Meditation is the Key By Jay Barrymore People interested in the Occult have it so much better than they did just a few decades ago. Books, publications, videos and other forms of media have seen a steady increase in the topic of Occultism. At one time, the only way to learn any of the hidden secrets—be it Tarot, Witchcraft, or the various other elements of Occultism—was to get it first hand from an experienced person. Today, however, a person can walk into a bookstore and pick up a book on whatever topic they wish, and in a few hours, be a read expert on the subject. Unfortunately, it's this easy availability and the lack of training and discipline that have inadequately prepared people for their aspirations. Too often, a person will buy a book on conjurations, skim through it, mimic a spell presented in one of its chapters, and conclude that they're working magick. The same is true for other aspects of Occultism. But it isn't that easy! The Occultist must have a disciplined mind and good memory. The only way to gain these is to train the mind. Unfortunately, this aspect is probably the least appealing. Without having a clear mind, or at least one that's under control, an individual's efforts may be disappointing. This applies to magick, divination, mysticism and all the rest. If you don't have a teacher or training group, but wish to acquire certain abilities, the following three meditations may provide a solid foundation upon which to build. Franz Bardon described these meditation techniques and many Occult teachers have adopted them. You should practice the first exercise should until you feel you are proficient at it and are satisfied with your results, before moving on to the next one. (A suggested minimum time for practicing each meditation is one month). It's also important to keep a written diary or log of your efforts, to refer to from time to time. 1st Exercise Reserve a quiet time during some part of the day. Take three deep breaths to build a psychic charge, and let your mind drift for about five minutes. Observe all thoughts and the order in which they appear. After the meditation, attempt to replay the entire series of thoughts. 2nd Exercise Reserve a quiet time during some part of the day. Take three deep breaths to build a psychic charge, and visualize a white screen with a blue dot in its center. Try to maintain the image for ten minutes. 3rd Exercise Reserve a quiet time during some part of the day. Take three deep breaths to build a psychic charge, and attempt to keep the mind entirely blank for five minutes. Banish any thoughts from the mind. The above exercises will show you just how active and out of control the mind can be. As you continue with the meditations, you should achieve the desired and positive results. Do not get discouraged. The Mind is our greatest tool, and it's also our greatest enemy! After mastering these three exercises, you will be ready to try more advanced forms of meditations, and ready to start your studies in the Occult field. | 
