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MY STRUGGLES WITH MEDITATION… AND MY SOLUTION - PART II

Beije/black longhair cat with front paws in prayer-like position, lying on floor, facing forward
Image by Pradeep Krishnan from Pixabay

The Practice That Works

A few years ago, I shared my challenging journey to enhance my meditation practice in an article named My Struggles With Meditation… And My Solution (please see under Reference). In the same article, I shared a simple meditation practice that has consistently worked well for me. Although I have tried other practices since, I keep going back to the same simple, yet effective practice:

 

• I sit in a chair with my back straight (or on a folded blanket with my legs crossed, and my lower back and knees properly supported by cushions; feeling comfortable is important).

 

• Sometimes I start by practicing 3 to 5 minutes of Nadi Shodhan Pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breathing).

 

• I turn my palms up, place one on top of the other, emulating an empty bowl (as a symbol of being open to receive), and rest them on my lap.

 

• I ask to be cleansed and surrounded by Light, so that I can have a safe space to meditate.

 

• Then I ask God, my guides and angels to lead me where I need to go and show me what I need to know.

 

• I try my best to let go and see what happens.

 

• I try to meditate for at least 1/2 hour each time; but if I only have 10 or 15 minutes available, then I meditate for 10 or 15 minutes.

 

An Effective Adjustment To My Meditation Practice

Although the meditation practice I described has worked well, I continued to have issues with staying present more consistently throughout the meditation. Paying attention to my breathing didn’t work; it led me to start changing the rhythm of my breath just because I was paying attention to it, which was distracting and made the meditation experience uncomfortable.

 

Recently, I read somewhere (can’t remember where) that focusing on the space between your eyelids and eyeballs (the area behind your eyelids) with your eyes closed during meditation helps to withdraw attention from the external world, reduce visual distractions, and redirect energy inward to better observe internal thoughts and sensations. This creates a more receptive state for inner experiences, allowing for deeper concentration and a connection with your inner self by minimizing external "noise" and the brain's need to process external stimuli.

 

So I decided to give it a try. I noticed that my visual focus would still try to wander off from behind my eyelids, along with my mind; but it was easier to keep gently bringing my focus back to the inside of my eyelids. The process felt similar to focusing on those 3D pictures that became a fad several years ago (you had to adjust your eyes to be able to see the 3D shapes).

 

Having a light source I’m able to perceive with my closed eyes also makes it easier to focus.

 

With this practice, I was able to feel present and alert more often and for longer periods of time during meditation.

 

Seeing Colors During Meditation

I usually see floating and shifting colors (especially violet) with my eyes closed. That’s a normal phenomenon known as phosphenes (perception of light and colors without light actually entering the eye), which can be intensified when going into deep meditation or hypnotic trance state. It's actually considered to be a mild form of hallucination.

 

When seeing colors with my eyes closed, I draw from the chakra colors and the characteristics associated with them as framework to interpret the possible meanings, as follows:

 

• Root (red): Survival, security, stability, groundedness and basic needs.

• Sacral (orange): Creativity, emotions, pleasure, sensuality and change.

- Solar Plexus (yellow): Personal power, self-esteem, confidence and determination.

• Heart (green): Love, compassion, forgiveness and emotional healing.

• Throat (blue): Communication, self-expression, authenticity and truth.

• Third Eye (violet or indigo): Intuition, insight, perception and spiritual awareness.

• Crown (white or violet): Higher consciousness, spiritual connection and enlightenment.

 

Hope you find these tips useful! I invite you to share other helpful meditation tips that work for you :)

 

Wishing you a peaceful and grounding meditation practice!

 

Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 09/10/25

 

Reference:

My Struggles With Meditation… And My Solution

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