Seven Stars Wild Goose Qigong Manchester

• Meditation
• Brain Waves in Meditation
• Unconditional love
• Breathing for healing

Wild Goose Meditation

There are many different meditations that go along side the diferent forms you learn in the Wild Goose system. Eventually even the forms become meditation. Meditation can be thought of as a state of consciousness that occurs when the mind and body reach a deep state of relaxation and the brain waves settle into an Alpha or Theta rhythm, a bit like the state we are in just before we go to sleep.

Meditation has many health benefits which doctors recognise. We all live busy active lives (even the most sedentary have the modern stresses that are imposed by the way society has developed). We all have many things to think of and to do every day. During meditation we focus on one thing, so the thousands of other things can be put down, eventually we also drop the one thing. Sometimes in our daily living, we get so set into a routine that we forget to stop and give ourselves space to know where we are, who we are and what our purpose is. Many of us might prefer life this way. We can make ourselves stay active as it prevents us from listening to the still silent voice inside which can be a bit frightening. The fear comes from having a lifestyle like a hamster on a wheel and feeling that we can cope with this, we're continually moving, we can see that every step is taking us further, we are progressing, but until we step off the wheel we cannot see that we are only going round in circles and not actually getting very far, but just like jumping off a moving bus, it can be a fearful step, the path of least resitance is to stay put, and continue on the wheel. The path of the warrior is to leap into the unknown, it's not always easy but there are benefits. Until you have made that step you will not know and what you know you cannot un-know, treading the wheel will never feel comfortable again.

Meditation forces us off that wheel, and connects us back with our original purpose, so our life can be pulled into line with our purpose. Of course there are many many levels of meditation. If you are new to meditation, try this:-

A Simple Meditation

Sit comfortably where you will not be disturbed for 10 minutes. (as you practise you can extend the time for as long as is comfortable)

Imagine that water is flowing over your body. As it flows you feel inside your body, start with your head and slowly relax your head, eye brows, eye lids, back of the head, down to the mouth, teeth slightly open, lips lightly closed tongue to the roof of the mouth to connect the ren and du channels. Release any tension in your neck, over your shoulders to your upper chest. Go down your arms to your wrists and hands, feel into your fingers. Back to your chest and shoulder blades, relax down to the waist, taking time to feel inside, release any tension in the hips and pelvic area and down your legs through the thighs, knees, shins and calves down to the ankles, feet and toes. Repeat this 2 more times.

After you have done this 3 times, check to see if your breathing has lowered to your lower dantien (tummy area just below your navel)

The mind has been described as a monkey in a tree, it will jump from branch to branch (the branches are your different thoughts) The mind wants to keep active, the mind wants lots of different thoughts and dances around trying to get your attention, but you are not your mind, just let those thoughts in and let them pass out again, don't linger with the monkey, feel into your breathing and into your body, if you don't give your thoughts any energy then they will disappear and you will drop all association with the material world. In this state you have nothing, no car, no house, no possessions, no family, you are alone and at peace with yourself, you are letting go of all your desires in the material world. You become complete. Your body and mind have come together. Afterwards your mind is clear and your body relaxed. Rub your hands together and rub your face and over your head.

Daily practise is accumulative, you will feel the difference. Meditation is natural and allows the body's healing processes to be released.

The brain is an electrochemical organ using electromagnetic energy to function. Electrical activity emanating from the brain is displayed in the form of brainwaves.emanating from the brain is displayed in the form of brainwaves. There are four categories of these brainwaves. They range from the high amplitude, low frequency delta to the low amplitude, high frequency beta. Men, women and children of all ages experience the same characteristic brainwaves. They are consistent across cultures and country boundaries.

During meditation brain waves alter.

BETA - 13-30 cycles per second - awaking awareness, extroversion, concentration, logical thinking - active conversation. A debater would be in high beta. A person making a speech, or a teacher, or a talk show host would all be in beta when they are engaged in their work.

ALPHA - 7-13 cycles per second - relaxation times, non-arousal, meditation, hypnosis

THETA - 4-7 cycles per second - day dreaming, dreaming, creativity, meditation, paranormal phenomena, out of body experiences, ESP, shamanic journeys.

A person who is driving on a freeway, and discovers that they can't recall the last five miles, is often in a theta state - induced by the process of motorway/freeway driving. This can also occur in the shower or tub or even while shaving or brushing your hair. It is a state where tasks become so automatic that you can mentally disengage from them. The ideation that can take place during the theta state is often free flow and occurs without censorship or guilt. It is typically a very positive mental state.

DELTA - 1.5-4 or less cycles per second - deep dreamless sleep

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Mindfulness meditation and related techniques are intended to train attention for the sake of provoking insight. Think of it as the opposite of attention deficit disorder. A wider, more flexible attention span makes it easier to be aware of a situation, easier to be objective in emotionally or morally difficult situations, and easier to achieve a state of responsive, creative awareness or "flow".

Daniel Goleman & Tara Bennett-Goleman (2001), suggest that meditation works because of the relationship between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex.Simply put, the amygdala is the part of the brain that decides if we should get angry or anxious (among other things), and the pre-frontal cortex is the part that makes us stop and think about things (it is also known as the inhibitory centre).

So, the prefrontal cortex is very good at analyzing and planning, but it takes a long time to make decisions. The amygdala, on the other hand, is simpler (and older in evolutionary terms). It makes rapid judgments about a situation and has a powerful effect on our emotions and behaviour, linked to survival needs. For example, if a human sees a lion leaping out at them, the amygdala will trigger a fight or flight response long before the prefrontal cortex responds.

But in making snap judgments, our amygdalas are prone to error, such as seeing danger where there is none. This is particularly true in contemporary society where social conflicts are far more common than encounters with predators, and a basically harmless but emotionally charged situation can trigger uncontrollable fear or anger - leading to conflict, anxiety, and stress.

Because there is roughly a quarter of a second gap between the time an event occurs and the time it takes the amygdala to react, a skilled meditator may be able to intervene before a fight or flight response takes over, and perhaps even redirect it into more constructive or positive feelings.

The different roles of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex can be easily observed under the influence of various drugs. Alcohol depresses the brain generally, but the sophisticated prefrontal cortex is more affected than less complex areas, resulting in lowered inhibitions, decreased attention span, and increased influence of emotions over behaviour. Likewise, the controversial drug ritalin has the opposite effect, because it stimulates activity in the prefrontal cortex.

Some studies of meditation have linked the practice to increased activity in the left prefrontal cortex, which is associated with concentration, planning, meta-cognition (thinking about thinking), and positive affect (good feelings). There are similar studies linking depression and anxiety with decreased activity in the same region, and/or with dominant activity in the right prefrontal cortex.

Meditation increases activity in the left prefrontal cortex, and the changes are stable over time - even if you stop meditating for a while, the effect lingers.

http://www.crystalinks.com/medbrain.html taken from the internet

Simply stated, unconditional love is an unlimited way of being. We are without any limit to our thoughts and feelings in life and can create any reality we choose to focus our attention upon. There are infinite imaginative possibilities when we allow the freedom to go beyond our perceived limits. If we can dream it, we can build it. Life, through unconditional love, is a wondrous adventure that excites the very core of our being and lights our path with delight.

- from Harold W. Becker in 
  Unconditional Love - An Unlimited Way of Being

Many people have traveled this world with different dreams, purposes and aspirations. Many are masters, teachers, inventors and followers. They were all sent by the creator of the universe to achieve one just course; “global peace and unification.” But this course cannot be achieved without unconditional love, which possesses the magical powers of the Divine for transformation. When the human race embraces love unconditional, then the lost will be found, the naked will be clothed, the hungry will be fed, the bombs will be destroyed and there will be peace and unity which will make us all to speak one language, “LOVE”.  Let love abide .  

- Philip D. Brown, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Blissful Breathing

When you breathe in and out through your mouth you’re exhausting and aging yourself. There is a different way to breathe that increases energy, reverses aging, and promotes greater happiness and well-being.  In yoga circles it’s called “Ocean Breath” (it sounds like the ocean) or ujjayi pranayama, which translates as “the breath that gives victory over fear.” You can breathe this way whilst meditating, sitting at your desk, or exercising.

Modern scientific studies are now catching up with ancient wisdom showing that breathing properly can make us feel good—fast. This form of breathing creates a healing response in the body. As the lungs absorb more oxygen, circulation and metabolism improve. This increases your overall life energy and makes you feel joyful in  the process.

The next time you’re feeling down or sluggish, try this breathing. It’s easy but so powerful. Here’s how:

1. Start by inhaling and exhaling through your mouth, pulling the air from the back of the throat to make a  sound. You will feel the back of the throat slightly constricting. (You can also imagine you’re fogging up a pair of glasses.)

2. Once you get the hang of the sound, close your mouth, and continue inhaling and exhaling in the same way. Take slow and deep breaths. When you’re doing it correctly, you’ll hear the breath coming in and going out. This is the sound people make right before they go to sleep, when they are very relaxed.

Practice this a few times each and every day, breathing your way to greater happiness and bliss!  

Thanks to Marci Shimoff* for passing on this information from her friend Dr. John Douillard!

*Marci Shimoff is a celebrated transformational leader  and #1 New York Times best-selling author. To learn more of her powerful techniques for establishing deep and authentic happiness and well-being, visit www.happyfornoreason.com