Meditation Guide – How to Meditate, Types of Meditation & Tools for Your Practice

Meditation Guide – How to Meditate, Types of Meditation & Tools for Your Practice

Meditation is one of the most powerful and well-evidenced practices available to us — reducing stress, improving focus, deepening self-awareness, and supporting spiritual connection. Yet for many people, getting started feels daunting, and maintaining a consistent practice can be challenging.

This guide covers everything you need to begin or deepen your meditation practice — from the different types of meditation to the tools that can support and enrich your sessions. Shop Crystals for Meditation → | Shop Singing Bowls →

Which Type of Meditation Is Right for You?

  • Complete beginner, want something simple — start with mindfulness; just five minutes of breath awareness each morning is enough to begin
  • Struggle to sit still or silence the mind — sound meditation; a singing bowl or drum bypasses the analytical mind and takes you there directly
  • Want to work with crystals and energy — crystal meditation or chakra meditation; hold a palm stone, set your intention, and let the stone anchor your focus
  • Need emotional healing or self-compassion — loving-kindness (Metta); one of the most transformative practices for grief, relationship difficulties, and self-worth
  • Drawn to spiritual guidance and the spirit world — shamanic journeying; rhythmic drumming carries you into non-ordinary reality with intention
  • Want structure and support in early stages — guided meditation; an app, recording, or teacher takes you through each step so you don’t have to navigate alone
  • Prefer to be moving rather than still — walking meditation in nature; full mindful presence without sitting
  • Want to build concentration and devotion — mantra meditation with mala beads; the physical counting keeps the restless mind occupied while the mantra works

What Is Meditation?

Meditation is the practice of training attention and awareness — of learning to be present with what is, rather than lost in thought about what was or what might be. It is not about emptying the mind (an impossible task) but about changing your relationship with your thoughts — learning to observe them without being swept away by them.

Meditation has been practised for thousands of years across virtually every spiritual tradition in the world — from Buddhist mindfulness and Hindu yoga to Christian contemplative prayer and shamanic journeying. Modern science has confirmed what practitioners have always known: regular meditation produces measurable changes in the brain, the nervous system, and overall wellbeing.

Types of Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation

The most widely practised form in the West. Mindfulness involves bringing gentle, non-judgmental attention to the present moment — typically to the breath, the body, or sensory experience. When the mind wanders (and it will), you simply notice and return. Over time, this practice builds a remarkable capacity for presence and equanimity.

Best for: Beginners, stress reduction, everyday practice, building focus

Guided Meditation

A teacher, recording, or app guides you through a meditation — often involving visualisation, body scanning, or specific themes such as loving-kindness or gratitude. Guided meditation is an excellent starting point for beginners and a valuable tool for experienced practitioners exploring new territory.

Best for: Beginners, specific intentions, emotional healing, sleep

Crystal Meditation

Meditating with crystals adds an energetic dimension to your practice. Crystals amplify intention, anchor focus, and bring their specific healing properties into the meditation space. See our full How to Meditate with Crystals guide →

Best for: Intention setting, chakra work, spiritual connection, deepening practice
Shop Palm Stones & Worry Stones → | Shop Tumbled Stones →

Sound Meditation

Sound meditation uses the vibration of instruments — singing bowls, gongs, tingshas, drums, or chimes — to induce a meditative state. Sound bypasses the thinking mind and works directly on the nervous system, making it one of the most accessible and immediately effective forms of meditation. See our Sound Healing at Home guide →

Best for: Those who struggle with silent meditation, stress relief, deep relaxation
Shop Singing Bowls & Tingshas →

Mantra Meditation

Mantra meditation involves the silent or spoken repetition of a word, phrase, or sound — a mantra — as the focus of attention. The mantra anchors the mind and, in many traditions, carries its own vibrational power. Mala beads are traditionally used to count repetitions — 108 beads for 108 repetitions of the mantra.

Best for: Those who find breath-focused meditation difficult, devotional practice, building concentration
Shop Mala Beads →

Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta)

A Buddhist practice of cultivating compassion — beginning with yourself, then extending warmth and goodwill outward to loved ones, neutral people, difficult people, and ultimately all beings. One of the most transformative practices available for emotional healing and relationship.

Best for: Emotional healing, self-compassion, relationship difficulties, grief
Shop Rose Quartz →

Chakra Meditation

Chakra meditation focuses attention on each of the body’s energy centres in turn, using visualisation, breath, crystals, or sound to balance and activate each chakra. See our Chakra System Explained guide → and our Crystal Meditation guide → for crystal placement by chakra.

Best for: Energy work, healing, spiritual development
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Shamanic Journeying

Shamanic journeying is a form of active, intentional meditation that uses rhythmic drumming to enter an altered state of consciousness and access guidance from the spirit world. It is distinct from passive meditation — the journeyer moves with intention through non-ordinary reality. See our Shamanic Journeying Guide →

Best for: Spiritual guidance, healing, connecting with power animals and helping spirits
Shop Shamanic Drums →

Walking Meditation

Meditation does not require stillness. Walking meditation brings mindful attention to the act of walking — the sensation of feet on the ground, the rhythm of movement, the sights and sounds of the environment. Particularly powerful when practised in nature.

Best for: Those who struggle to sit still, connecting with nature, grounding

How to Start a Meditation Practice

Start Small

Five minutes every day is more valuable than an hour once a week. Begin with just five minutes and build gradually. Consistency matters far more than duration.

Choose a Time

Morning meditation — before the demands of the day begin — is the most sustainable for most people. Evening meditation supports the transition into rest. Choose a time you can protect and stick to it.

Create Your Space

A dedicated meditation space — even just a cushion in a corner — signals to your mind that it is time to settle. See our Creating a Sacred Space guide →

Use Tools to Support Your Practice

Tools are not essential, but they can make a significant difference — especially in the early stages when the mind is still learning to settle. A candle, a stick of incense, and a crystal are the simplest possible kit — and together they create a complete sensory environment that tells the nervous system: this is different from the rest of the day. This is practice.

Your First Meditation Setup – A Beginner Kit

You do not need much. In fact, the simpler the better at the start. The following is a complete beginner setup that costs very little, takes two minutes to arrange, and will serve you for years.

One Candle

A white tealight or small pillar candle. Place it at roughly eye level so the flame sits comfortably in your field of vision. Light it as the first act of your session — the act of lighting is itself a signal to the mind that something is shifting. Rest your gaze on the flame when you need an anchor. Extinguish it when you are done. That’s the whole practice, if you want it to be. Shop Tealights & Pillar Candles → | Candles Guide →

One Stick of Incense

Light it two or three minutes before you sit down — before the candle, before anything else. Let it scent the room so that by the time you settle, the atmosphere has already begun to shift. Choose one scent and use it consistently: the nervous system learns quickly, and within a few weeks the scent alone will begin to induce a settling response before you’ve even closed your eyes.

  • Lavender — calm, ease, gentle settling; ideal if your mind tends to race
  • Sandalwood — grounding, warm, centring; the most widely used meditation incense across traditions
  • Frankincense — deeper, slightly more sacred quality; slows the breath naturally; used in contemplative and ceremonial practice for thousands of years
  • Nag Champa — the classic ashram scent; immediate, reliable shift in atmosphere; very popular for daily practice

Shop Incense Sticks → | Shop Nag Champa → | Incense Guide →

One Crystal

Hold it in your non-dominant hand, or place it in your lap. Its job is simple: to give your awareness somewhere to rest that isn’t thought. The weight and texture of a smooth stone in your palm is a surprisingly effective anchor for a wandering mind.

  • Amethyst — calm, spiritual connection, quieting a busy mind; the most popular crystal for meditation
  • Clear Quartz — clarity, amplification of intention; good when you want the practice to feel open and spacious
  • Black Tourmaline or Smoky Quartz — grounding; helpful if you tend to feel scattered, anxious, or ungrounded during practice
  • Rose Quartz — warmth, self-compassion, heart-centred practice; particularly good for loving-kindness (Metta) meditation

Shop Palm Stones → | Shop Amethyst → | Shop Clear Quartz →

Deepening Your Practice – Intermediate Combinations

Once you have a consistent daily practice established — even just five or ten minutes — you can begin to work more deliberately with your tools. At this stage, the combinations you choose can be matched to a specific intention or the quality of practice you want to cultivate that day.

Intention Candle Incense Crystal
Calm & stress relief White or blue tealight Lavender stick Blue Lace Agate or Amethyst
Spiritual depth & clarity Purple pillar candle Frankincense resin on charcoal Amethyst or Labradorite
Focus & concentration (trataka) White pillar candle Frankincense or copal resin Clear Quartz point
Heart opening & self-compassion Pink or rose candle Rose or ylang ylang incense Rose Quartz palm stone
Grounding & embodiment Red or earthy brown candle Sandalwood or cedarwood stick Smoky Quartz or Black Tourmaline
Intuition & inner vision Indigo or silver candle Frankincense or mugwort Labradorite or Lapis Lazuli
Energy clearing before practice White candle White sage stick (pre-session) then Nag Champa Selenite

The principle is simple: choose one intention, choose the tools that match it, and keep everything else out of the way. Two or three well-chosen elements will always outperform a crowded altar. See our Crystal Combinations Guide → and Incense Guide → for more on building deliberate combinations.

Meditation Tools

Crystals

Hold a crystal during meditation to anchor your focus and bring its specific energy into your practice. Palm stones and worry stones are ideal — their smooth, rounded shape is comforting to hold.
Shop Palm Stones & Worry Stones → | Shop Tumbled Stones → | Shop Amethyst → | Shop Clear Quartz → | Shop Selenite →

Singing Bowls

Strike or rim a singing bowl at the beginning and end of your meditation to mark the transition into and out of practice. The sound instantly settles the mind and creates a clear boundary around your session.
Shop Singing Bowls & Tingshas → | Singing Bowl Size Guide →

Mala Beads

Use mala beads to count breaths or mantra repetitions — the physical act of moving through the beads gives the restless mind something to do and helps maintain focus. Traditional malas have 108 beads.
Shop Mala Beads & Crystal Jewellery →

Incense

Scent is one of the most immediate ways to shift the mind into a meditative state. Certain scents — frankincense, sandalwood, nag champa, lavender — have been used in meditation and ceremony for thousands of years. Light incense two to three minutes before you sit, allow it to scent the room, then begin your practice. Use the same scent consistently and it becomes a conditioned cue — your nervous system will begin to settle the moment it registers the scent.
Shop Incense → | Shop Nag Champa → | Shop Resin Incense → | Incense Guide →

Candles

A candle flame is one of the most effective and underestimated meditation tools — giving the restless mind a living, moving anchor that holds attention without force. Trataka (candle gazing) is a classical yogic practice for developing concentration and inner vision. Light your candle as the opening act of practice; extinguish it with a snuffer to close. Even a single tealight, lit with quiet intention, marks the space as different from the rest of the day.
Shop Candles & Tealights → | Candles Guide →

Sacred Sprays

Mist a sacred spray or aura mist around yourself before meditation to cleanse your energy field and create an immediate shift in atmosphere. Alaskan Sacred Sprays and Bush Flower Remedy sprays are particularly popular for meditation preparation.
Shop Alaskan Sacred Sprays → | Shop Bush Flower Remedy Sprays →

Shamanic Drums

For those drawn to shamanic practice, the drum is the primary meditation tool — its steady beat inducing a theta brainwave state ideal for journeying and deep inner work.
Shop Natural Skin Drums → | Shop Synthetic Drums → | Shamanic Journeying Guide →

Common Challenges & How to Meet Them

  • “My mind won’t stop” — this is normal. The goal is not to stop thoughts but to notice them and return to your focus. Every return is a repetition of the practice.
  • “I fall asleep” — try meditating sitting up rather than lying down, or at a different time of day. A singing bowl or incense can help maintain alertness.
  • “I don’t have time” — five minutes is enough. Even one conscious breath before a difficult meeting is a form of meditation.
  • “I don’t know if I’m doing it right” — if you are sitting and attempting to pay attention, you are doing it right. There is no perfect meditation.
  • “I keep forgetting” — link your practice to an existing habit (morning tea, before bed) and use a physical cue — a crystal on your pillow, a candle on your desk — as a reminder.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I meditate for?

Five minutes every day is more valuable than an hour once a week. Most experienced practitioners recommend starting at five to ten minutes and building gradually as your capacity develops. The goal is consistency, not duration — a short daily practice will transform your experience of life far more quickly than occasional long sessions.

What’s the best time of day to meditate?

Morning — before the day’s demands begin — is the most consistently recommended time and the easiest to protect. Evening meditation is valuable for releasing the day and preparing for rest. The right time is the one you will actually do. Consistency with a less-than-ideal time beats irregularity with a perfect one.

Do I need to sit cross-legged?

No. The only requirement is a posture you can sustain without discomfort — seated in a chair with your feet flat on the floor is completely valid and used by many experienced practitioners. What matters is that your spine is reasonably upright (to support alertness) and your body is stable enough that it doesn’t become a distraction.

Why do I keep falling asleep?

Usually because you are genuinely tired, or because you are meditating lying down. Sit upright, meditate earlier in the day if possible, and use a sound cue — a singing bowl strike, or incense scent — to help maintain alertness. If you are consistently falling asleep, it may also be worth looking at your sleep quality overall.

Which crystals are best for meditation?

Amethyst for calm, spiritual connection, and deepening awareness. Clear Quartz for clarity and amplification of intention. Selenite for clearing the energy field before practice. Black Tourmaline or Smoky Quartz for grounding if you tend to feel scattered or ungrounded during meditation. Rose Quartz for loving-kindness and heart-centred practice. See our full How to Meditate with Crystals guide →

Is meditation the same as shamanic journeying?

They are related but distinct. Mindfulness and most forms of seated meditation are receptive — you open and observe. Shamanic journeying is intentional and active — you move through non-ordinary reality with a specific purpose and return with something: guidance, a healing, a connection. Both alter consciousness; they do it differently and achieve different things. See our Shamanic Journeying Guide →

What incense is best for meditation?

Frankincense is the classic choice — used in contemplative traditions worldwide for thousands of years; it slows the breath and deepens awareness. Nag Champa is the most popular contemporary meditation incense. Sandalwood grounds and centres. Lavender calms a busy mind. Use the same scent consistently and it becomes a conditioned cue — your nervous system learns to settle the moment it recognises it. See our Incense Guide → for a full breakdown by intention.

Which candle is best for meditation?

A simple white tealight or pillar candle is all you need to begin. White is the all-purpose choice — clear, neutral, and energetically open. As your practice deepens, you can choose by intention: purple for spiritual depth, blue for calm, white for clarity. For trataka (candle gazing), a pillar candle gives a more substantial, steady flame. See our Candles Guide → for a full beginner-to-intermediate guide to candles in meditation.

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