Meditation Through the Ages: Ancient Wisdom & One Of My First Spiritual Experiences As A Kid🧘‍♀️📜🤠

Part 1 — The History of Meditation

Hello Beautiful Sparkle of Source!

I wanted to explore the history of meditation on a deeper level and this is what I found.

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years, long before we had meditation apps, YouTube videos, or guided meditations at our fingertips.

Meditation has been part of my life since I was a little girl, and I've always found it fascinating that people from so many different cultures have used it to explore consciousness, connect with the divine, and better understand themselves and the world around them.

But where did meditation actually begin?

Meditation Before Written History

Nobody knows exactly when meditation began. Some of the earliest written references come from ancient India, particularly the Vedas, which date back thousands of years.

These early spiritual teachings explored consciousness, the nature of existence, and our connection with something greater than the physical world.

Meditation wasn't originally about relaxing after a stressful day or getting a better night's sleep. For many ancient practitioners, it was a way to explore the deeper mysteries of life, develop spiritual awareness, and understand the nature of the soul.

Over time, meditation became an important part of Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

Around 2,500 years ago, the Buddha taught practices involving mindfulness, concentration, and observing the mind. These teachings encouraged people to become aware of their thoughts and emotions without getting completely caught up in them.

Meditative practices also developed throughout China and Japan, including Taoist meditation and Zen Buddhism, while contemplative prayer and spiritual reflection became important in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions.

Although these practices developed within different cultures and belief systems, many shared an interest in exploring our inner experiences and developing a deeper understanding of life.

And what's fascinating is that these teachings have continued to be passed down from generation to generation.

Which brings me to my own introduction to meditation!

My Grandma Jeannie & My First Meditation at Seven Years Old

I was first introduced to meditation when I was just seven years old by my Grandma Jeannie.

My grandma was one of my biggest spiritual teachers growing up, along with my dad, who has taught me so much throughout my life.

They were both involved in Eckankar. My dad still is. Eckankar is a spiritual teaching that explores Soul, spiritual awareness, and our experiences beyond the physical world.

Eckankar was founded by Paul Twitchell in 1965 and teaches that we are Soul, eternal spiritual beings having a human experience. Its teachings include spiritual exercises, contemplation, dreams, and exploring the Light and Sound of God.

I'm not part of any particular religion, but I do resonate with many of Eckankar's teachings, especially those involving Soul, consciousness, and our ability to explore beyond the physical world.

And here's something I love about my dad. He still spends an hour every morning in spiritual contemplation/meditation, something he's been doing for the past 50 years! It sets his day up for everything to work out for his best and highest good. And I've seen this happen over and over throughout the years. Things always seem to work out for him. He also practices staying neutral, no matter what's going on around him, and trusting that everything is going to work out. And it does!

I remember one day my Grandma Jeannie said, "Let's do a meditation."

So we sat together, closed our eyes, and got quiet.

During that meditation, I had a vision of the Eck Master at that time. I was only seven and knew absolutely nothing about him.

In my vision, it was Christmas, and I was giving him a cowboy hat as a present!

When we finished, I told my grandma what I had seen, and she said, "Oh, cowboy hats are his favorite!"

Well, you can imagine how that stuck with me!

I had no idea about his love of cowboy hats, yet there I was seeing myself giving him one during my first meditation.

That experience has stayed with me my entire life because it showed me, at such a young age, that there was so much more to explore beyond what we experience through our physical senses.

It opened my awareness to the possibility of connecting with other places, receiving information, and exploring different levels of consciousness.

My Grandma Jeannie taught me so much about the spiritual realms, including the magical fae realm.

Love you, Grandma Jeannie! Thank you for all your love, wisdom, and spiritual teachings that helped guide me along my path.

The HU Chant - A Teaching I Still Use Today

Another beautiful teaching that came from my dad was the HU chant.

In Eckankar, HU is considered a sacred name for God and is often described as a love song to God. It's used as a spiritual exercise to connect with divine love, the Light and Sound of God, and the presence of Spirit.

When I was little, my dad taught me to chant HU whenever I felt scared about something and needed extra spiritual protection.

And guess what? I still use it today!

It's something I've carried with me throughout my life, and I've taught my own children to use it as well. They've found it helpful too.

For me, chanting HU is a way to center my energy, connect with Source, and feel spiritually supported, especially during those moments when fear or uncertainty comes up.

It's such a simple practice, yet it's one I've returned to for decades.

You can try it by sitting quietly, taking a few gentle breaths, and softly singing HUUUU on a long, comfortable exhale. Allow the sound to flow naturally and notice how you feel afterward.

I love that something my dad taught me when I was young is now something I've shared with my own children. I feel these spiritual teachings are so important to pass down through the generations, so we don't lose that connection to who we truly are as spiritual beings.

How Meditation Became Part of Modern Life

Meditation gradually became more widely known in Western countries during the 19th and 20th centuries as spiritual teachers introduced practices from India and other parts of Asia.

By the 1960s and 1970s, interest in meditation had grown considerably, and researchers began studying how these practices affected the brain and body.

Today, millions of people practice meditation for relaxation, emotional well-being, greater awareness, and spiritual development.

And while the world has changed tremendously, the practice of turning our attention inward has remained.

Why Meditation Is Still So Important

Our minds are constantly processing information, thoughts, memories, emotions, and everything happening around us. We can become so caught up in our daily activities that we rarely give ourselves time to experience stillness.

It can also help us develop greater focus, emotional awareness, and a sense of calm.

And from my own spiritual perspective, meditation has been an important part of connecting with my Higher Self, strengthening my intuition, and exploring consciousness beyond our everyday awareness.

You don't have to belong to a religion or follow a particular spiritual tradition to meditate.

And you certainly don't have to sit perfectly still for an hour like my dad does. I know I can't do that. Lol

Meditation can happen while sitting quietly, walking through the forest, listening to the ocean, chanting, or simply becoming fully aware of the present moment. My favorite place to meditate is on my hikes in the forest.

The important part is giving ourselves the opportunity to explore our consciousness and discover what we experience when we quiet the outside noise.

I hope you enjoyed this little journey through the history of meditation and a glimpse into my own spiritual beginnings.

Stay tuned for Part 2! We'll explore what modern science has discovered about meditation, including how it affects our brain, stress, emotions, and overall well-being.

Happy meditating until next time!

With Love,

Jemaa🌺