6 Steps to Good Spiritual Meditation

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Like most things worth doing, getting meditation right takes practice. But once achieved, a good meditation session can relieve a lot of stress from our daily lives and help us stay more alert and aware. Spiritual meditation allows us to clear our minds and observe our emotions and thoughts objectively, and thus it enables us to make better decisions in our relationships with others. The following six steps to good meditation will help beginners get started on the right foot.

Posture
Assuming the right posture is one of the most crucial steps in the process of meditation. Your posture must be natural and relaxed, but not so comfortable so that you become lethargic or fall asleep. Sit with your back and neck straight, lips slightly parted and eyes either half or fully closed. Your limbs should be relaxed, palms on your lap. You don't have to get into the lotus position. Simply crossing your legs or even sitting at the edge of a chair will suffice.
The Right Breathing
Now, focus on your breathing. It should be slow and rhythmic. Inhale deeply and hold the air inside of you for a second before carefully exhaling fully. The pause should be natural and unforced. Again, do whatever feels comfortable. Eventually you should be able to get into a relaxed, easy breathing pattern, so that it becomes almost automatic and you can thus focus on your inner thoughts.
Observing objectively
Once you have your breathing pattern down, concentrate on detaching yourself from your mind. Look at your thoughts as an objective, outside observer. Observe them without judgment or bias. Realize that you are not the mind. Once the mind is observed in this fashion for a few minutes, it will eventually stop its activity and gradually become clear.
Achieving the silent mind
After you have detached yourself from your mind, focus on achieving a state of complete inner calm and serenity. Think of nothing, and instead clear your mind of all distractions. It should be a blank, silent place. Achieving this state feels unnatural for many beginners, as people are used to always having active minds. If it helps, imagine yourself as a stone or some other inanimate object: unmoving, unaffected, and calm.
Becoming one with everything
Next, focus on the way in which you are connected to everything around you. Realize that you are part of every tangible and intangible thing in the world. Start with yourself and then those close to you, and others who are affected by what you do. Focus on your connection with plants, animals and everything else in the world. Once you have done this, you will begin to understand the concept of the universal self.
Project your goodwill
End the meditation session by projecting good will and joy out to everyone in the world. This works like a prayer. Simply take the renewed hope and feelings of connection that you gained from the meditation sessions and mentally impart these blessings upon others.