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The Western Mystery tradition which contains a large body of teaching is generally not well publicised, although it has a great deal to offer both East and West. Indeed its content is vast and continues to grow as each generation of students unfolds more of its potential. It is an evolving entity constantly updated but firmly grounded in ancient wisdom depicted in such systems of creatvie thought as the Judaic Tree of Life or Qabalah, the Tarot: Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Celtic, Norse and many other mythologies. The most recent of which is the Arthurian holy grail quest known as the matter of Britain or Albion.
Students of Theosophy through their study of comparative mythology will know that if we search deep enough there is a common ground in all cultures.
Two underlying and basic themes common to all meditation systems are relaxation and rythmic breathing. Both help to release trapped energies and tension, uncluttering the mind leaving it in a receptive state ready to participate in whatever form of self expression we have chosen.
It is worthing spending time on improving awareness of the body's needs and in finding the most suitable posture to adopt, which may vary according to the theme and purpose of the particular meditation. A simple method of relaxing is to go over the body from head to foot tensing muscles then releasing them, especially shoulders. Breathing should be unrestricted, counting in for four, holding gently for two then out for four, hold for two and repeat until a natural rhythm develops.
Correct meditation posture brings into consideration the Chakras or enrgy centres and flow within our bodies. Without practise of Yoga, the lotus position is far from easy, nor is it desirable in the Western system which tries to develop the earth centre through the "feet chakra". The upright seated position shown by the statues of Egyptian gods or pharaohs is preferable, although others are also used. Again it may take some perseverance before the god-form becomes comfortable enought not to distract the mind from meditation. Deep relaxation in a lying down position can lead to sleep!
The length of time given to meditation is another variable, but it is better to have ten minutes a day regularly than an hour once a week. Establishing a routine and sticking to a timetable can be a valuable aid, creating space in the day.
Once these preliminaries have been mastered to some degree, attention can be turned to the subject material of the meditation. In western schools it is usual to start with apparently simple 'seed thoughts' or phrases such as :"Be still and know who you are", "In the presence of silence, truth speaks","Behind my conscious self is my secret self","I am a centre of light". Some are similar to, though less abstract than, the zen koans , initiating greater awareness of inner dimesions and unexplored areas of consciousness. The topic is 'looked at' form many angles usually triggering a chain of 'correspondences' which are mentally noted then written down afterwards eg. "A centre of light" might bring to mind stars in the night sky, the sun in the solar system, a candle flame etc. resulting in the realization that each one of us is or can be a radiant being belonging to the unfolding universe.
This process is similar to the more passive pastime of daydreaming. Rather than try to still the conscious flow of images in the minds eye, western schools attempt to control and direct their "energies" in creative visualization, learning to discriminate between relevant and superficial. Spontaneity is encouraged.
There is nothing new in this approach which is employed to some degree by psychologists, C.G. Jung in particular . In dreams, the subconscious mind uses available imagery to build a series of scenes which in turn evoke certain emotions in the dreamer who is affected by the power of the screen-play. Similarly, when the consious mind creates or induces certain images in meditation, there can be a spiritual, mental even physical response producing or initiating the desired change. Indeed desire is the emotive driving force behind creative visual meditations, an ally to be harnessed rather than crushed out. "Inflame thyself with prayer" is a phrase which springs to mind. Practice of creative visualization increases the powers of observation, recollection and memory. It has many uses in healing through relaxation as in the Mathew Manning and other healing 'music' tapes.
Although this primarily involves 'seeing in the mind's eye' it also stimulates other senses, scent or smell being closely linked. A vision of a meadow can bring the sweet scetns of wild flowers or grass together with the sound of the wind rustling or the feeling of warm sunshine, making it a more complete experience. Carefully constructed visual meditations can be journeys of exploration into the deeper levels of our being and consciousness, helping to integrate the 'self', improving communication between all areas of the psyche. Such are termed 'Path-workings'. There are various cassette tapes available for group or individual creative visualization or pathworking. They usually take the form of a guided journey in which the participants take an active role rather than merely objectively observing the 'scenery'. Like a good book when re-read it adds to the experience, new things become apparent.
Depression is a common complaint these days. It affects motivation, energy, insight, even reasons for living. People who suffer from it are often seen as irrational, apathetic, unable to communicate or make decisions. Again creative visual journeys are used as therapy enabling personal feelings to be expressed in imagery. The individual is encouraged to put himself in a situation where there is no way out and then make a way, find a solution. Practice leads to understanding in meditation, and one should not expect instant response form the inner senses or realms of the subsconscious.
Creative visualizaiton may not at first seem to be anything special but it is a cornerstone of magical and mystical training.