The Principles of Meditation

Meditation is often misunderstood as a trendy habit or a mystical practice—but it’s actually a deeply human tool. In this post, I’ll explore what it is, why it works, and how you can start, even if you’ve never tried before.

On the surface, meditation sounds simple. And in some ways, it is. But just like people, no two meditation experiences are the same. From posture and breath to chanting, humming, or silent stillness—each journey is deeply personal.

Faith, Focus, and Patience

The title of this piece might make meditation sound simple—and in some ways, it is. But each person’s experience is unique, shaped by personal beliefs, body positioning, and the presence (or absence) of things like chanting, humming, or mudras.

Sometimes we get more caught up in the how than the act itself, making it difficult to truly be mindful. The real keys are:

• Faith

• Focus

• Patience

That’s it. Your mind and body will guide you through the rest.

Sometimes we get so focused on how to meditate “correctly” that we lose sight of the act itself. The truth? There is no perfect form. The keys to meditation are faith, focus, and patience. That’s it. Your body and mind will handle the rest. 💫

Meditation vs. Prayer

As mentioned above- one of my favorite distinctions is something I’ve heard many times:

“If prayer is asking, meditation is listening.”

While prayer is often directed toward a divine being, meditation helps you connect with your own divinity. The difference isn’t in the practice—it’s in how we define the Divine.

🔑 Let’s Start With Faith

Faith is often associated with religion, but it’s really just powerful belief. You can have faith in yourself, in healing, in your breath, or in the process itself.

It’s not about changing someone else’s reality. It’s about transforming your own.

Faith has the power to shift perception—and perception is the root of your reality. That’s why so many spiritual paths emphasize it. When combined with meditation, it can help interrupt negative thought patterns and awaken the mind’s built-in healing systems. It is for this reason that so many religious followers use the word 'faith', because their beliefs are so strong. The mind offers powerful tools within it to better control your thoughts and negative thought patterns that do not serve you.

🌟 The Hero’s Journey Inward

It is for this reason that advanced levels of meditation are known by many as a 'Hero's Journey', through which one can attain healing, or even enlightenment. But it doesn’t happen overnight.

It requires practice, patience, and self-exploration. You may need to try multiple methods before one resonates. And just like any meaningful journey, the destination often looks very different from what you expected when you started. It might take several sessions before you see results, but this is part of the process that these lessons are learned and changes in reality occur, generally...in a very different form than one would have imagined at the beginning. This is where 'faith' comes in.

There is no one way to do it, the idea is actually simpler than most people realize. While most of us can easily get caught up in what the best methods are, especially when we get flustered things don't go the way we expect them to, there really is no right or wrong way! Some use mudras, which are bodily positioning or hand gestures, even this is not necessary and mainly serves the purpose of aiming our focus, or for symbolism. The same could be said for dance and rituals that are performed for these purposes, as with any ritual that helps us associate a specific intention with an act.

✨ There Is No “Right” Way

There’s no need for robes, chants, or hand gestures unless those things help you focus. Mudras, dance, or ritual may enhance intention—but they’re tools, not requirements.

What matters most is your intention. How you set it is completely up to you.

Meditation can indeed teach you how to do all the things described thus far, and It all starts so simply... through the act of doing nothing but breathing, which many will tell you is directly associated with our life force, souls, feeding out inner flame. While there are different beliefs on the source of this, we will refer to it as 'light energy', which is acknowledged in many ways and in every major religion throughout our world!

My favorite distinction is how many describe the difference between prayer and meditation as I have heard many times, 'so as prayer is to asking meditation is to listening' The only major difference in what most associate with prayer versus meditation is their definition of 'Divine'. While prayer helps us connect with a divine being, meditation teaches you how to connect with and tap into your own divinity!

🙏 Meditation vs. Prayer

One of my favorite distinctions between the two is something I’ve heard time and again:

“If prayer is asking, meditation is listening.”

While prayer is often about seeking guidance from a divine source, meditation helps you access your own divinity—the quiet wisdom that lives inside you.

Learning how to set intentions prior to beginning is the key, but how you do that is completely up to you. I always recommend researching various ideologies, methods, and styles, don't overthink it, save that energy for focusing on your breath! The biggest challenge I hear about most often is with people getting bored or forgetting to properly breath, which is why my best recommendation is in starting off at just five to ten minutes at first. If you simplify how you think about meditation, perhaps likening it to quiet reflection, free from distraction, it tends to feel less intimidating.

Start Simple

I always recommend exploring different methods—but don’t overthink it. Start with just five to ten minutes a day. Focus on your breath. Allow your thoughts to come and go without judgment.

Meditation is like mental housecleaning. It may feel messy at first, but the more you do it, the clearer your space becomes.

Just think of what you want answers to, then stop thinking and instead focus on your breath. It's that simple! Of course, like anything else worth doing, it will take some practice to get good at it, just allow your mind to wander without judging the thoughts that come to mind. Eventually, that breathing you have been practicing will help you get so relaxed that purging all those thoughts swirling around your head will become easier and easier.

As much as we think we know about the mind, we are just scratching the surface of what they are capable of, with science and research data finally supporting what monks and gurus have been teaching for millennia! Once you can go longer, you will be able to access deeper and deeper layers of your consciousness while in a wakeful state and in complete control. Hypnotherapists do this for you, in order to help resolve trauma, break unhealthy thought patterns, accessing information, answers, and memories buried deep in your subconscious.

Unfortunately, not all of us can afford a hypnotherapist, so I highly encourage everyone to at least try meditation for themselves. First it will teach you how to relax, then re-center by going back to that place, and from there in allowing us to explore the depths of our minds. Start simply though, no need to rush since every step toward success is a helpful step in the right direction!

So What Is Meditation, Really?

In its simplest form, the word meditation refers to mindfulness and healing—but its true meaning varies depending on who you ask. For some, it's a tool to organize thoughts, practice stillness, or reduce stress. For others, it’s a sacred, personal experience.

No matter the approach, meditation has been shown to reduce stress and improve overall health and well-being. What’s not as well-known is how this happens. Like most things, it depends on what someone is doing, how they’re doing it, and why.

The Role of Breath 🌬️

Meditation begins with something we all do—breathing. Many traditions believe breath is tied to our life force, our soul, even our light energy. Whether you call it prana, chi, or divine spark, nearly every culture acknowledges its power.

Your breath is your anchor. It returns you to center. It fuels your flame.

Setting Intentions

There’s no one “right way” to meditate. While mudras, rituals, or guided techniques can help you focus, they’re not required. Their power lies in the intention you set before you begin.

How you set that intention is up to you. Whether it’s a simple word, a question, or a feeling—it becomes the guide for your session.

Explore different styles and traditions—but don’t overthink it. Save your energy for focusing on your breath.

Start Simple: Quiet Reflection 🧘

The biggest challenge people share with me? Getting bored or forgetting to breathe.

So start small.

5–10 minutes is plenty. Think of meditation as quiet reflection without distraction. Let yourself observe your thoughts without judgment. When your mind wanders (and it will), bring it back to the breath. Just think about what you want answers to—then stop thinking and listen.

Unlocking Deeper Layers

With practice, your breathing will lead you into deeper relaxation. Your thoughts will quiet. And you'll begin to access inner clarity and peace.

This is where the real work begins—where healing and transformation take root.

Meditation helps you access deeper layers of consciousness while staying awake and in control. Hypnotherapists do something similar to help resolve trauma and rewire unhelpful thought patterns.

The Mind’s Hidden Potential

We know so little about the full capabilities of the human mind—but ancient practices and modern science agree: meditation opens the door to something profound.

If therapy or spiritual work isn’t accessible, meditation is free—and incredibly powerful. It teaches you to relax, re-center, and eventually explore the depths of your own inner world.

You don’t need to rush. Every breath is a step in the right direction.

If you’re curious how meditation actually looks in practice, check out my personal story:👉 How Meditation Changed My Life

Or try my free cleansing meditation on YouTube for a gentle introduction:🎧 Watch now

Your breath is always available.Let it lead you home.