I know this doesn't have to do with long retreats, but since its about meditation i would like to share.   Someone recently asked me about meditation and for a good book on it.   This was my answer, and thought it might be helpful for some to share publicly.

"Hi, i don't know of any one particular book that i would recommend for meditation, but you don't really need a book to learn and do same.   It's pretty easy and natural, especially once you learn to consistently practice it.  It's like anything in life, the more you practice the better you get.

   Some tips.   Get in a relaxed, comfortable position but with your spine straight in a quiet, distraction free environment.   So, you can lay down, sit on a chair, or sit more cross legged on the floor as in a lotus type yoga position.   I find that doing yoga neck exercises first before lying down, sitting, etc. tends to help loosen up and straighten my spine/back and neck before going into the actual meditation.  We tend to store a lot of tension in our necks and upper shoulder areas.   This helps to relax and loosen this up. 

  Ok, once you are more physically relaxed and comfortable, now it's time to get your mind and left brain more relaxed and passive.   Some people do this by focusing on the breath at first, breathing deeply but naturally too, there is not need to overly force it.   I like to say an affirmation before i really open myself up.   Sometimes it's just a quick one, like i deeply desire and ask that the Light, energy, and love of Source surround, envelope, and fill me up while i am opening myself up in meditation.     I may ask for help and assistance of only constructive, creative, and spiritual energies in helping me during meditation and in life in general.   

  Sometimes i ask to be shown anything of which i need to work on or be more aware of, so that i can grow more.  This doesn't always come right away, sometimes i'll have a dream later for example, which is an answer, or will be led to the right book or person.   Other times i get more direct and fast answers through strong but subtle feelings, images, or words.  Or a combination of any of the above. 

  Importantly, i always give and feel gratitude and appreciation to these sources before and after for their help, and i bring up feelings of love and appreciation for Creation and for Source, i especially thank Source/the Creator for the wonderful gift of being a conscious, self aware being with gift of Freewill, and i ask to be helped so that i can use my freewill in a more conscious and constructive way.   This latter stuff is more like prayer than meditation. 

   This isn't stressed too much in Eastern teachings, or in most books on meditation out there, but there is no point in becoming receptive, still, and passive, unless one seeks to fill oneself up with positivity, light, and constructive intents, awarenesses and feelings.    Becoming passive and receptive in and of itself, will not help people too much.   We become quiet inside, so that we can hear the still small voice of the Source within, and to help actively program the subconscious mind in a more positive, constructive way with an emphasis on positivity, creative, loving thoughts, feelings, and intents.   

  There is an important cyclic pattern in meditation and prayer.  In mediation we empty, still, and clear ourselves, and in prayer we fill ourselves up with what we want to be, want to become, and know that we are truly beneath the temporal illusionary creations. 

  Ok, to simplify it again, just get physically and mentally relaxed.  This helps you to become more receptive, sensitive, and impressionable--it brings the subconscious self to the fore.  Come up with some kind of positive affirmation, similar to the one i mentioned above.   Open up self under that intention, direction, motivation, and desire.  Become still, and then most importantly of all, fill yourself up with what you want to become and be more of, what you know is your and others core reality.  Sincerely give thanks at some point.


  There are other aids along the way.  I often use an energy charge up and balancing method before i get really still, which i've found to be very powerful.  It seems to have a direct affect on the endocrine glands in the body, which relates to the energy centers oft called "chakras"    Some call it toning, others call it chanting.  It too is simple, basically deep in your throat, make some vowel sounds.    Experiment with it, go with the flow and be intuitive about it.   

  You might want to try some more specific toning patterns, as in OhhhMmmmmm, AhhhhOoohhMmmm, ArrrrEeeeeeOoohMmmm, or AhhhOhhUoommm.    Try different scales and pitches, see what works best for you.   I like to sometimes go from a low, gutteral Ahhh, to an ever increasingly higher pitched vibration especially towards the Mmmm part which gets really high.   This really vamps up my energy.   Whooo Ahhh is another good one (thanks Bruce and TMI).

  Again, experiment with different vowel sounds, pitches, and different combinations.   Ask your guidance to lead you to what's most beneficial for you, and just feel it out.   Both the guidance energies that came through the explorers at The Monroe Institute, and the guidance energies that came through the psychic Edgar Cayce, highly recommended the practice of some form of toning/chanting, but not in a fixed or dogmatic way, such as some eastern practicer's and teachings are known for (like chanting a specific Guru's name over and over again).   Hope this helps.