I share your problem -- an overactive mind, an imagination that sometimes seems to be its own separate intelligence inside my head, and tinnitus in *both* ears makes that kind of mental blankness/openness very difficult to attain. There's also a positive feedback loop that gets in the way: I have trouble fully clearing my mind so I start stressing about fully clearing my mind which makes it more difficult to clear my mind which increases my stress over not clearing my mind which... <sigh> On and on. :-(
However, all is not lost. :-) I work with cartomancy (Tarot plus I'm beginning to use a non-tarot oracle that's been laying around for years) and runes, and am beginning to experiment with a pendulum, and I've found a couple of tricks that seem to be working...
1) If I achieve what feels like the right state of mind, even just for a few moments, then I just run with it. This could be a deep blankness, or just the feeling of, "Yeah, I can ask that question now" or something in-between. This allows me to start to work with the tool I'm using without stressing over being unable to get into a trancelike meditative state.
2) I've stopped worrying about getting into the right state of mind and simply try to concentrate on my question, repeating it (usually silently) at least 3-4 times before laying out cards or drawing runestones from their bag. As long as I can clearly recall the question I'm working with, the message seems to get through the ground clutter of other thoughts.
3) Sometimes I'll just hold the deck of cards or bag of runestones in my hand and gently just move it around, creating a sort of tactile connection while my mind just kind of flirts with the question I want to ask. I don't concentrate on anything -- I may even be listening to music or even watching a video; I just keep moving my deck or bag around in my hands while the question floats in & out of my mind for a few minutes. Then, when that intangible "something" everyone talks about tells me I'm ready, I'll state my question out loud and start the spread/drawing.
It’s good to know I’m not the only who can’t flip that switch off! 😊
I’m always thinking 5 steps ahead ( more like 5 years ahead).
I have been practicing mindfulness and that has made a difference.
I have not experimented with tarot or oracle cards yet. I like your motto of just having the “intuition“to know when the time is right to ask your question while shuffling the cards. I love music so this might be something I can give a go at. Thank you for your feedback.
I share your problem -- an overactive mind, an imagination that sometimes seems to be its own separate intelligence inside my head, and tinnitus in *both* ears makes that kind of mental blankness/openness very difficult to attain. There's also a positive feedback loop that gets in the way: I have trouble fully clearing my mind so I start stressing about fully clearing my mind which makes it more difficult to clear my mind which increases my stress over not clearing my mind which... <sigh> On and on. :-(
However, all is not lost. :-) I work with cartomancy (Tarot plus I'm beginning to use a non-tarot oracle that's been laying around for years) and runes, and am beginning to experiment with a pendulum, and I've found a couple of tricks that seem to be working...
1) If I achieve what feels like the right state of mind, even just for a few moments, then I just run with it. This could be a deep blankness, or just the feeling of, "Yeah, I can ask that question now" or something in-between. This allows me to start to work with the tool I'm using without stressing over being unable to get into a trancelike meditative state.
2) I've stopped worrying about getting into the right state of mind and simply try to concentrate on my question, repeating it (usually silently) at least 3-4 times before laying out cards or drawing runestones from their bag. As long as I can clearly recall the question I'm working with, the message seems to get through the ground clutter of other thoughts.
3) Sometimes I'll just hold the deck of cards or bag of runestones in my hand and gently just move it around, creating a sort of tactile connection while my mind just kind of flirts with the question I want to ask. I don't concentrate on anything -- I may even be listening to music or even watching a video; I just keep moving my deck or bag around in my hands while the question floats in & out of my mind for a few minutes. Then, when that intangible "something" everyone talks about tells me I'm ready, I'll state my question out loud and start the spread/drawing.
I hope some of this helps you...!
It’s good to know I’m not the only who can’t flip that switch off! 😊
I’m always thinking 5 steps ahead ( more like 5 years ahead). I have been practicing mindfulness and that has made a difference.
I have not experimented with tarot or oracle cards yet. I like your motto of just having the “intuition“to know when the time is right to ask your question while shuffling the cards. I love music so this might be something I can give a go at. Thank you for your feedback.