Meditation has long been a cornerstone of human spirituality and self-discovery, consisting of various techniques to quiet the mind and foster inner peace. While the practices may vary widely, they share the common goal of guiding practitioners toward greater mental clarity and emotional balance. In this post, I will explore four distinct types of meditation, from the well-trodden paths of focused attention to the imaginative realms of shamanic journeying.

The most commonly taught type is focused meditation. Techniques vary: staring at a candle flame, tracking one’s inhales and exhales, or reciting a mantra—all of which aim to focus the mind on a singular task. When wayward thoughts inevitably arise, the goal is to gently bring them back to a singular point of focus. This has several benefits, not least of which is to grant the superpower of focused intention. Once mastered, focused meditation can be deeply calming as you turn down the volume on repetitive thoughts and knee-jerk emotions.

Another category of meditation, and my favorite, is daydreaming. “But wait,” you say, “daydreaming is not a rigorous form of meditation taught during a retreat?” That’s true, but it is a legitimate altered state of consciousness, one frequented by the youth of the world and those adults who allow space and time in their life to be still and wonder.

Image by DALL-E, OpenAI

Try it for yourself if it’s been a while: Assume a comfortable posture and allow your mind to wander freely. Allow thoughts to come and go, but do not become fixated on any one. Let memories, impressions, and feelings drift like clouds in the sky—be at peace with whatever arises. The best part of this approach is that you can’t get it wrong. To daydream is your birthright as a human being with a central nervous system.

The most elusive type of meditation involves settling the body and calming the mind until thoughts cease. Many a well-intentioned aspirant has begun a meditation practice with this as their goal. Indeed, ancient spiritual traditions present the idea that entering a “no-mind” state opens the door to deep spiritual insight and enlightenment. To this point, I can only humbly comment.

After years of a dedicated meditation practice, I can attest that this state exists. It is a profound mental, emotional, and spiritual reset, but striving to intentionally produce this elusive state can be counterproductive. For one, we can’t enter a no-mind state as easily as opening a door and walking through the threshold. It is more appropriate to state that we fall into the state, as if by accident. In that case, meditation makes you more accident-prone.

What will happen is that when practicing one of the other forms of meditation (daydreaming works the best for me), you may get a brief glimpse of emptiness, followed quickly by a return of ordinary consciousness. Then you will reflect upon having spent a few precious moments in no-mind. Peak experiences such as this occur, but to strive for them can feel like trying to close a tight fist around a handful of water.

A better policy is to choose or rotate through the other forms of meditation, and if no-mind presents itself, then consider yourself fortunate. Even without such an awakening, the benefits of meditation are manifold and significant enough to motivate one to maintain a daily practice.

There is one more category of meditation worth discussing: shamanic journeying. Listening to a drumbeat around 205-220 beats per minute gently synchronizes the brain into deeper alpha and theta brainwave states, fostering a meditative mindset. This creates a non-ordinary state of consciousness akin to wakeful dreaming. In that imaginative place, thoughts are directed toward insights and intuitions less accessible in our everyday, beta brainwave state. Shamanic journeying skates the line of meditation and dreaming. While it rarely leads to a superconscious, no-mind state, its ability to access the subconscious is unparalleled.

Meditation offers a rich tapestry of experiences, from the structured discipline of focused meditation to the liberating creativity of daydreaming and the mystical depths of shamanic journeying. Each method has its own merits and can be tailored to the needs of the individual. By exploring these different approaches, you can unlock the transformative power of meditation and deepen your connection to both yourself and the world around you. Whether you are seeking calm, insight, or spiritual awakening, the journey inward holds treasures worth discovering.