Problems on focusing

[Garnetsun]

Merry meet and many blessings from the New Year everyone !


I am still not certain whether this will be the best forum used to ask my questions, but i'll give it a shot.
Since Yule, and vacations, I find my mind having difficulties on focussing -beyond the laziness that comes with some students druing winter break ahaha-. Especially in relation about my path. I've always had a very vivid imagination and mind, and sometimes my brain won't, well, shut up. It can make me stay awake for hours, either by remembering random stuff, melodies -sometimes whole symphonies-, and basically whatever you want.
And well, for the first time, it goes against my practice. Because of that, even though my heart and spirit still strongly want to do prayers, research, communication with my Patron Deities, or just talking to the Gods and Goddess, my mind won't clear.
And well, nearly three weeks of trying, I came for help. While my connection to Wicca and Paganism is still strong, and I try my best not to stray away, i really feel a block. That, and well, i can't even focus my mind 5 seconds on the God and Goddess symbols to try to communicate that I still believe in them, and that I still work on my study... and it feels that they understand, but its very tiring -well, not even counting on incapaciting everyday life-.

I don't really know if anyone of you may have tips, or advices, or just anything to help me try go through that.

Thank you everyone,
And blessed be all !

[Heartsong]

Hi Garnetsun, it's good to be hearing from you again!

I have this problem too. My mind is always buzzing with this idea or that idea, which makes it pretty difficult to just tune out for while and find some inner stillness. What has helped me was an exercise I came across in a guided meditation and it really does help quiet my mind and increase my focus. Here's what you could try:

While your taking deep breaths to calm your body, either before a meditation, ritual work, prayer, commuing with your Patron, etc., try to visualize in your mind a volume dial. Imagine that you are reaching out a hand to the dial and slowly begin to turn it, a single notch ticking down with each breath you exhale. Imagine that as you turn this dial, the volume and frequency of your thoughts gradually quiet. Don't shut them down completely (I don't think that's entirely possible anyway), just bring them down a few notches. As you do so, imagine that you're simultaneously heightening your focus, zeroing in on the dial.

Practice with this exercise, and you're more than welcome to play with it and the adjustment of the dial in your mind, until you feel comfortable and able to concentrate. I hope that's helpful.

[Firebird]

Hi Garnet, do you get to go outside much? I find the more I connect with Nature the stronger the bond with the divine is. You might want to try meditating in this natural setting, and try Heartsongs method (very cool by the way!) of turning down the volume and acknowledge the thoughts that come...but then let them go. Even if you can't meditate while you are outside... enjoy the day (or the night)... do meander about, you might find the God/Goddess will lead you on a journey.
BB, Firebird

[MsMollimizz]

I do my best to focus on my breathing, that only works for a little while,
so far. He lays down about 1pm and I'm trying to set aside 2-2:30 for me.
No matter how deep I can get into it or not I'm going to use this time for
me ! Sure I do surveys online to keep me in books and whatevers !
Yeah, I struggle right along with y'all !

Gentle Light
MsMollimizz

[Garnetsun]

Thank you all for your quick answers!
That really helped in the midst of those really bothering coulds of thoughts.
And again, thank you Heartsong, the exercise really helped. Well, for a few hours, but at least I could concentrate a little more on a basic meditation exercise. I'll keep doing it every few days, to see if there is an improvement !

@Garnetsun

I know what your going through. I've been through something very similar many times.

Have you tried to figure out what may be the cause?

Hum, actualy, I've never thought about a particular cause for these moments. is there really something specific that could cause them, beside the obvious overthinking, or basically an overactive brain?
The psychologist at the hospital told me i have a very vivid imagination, and that i might be a tad too much cerebral, but beyond that... i've never really checked anything that could explain this whole business.
I also have tinnitus -that's what my dictionnary says at least-, but it doesn't really fit into the whole picture, except being linked somewhat to my hearing spiritual beings.

Hi Garnet, do you get to go outside much? I find the more I connect with Nature the stronger the bond with the divine is. You might want to try meditating in this natural setting, and try Heartsongs method (very cool by the way!) of turning down the volume and acknowledge the thoughts that come...but then let them go. Even if you can't meditate while you are outside... enjoy the day (or the night)... do meander about, you might find the God/Goddess will lead you on a journey.
BB, Firebird

I have the chance to be able to go outside, whether on the beach or on the land everyday if I want to! Meditating outside is a no-no for the moment -Brittany is the land of rain, really-, but... I might try this when the sun peeks through the clouds. I understand your feelings, i also feels that my connection with the divine is stronger outside, I even find myself praying almost incontrallably when I walk outside -sometimes in company ahaha-. it might help to make these thoughts go away if i find myself alone, that, plus doing Heartsong's method!

Well, I have work to do now.
thank you all again, and blessed be !

[azriel]

Also i'm going to go out on a limb here, because this may be a bit more "controversial" to some people here but another issue could be the people around you. Sometimes we run into people who are just a draining influence, Psychic Vampires.
These people can drain energy from you and some of them don't even realize they do it. Being a target can oddly enough give you problems with focusing, etc

I concur with Val on this point. It is hard to keep focus if you are exhausted or constantly feeling drained by external sources. Often I have to calm myself down before I do any sort of meditation or spell work due to the way I feel after interacting with my family. I usually sit or lay down and listen to music, Japanese/Korean drums.

If I feel that I need to focus more during meditation I will pick a word to be a mantra and I will focus on the word as I speak it.

Azriel
^-^~

[Garnetsun]

Thank you again for your quick answers!

@Valmont.

Well, books and TVs sur get my imagination working, but I don't think it is the primary cause. Or really, I just would be a bundle of daydream and walk-in story aha
Not that I would mind, but to work, it isn't what is best!

But... the idea of Psychic Vampires quite ring a bell. For this to happen, do the person (or people, or situation) have to be aware of some kind of energy ? Or do anyone can unconsciously drain another person ?
Maybe to explain a bit more, the situation at home isn't the best, and I just feel drained because of my grandmother, who just causes problems to anyone, every single moment. And well, I can't really get out from that, even with school, since I always come back to a snarky remarks, or a scene at home.

I usually do the same as you, Azriel. Listening to music calms me down quickly, but it stays in mind, and never leaves. Maybe shall i try drums ? Or percussions ? To help with a rythm to meditate/make the thoughts go away.

Do you have any other tips against energy draining due to a person? Maybe, a spell, a prayer ?
Actually, talking about it already lifted a weight from my shoudlers, you are really amazing.

Thank you all again,
Blessed be !

[Klia]

GarnetSun, I am trying to understand your question. Do you feel like your faith is fading or becoming inferior to the busyness of your mind? I know you said you still have a connection to Wicca/Paganism, but are you saying it's just not where it was before all this?

I have noticed that this winter break for me has been a difficult one. I haven't casted a circle in probably over a month, and it honestly makes me question why. Sometimes I think maybe my faith is fading or it's not as important to me anymore. But when I get down about it, I read the Wiccan Rede and the Creation Story. These things lift me up again, to show me my faith is still in my heart. I sometimes am skeptical, but know it makes much more sense, to me, than any other religion.

I did yoga for the first time last night and it calmed my mind and I focused on the God and Goddess. It is a meditative activity that helps me better myself, so I can have a better relationship with Them. Anything can make you feel closer to Them, if you let it. I suggest working on yourself and your mind, and meditating.

Did this help at all?

[Garnetsun]

@Klia :
well, you also hit the center of my feelings.
Sometimes, I just feel like you, questioning my faith and path, but when I look to everything I wrote, or sometimes just at the moon -who shines just above my window-, and it all come back to me. How right it is for me, and why I've chosen this religion instead of another, who might be ... "easier" to practice. Thanks to religious buildings in proximity.
But, at the same time, even when I am sure of my faith, my busyness of mind just drown it. Like a tiny little acorn instead of a big tree. I know it's here, but my thoughts, and well, weariness of mind, just doesn't allow me to tap into it, even if I strongly want to.
And I do want to, i really miss this connection to the Divine, even if it's buried deep inside.


@Phoenix and Klia :
I know about Yoga, I've been practising for a few years, first for physical health, and then for more overall stability. But it doesn't work the same way anymore, or I might be doing it wrong sometimes ah. But yeah, it is a very good activity, for the body and the mind!

But I've never truly worked with my chakras though; i know about them and their correspondances. I shall look into it, and see if I can do something about it.
The binaural meditation seem to be really interesting, especially if they don't require my full attention, like other meditations aha And if works for you, there is a big chance it also does for me !

Thank you everyone, it really helps to see all those courses of action for this quite strange happening

[Echo_of_shadows]

How about a change in your routines? Winter is the time of year when most of us get into "slumps." Maybe you could try changing where or how you meditate or do yoga. For example, maybe you could meditate while holding something (my boyfriend meditates while holding a katana in his lap.), or maybe you could get a new yoga mat. (Perhaps in a flashy, energetic color like red or yellow.) Speaking of color, how about color therapy? You can try surrounding yourself with energetic or upbeat colors like red and yellow, or perhaps you want things to be more relaxing and choose blue and purple.
There's more than one way to communicate with the divine. You don't have to always be in a circle or reciting prayers to get Their attention. The next time you're about to do your favorite thing, take a quick second to say to the God and Goddess "I dedicate this time to you. May it bring us closer."
There are a lot of great ideas in this thread, Garnetsun. I hope you find something that works for you.

Brightest Blessings,
Echo