The Meditation Blog

Metathoughts in meditation are like mirrors on the wall. The images they reflect are not always realistic. Not only do our faces get distorted, and our bodies deformed, but our self-image may be thoroughly shaped by judgments heavily influenced by our personality – for good or, more often, for bad. Continue reading | 3 Comments

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Mindfulness practices aim to reduce mind wandering, while Acem Meditation allows spontaneous thoughts, images and sensations to pass freely, in order to increase stress tolerance, robustness and energy. Øyvind Ellingsen, MD PhD, explores similarities and differences. Continue reading | 2 Comments

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Half of the time, our mind wanders between thoughts, episodes, images and feelings. In Acem Meditation, the free mental attitude often increases the spontaneous activity of the mind. The brain uses available capacity to work through residue from past events, “read” other people, find creative solutions and prepare for the future. Continue reading | 8 Comments

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A young woman was in doubt about how to repeat the meditation sound. Would it be better to involve muscles and the tongue in the repetition of the sound, almost as if she were saying it aloud? Or would it be better merely to think the sound in her mind, without trying to make it distinct? Her uncertainty might reflect her relationship to herself and her life. Continue reading | 1 Comment

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The associations of a wandering mind may be the key to insight and understanding. Acem Meditation uses a meditation sound to create the necessary freedom of the mind, while communication groups do much of the same by working with interpersonal relations, says Pär Westlund Continue reading | 5 Comments

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Acem Meditation reduces stress and increases nerve activity associated with rest and relaxation. This has a positive effect on heart-rate variability and may reduce the risk of heart problems, according to a recent study by Dr. Anders Nesvold. Continue reading | 5 Comments

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How can a pattern of negative interaction develop in a romantic relationship? How can a couple end up finding themselves stuck in psychological tension? And how, if at all, could meditation make a difference? What are the potentials and limitations? Continue reading | 1 Comment

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Like dreams at night and slips of the tongue during the day, the loss of the meditation sound during meditation brings us into a fertile no-man’s land where conscious and unconscious impulses intermingle. In contrast to dreams, meditation brings us closer to the unconscious while we are still awake and aware. While dreams provide much-needed mental hygiene, meditation goes one step further and helps us clearing new ground. Continue reading | 4 Comments

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 A friend of mine recently sent me a link to an article from the business magazine Inc., with the title “Sit. Breathe. Be a better leader.” Since she knows that I am a meditator, she asked me: you probably already know this, right?

The article explains how meditation has helped some American leaders to improve life quality and relax, but also deliver more at work.  Ray Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s… Continue reading | 6 Comments

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The word “yoga” can designate many different things. Physical exercise tends to be associated with health and competition, and many people understand yoga in much the same way. An alternative view sees yoga as a meditative practice that helps set free a spontaneous impulse towards meditative deepening. The crux lies in a relaxed practice and an open awareness. Continue reading | 10 Comments

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