Different techniques include:
- Contemplation – This is the act of focusing on a subject of choice. Pick a topic and contemplate it. What ideas can you come up about the topic? Can you imagine yourself in a situation that relates to the topic? What flashes of insight do you get from contemplating the topic? You can use contemplation to ponder problems, questions or even gain compassion in a situation by imagining yourself in that situation. Who knows what kind of answers will come from within. Contemplation is the art of opening yourself up to your inner wisdom.
- Guided Meditation – This is a popular one in most Pagan traditions and involves a scenario that is read to you or that you know by heart and imagine yourself doing. Many include going on a journey somewhere, meeting certain people or spirits and gaining some sort of knowledge or insight from the experience. Basically, you are fantasizing about this and going where your mind takes you.
- Trance work – This is basically a form of hypnosis, which goes beyond the simple conscious mindfulness of basic meditation. It is the act of accessing the subconscious mind and can be done on one’s own or with someone guiding you. If you do engage in this, ensure that you are with someone you trust and who is trained to handle any situations that arise. Some psychologists use the technique of hypnosis to help people remember blocked out trauma from their pasts so they can work through it. Anyone who has undergone this can tell you how powerful the experience is. This is not a form to be taken lightly and has caused a lot of psychological trauma in its incorrect practice. The experience can be amazing if done right. It is rare to find someone who is well schooled and ethical in its practice, despite there being a lot of people out there who claim to be properly trained and able to do this without harming the individual. Some will claim that a little bit of trauma is all part of the process and not to worry about it. Please be careful when attempting this form of practice.