Congratulations! If you are reading this article you have already to some degree or other committed to meditating and enjoying the rewards of higher states of awareness.

Setting up your meditation space properly can enhance your meditations. What are some important things to consider in setting up our meditation space?

First of all, there are many possible settings: you may meditate with a group or you may meditate on your own. You may meditate in your own home and have control over the environment or you may meditate in a community hall with little choice. Let us consider the former.

Setting up your meditation corner at home:

Experienced meditators become increasingly aware of the subtle emanations which come from things. But even you do not yet perceive those things clearly, go with what your feel is right, follow your gut instinct. On some level you already know what is right.

Burning incense or essential oils can raise the vibration of your environment and make it easier for you to get into a meditative space, leaving for the gross reality behind for a while.

Ensure there will be no disturbances while you meditate. You may need to turn the phone off, close or even lock the door, tell your friends not to drop in at that time, have someone look after the kids or allow them to come into your space quietly.

Make sure the room is clean and well ventilated. There must be a sense of aliveness rather than staleness. You must be able to breathe freely.

You may have your special meditation things such as a meditation cushion or a mat if you like to sit cross legged. If you can't you may prefer to use a low meditation stool you put your leggs under and rest your bottom on the stool. This avoids completely cutting the blood flow in the legs and doesn't stretch the ankle and knee joints as much as sitting on a cushion. You can also sit in a chair if all of the above is too hard. The main thing is to keep your back straight.

YOu may like to have photographs of mystical or religious icons who inspire you into higher states of consciousness or love.

You may also perform a little ritual before starting your meditation session such as invoking certain beings or qualities, or setting a positive intention, or sounding some tibetan bells, lighting incence, dimming the lights, etc...

Ensure your clothes allow you to sit and breathe comfortably.

As well as your physical space, you may want to ensure you know when the session is up. If you use music then the music will stop playing but if you meditate in silence you may want to set up a soft alarm. This will ensure you do not worry about the time and keep your internal focus.

Setting up a group practise:

Again, all the physical comfort considerations apply but you must take care of the added complication of having a group of people together.

There must be mutual respect and tolerance.

During meditation people may have issue come up for them and they may cry. This is a very healthy stress release and must be encouraged. Respect other people's privacy to go through their issues without trying to save them. If an issue is too difficult to be delt with in meditation, the meditator may need to seek counselling or some other form of emotional help. In winter, people may be affected by colds and cough during a meditation session. Again, instead of reacting, allow this to be and watch your own reaction. Some people may burst into laughter for no apparent reason. This can be as a result of kundalini activity, not because they are making fun of others. Meditating with others can really push your buttons and being tolerant of others can be called for numerous times in numerous ways. Some people can experience waves of love or bliss and may want to share that with others. While this is a beautiful thing, be sensitve to whether others are receptive to what you are willing to offer. They may or may not be. If they are not, do not taking personally.

Again, there is no right way to set up your meditation space, go with what feels harmonious for you. May you enjoy the process and fruit of your meditation practise.