Finding Your Meditation Type

Practitioners of astrology, tarot, and spirituality often focus on cultivating self-awareness and balance in their lives. This journey is deepened when incorporating yoga and meditation, which enhance presence, clarity, and emotional well-being.

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Yoga, the physical element of this toolkit, offers alignment and emotional release, typically through practice of physical poses (asanas), while meditation nurtures mental clarity, stillness, and introspection. Together, they provide a holistic approach to body, mind, and spirit, enabling deeper self-exploration. Both practices work with energy, often through the Chakra system, which governs our physical, emotional, and spiritual life. Yoga moves energy through the body, releasing blockages to create a dynamic connection with ourselves, while meditation helps quiet the mind and foster awareness of the present moment. When practiced together, they strengthen any spiritual connection and support a balanced interaction with the world. Meditation can be intimidating for beginners, as it varies greatly for each person, much like the evolving lunar cycles. Whether new to meditation or experienced, exploring different styles can deepen your connection to yourself, grow your emotional resilience, and adapt your practice to the seasons of your life. In this guide, we’ll explore various meditation styles, how to choose one based on your current energy and emotional state, and how incorporating astrology, tarot, lunar cycles, and Chakras can enhance your practice. Think of this as a roadmap to meet your body, mind, and spirit with curiosity and openness.

When emotions feel overwhelming or you’re just beginning your meditation journey, grounding is key. The Root Chakra (Muladhara in Sanskrit), located at the base of the spine and associated with the Earth element, governs stability, safety, and foundational energy. Supporting this Chakra fosters a sense of solidity, especially in times of emotional duress. Best Meditation Types: ⋆ Basic Breathwork ⋆ Breath Awareness ⋆ Body Scan Meditation ⋆ Guided Visualization These practices help soothe cognitive overload, calm the nervous system, and anchor awareness gently into the body. How To: ✧ Basic Breathwork Techniques: ⋆ Box Breathing: during each action of inhaling, holding the breath, exhaling, and waiting to breath in again, count to the same number (such as 4 or 5) ⋆ Alternate Nostril Breathing: isolate each nostril, breathing in through only one of them at a time and then exhaling through the other. ✧ Breath Awareness & Body Scans: * Start in a comfortable position (seated or standing). Close your eyes or soften the gaze, begin focusing the breath to allow the shoulders to release tension. * Move your concentration throughout the body – beginning at the crown of the head, moving through the arms and legs, and ending with the toes – just becoming aware of the different sensations without judgement. * During the scan, ask yourself: What is present here? How does this part of my body feel? End by visualization of a strong foundation enforcing a sense of safety and security. You can even imagine a red light glowing at the base of your spine. Scientific Benefits: Breathwork (also called Pranayama in Sanskrit) and body awareness techniques like the body scan activate the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for the body’s relaxation and digestion (“rest and digest”) state. This leads to a reduced heart rate, relaxed muscles, vagus nerve stimulation (for deep relaxation) and the release of stress-reducing hormones – creating a physiological sense of calm and stability. Yoga Pose Pairing: Use grounding postures that open the legs while cultivating balance: ⋆ Knees to Chest (Apanasana) ⋆ Mountain Pose (Tadasana) ⋆ Tree Pose (Vrksasana) These poses deepen your connection to Earth, promote inner stability, and promote the flow of energy through the body through the Root Chakra. Astrology/Tarot Connection: ☾ The New Moon in the lunar cycle is a powerful time to begin new practices. Its quiet, introspective energy mirrors the grounding needed for emotional clarity and fresh starts. ✩ In Tarot, the Two of Pentacles (Earth element) represents balance and practice adaptability—ideal for anchoring into stability during emotional shifts. Practice Tip: On the next New Moon, try a Body Scan or Body Awareness meditation while visualizing a glowing red light at your Root Chakra. Sit comfortably or rest in Child’s Pose (Balasana). For deeper energetic connection, use the Root Chakra mantra “LAM” and frequency 396 Hz during your practice.

When you're feeling emotionally detached, judgmental, or craving a deeper connection, it may be time to nourish your Heart Chakra (Anahata). Located at the center of the chest and associated with the element of Air, it governs love, compassion, forgiveness, and emotional equilibrium. Best Meditation Types: ⋆ Mindfulness Meditation (Focused Attention) ⋆ Open-Monitoring Meditation (OMM) ⋆ Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM / Metta) These three styles present a wide array of ways to cultivate a meditative practice. They all cultivate space (gaps) between emotions and reaction, fostering gentle awareness and self-compassion. Noticing these gaps increases awareness of your thoughts and emotions without reacting to them, allowing them to “just be”, for growth of emotional regulation and presence. These styles are ideal for those seeking to increase connection to themselves while letting go of the emotions and thoughts that no longer serve them. How To: ✧ Mindfulness (Focused Attention): * Sit comfortably and set a timer (start with 5 minutes and gradually increase) * Focus on the natural rhythm of your breath * When thoughts arise (as they will), gently return your focus to the breath. Be kind to yourself, letting go of judgement ✧ Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM): * Settle into a comfortable position * Bring to mind someone who loves you unconditionally (or imagine this love if experiencing difficulty visualizing someone) * Let this feeling fill your chest. Then, become the source of this love – direct it toward yourself, and eventually to others * This evokes warmth, radiance, and acceptance of who you are in this present moment ✧ Open-Monitoring Meditation: * This is a practice that can be done during activities as well as isolated. It begins with becoming aware of the breath * Instead of focusing on a single point, like Mindfulness, observe all passing thoughts and sensations without attachment * Allow them to arise and fall away like clouds, remaining present in the now. This allows creation of fulfilling and thoughtful moments of mindfulness without judgement for the past or worry for the future Scientific Benefits: These meditations are linked to increased gray matter in the hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for memory and emotional regulation), reduced activity in the amygdala (fear center of the brain), and better sleep, memory, and emotional processing. ⋆ Mindfulness has also been indicated in improving self-regulation of chronic pain while reducing the experience and sensitivity to pain, demonstrating its direct health effects. ⋆ Loving-Kindness Meditation has been shown to increase empathy, connection, and positive emotional states. ⋆ Open-Monitoring meditation boosts creativity and cognitive flexibility through enhanced present-moment awareness. In both OMM and LKM, theta activity (involved in sustaining attention) has been seen to increase. Yoga Pose Pairing: Heart-opening postures help release emotional tension and radiate love. ⋆ Camel (Ustrasana) ⋆ Fish Pose (Matsyasana) ⋆ (Ending with a) restorative Savasana Astrology/Tarot Connection: ☾ The Full Moon can be intense with emotions at their peak, making it ideal for heart-centered healing and forgiveness practices. Engaging in these practices will enhance self-expression, deepen emotional bonds, and cultivate feelings of belonging and interconnectivity. ✩ The Six of Cups (water sign) speaks to inner child healing, emotional memories, and connection – perfect for meditating on love, vulnerability, and belonging. Practice Tip: At the next Full Moon, visualize a green light glowing in your chest while practicing this type of meditation. You can enhance this experience in Camel Pose or Fish Pose to stretch and open your heart space. Use the Heart Chakra’s mantra “YAM” and 639 Hz frequency to expand emotional receptivity.

When you're feeling mentally scattered, disconnected from your intuition, or closed off to new ideas, your Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) may be asking for attention. Located between the eyebrows and associated with the element of Light, this Chakra governs insight, vision, inner wisdom, and spiritual connection. Strengthening your connection here can help you cultivate clarity and deepen your sense of purpose. Best Meditation Types: ⋆ Vipassana ⋆ Mantra Repetition As your practice evolves, meditation shifts from calming the surface of the mind to diving into deeper waters—spaces where insight and spiritual connection reside. These techniques move beyond simple awareness and guide you into states of focused reflection, heightened perception, and inner stillness. How To: These methods are deeply rooted in tradition and may require more guidance or exploration beyond this introduction, but here's a simplified way to get started: ✧ Vipassana Meditation: * Begin in a comfortable seated position. Settle into your breath and gently close your eyes. Ask yourself: “May I truly be happy and free from suffering?” Let this question anchor you in the intention of self-compassion. * Reflect on the truth that genuine happiness lives not in the past or future, but in the present moment. Then, expand this reflection outward: “May all living beings, regardless of who they are or what they’ve done, find true happiness too.” * Continue by observing your breath and scanning your body with gentle awareness—feeling into each area as your breath remains steady and smooth. As a sense of expanded awareness emerges, rest in it. When you're ready, gently open your eyes and return to your space.13 ✧ Mantra Meditation: * Find a comfortable position. Choose a word, phrase, or sacred sound that resonates with you (or use the bija mantra of the Chakra you're working with). Begin to repeat it softly aloud or silently, syncing it with your breath. * Allow the vibration of the mantra to anchor your mind and guide your awareness inward. Mantra meditation is particularly powerful for Chakra work, as each energy center has a specific sound that deepens alignment and healing.14 Scientific Benefits: Advanced meditative practices like Vipassana meditation have been shown to shift brain wave states (linked to active thinking) into alpha and theta wave states – associated with deep meditation, creativity, and inner awareness. These changes promote neuroplasticity, helping the brain rewire itself for greater emotional balance, clarity, and resilience. Research also suggests that regular deep meditation enhances the function of the pineal gland—often considered the biological correlate to the Third Eye—supporting hormonal balance and circadian rhythm regulation. Yoga Pose Pairing: To complement Third Eye work, integrate asanas that foster stillness, visualization, and balance. ⋆ Child’s Pose (Balasana) ⋆ Eagle Pose (Garudasana) ⋆ Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana) These asanas help turn your attention inward, calm the mind, and create space for intuitive flow. Astrology/Tarot Connection: ☾ The Waning Moon phase encourages reflection, release, and spiritual realignment– making it a powerful time for deeper meditative work and Third Eye activation. ✩ In the Tarot, the High Priestess card perfectly embodies the energy of this Chakra: inner knowing, mystery, and sacred intuition. She is comfortable in the twelfth house of psychic ability, the occult, and hidden places. Practice Tip: At the next Waning Moon, try Vipassana or mantra meditation with the intention of awakening your Third Eye Chakra. Visualize a rich indigo light between your eyebrows, expanding outward and illuminating your inner vision. You can practice in a seated position or pair this with Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)to clear blockages and strengthen energetic flow. As each Chakra has their associated mantra and frequency, listening to 852 Hz or chanting the bija mantra “OM” during your practice can further stimulate intuitive awareness and spiritual clarity.

Experience level alone is not the best indicator of what meditation style best suits your needs at this moment. It is important to use your specific emotional or spiritual goals to help select a meditation practice that can aid in fulfilling your connections to yourself and the world. No matter what phase of life you’re in, your practice will grow with you. The moon’s cycle is a reminder that everything is in a constant state of flux, and so are we. Whether you’re just beginning, deepening, or transcending, there is a meditation practice that meets you in the moment. Just as the moon does not force itself to shine – neither should you. Trust the ebb and flow of your practice and honor where you are without judgement. ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧