Find a place that has a comfortable feel for you, a spot that feels welcoming, preferably outdoors. It is good to lie on the grass, or lean against a tree or rock, but sit on something comfortable if that feels better. If it is more convenient to be indoors, try to fill your room with harmony and life. Have growing things about you. Burn pleasant incense or oil, maybe a candle or two if that pleases you. The main thing is to feel relaxed.

Don’t try to clear your mind of thoughts: to try to do so consciously often has the opposite effect of making one tense. Let your mind range where it will. If you feel like looking around, look around! Notice the flowers, the sound of the birds, the wind through the leaves, the distant noise of traffic and people. Gradually your thoughts will quieten.

As your mind becomes still, imagine your body becoming less solid, your skin – the barrier between you and the outside world – melting. Imagine the zee energy shimmering all around you, permeating the earth beneath, the air above you. Feel the zee tingling around your body like electricity.

Take slow, deep breaths, drawing the air down into your stomach. With each breath visualise the sparkling zee being drawn into your body through every pore, through the soles of the feet, palms of the hand, and crown of the head.

Continue in this way until the zee fills your whole body with vibrant glowing energy, and you feel yourself bursting with light. Now gradually close the barriers between you and the world again, to enclose the zee energy within your body. Feel your skin become solid again. Gradually the light drains from the extremities towards the torso. then concentrate the light into a glowing ball situated in the region of the solar plexus. Concentrate your mind for a few moments on the reassuring feel of this ball of light, your own power house of energy, then darken it with an imaginary cover that will keep it safe, deep inside yourself until it is needed.

Do this exercise whenever you can, ideally every day. Don’t worry if you can’t complete it every time; don’t worry if you fall asleep half way through; just sitting quietly for a while is of great benefit to the psyche, so the time is never wasted.

~from Gypsy Magic
by Patrinella Cooper