These tips were written for Healing Meditation.net by an inspirational cancer survivor in Australia. If you have an article, story or advice to offer others, please leave it on our comment page, or in any comment box.

I got into meditation because I had late stage cancer and I had read in Ian Gawler’s book “You Can Conquer Cancer” that meditation was integral to getting better. The doctor had told me that a cure wasn’t likely in my case, so along with orthodox medical treatments, I did quite a lot of alternative healing.

I spent a week at a retreat for people with cancer run by Stephen Taylor at his property Tayen Park, in Clare, South Australia. We learned about various mechanisms of illness, which include the state of mind, and we discussed diet and lifestyle issues in relation to health. Every day we meditated. Through meditation it is possible to reach a deep state where healing can occur. Stephen believes that meditation is essential to living well.

I had tried meditation when I was young. I used to go to the Theosophical Society in Newcastle, NSW, where we had lectures on a variety of metaphysical subjects, and did various kinds of meditation. Over time I moved on from my youthful views of the world as a spiritual place to viewing the world as a chaotic place without meaning. When I got sick I thought that way of thinking had to change.

With two friends, I became a regular at Buddha House in Adelaide for their introduction to meditation sessions (run on Monday and Tuesday evenings). The sessions go for an hour and include a short lecture about some aspect of meditation and several short guided meditations.

There’s nothing arty-farty about meditation. Meditation is about becoming still and being in the moment. Don’t expect to start levitating or seeing colours, although some people say this is possible. In a quiet meditative state, you might become aware of certain things that within the cacophony of life, you were previously unaware. This quietness is internal - you don’t necessarily need a quiet place to meditate.

I do a kind of meditation called ‘mindful breathing’. I sit with my eyes closed and I focus on my breath. You can focus on the beginning of the breath, the part in between, and the exhalation. This gives the mind something to do while you are meditating. The aim is to become still and quiet. When you first start meditating, you might be surprised at how busy your mind actually is - with all the thoughts that come and go. Meditation teachers say to imagine the thoughts as little clouds - observe them, and let the float on by.

You don’t need to wait until you are sick to consider the impact your own thoughts may be having on your health. Meditation is a good way to slow down and take a break from the noise of living. Meditation can strengthen the mind, in the same way that exercise can strengthen the body. Everyone can benefit from meditation.

Shaw Hendry
South Australian visual artist and writer