A Crystal Meditation

I've found this especially helpful, as a beginner to meditation.
I've found "clearing my mind" to be something of a joke...I just cannot seem to do it. Thoughts creep in, completely uninvited and before I know it, I've been replaying the scene from the fast food joint yesterday where the server was rude and meditation time is up! So frustrating. A busy mom like me could really use the down time but I just cannot seem to make "nothing" happen in my mind.
I found that this helps a lot ...the reason I like it so much is because it gives you something to focus on doing mentally, but it is something that is still highly soothing and calming at the same time, and allows for the ebb and flow of subconscious thought too.

Take a crystal-I've been using small amethyst clusters but you can use anything you like. I've personally found that crystal points, rather than tumbled stones work better for me, but that could just be personal preference-see what works for you.

Get into a comfortable position where you can hold and clearly see your stone. The room need not be bright, just enough light to see it. Put on some music that aids your meditation if you like.

Now...slowly turn your crystal around, taking time to memorize it. Don't worry-you will not be able to commit a more complicated cluster or a point with many inclusions to memory this first try. Right now just aim for a general idea.

Recreate the crystal in your mind now...it's inclusions, it's shape, the bed it grows from if there is one. Commit it's "feel" to memory; it's vibrations. Is it cold to the touch? Pointy? Try your best to recreate this crystal in your mind.

Now see, in your minds eye, the crystal growing. Larger and larger, until it is as large as the room you are in. Or larger if you like-as big as a house, or a building. Whatever feels good to you. Just see it growing around YOU until you are inside of the crystal. Try and see it from the inside. All you need to do is make it the size you feel OK with. I guess you could also see this as shrinking yourself down-again, whatever works best for you.

Now...you can choose to stay where you are, laying down or sitting inside the crystal. Your mind will still be busy keeping the image of your crystal strong-that will be in the forefront of your brain right now. Or, once you practice some, you can see yourself walking around inside the crystal-take not of any images you see, but always keep the formation of the crystal at the forefront of your mind. If you find yourself getting "used" to the crystal, change it up...use a new crystal, or just a new cluster. I've had to do that once or twice. I am getting better at "being in" the meditation, however, when you have 5 kids thoughts are just going to happen from time to time, and when I notice they are becoming more frequent, using a new cluster has helped me regain my focus.

It's steady and relaxing, but still very engaging mental work, that should help keep your mind occupied and stop too many stray thoughts from entering. I've found it to be very helpful for someone like me who has a mind that tends to wander. I've been working with this meditation for a while and this is all how it works best for me...but remember to tweak it to be what you need.