When I try to do this as an adult I get the random voices in my head or music which I have concluded to be hypnagogic hallucination.

Once I tried to silence it by visualizing a point of light surrounded by a soundproof sphere as I imagined the point reaching center, there was brief quiet. I had about 5 seconds of silence before a voice blurted out: "He's the guy that turned me on to Led Zeppelin".

I think this was as close I've come to meditating, but I know little of any formal methods. I'm not sure I was meditating at all.

It seems very close to a "not asleep, but not quite awake" mid ground.

In the mid 80's, I worked for a guy who would meditate in his office when things were slow.

One night a call I knew he needed to take came.

Entering his office I found him snoring in the lotus position.

I told him "wake up Jim, you have a call!"

Jim: "I wasn't asleep, I was meditating..."

Me: "Sorry, I thought you were asleep."

Jim: "No, and I could feel myself about to enter the astral plain!"

Me: "Well you snore when you meditate. Pick up the phone!"

I hope that doesn't offend anyone, back then, I wouldn't have expected to hear snoring during meditation. Nowadays if I try it, I find it nearly impossible to stay awake myself.

Meditation to me is just starring off into space and let my mind go wherever it chooses to go for 20-30 minutes. Call it daydreaming if you want but it seems to clear the cobwebs out.

I prefer a power nap.

This is a link I use often. This section pertains to meditation.

2.) Anyone can meditate. Meditation is nothing more than allowing your mind to become still. Most people's minds are filled with a continuous parade of noisy and random thoughts which intrude on the waking mind. Meditation is a focused effort to quiet the mind. Sit quietly. Find an object on which you can focus your attention. Turn off the phone and TV. Now look at your chosen focus object. If a thought arises - consider it for a moment then let it go. If it is something you consider important or something you need to remember - stop, write it down, begin again. Writing it down means that you won't forget it and can think about it later when you're finished meditating. (This is also a good technique if you are troubled by unwanted thoughts while trying to go to sleep. There will be plenty of time in the morning to think about it and the paper you wrote the thought on will act as your "memory" so you can think about it in the morning without worrying about "forgetting it" overnight.) Commit to meditating for 5 minutes per day. If it "doesn't work" then try again the next day. Learning to quiet your mind requires constant daily practice. Once you successfully quiet your mind for 5 minutes per day increase the time to 10 minutes... then 15. Within a few months you'll be able to have 20 or 30 minutes of peace per day. This will recharge your mental batteries.

I'm the same way /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

I cant even ride in a car with someone else driving,

how could I hand over my mind for someone else

to "drive"

My response to this is "Do you have a steering wheel over there? Pedals? No? Shaddup!"

I'm the same way /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />

I cant even ride in a car with someone else driving,

how could I hand over my mind for someone else

to "drive"

I have a hard time with that also Heidi. LOL

I cant even ride in a car with someone else driving,

how could I hand over my mind for someone else

to "drive"

We should probably start a thread about hypnosis! /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Heidi, (and Karen) I think my unwillingness to be hypnotized stems from my control issues. Same with hallucenogenic drugs...they have been offered to me and I refuse every time. (remember: I've hung out with musicians all my life. The offers are par for the course.) I have an absolute necessity to be in control of my thoughts. I can't slow them down, but I do have a grip on them.

I guess I have the perception that hypnosis puts someone else in control, even though I know it isn't a totally valid perception.

Right now, I would like to find a reputable hypnotherapist. I am considering a "spiritual retreat" of sorts so as to reacquaint myself with...well...myself. Meditation is involved. I want to sit cross-legged in front of a fireplace or a waterfall for about three days and figure out where in the H E double hockey sticks I went!

Hypnosis is somewhat about willingness to be hypnotized. One of the things I've learned is that pretty much anyone can be hypnotized - but you can't made to be do things that make you uncomfortable. So if you don't want to be hypnotized you won't.

I seriously thought there was no way I could be hypnotized (even tho I wanted to be). I was. They have different methods for people who are tough to put under in traditional ways.

I think that is the biggest problem for me.

I dont think I would WANT to be hypnotized.

For some reason it makes me really uncomfortable t

to think about being like that. vulnerable or something.

I dont think I could ever meditate...my brain never stops /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I dont think I could be hypnotized either. I once saw this

one performing and he did this test that involved putting

your fingers together and he did this thing where you

didnt think you could pull them apart and told people

to try. He said people who could pull them apart couldnt

be hypnotized, i pulled mine apart /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Hypnosis is somewhat about willingness to be hypnotized. One of the things I've learned is that pretty much anyone can be hypnotized - but you can't made to be do things that make you uncomfortable. So if you don't want to be hypnotized you won't.

I seriously thought there was no way I could be hypnotized (even tho I wanted to be). I was. They have different methods for people who are tough to put under in traditional ways.

I dont think I could be hypnotized either. I once saw this

one performing and he did this test that involved putting

your fingers together and he did this thing where you

didnt think you could pull them apart and told people

to try. He said people who could pull them apart couldnt

be hypnotized, i pulled mine apart /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I've tried to meditate, but I can't. The voices in my head just won't let me.

Those infamous voices! Are we ever going to get to talk to them? Or are we already? /blink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />