THE NOT-SO-ART OF MEDITATION!

Because who doesn’t love sitting on their ass for an hour wondering what’s for dinner.

About fifteen years ago, I was hanging clothes on the line, minding my own business, when, out of nowhere, I was hit with this gut-wrenching feeling that a friend was talking smack about my kid. I can’t explain how I knew — it wasn’t logic or reason, just a deep, undeniable knowing that hit me in the gut like a punch from Mike Tyson. It was like my entire body went into download mode — a feeling of certainty telling me to trust my instincts, tune in, and really listen to what was going on within me.

This wasn’t some paranoid delusion — though I was definitely questioning my sanity — but I soon realised it was more of a heightened awareness vibe, screaming that something was off. And trust me, without diving into the nitty-gritty details (privacy and all), I can tell you with absolute certainty that my instincts were bang on.

This revelation didn’t just shock me — it triggered a chain reaction that ultimately ended one of my closest friendships, something I never saw coming and still deeply miss today.

In the years that followed, I started getting more of these energetic hits, and I wasn’t even looking for them; they just appeared — like my inner radar was suddenly tuned into a whole new frequency. My instincts took on a life of their own, giving me guidance and wisdom beyond anything I could’ve imagined.

This wasn’t just a passing phase; it set me on a path of study and research into human energy and all the mysteries that come with it.

I was addicted!

Meditation: The Love-Hate Relationship

One key lesson I learned very quickly was that, to really tap into this energetic experience, I had to learn to quiet my mind. Easier said than done, right? Especially for someone like me, who had wrestled with anxiety in the past — the consistent companion of monkey mind was the hardest part to deal with. But this challenge didn’t deter me — it only ignited something deeper. So, I dove headfirst into the unknown subject of energy, super excited to open myself up even more to the whispers of what was happening around me.

Thus began the practice of the NOT-SO-ART of meditation….

I was super eager to start, and on my first attempt, I decided to really take advantage of the exercise. There I was, sitting in front of our window, lucky enough to have an ocean view. Waves crashing on the foreshore, seagulls squawking overhead, the odd dog barking in the distance — a perfect scene, right?

I took my place on the floor, legs crossed, palms up, ready to dive into some deep cosmic woo-woo. I closed my eyes and took three deep breaths. Inhale — 1, 2, 3 — hold… exhale — 1, 2, 3 — hold. Did it three times, then simply waited for my monkey mind to shut the hell up and let me descend into the pure bliss of quietness…. huhhhhhh.

Total bullshit!

Monkey mind went nowhere, and to make it worse, those monkeys were doing cartwheels:

“What will I cook for dinner?”

“I must give Mum a call.”

“Crikey, sitting like this makes my ass hurt.”

“I need to book my next Botox appointment.”

Yep, my quiet mind wasn’t showing up for me that day.

Surely, I’m Doing This Wrong?

Alright, so maybe I was doing it wrong. Maybe I’m just not enlightened enough? So, I decided to dig deeper. I pored over teachings from yogis, gurus, and even a Buddhist monk’s interpretation of the art of meditation. Armed with all this new wisdom, I learnt that I should introduce the visual sensation of descending into the depths of my “unknown psyche” (totally Twilight Zone, baby!).

So here I am, ready to give meditation another shot… And then another. And another. AND A-FREAKING-NOTHER… But every single time — I’d come up stumps. My mind was still running wild, and that elusive inner quiet just did not want to know me.

Screw It — I’ll Just Sit in the Dark

I was disappointed and simply gave up. Meditation? Not my vibe! And that’s totally fine; I was totally okay with it. But what I did discover was how much I truly valued the time to simply sit in silence, in the dark, where I could really think and feel about everything going on in my life.

So, one evening, there I was, sitting in bed in the dark, just letting my thoughts drift over whatever wanted to rear its head that day. Eventually, I closed my eyes and began to notice the sensation of descending — like I was sinking deeper and deeper into a relaxed, peaceful state of nothingness.

Holy shit, I was doing it… I was literally taking a trip down south!

The hairs on my arms stood up like I’d been zapped by lightning. I could feel heat creeping up my ankles and legs, and then — bam! — right in my mind’s eye, these black-and-white images started flashing before me.

Faces from another time, like silhouettes from a forgotten era. One was a man wearing a hat with a cigarette in his mouth. Another was a lady wearing a cameo brooch from old-fashioned times. My first experience was quite a trip - but it felt totally amateurish compared to what happened next.

The Staircase That Keeps Showing Up

Now, sorry guys — break in the story here — because before I tell you what happened next, you need to understand this:

I’ve had a recurring dream since I was a kid, and if you want the full story, you should check out my blog “How a reoccurring dream helped me overcome fear”. In this recurring dream, I’m always at the foot of an old, creepy staircase (just a visual representation to set the scene) —

Now, back to my meditation experience —

In the meditation, I was standing at the foot of this creepy staircase, and I wasn’t alone. I was holding the hand of my younger self, who was holding the hand of my teenage self, who was holding the hand of my adult self.

We walked side by side up that creepy staircase together, with the ever-present glow of evil seeping from under the door at the top of the landing.

We had no fear in us; we were a team, and as we opened the door, we were presented with a massive library filled with rows upon rows upon rows of softly lit books. Nothing scary to fear at all. We walked over to one of the rows, and I realised that this library was filled with stories of ME!

Past Lives? Nah…

Hand on heart, I swear I hadn’t been smoking anything wacky that day — totally true experience, guys. And an epic one at that!

I opened one of the books and found myself in a life surrounded by rolling green hills with sheep grazing on the grass. I had the feeling I was a man — maybe a shepherd? But then, out of nowhere, this intense heaviness consumed me. I could physically feel the weight, like something had fallen on top of me. The only explanation I could come up with? Maybe this was a past life experience – maybe I was squished by something heavy (hopefully not a sheep!).

I found this visual curious, especially since I don’t believe in past lives; I’m more of a time-is-linear gal (a whole other blog for another time).

THEN — bang! What happened next? Well…

I bloody well woke up, didn’t I?

I had fallen asleep, and it was actually a dream damn it! BUT it was still a mind-blowing experience all the same.

What I Know for Sure

I’ve had some pretty intriguing moments during meditation. I’ve felt physical sensations of both hot and cold. Pink and brown colours swirling together like some cosmic, mystical mist. Simple words pop into my mind, offering guidance and wisdom.

Once, I got hit with a wild psychedelic download of vivid colours — like I’d been given the honour of seeing something I shouldn’t. I even had an astral travel moment — definitely not a positive experience, but an unforgettable one nonetheless.

Here’s the thing — most of the time, I get nothing. ZIP. No visuals, no sensations, just… crickets.

And honestly, that happens more often than not.

So, the truth is, meditation isn’t always my vibe, but I still practice it because I appreciate the silence, and I looooovvvveeee those mystical moments that really make me trip out.

What I’ve come to realise is that you don’t need to ascend into some mystical realm to tune in to what’s happening around you. You don’t have to be a guru to catch the subtle signs from your energy system. What matters is staying conscious, quieting your monkey mind, and paying attention to the little nudges that life throws your way.

The wisdom that comes from subtle hits of energy is profound. It blows my mind to think that if you truly grasp the magnitude of your energy and everything it offers, your life will transform in ways you can’t even begin to imagine. Whether in meditation or simply sitting in silence, this powerful tool quiets your mind and taps you into consciousness. This allows you to receive guidance from your higher mind, steering you forward on your life journey.

And if you can do all that without spending hours sitting cross-legged on your ass, then, in my opinion, you’re already ahead in the game of life.

Dana x

A Course In Human Energy

Human Energy Studies, Consciousness, Counselling and Hypnotherapy Services

https://www.transpersonalenergydevelopment.com.au/