How to Meditate Without Getting a Black Eye

*AI generated photo

Have you ever passed out while meditating? I have. I woke up on the floor with a huge knot on my right temple. Eventually, I developed a black eye. Thankfully, it wasn't too severe which I attribute that to the shilajit I was taking at the time. Not that I have had many black eyes. But if I find the picture of the pickle-ball incident in 9th grade gym class, I will have to add it here. I was left with two black eyes and a cracked cheek bone. Jayce, I will never forget you!

There are so many different forms of meditation in which you can practice. It's not all just sitting quietly, cross-legged on the floor. Meditation can be yoga, breathwork, dance, art, basically any practice where you can enter a flow state. This article will discuss breathwork meditation. I personally fought meditation for about 10 years, and chose to do hypnosis in various forms.

It is important to make sure that you have a safe space in which to practice. I recommend starting out sitting on the floor vs a chair. I also like to determine my "pass-out perimeter". I make sure that if I were to lose consciousness, I am far enough away from any furniture to avoid hitting my head on any surface.

It is very important to master your breathwork. I apparently stopped breathing, and then fainted. If you are taking huge breaths, I wouldn't hold them in for longer than 4-5 seconds in the beginning. And that may be too long for some people. I would ease into it, and let it evolve. If you hold your breath too long, it can cause a buildup of carbon dioxide and a decrease in oxygen. This can lead to dizziness, and as I discovered, a loss of consciousness.

For whatever reason, when I was meditating in the beginning, I kept experiencing this fear of dying. And everyone I spoke with said, "You can't die while meditating"... Well, I'm here to tell you, that you can pass out and get a black eye! I should also mention I was in an infrared sauna on a bench that sits about 2 feet off the ground.

There was a time when I became obsessed with seeking deeper meditation experiences and immediate results. This pushing made me also feel a lot of fear. I felt as if I was going to die, or wake up in someone else's reality with a new life and a new identity. I had a good friend and mentor remind me that I was just exploring the universe through my own mind. I wasn't going to abandon my reality.

While the overall meditation was amazing, there were times it felt as if I was hitting barriers, and instead of stopping, I was trying to go deeper. At one point I swear I heard an "error code" like a digital error sound in my head. I thought I broke my brain.

Basically, you don't want to force it. If your brain is telling you not to push, slow down, and listen; there is time. You can't force it, you can break your brain and push yourself into a mental break. I don't see a lot of people discussing this, but everything is about balance.

If you ever lose consciousness while meditating, please seek medical advice to rule out any underlining condition. As well as openly discuss with your medical professional the technique you are using while meditating, to ensure that you are doing so safely.

After coming to terms with the realization that hypnosis had its limits with personal growth, I gave up the resistance and started my meditation journey. It's crazy in hindsight, that I fought it for so long, as this practice has been the most amazing journey of my life. At 45, I've learned my biggest life lesson: flow with life vs. resisting everything.

I enjoy taking deep breaths while meditating, and one of my favorite practices is "Blessing of the Energy Centers". Dr. Joe Dispenza's show Brain Rewired on Gia, which explores healing through meditation introduces this meditation. I am currently reading his book, Being Supernatural. You can find more information regarding his works on YouTube.

I feel energy rising in my body, while sometimes I enjoy visual effects. For me everything is through a photo negative lens. It has evolved over the years, to seeing figures, structures, and everything with greater detail. At first it looked 2D and now slowly things are starting to have depth.

Other times I experience the sensation of flying through the universe. Not gracefully, but rear-end first and blindfolded while laughing. Or interrupting an important board meeting of spiritual elders; while I'm crying in the corner mumbling about gratitude. I will go deeper into that another time...

I know not everyone has these experiences, or no one openly admits it. If you relate to this in any way, I'd love to have a conversation about it.

I would suggest when starting your meditation journey, is to pick a breathing practice that works for you. You can just take deep breaths and focus on your heart beat. Box breathing, deep belly breathing, alternative nostril breathing, mindful breath observation, and 4-7-8 breathing. If your mind starts to wander and you lose focus, breathing is an easy way to help you reconnect. It isn't about being perfect. It's a practice.

Remember as with everything, it's about balance.

There is no perfect way to meditate. People can make it appear glamours or more complicated than it needs to be. You don't need special attire to meditate--just be comfortable. You have to work with what you got. I have used meditative breath as a way to ground when I feel like I'm spinning off the planet with nervous energy. I love to put go barefoot on the earth and take centering breaths.

Not everyone has visions in meditation. Everyone has their own unique journey. The biggest take away is that it is a practice, it takes time to cultivate. When I first started meditating, it was mostly getting used to breathing and being able to sit still. Over time, and trying out different breathing techniques, I found a style of breathing I really was able to connect with and modify to my own.

Every meditation is different. Sometimes I feel a lot of emotions while meditating and don't see anything at all. Other times it's just thoughts floating through my mind and my goal is to just stay focused. No rising of energy, emotions, or visuals. There are times that I cannot articulate the experience. I just trust that my brain will make sense of it at a later time.

What I have found to be the best part about meditation is that it is a practice, that it changes each day. Some days are great, and you have amazing experiences and some days are calm or harder to find that calm. The point isn't about being perfect, it's about the evolution. Breathwork used to be a very intense practice for me and it used to literally knock me out, and with patience and practice it is now a rejuvenating practice.

Always consult with your doctor to rule out any underlying health conditions if you experience a loss of consciousness with any breathing practice. I am not a doctor, nor is my experience meant to be construed as health advice, this is for entertainment purposes only.

Meditation is a unique journey, and very personal to your own experiences. I image we all have completely different experiences. What has your meditation journey been like? Share your thoughts in the comments below!