The Meditation Podcast

Before we begin, we would like to again thank everyone who donated and sent in their suggestions, and to share a few of our plans for the podcast. First, thanks to your donations, we will be able to set up a hosted web site, and we plan to have the new site up and running by the end of February! The new site will have a community message board, as well as a full archive of episodes and transcripts! For the technophobe, we have been thinking about offering limited-edition CD's for every 3 episodes of the podcast - 1-3, 4-6, and so on. Please let us know if you'd be interested! Finally, many of you have expressed that you would like to hear interviews, but also to continue the guided meditations. So, we plan to keep guided meditations as the main focus of the podcast, and to add interviews as bonus episodes. Welcome to The Meditation Podcast, with Jesse and Jeane Stern, a podcast that will help you benefit from meditation in your everyday life. This meditation is part One of a series that focuses on deep-level healing. Healing begins in our consciousness. Our mental and emotional states play a big part in our health. It is natural to feel a full range of emotions. However, when we hold onto anger, resentment or guilt, and these feelings are not processed and released, they stagnate within the body, causing illness and dis-ease. This meditation, which can be used daily, can help you process these feelings, and bring about total well being. This style of meditation is non-denominational, and we believe it can be used in conjunction with - or separate from - any set of religious or spiritual beliefs. Remember that while this podcast uses guided imagery, it also uses sound technology that affects the right and left sides of the brain, to help us enter a deeper state of relaxation and meditation. Thus, it works best with headphones, and should not be used while driving. Please be advised, we are not licensed health care practitioners, and we do not claim any specific health effects from using this meditation. This podcast is meant for educational use only, and not as a replacement for traditional professional medical treatment. Remove or loosen any uncomfortable clothing. Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down, where you are not likely to be disturbed. Turn off or silence your phone. Now, let's begin....

Before we begin, we would like to thank everyone who has emailed us and reviewed the podcast. We appreciate your support! Also, please let us know what you would like to hear in future episodes of The Meditation Podcast. We have several guests in mind for 2007. Would you like to hear interviews about meditation? Stories about how meditation has affected people's lives? Would you like to learn about meditation from different cultures and traditions? Would you like to hear conversations about meditation from around the world? Please email your comments and suggestions for future episodes to themeditationpodcast at gmail dot com. As a last-minute update, I fixed the Donate button on our web site, so that you can donate any amount (it was stuck at 30)! Thanks to isa-lee for bringing this to our attention! I will mention it out loud on the next episode. Welcome to The Meditation Podcast, with Jeane and Jesse Stern, a new podcast that will help you benefit from meditation in your everyday life. This month, we will focus on healing through visualization. Each of us, whether we realize it or not, abides by a universal law of attraction. What we think about, and talk about, we attract into our lives -- no matter whether we think about wanting it, or not wanting it. Therefore it is very important to think constructively. So rather than saying, 'I don't want to have these health problems anymore,' say 'I'm so glad to be healthy!' or 'I want perfect health.' Instead of trying to get out of debt, try to attain prosperity. Don't anticipate conflict with your loved ones or co-workers -- instead, imagine what it would be like to be in total harmony with them. If you hate war, try loving peace instead. This concept may seem strange at first, but it's a very powerful exercise. When we began doing it, we noticed major changes in every area of our lives. Even if a positive thought or feeling doesn't seem true for you, just try imagining 'what would it be like?' or 'wouldn't it be nice?' Remember that while this podcast uses guided imagery, it also uses sound technology that affects the right and left sides of the brain, to help us enter a deeper state of meditation and relaxation. Thus, it works best with headphones and should not be used while driving. Remove or loosen any uncomfortable clothing. Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down, where you are not likely to be disturbed. Turn off or silence your phone. Now, let's begin....

This month's podcast is about calming the body. It sends a wave of relaxation from the tips of the toes to the top of the head. This helps us reduce stress, relax the body, and relax the mind as well. And this allows us to go deeper into a meditative state, making us more productive in our lives, and more peaceful in our hearts. Remember that while this podcast uses guided imagery, it also uses sound technology that affects the right and left sides of the brain, to help us enter a deeper state of relaxation and meditation. Thus, it works best with headphones, and should not be listened to while driving.

We decided to make this podcast to help regular people who want to learn and practice meditation. This style of meditation is non-denominational, and we believe it can be used in conjunction with - or separate from - any set of religious or spiritual beliefs. The first episode is a basic meditation that uses the breath to enter a deep state of relaxation and peace. This audio is most effective through headphones -- while the instruction works through speakers, the audio includes tones that are designed to help enter a relaxed state, using a technology that sends messages to the right and left sides of the brain. Thus, it works best through headphones. A word of caution though: For some people this can be very relaxing. While inherently safe, you might fall asleep, so please don't listen to this podcast while driving! What is Meditation In its simplest sense, meditation is sitting still and breathing. You might sit, stand or lie down -- some forms of mediation even involve movement -- but the idea is to break away from habitual movement, such as fidgeting, and the impulse to 'do' something. By focusing on the breath, we focus on the most important aspect of life. We wouldn't survive long without breath, so why not spend a few moments paying attention to our breathing? Why Meditate Since you are listening to this podcast, you probably already have your own reasons why you want to begin or continue a practice of meditation. Here are a few of my reasons: I meditate because it energizes my spirit, body and mind, and brings me closer to the source of who I am. By focusing on my breath, I carry that breath into the core of my being. This has a healing and calming effect. Meditation also brings me clarity. By stepping back from a situation or problem, I can then approach it from a new angle. Finally, not only does it help break habitual patterns of movement and 'doing', it also helps me break out of unhealthy patterns in my life.