themeditationpodcast

We often enter our meditations with some kind of expectation. We expect a clear mind, a favorable outcome, answers, insights, and solutions. However, our meditations don't always play along nicely. Our minds race, our anxieties seem to increase, and we remain lost in our unanswered questions.

In today's meditation, we learn to embrace disorder, uncontrol, and chaos. This allows us to simply exist. Over time, we learn to release control over ourselves, and to think and act deep in our true nature.

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Remember that this podcast uses binaural beats, audio technology that affects the brain, so please use headphones, and please do not use this podcast while driving or operating machinery.

We are not licensed health care practitioners, and we do not claim any specific health benefits from using this podcast. You are responsible for your own health.

This podcast is made possible with great thanks to our subscribers on Patreon. Join our community at Patreon (dot) com (slash) theMeditationPodcast

Now, let's begin.

© 2025 The Meditation Podcast, all rights reserved.

[Originally published Wed 29 Jan 2025]

As we celebrate another cycle around the sun, we may reflect on our place in that cycle. Days lengthen in the global North. Decay and hibernation feed new life into the approaching Spring. Likewise, we can release the actions, wishes, and aspetcs of ourselves that no longer serve us, In doing so, we can repurpose our energy to support our future Being.

In today's meditation, we enter a new year as our new selves!

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Remember that this podcast uses binaural beats, audio technology that affects the brain, so please use headphones, and please do not use this podcast while driving or operating machinery.

We are not licensed health care practitioners, and we do not claim any specific health benefits from using this podcast. You are responsible for your own health.

This podcast is made possible with great thanks to our subscribers on Patreon. Join our community at Patreon (dot) com (slash) theMeditationPodcast

Now, let's begin.

© 2024 The Meditation Podcast, all rights reserved.

[Originally published Mon 30 Dec 2024]

During the winter holiday season, I like to reflect on reasons I am thankful. Many people use a gratitude practice or gratitude journal to help focus on the good in our lives. The feelings associated with gratitude bathe us in an infusion of well being, recharging our parasympathetic nervous systems, and our overall happiness.

In today's meditation we practice gratitude, infused.

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Remember that this podcast uses binaural beats, audio technology that affects the brain, so please use headphones, and please do not use this podcast while driving or operating machinery.

We are not licensed health care practitioners, and we do not claim any specific health benefits from using this podcast. You are responsible for your own health.

This podcast is made possible with great thanks to our subscribers on Patreon. Join our community at Patreon (dot) com (slash) theMeditationPodcast

Now, let's begin.

© 2024 The Meditation Podcast, all rights reserved.

[Originally published Sat 30 Nov 2024]

Many of you know that I have nearly completed a year-long Yoga Teacher Training, and I am developing a technique that I call Core Breathing. Based on decades of experience, Core Breathing is a key aspect of my Yoga teaching style. It is a simple set of muscle actions that prioritize our powerful deep core muscles, support effortless movement, and free up space for our lungs.

Today we will demonstrate and explore the simple technique of Core Breathing in meditation.

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Remember that this podcast uses binaural beats, audio technology that affects the brain, so please use headphones, and please do not use this podcast while driving or operating machinery.

We are not licensed health care practitioners, and we do not claim any specific health benefits from using this podcast. You are responsible for your own health.

This podcast is made possible with great thanks to our subscribers on Patreon. Join our community at Patreon (dot) com (slash) theMeditationPodcast

Now, let's begin.

© 2024 The Meditation Podcast, all rights reserved.

[Originally published Wed 30 Oct 2024]

Shadows on the Mountain, Track 7 from the album Sacred Spaces. If you like this track, consider buying the album on iTunes!

I wrote Shadows on the Mountain for my mom, thinking about a remote farm where I spent my early childhood (4-7 years old). It was on a mountain, at the end of a 5-mile dirt driveway. The nearest neighbor was a mile away, and there were no other people in sight. We had goats and chickens, and a huge vegetable garden, and an occasional trip to the store — at the nearest town, 45 miles away. It was truly quiet, and the nights were completely dark. I'm not sure if people get the opportunity to experience complete silence or complete darkness anymore, but it's a beautiful thing. I was too young to appreciate the beauty of it, but the serenity of that place has stayed with me, and I'm grateful for it now.

I used to sit on our mountain, watching the trees and shadows dance on the other mountain. Sometimes they looked like animals, and sometimes I could see the same animals in the same trees. Shadows on the Mountain.

It features my old no-name guitar (my very first guitar, which I've had since I was 4 years old), and also has fretless bass and orchestral strings.

The form is ABAB C ABAB, so AB (the two melody sections), AB again (add strings), C (the bridge), ABAB (bass playing the “A” melody both times).

We decided to make this podcast to help regular people who want to learn and practice meditation. This style of meditation is non-denominational, and we believe it can be used in conjunction with -- or separate from -- any set of religious or spiritual beliefs. The first episode is a basic meditation that uses the breath to enter a deep state of relaxation and peace.

This audio is most effective through headphones. While the instruction works through speakers, the audio includes tones that are designed to help enter a relaxed state, using a technology called 'binaural beats', that sends messages to the right and left sides of the brain. Thus, it works best through headphones. A word of caution though: For some people this can be very relaxing. While inherently safe, you might fall asleep, so please don't listen to this podcast while driving!

What is Meditation?

In its simplest sense, meditation is sitting still and breathing. You might sit, stand or lie down -- some forms of mediation even involve movement -- but the idea is to break away from habitual movement, such as fidgeting, and the impulse to 'do' something. By focusing on the breath, we focus on the most important aspect of life. We wouldn't survive long without breath, so why not spend a few moments paying attention to our breathing?

Why Meditate

Since you are listening to this podcast, you probably already have your own reasons why you want to begin or continue a practice of meditation. Here are a few of my reasons: I meditate because it energizes my spirit, body and mind, and brings me closer to the source of who I am. By focusing on my breath, I carry that breath into the core of my being. This has a healing and calming effect. Meditation also brings me clarity. By stepping back from a situation or problem, I can then approach it from a new angle. Finally, not only does it help break habitual patterns of movement and 'doing', it also helps me break out of unhealthy patterns in my life.

Rowing Across the River

from the album "Nine Lives of a Healer : Music for Meditation"

This is the complete track of the main intro music from The Meditation Podcast. It was composed, performed and recorded by Jesse Stern.