flowering teas are handcrafted by artisans with the highest-quality green tea leaves and edible flowers. When brewed in a glass teapot, tea flowers slowly bloom into a breathtaking display. Not only is the tea beautiful, but it’s healthy, delicious, and smells absolutely incredible. To make this a complete set, you could also gift a Teabloom Glass Teapot so your recipient can start experiencing the magic of this gift instantly.
As a lifelong lover of bubble baths, I can be a bit of a bath snob. Those cheap, department store bath gift sets just won’t cut it. For a product that has high-quality ingredients and provides a truly luxurious bath experience, I love this Beauty by Earth Bath Bomb Gift Set. There’s no harsh chemicals, dyes, or perfumes, and the bath bombs are created to moisturize your skin, relax your muscles, and pamper your senses. With six unique scents to choose from, your recipient can choose the one that best fits their mood for the day.
Meaningful Jewelry
My favorite thing about this RareLove Strength Morse Code Bracelet is that it’s like a secret message between you and your gift recipient. It’s subtle yet beautiful and serves as a profound reminder of one’s inherent inner strength.
I adore Joycuff bracelets and have my own “You Are Unstoppable” bracelet that I wear every day. This “Be Fearless” bracelet is just one of many empowering messages you can find in the Joycuff store.
This “You Are Limitless” triangle necklace is another one of my all-time favorites. Sweet, simple, lovely, and divine. It’s a truly meaningful and thoughtful gift for anyone you want to send a little extra inspiration to this holiday season.
This Lotus New Beginnings Stacking Bracelet is filled with positive vibrations. These stacking bracelets include Wood, Hematite, Amethyst, Lava, and a beautiful Lotus charm to symbolize positive energy, good fortune, enlightenment, and new beginnings. Plus, it’s a diffuser bracelet, so your gift recipient can place a drop of their favorite essential oil onto the lava beads for some extra calm, confidence, and clarity.
The Hamsa hand has many spiritual meanings, but its most prominent meaning is to protect you from another person’s ill-will, malice, or bad intentions. Not only does the Hamsa hand repel toxic energy, but it can also bring you more positive energy and even usher in good fortune. This gorgeous 18K Gold Plated Hamsa Hand Necklace will bring your gift recipient abundance, good luck, and positive energy. (Plus, it comes in multiple options for chain sizes!)
This rose gold plated Hamsa Hand Evil Eye necklace is similar to the previous necklace, but it also incorporates the evil eye, which isn’t actually evil itself but rather protects you from danger, strife, and malicious intent. The pop of color and beautiful rose gold plating along with the energy protection that comes from the combination of the hamsa hand and evil eye symbols make this one your recipient will want to wear daily. (And it’s sure to draw lots of compliments!)
Meditation Room Gifts
This gorgeous Florensi Meditation Cushion is my go-to cushion for daily meditation. (I actually use it every single morning after waking up.) It’s soft, comfy, and absolutely beautiful. This is the perfect gift for the meditator in your life, as meditation cushions can reduce pain, increase comfort, and improve your posture by tilting your hips forward, which gives you better support in your back and aligns your spine. This alignment may also help you to experience smoother, easier breathing, which in turn, helps you to quiet your mind and look within.
A beautiful rug can change the feeling of an entire room. This gorgeous Boho Mandala Bedroom Circle Rug is the perfect addition to anyone’s meditation space. It has three color choices, and I love that the colors are muted so that they can match anyone’s space, no matter the decor. This gift is sure to be an instant hit with the meditator in your life.
Moon decor is a beautiful addition to any meditation room, and this Moon Phase Tapestry is absolutely gorgeous. You can choose to purchase it with either a black or white background, or you can even pick it up as a set of 2. This is a timeless piece that would complement any room.
You know how sometimes, you’ll order a product online and what you actually receive looks terrible compared to the picture? This isn’t that. In fact, this Half Moon Dreamcatcher actually looks better in person than in the picture. It’s absolutely beautifully made and is a great option for any age range.
I love these Stress Relief Cards for Meditation & Relaxation. Each pack comes with 46 cards (that are small enough to fit into a bag or purse), and the cards have simple yet powerful mindfulness exercises to relieve stress and bring you back to the present moment. When your gift recipient is feeling stressed, scattered, or just needs a minute to pause and breathe, they can pull out a card and follow the practices on the cards. These can also be used as part of a daily routine to practice good habits and learn more about mindfulness.
Himalayan salt lamps are known to purify the air and balance electromagnetic radiation while increasing one’s mood, improving cognitive performance, and even potentially reducing allergies and asthma. You’ll find Himalayan Salt Lamps in all different shapes and sizes, but I personally prefer the sleek look of this 100% Authentic Natural Himalayan Salt Lamp. It’s the perfect addition to a bedroom, office, living room, or meditation space. (I keep this exact one on my nightstand and absolutely love it.)
If the meditator in your life already has a meditation cushion, this is a great alternative that may be new to even advanced meditators. Meditation benches offer the chance for even deeper breathing and better focus. They’re unique, and they also are a good alternative for those who get uncomfortable sitting cross-legged on the floor. I love this Monk & Llama Kneeling Meditation Bench for so many reasons: it has a cushion, it has foldable legs and a carrying case for travel, and it’s made from 100% natural sustainable bamboo.
Essential oils are known to help you relax, sleep better, boost energy, relieve stress, and even help with alleviating headaches. This BAIESHIJI Metal Vintage Essential Oil Diffuser comes in multiple styles, and each one is absolutely beautiful. It has four timer setting modes and an automatic shutoff function. For essential oils, I’d recommend this Cliganic USDA Organic Aromatherapy Essential Oils Set of 8. They’re USDA certified organic and also have a Cruelty Free Certification, guaranteeing the products haven’t been tested on animals.
Stained Glass Meditation Feathers
Looking for something a little different? I highly recommend Jodi Sharp’s gorgeous one-of-a-kind stained glass meditation feathers. Each feather is made unique with artisanal glass, inset crystals, and an individual write-up and theme. All are ethically handmade in Montreal with detailed love and care. With so many options to choose from, you will find the special meditator in your life a perfect and distinctive gift for the holidays! And be sure to check out the rest of her beautiful products available in her online shop.
Inspirational & Mindfulness Gifts
A mindfulness jar typically has 31 different folded slips of paper on it. Each slip of paper has a different mindfulness activity printed on it. Every morning, the person who owns the jar picks a new slip of paper and performs that mindfulness activity sometime during the day. This is a great way to cultivate new, positive habits and to embrace mindfulness in your daily life. If you want to purchase something that’s ready to go, this Rustic Mindfulness Jar is absolutely perfect. It’s well-packaged and already well-suited for gift-giving, and the activities are thoughtful and easy enough for even a super busy person to carry out.
I absolutely love the RYVE Motivational Daily Flip Calendar for so many reasons. Beyond the fact that it’s gorgeous, it doesn’t just have inspirational quotes, but it has motivating self-reflection prompts as well. And even better? It doesn’t print days of the week on the pages, so it can actually be used year after year. Your recipient can put this on their desk (or anywhere else they’re sure to see it) and get a new uplifting quote every single day.
I’ve mentioned blankets and candles as being things that a person can never have too many of; mugs are also on that list. This Progress Not Perfection mug is a perfect reminder to keep going, even when things aren’t perfect. Plus, it comes packaged in a cute little box, so it’s ready to go for gift giving.
This Dream, Plan, Do notebook would pair perfectly with the Progress Not Perfection mug, or it can be given individually as a thoughtful gift. With multiple design options, you can gift one to everyone in your life who has big dreams and the courage to achieve them.
These inspirational running socks make the perfect gift for anyone who is setting big goals for themselves and going after their dreams. This can also be a great gift for anyone who might be starting the new year with specific health or fitness goals. Show them your support with a little extra daily encouragement (that also happen to be cute and super warm).
I absolutely adore Cyndie Spiegel’s A Year of Positive Thinking. This inspirational book provides daily nuggets and insights for each day of the year. It’s filled with inspirational lessons and reflections, but the positive messages you’ll find inside never feel fake or forced. Every word hits just right. This is a wonderful gift to uplift, inspire, and spread true positivity to the people in your life.
Looking for more meaningful gift ideas? Check out the links below for more of my favorite products. And for positive affirmations, self-love tools, manifestation inspiration, and spiritual resources, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest. Plus, don’t forget to check out the digital resources available in our online shop. Just choose your item, then schedule it to be delivered to your recipient on the date you specify with a personalized message from you!
- Essential Oils For Manifesting Love, Money, and Success
- A Guide To Essential Oils For Chakra Healing
- Eight Best Chakra Books For Profound Energy Healing
- 11 Beautiful Poetry Books About Self-Love & Acceptance
- 7 Types Of Protection Jewelry To Guard Your Energy (With Links)
- Selenite Wand: Meaning, Benefits & How-To (With Links)
Pin this to come back to later! Holiday Gift Guide 2021: Meaningful Gifts For Spiritual People (& More) Zanna Keithley is an author, poet, and social media content creator who writes short prose dedicated to inspiring readers to follow their dreams, trust their intuition, and create beautiful and fulfilling lives. You can find her original writing on Instagram @zannakeithley.
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Manifestation Meditation: A Complete How-To Guide
What is a manifestation meditation? In this post, discover what exactly a manifestation mediation is and how to manifest your dreams and desires while you’re meditating! Plus, get links to some of my favorite free guided manifestation meditations below.
Pin this for later! What is a Manifestation Meditation? A Complete How-To Guide What Is A Manifestation Meditation?
When I first meditating, I believed what many people believe when they’re new to meditation: that the purpose of meditation was to quiet my thoughts and eventually reach a point in which I didn’t think at all. A completely blank, clear mind was the goal, so I sat down each day and tried my best to focus on nothing but my inhale and exhale. When I found my thoughts wandering, I’d start to count my breaths, and I’d return to that count any time I realized I’d let my thoughts wander again.
For months, I considered myself a failure for not being able to clear my thoughts. What I didn’t realize was that this process was actually teaching me mindfulness in a powerful way. (To learn more about what mindfulness is, click here!)
Eventually, I started doing guided meditations using the InsightTimer app, and I was blown away by the vast amount of different types of meditations I discovered. What surprised me the most was that there were meditations that weren’t about clearing your mind at all; many took me through journeys of visualization, affirmations, self-observation, chakra healing, and more.
One of the types of meditations I discovered in this experience was manifestation meditations. A manifestation meditation is a meditation specifically designed to align you with the positive thoughts and emotions of your dreams and desires, lifting your vibrations so that you become a magnet for all of your deepest dreams. This practice is a powerful way to get clear about what exactly it is that you want to manifest, lift your vibrations to match your desires, and let go of limiting beliefs and resistance within.
Some of the core components of a manifestation meditation are visualization, affirmations, gratitude, and releasing your desires to the Universe. Below, I’ll discuss each of these core components in more detail. Then, I’ll give you step-by-step directions you can use to try your own manifestation meditation, plus I’ll provide some links to guided manifestation meditations on the InsightTimer app.
And if you want more manifesting activities and resources, be sure to check out The Ultimate Manifestation Workbook, available now in my online shop! Also be sure to check out my post, How to Manifest Someone (in 6 Simple Steps) for a free 15-page workbook to guide you through the steps of manifesting someone special into your life.
What is Manifestation?
To manifest something means to visualize your dreams and desires and to vibrate at the frequency of your desires as if they’ve already come true. So if you want to attract abundance, become the embodiment of abundance right now. If you want to attract love, allow yourself to feel loved now. Like attracts like, so when you choose to feel these positive emotions throughout your day, you’ll attract more of this to you. To learn more about manifestation, check out my introductory guide here.
Manifestation Meditation: Core Components
Visualization
Visualization is often the cornerstone of a manifestation meditation as it allows you to see in your mind’s eye exactly what it is that you want to manifest. Many guided meditations will take you through a day in your dream life; you’ll be able to visualize all the details of your ideal life, including the house you live in, who you’re surrounded by, and what you do during your day. The key to a successful visualization is to not only see the details play out in your mind but to feel all the high-vibe emotions of having your desires right now. When you do this, you directly connect yourself to the experience of having the thing(s) you desire, becoming a magnet for your dreams to manifest in your reality.
Affirmations
Positive affirmations aren’t always part of a manifestation meditation, but I find them to be a powerful way to lift my vibrations and align me with the uplifting feelings of already having what I desire. So what exactly are positive affirmations? A positive affirmation is a present-tense statement that’s designed to uplift and encourage while boosting self-belief and supporting your overall well-being. Below, you’ll find some examples of manifestation affirmations, and if you’re looking for more, I’ve linked to a few blog posts in the box below.
- I have the freedom to create any future I want.
- I choose what I become.
- Anything I can imagine, I can create.
- My life is filled with limitless abundance.
- I am the abundant, loving energy I want to attract.
- Everything I desire is making its way to me right now.
- All that I’m looking for I can find within me.
Gratitude
Gratitude is the highest vibration you can offer. When you express sincere appreciation, you’re essentially telling the Universe, more of this please. In a manifestation meditation, you can express gratitude for what you already have as well as for what’s coming. This is the sentence I always come back to when it comes to gratitude and manifestation: the more you feel grateful, the more positive things you attract into your life to be grateful for.
Letting Go
To let go means that once you’ve set an intention and asked for what you want, you release your worries about when and how it’s going to happen and trust the Universe to deliver your desires to your reality. In meditation, I’ll sometimes visualize letting go by seeing my desire as a ball of light or a balloon. I release it into the Universe and watch it disappear into the sky. Once it’s gone, I sit back and trust that everything I want is already making its way to me right now.
- You May Also Like: 10 Manifestation Tips to Create the Life of Your Dreams
How To Do A Manifestation Meditation
- Find a comfortable spot where you won’t be interrupted. Set aside at least 10 minutes to do this practice, though you can take more time if you’d like. You can sit cross-legged or on a chair with your feet on the ground. Relax your shoulders and open your chest so your heart center is open to receiving. Place your hands on your knees or thighs with your palms facing the sky (in receiving mode).
- Spend a minute or two getting relaxed. Unclench your jaw and breathe into any tension you feel in your body. Then, breathe it out. Take a few deep, conscious inhales and exhales before letting your breath steady into a normal, comfortable rhythm.
- What do you want to manifest? Bring it to the surface now. Visualize a perfect day in which all of your dreams and desires have already come true. Start with seeing yourself waking up. Where are you? How do you feel when you awaken for the day? Picture all the details of where you are, who you’re with, and what you do throughout your day. As you visualize, allow yourself to feel all of the positive emotions of having all your dreams and desires right now. If you want to manifest love, allow yourself to feel truly loved, protected, and cherished. If you want to manifest career success, allow yourself to feel successful, joyful, and thriving. Feel into these positive emotions in every cell of your being. You can even let a big or soft smile lift your lips if it feels right.
- Finish your visualization by picturing yourself sitting or laying in bed at night. Breathe in gratitude for this beautiful life you’ve created. Feel grateful for all that you have and all that’s coming. Inhale gratitude and exhale it back into the world. Allow yourself to sit in sincere appreciation for a minute or two as you reflect on your beautiful life.
- Repeat a few high-vibe affirmations that further increase your vibrations and align you with the positive feelings of having all your dreams and desires.
- Finish your manifestation meditation by picturing yourself letting go. Visualize your desire as a balloon, a ball of light, a paper lantern, or anything else that feels right to you. Release it into the universe and see it flying up into the starry sky. Watch it until it disappears, then smile and lean into ease knowing that all of your dreams are on their way to you right now.
Want to learn more about manifestation? Check out these posts!
Guided Manifestation Meditations (Links)
Below are some of my favorite guided manifestation meditations on the InsightTimer app. I have no affiliation to this app; it’s simply my go-to app for my own daily meditations. It offers over 55,000 guided meditations and music tracks for meditation completely free. You can purchase a paid subscription to receive access to courses, but this is not required for meditations.
And if you’re new to meditation, you can check out their how-to guide here. You can also check out my beginner’s guide to meditation here.
Here are a few of my favorite guided manifestation meditations you can try today. Most of these meditations are between 10 to 20 minutes in length. I prefer to meditate in the morning, but truly, the best time to meditate is the time that works best for you.
- Manifesting Your Desires by Liza Colpa
- Live Your Desire Now: Manifestation Meditation by Lucy Love
- Aim For the Stars – Manifesting Practice by Naomi Goodlet
- Attracting All That You Desire by Carrie Suwal
- Living Your Dream Life by Susi McWilliam
- Achieve Your Greatest Desires – Manifestation Practice by Vanessa Michele
- Manifest Your Heart’s Desires by Megan Shirey
- Manifest An Abundant Life by Amanda Sellers
Do you have any questions about manifestation meditations? What’s your favorite way to manifest your dreams while meditating? Leave your questions and tips in the comment box below!
For more manifesting tips, daily affirmations, and lots of positive vibes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram! And don’t forget to check out The Ultimate Manifestation Workbook, available now in my online shop!
Pin this for later! What is a Manifestation Meditation? A Complete How-To Guide Zanna Keithley is an author, poet, and social media content creator who writes short prose dedicated to inspiring readers to follow their dreams, trust their intuition, and create beautiful and fulfilling lives. You can find her original writing on Instagram @zannakeithley.
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50 Meditation Affirmations to Feel Grounded & Secure
In this post, discover 50 meditation affirmations to help you feel grounded, peaceful, and secure, no matter what’s going on in your external world. These affirmations can also be used in your daily life to cultivate a sense of deep inner peace and harmony as you continue through your day.
Pin this for later! 50 Meditation Affirmations to Feel Grounded, Peaceful & Secure How to Use Meditation Affirmations
An affirmation is any statement you make about yourself and/or the world that you affirm to be true. Positive affirmations, specifically, are present-tense statements that are designed to uplift and encourage while boosting self-belief and supporting your overall well-being.
If you meditate regularly, you may already incorporate affirmations in your meditation in some capacity. When I first started meditating, I solely focused on my breathing during meditations. It wasn’t until I started listening to guided meditations that I began incorporating affirmations, as well as other practices such as visualization, in my daily meditations.
So what exactly are meditation affirmations, and how do you use them?
Truly, a meditation affirmation can be anything. For instance, if you want to connect with your creativity, you might recite affirmations for creativity during your meditation. Or if you want to create more prosperity in your life, you can use affirmations to manifest abundance.
Personally, when I think about meditation affirmations, I tend to think about affirmations that invite a sense of calm, stability, and inner peace into my world. I like to use meditation affirmations that help me to feel centered and grounded, no matter what’s going on in my external world.
There are no hard rules for using meditation affirmations. You can incorporate them as a small part of your meditation, or you can center your entire meditation around using calming and/or empowering affirmations. It’s also okay to say your affirmations either in your head, at a whisper, or aloud; it just depends on what feels most comfortable for you.
Below are 50 meditation affirmations to help you feel grounded, peaceful, and secure. Most of these affirmations are fairly short and easy to remember, so you can choose to memorize the ones that resonate most or keep a list of affirmations nearby during your meditation. You can also choose to focus on just one affirmation during your meditation or cycle through several at a time. Do what feels most comfortable and best supports your mind, body, and spirit.
Meditation Affirmations
- I am love.
- I am light.
- I am peace.
- I am calm.
- I am eternal.
- I am infinite.
- I am whole.
- I am grounded.
- I am breathing in. I am breathing out.
- Love guides me.
- Love flows to and through me.
- I am loved, loving, and lovable.
- I know deep inner peace.
- I inhale love. I exhale suffering.
- I inhale peace. I exhale worry.
- I am pure, positive energy.
- I feel safe in my body.
- I feel strong in my body.
- My body is a powerful healer.
- I am strong in mind, body, and spirit.
- I own my power and strength.
- My heart is grateful and my mind is at peace.
- I feel peaceful, grounded, and secure.
- Eternal peace flows to and through me.
- This moment is exactly as it’s meant to be.
- I am exactly where I’m meant to be.
- I surrender my worries.
- All is well with my soul.
- Today is a miracle.
- I love myself fully now as I continue to evolve.
- I am true to myself, always.
- I accept all of myself.
- I choose to love my imperfect self perfectly.
- I am enough, just as I am.
- I hold space for myself and honor my needs.
- I honor my truth.
- I love all parts of me equally.
- Love is my anchor.
- Love is my natural state.
- I am connected, protected, and whole.
- I am grateful for the breath that flows through my lungs.
- My heart is strong. My mind is healthy. My spirit is radiant.
- Every cell of my body is aligned with gratitude and love.
- I lead with love.
- I live in love.
- In love, I am whole.
- With each breath, I feel more at peace.
- I am aligned with my highest self.
- In this moment, I have everything I need.
- Life is beautiful. I have time. All is well.
For more mindfulness tips and self-care ideas, plus lots of gentle nudges and loving words, be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!
Zanna Keithley is an author, poet, and social media content creator who writes short prose dedicated to inspiring readers to follow their dreams, trust their intuition, and create beautiful and fulfilling lives. You can find her original writing on Instagram @zannakeithley.
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What Are Nadis? Nadis and Chakra Healing, Yoga & More
What are nadis? In this post, learn all about nadis, the energy channels through which your life force flows. Discover the relationship between nadis and chakras, and learn how to keep your nadis clear and open so you can align with your highest self.
Pin this for later! What Are Nadis? A Guide to Nadis for Chakra Healing, Yoga & More Your Energy Centers
It’s likely if you have a spiritual practice, meditate, and/or practice yoga, you’ve heard of chakras, your body’s energy centers through which your life force (or prana) flows. Chakra is a Sanskrit word for “wheel” or “disk” and is commonly defined as a wheel of energy in your body.
Your body has seven main chakras: Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, and Crown. Each chakra has associated attributes and plays a distinct role in your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health and well-being. For instance, your root chakra (also known as your first chakra) is your body’s energy center for stability, security, groundedness, safety, and strength. As the lowest energy center in your body, it acts as your foundation. When your root chakra is open and balanced, you feel stable and secure. Without a balanced root chakra and stable foundation, it’s likely that your other energy centers will also become imbalanced.
I won’t go into too much detail about chakras today, but if you’re interested in learning more, I’ve included links to some of my chakra blog posts below. I also encourage you to check out my Chakra Healing Bundle, which includes a Chakra Healing eBook, Chakra Healing Workbook, and 8-Week Chakra Healing Guide.
What I do want you to know about chakras today is this: even though each of your chakras plays a distinct role in your overall well-being, all of your chakras work together as one whole system. When one becomes imbalanced, it’s likely to affect the others. You can compare this to the physical organs inside your body: when one organ isn’t functioning correctly, this may negatively affect other parts of your body. All of your chakras play a significant role in keeping you in optimum health.
While you often only hear about the seven main chakras, your body actually has 114 chakras, and some people believe there are even more. For instance, you have chakras in your hands, shoulders, and tongue, and there are even two chakras that reside outside your body.
Finally, the last thing I want to note about chakras is that unlike your organs, your chakras aren’t an actual physical thing you can see in an x-ray. Rather, you experience them through feelings, sensations, and your own inner knowing.
- Start here to learn more about chakras: Chakra Colors and Meanings: A Beginner’s Guide and A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding and Unblocking Your Chakras
What Are Nadis?
So what are nadis, and how do they play a role in your chakra system?
Nadis are the energy channels through which your life force flows; the word nadi is a Sanskrit word meaning “tube”, “channel”, or “flow.” (I’ve also seen it translated to “a flowing river.”) The points at which these nadis intersect are your chakras. You can think of it like a town with numerous roads and a building at each intersection. Your nadis are the roads, and your chakras are the buildings at each intersection. Cars, or your energy, are traveling up and down these roads to the buildings.
When the system is working perfectly, these buildings are open 24/7, and the cars are continually moving in and out of them.
This is the same as your energy centers: ideally, your chakras are always open so that energy can flow to and through them.
While the buildings and chakras get all the attention, they only work when the system as a whole works: roads need to be made for cars to travel on, and nadis are needed for energy to travel through.
Now, I do want to note that my road analogy isn’t a perfect comparison. Nadis are energy channels through which your life force flows, but they’are also intrinsically more than just a road to get to a chakra. If you’ve ever had an out-of-body experience, experienced an altered state of consciousness (often through meditation), or had a light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel experience, it may be attributed to energy escaping through the body through your nadis. Nadis are also correlated to spiritual development and what you might consider “spiritual powers” (such as sensing or seeing auras).
Many estimate that you have between 21,000 to 72,000 nadis in your body, though some people believe there could be hundreds of thousands or even millions of nadis within each of us.
Just like you have over a hundred chakras but seven have been singled out as your main chakras, you have thousands of nadis, but three are believed to be most important: the Sushumna Nadi, the Ida Nadi, and the Pingala Nadi.
Sushumna Nadi
The Sushumna Nadi is believed to be the most important of all the thousands of nadis that exist within your body. Running up the base of your spine to the crown of your head, this energy channel runs through all of your main chakras and is believed to be connected to your highest self. When it’s unblocked and energy can flow freely through it, you are aligned with your true, highest, most authentic self. You also become open to experiencing a profound spiritual awakening, feel a sense of deep inner wisdom, and know deep inner peace and true harmony within your mind, body, and spirit.
Ida Nadi
Your Ida Nadi is associated with your feminine energy and starts at the base of your spine (at your root chakra). It then runs through your core to your left nostril. It is associated with right-brain dominance and what you might describe as softer, darker energy. It is also associated with the moon.
Pingala Nadi
Your Pingala Nadi is associated with your masculine energy. It starts at the base of your spine (at your root chakra) and runs through your core to your right nostril. (The Ida Nadi and the Pingala Nadi flow upwards criss-crossing each other at your chakra points.) It’s associated with left-brain dominance and what you might describe as stronger, lighter energy. As the Ida Nadi is associated with the moon, the Pingala Nadi is associated with the sun.
Unblocking Your Nadis
A lot of attention is paid to opening, healing, and unblocking your chakras, but it’s just as important that your nadis remain open and unblocked. Again, to return to the road analogy, in order for cars to get to the intersections where the buildings are located, they need to be able to travel freely up and down the roads. If a road is blocked, this not only inhibits the cars to travel through that road, but it affects neighboring roads as well.
If any of your energy channels become blocked, energy can no longer pass freely through it, inhibiting your energy from reaching your chakras. This can have negative effects on your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual self.
So how do you ensure your nadis remain clear for energy to easily pass through? Here are a few methods:
Alternate Nostril Breathing
Have you ever noticed that you may breathe easier through one nostril than the other? If not, you can try a quick test right now. Gently press any of the fingers on your right hand against the right side of your nose, closing the right nostril. Place the fingers of your left hand below your left nostril. Exhale through your nose, noticing whether you can feel the warm air of your exhale against your left fingers. Then try this with your right nostril.
If you’re able to feel air moving easily through both nostrils, that’s a good sign! If not, one of your nadis may be experiencing blockages. Alternate nostril breathing, also known as Nadi Shodhana, is one method to clear your energy channels so energy can flow freely through them. There are several ways to do this, so I’ll explain the method I use below, then link to some articles that discuss a few other methods.
- You can start in your preferred meditation position, sitting cross-legged on the floor or on a chair with your feet planted on the ground. (Just not laying down.) Keep your spine straight and your head lifted.
- Lift your right hand. With this practice, you’re going to use three fingers: pinky, ring, and thumb. You can take your index and middle finger and fold them against your palm, so only the pinky, ring finger, and thumb are sticking up.
- You may want to take a few deep breaths first and spend a minute or two grounding yourself to this present moment. Take as much time as you need.
- With the right thumb of the right hand, close your right nostril. Inhale deeply through your left nostril.
- At the top of your inhale, pause. Lift your thumb from your right nostril and close your left nostril using your pinky and ring finger. Exhale fully through your right nostril.
- Then inhale through your right nostril, exhale through your left nostril.
- Inhale through your left nostril, exhale through your right nostril.
- Continue this pattern for several minutes, pausing at the top of each inhale and exhale. You can continue this practice for as long as you’d like.
Since the Ida Nadi and Pingala Nadi both start at the base of your spine, criss-crossing each other and running through your left and right nostrils, respectively, it’s important to really follow your breath as you practice alternate nostril breathing. When your right nostril is closed, follow your breath from the base of your spine to your left nostril; when your left nostril is closed, follow your breath from the base of your spine to your right nostril.
Here are a few articles that discuss alternate nostril breathing and various methods for completing this practice:
- Chopra: Nadi Shodhana: How to Practice Alternate Nostril Breathing
- Yoga Journal: Channel-Cleaning Breath
- The Art of Living: Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique (Nadi Shodhan Pranayama)
Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga is the type of yoga the general public likely thinks of when they hear the word “yoga”: yoga that pairs poses, or asanas, with breathing techniques, or pranayama. When you’re looking at a course catalog for your local yoga studio, you can typically be certain that anything titled Hatha Yoga will move a little slower and may include breathing exercises, static postures, and possibly even a meditation to start or end the class.
Ha is translated to mean sun, and tha is translated to mean moon. If you remember from the bulletpoints on the Ida Nadi and Pingala Nadi above, the Ida Nadi is associated with the moon, and the Pingala Nadi is associated with the sun. The practice of Hatha yoga aims to balance these two energies – moon and sun, feminine and masculine – to bring the Ida Nadi and Pingala Nadi into equilibrium. (Note: The literal meaning of the word “hatha” means “force,” “effort,” or “exertion.”)
Positive Affirmations and Intentions
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Where your attention goes, energy flows”? Your mindset plays a powerful role in the harmony of your mind, body, and spirit. For instance, if you easily become overwhelmed and have thoughts that correlate with stress and anxiety, this negative energy will manifest in physical, emotional, and spiritual turmoil. When you’re able to cultivate a mindset of inner peace and tranquility, your energy is able to flow more freely throughout your body. Note that this isn’t a call to engage in toxic positivity, which is just as dangerous as stress and anxiety. You should always honor all of your feelings, even those you deem as negative. But you don’t have to stay with those negative thoughts. As Paulo Coelho wrote, “You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it.” Use positive affirmations that truly resonate with you, and set the intention each day to remain grounded, stable, and peaceful, no matter what occurs in your external world.
Gentle Movement
If the weather allows it, go on a calming walk outside somewhere you feel safe and breathe in the fresh air. Engage in gentle movement that feels good to you and doesn’t put too much stress on your body. If you’re able to jog without breathing too heavily, you can do this as well. But don’t feel limited to these options. For instance, I’ve exercised using a weighted hula hoop and found this to be extremely effective in stimulating the movement of energy throughout my body. (Plus, it’s fun!) Gentle movement stimulates the flow of energy within the body in a way that can be both nurturing and calming.
Final Thoughts
While chakras rightfully get a lot of attention when it comes to the total well-being of your mind, body, and spirit, it’s important not to forget the role your nadis play in your overall health. Your nadis also play an essential role in connecting to your highest self and experiencing spiritual growth. When these energy channels are open and clear, you are able to find alignment with your true self and maintain optimum health: spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
For more chakra resources, positive affirmations, self-love tools, manifestation inspiration, and more, be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!
Pin this for later! What Are Nadis? A Guide to Nadis for Chakra Healing, Yoga & More Zanna Keithley is an author, poet, and social media content creator who writes short prose dedicated to inspiring readers to follow their dreams, trust their intuition, and create beautiful and fulfilling lives. You can find her original writing on Instagram @zannakeithley.
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Shower Meditation: 6 Ways to Meditate in the Shower
Can you really meditate in the shower? It may seem weird at first, but shower meditations have become one of my favorite practices for cultivating mindfulness, connecting with my inner self, and instilling peace and tranquility within. Discover 6 powerful practices you can start using today for an effective shower meditation!
Pin this! How to Do a Shower Meditation (6 Powerful Practices) Debunking Meditation Myths
What do you think of when you hear the word meditation?
Here are some of the thoughts I once had, before I started meditating:
- Meditation is for monks and really special people who have the elusive power of being able to completely clear their head of thoughts.
- Meditation requires perfect silence and stillness.
- Meditation is hard.
- Meditating requires you to not have any thoughts at all.
- Meditation takes hours every day.
I’m sure there were other limiting beliefs swirling around in my head, preventing me from even entertaining the notion of trying to meditate. The biggest limiting belief? “I can’t do it. It’s too hard. Meditation just isn’t for me.”
Depending on where you are in your meditation journey, you may also have experienced similar thoughts and beliefs, or you might still hold some of these beliefs with you now. And that’s okay. One of the greatest benefits of meditation is the ability to cultivate mindfulness: non-judgmental awareness in the present moment.
That means noticing any negative thoughts or limiting beliefs you have without placing labels on them as good or bad.
You might already sense where this is headed here. Eventually, external influences came into my life that re-framed my perspective on meditation. So finally, I decided to give it a shot. And with time and consistency, I learned that all the beliefs I had about meditation were wrong.
Meditation isn’t for only really special people. It doesn’t require perfect silence or stillness. You don’t have to clear your head of all thoughts. And it doesn’t take hours.
And to turn that on its head:
Meditation is for everyone. You can meditate when it’s noisy. You can meditate while you’re moving. You can have thoughts the entire time you’re meditating. And you can meditate in five minutes. Or three minutes. Or one minute. In fact, time doesn’t matter at all.
Can You Really Meditate in the Shower?
When I first started shower meditations, I didn’t actually call them meditations at all. I wasn’t purposely trying to label what I was doing. I just wanted to relieve my mind from persistent worrying thoughts.
The shower is an interesting place. In Untamed, Glennon Doyle writes about how her kids describe the shower as this magical portal to brilliant ideas that just come to them effortlessly. I remember reading this part and thinking, “Yep! I know exactly what they’re talking about!”
I’ve had some of my most brilliant and creative ideas in the shower. (Well, in my head, they’re brilliant . . .) Sometimes, I’ve had several different ideas come to me at once, tumbling through my head like dominoes.
I’ve also spent entire shower sessions lost in worries and anxiety, so engrossed in my own thoughts that by the end of the shower, I don’t even remember washing my hair. (A smell test confirms I did.)
As I began to cultivate more mindfulness in my life, I started to pay closer attention to the paths my mind would wander in the shower. I have a lot of negative thoughts in here, I realized.
But what if it didn’t have to be that way?
What if I could change my story and use the shower as a place to wash away those negative thoughts and realign with my highest, truest self?
So I decided to take back my story and change the way I approached showering. I started to be intentional with my thoughts. And because I tend to shower in the morning, this proved to be an effective way to start my day on a positive note.
Below, I list several different methods you can use for a powerful and effective shower meditation. I’ve used all of these practices, and I can attest that they don’t just change the way I approach showering; they positively affect my thoughts, emotions, and overall mood for the entire day.
And to answer the question I posed in the heading: yes, you can absolutely meditate in the shower. One of the myths people often hold about meditation is that it requires sitting still cross-legged on the floor. And while I do meditate like this every morning, I’ve also done walking meditations, laying down meditations, and even quick breathing meditations when I get anxiety at the grocery store.
You can meditate anywhere it feels right to you. And the shower is a perfect place to start.
Shower Meditation #1: Wash Away Negativity
Where do your thoughts go when you’re in the shower? Do you worry about the day ahead? Do you replay events of the past 24 hours? Do you create imaginary worst-case-scenarios in your mind of things that probably will never happen?
Notice where you feel tension in your body. Notice what you’re currently worried or stressed about. Simply notice anything going on internally that doesn’t serve your highest good.
Now close your eyes. Take a deep, soulful inhale and a rejuvenating exhale. Concentrate on how the water feels on your skin. As the water falls around you, imagine it washing away any negative thoughts and emotions you’re holding onto. The water takes your tension and carries it to the drain. Anything that doesn’t serve your highest good is washed away from your body.
Feel your body becoming lighter. Your mind is clear. Your heart is open. Anything that doesn’t serve or support your total well-being has been washed away, swirling down the drain, where it will be cleansed by the earth.
When you’re done, smile and express gratitude. Feel the strength of your body, mind, and spirit.
You are worthy, powerful, whole, and more than enough. Carry those feelings with you throughout your day.
Shower Meditation #2: The Flow of Abundance
This is similar to the practice above, but instead of imagining the water washing something away from you, you visualize the water carrying something to you.
Close your eyes and take a deep breath. What are you seeking in your life today? Whatever you’re seeking, you are going to attract an abundance of it to you.
If you’re seeking creative ideas, imagine an abundance of inspired ideas and creative thinking washing down on you.
If you’re seeking financial prosperity, visualize gold coins and beautiful jewels raining down all around you.
If you seek peace, envision the water carrying infinite peace throughout your entire being.
Whatever it is that you seek, know that it is always available to you. And because all that you seek is already within you, you’re literally creating everything you desire within and attracting it to your being.
I like to think of the water as a metaphor for your limitless capacity to create and have anything you want. The water is constantly flowing, and because you know more is coming, you don’t have to cling to every droplet that falls down on you. You can appreciate when it comes, let it go, and find gratitude knowing that more is on its way.
The same is true for abundance. You have access to an infinite flow of abundance. It is your birthright, and it will never be taken away from you. So instead of clinging onto the inspired ideas, financial prosperity, peace, and anything else you desire, you can simply let it go, knowing more is on its way.
Shower Meditation #3: Positive Affirmations
A positive affirmation is a present-tense statement that is designed to uplift and encourage while boosting self-belief and supporting your overall wellbeing.
One of my favorite ways to lift my vibrations, take back my story, and release anything that doesn’t support my highest good is through positive affirmations.
I use positive affirmations when I’m driving, working out, at the grocery store, and throughout the day to affirm my worthiness and remind myself of my inherent limitlessness.
So I guess it’s no surprise that I started using positive affirmations in the shower, too.
To start, come up with a list of positive affirmations that resonate with you. If you need help getting started, here’s a list of positive affirmations for success, one for self-confidence, spiritual affirmations, and affirmations to end your day. If you’re well-versed with using affirmations and would rather come up with some on the spot, that’s okay, too!
If you want, you could try printing your affirmations and laminating them so you can hang them up in front of you to see. I haven’t tried this, but I imagine with a little ingenuity, you could get it to work.
As you shower, take conscious inhales and exhales. I like to spend a minute or two envisioning the water washing away and carrying any negativity from my body. Now, you can start saying your positive affirmations, either internally or aloud. Continue to repeat as you go about your normal showering tasks.
If you want to take it a step further, I like to close my eyes for a minute while I’m doing this. I’ve noticed that when I close my eyes in the shower, I don’t see pure darkness; instead, I see a faint golden hue shining behind my eyelids. you may notice this, too. Breathe into this light as you say your affirmations: I am worthy. I am enough. I am strong. I am powerful. I am loved. Envision the golden light surrounding you, cloaking your entire being. Feel the positive words in every cell of your body.
As you step out of the shower, you’ll find yourself feeling lighter, more peaceful, and simply radiant. This is one of my favorite ways to begin the day.
Shower Meditation #4: Golden Light
That golden light I mentioned above?
This light is always there. It’s always within.
And there are so many powerful ways to connect with this light to support your highest good.
One meaningful practice is to simply envision this light surrounding you as you close your eyes. See the light growing from within, radiating through every cell of your being. Spend several moments consciously connecting with your inner light. How does it make you feel? Peaceful? Empowered? Loved? Feel these positive emotions within.
You can also envision the water droplets themselves as beams of light raining down on you like loving nudges from the Universe. These nudges are a reminder that you’re not alone. You are always supported, protected, loved, cherished, treasured, and adored. Concentrate on the feel of the water hitting your skin. When you imagine these droplets of the Universe’s loving light, how does that make you feel?
Sometimes, I like to stand in the light and simply be. When I’m tired and weary, I feel the light surrounding me. In this moment, I know I don’t have to do or be anything. The Universe is taking care of me.
Shower Meditation #5: Chakra Healing
If you’re familiar with chakras, including the color and locations of each of the seven main chakras, you might enjoy doing a chakra meditation from time-to-time.
While you can definitely do this out of the a shower, I find something soothing about the warmth and peacefulness of the shower that makes this an especially perfect time to align the chakras.
Admittedly, I’ve always multi-tasked in the shower, so while my conditioner is setting in my hair, I’ll use this time to wash the rest of my body or shave my legs. But I’ve found that not forcing myself to multitask and just standing still for a minute or two can often be more supportive of my overall well-being. One of my favorite things to do during this time is get in touch with my chakras.
To start, close your eyes and take a deep breath. I usually start with my root chakra and work my way up, but if you’d rather start at the crown and work down, that’s totally fine. Inhale deeply, and as you inhale, see a bright red light at your root chakra growing bigger. As you exhale, this light grows brighter. Repeat this for one or two more cycles. Then, move up to your sacral chakra and repeat this process. Continue this until you finish at the crown. When you’re finished, imagine the light of energy flowing freely throughout your body.
If you’d like, you can end this with an empowering mantra, such as “All is well,” or, “I am aligned with my highest self.”
Shower Meditation #6: Breathing Meditation
Sometimes, when nothing else seems to work, what your soul needs is a simple breathing meditation.
There’s nothing fancy here. But simply paying conscious awareness to your breathing is a powerful way to cultivate mindfulness and restore harmony within.
Inhale deeply. If you want, you can inhale to a count of four or five. Pause for a brief moment when you reach the end of your breath. Then exhale for a count of five or six. Continue doing this as you shampoo, condition, wash your body, shave, and complete your various shower tasks.
There’s a good chance that as you do this, you’ll notice your thoughts begin to stray. That’s okay. When you notice your thoughts straying, don’t suppress them, and don’t be hard on yourself. Simply notice, and then let that thought drift away as you come back to your breath. Every time you have a thought, allow yourself to return to your breath. You may do this dozens of times throughout your shower, and that’s okay.
This is a simple yet meaningful way to meditate in the shower, as it returns you to the present moment, helps you to cultivate a sense of mindfulness, and promotes peace and tranquility within.
And there you have it: six powerful ways to meditate in the shower. Have you ever tried meditating in the shower? What are some of your favorite shower meditation practices? Leave a note in the comments below!
For more meditation tips, plus a daily dose of positive affirmations and self-love, be sure to connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest!
Pin this! How to Do a Shower Meditation (6 Powerful Practices) Zanna Keithley is an author, poet, and social media content creator who writes short prose dedicated to inspiring readers to follow their dreams, trust their intuition, and create beautiful and fulfilling lives. You can find her original writing on Instagram @zannakeithley.
