Continuing our brief look at meditation techniques, this second article of 3 examines the use of shapes and symbols in meditation.

I don’t remember where I first came across this concept, but it’s very effective. Take a sheet of A4/ letter-size paper and print an equilateral triangle on it. Stick it on the wall in front of you, at head height, or on the ceiling if you’re meditating lying down. Focus your eyes on the triangle and breathe slowly and deeply. Notice what happens.

Take another sheet of A4/ letter-size paper and print a big circle on it. Focus your eyes on the triangle and breathe slowly and deeply. Notice what happens now.

I find that the triangle energizes me whilst the circle calms me. They may have a different effect on you – the important thing is to notice the effect as you can then use the shapes when you need a quick dose of energy or an injection of calm. I keep meaning to try a square, but haven’t tried it yet. I’d love it if some of you were to try it and let me know the effect.

If you want to try an added dimension, try outlining or filling the shapes in different colours and see what results you get.

In ‘Lost Secrets of Ancient Hawaiian Huna’, Tad James has printed 36 symbols for use in spiritual meditation. He describes those symbols as ‘simply symbolic of a function or an energy of the universe’.

Unfortunately the book is out of print at the moment and fetches a lot of money on Amazon. Let’s hope Tad reprints it soon!