Connecting to Your Inner Mermaid     Now, finally, after all of that research, we now move onto the fun part- and the first metaphysical area! Don't move on to this lesson unless you have completed your research and drawing, because this is the part where you find your inner mermaid. What I mean by this is you will be finding out what exactly you will look like as a mermaid, and maybe explore a little in this very first meditation (and, your first F-Shift!). This part of your training involves meditation however, so it may be hard at first. For those of you inexperienced in meditation, I have included a quick warm up that you can do a couple times to get used to the idea.  Warm Ups Breathing-  To begin meditation, it is extremely important that you have the correct breathing. Many people will say you also need correct posture, although I for one am not one of them. The breathing is fairly simple, however. Begin by breathing in through your nose, and out through your mouth. Then, begin counting as you breath.... As you breath in, count to three. Hold your breath for three counts, and finally exhale for three counts. You shouldn't be gasping for air or holding your breath; this type of breathing is supposed to relax you. Remember, this breathing comes naturally to your body, so after a few times of counting your breaths you should be able to breath like this on your own.  Exercise One- When I first started out in meditation, I found this method very helpful to keeping my mind on task and visualizing. Basically, you just go through the alphabet in your head. However, instead of just saying each letter in your mind, you have close your eyes and write out each letter in your mind. See the letter, say it out loud, almost feel your hand writing the letter. Feel each letter, and then let it go completely. You should spend about five seconds on each letter. Remember to not let your mind wander, and to not slip out of the moment (which is easy to do if you're tired!).  Try and see each letter in a place between your eyes and your mind, if that makes sense.  Exercise Two- This next one is all about clearing your mind... and sitting up strait does help with this. Sit somewhere comfortable, close your eyes, and completely clear your mind. I know, this sounds very hard, but with practice it comes easier. Just think of absolutely... nothing. Don't think at all! It helps to begin with imagining yourself putting all of your thoughts and feeling and urges to move into a box and shoving it under a bed somewhere.  Once you begin meditating, if you encounter a thought then the best way to get of it is to actually let it come into your mind... and then let it drift out. Acknowledge the thought, but let it leave your mind with peace. Simply trying to shove everything out of your mind won't work at all, things will just keep popping in. Finally, remember to focus on the nothingness, and not on keeping things out of your mind. Let the clarity of nothingness just wash over your mind. Don't worry, I know its hard, but no one expects you to be perfect!      Now, after you've practiced these warm ups, and you feel physically ready to begin, you may. I would not suggest trying to meditate before you feel like you can, because your mind may get in the way of the truth. Now, on to the actual meditation! You may change it as much as you like, this is just my version.  Connecting to Your Inner Mermaid     Begin somewhere with lots of senses. Somewhere that relates to something you experience in every day life or something you can remember easily. Perhaps you are sitting in the sun, with the smell of grass all around you  and your skin is warm in the fading glow of daylight. Maybe, you have awoken in a creek, and the cold water is spilling over you as if you were a part of it's pebbled bottom. Slowly, get up. You see and feel and hear things as if you were there. You do not see yourself from a third person point of view. Look down. The first thing you see is an offering of some kind. It could be a candle, a fruit, a cake or maybe a feather. The next thing that you see is something that represents humanity to you... something that means something to you, and to humans. It could be anywhere from money to your favorite pair of shoes to a diamond ring. Whatever these two items are, pick them up. Now, look around you.      I won't tell you what you are to see, because that depends on you. All I can tell you is that the sun is setting, you are near a body of water, and it is absolutely beautiful. Let your mind explore this place... it is your haven. This is the place that you will come back to in your later F-shifts, and you should feel safe here. Slowly, you begin to walk towards the body of water. However, before you get to the water, you will see a... shrine of sorts. Like everything else, this can be whatever you wish it to be. It could be a small waterfall, or a tree, or a slab of rock. Whatever it is, set your offering here. Now, you speak. If you have any specific religion, you could talk to your god or goddess. If you are open to anything, then I would suggest speaking to the goddess Aphrodite, to the undines, or even to the element of water itself. Speak your wishes, and say what feels right to you. Finally, ask that you see your true form. Make sure to thank whoever you spoke to, and walk toward the water.      As you get to the edge of the water, drop whatever things represents humanity to you into the sand. As you do this, let your humanity fade away from you. You are a creature of the water.... now, you do not belong on land..... you are a mermaid. Say it, feel it, understand it, and do whatever you need to do to confirm it. As you let this humanity slip away, look down into the water. You see your reflection... only, its not you, and yet it is. The person that you see in the water is your true self, your mermaid self. Move your body so that you can see your full reflection, and take everything in. What you look like, what color your tail is, what color your skin and hair and eyes are.... everything. Let your mermaid self sink in, and let it become a part of you. When you are done gazing at your inner self, it is time to swim!      Get into the water, and feel it wash over you. Feel everything about it, as if it were home. Dive into this water, and let your mind and heart run free! This is the truly amazing part of the meditation. In your mind, in this perfect little haven... you are a mermaid. So here, you can swim and laugh and have fun in your true form. Explore this area, because, it will be your mermaid home for until you actually receive your real tail. Don't be scared to let your mind create whatever it needs to create, and truly feel yourself as a mermaid.      When you are done here, find a spot of land. Crawl up onto it, and take one last look at your tail. Then, wishing your magickal sanctuary goodbye, let your mermaid body fall into darkness. Feel yourself falling until you hit your real body. Essentially, you're letting your mermaid body fall into your real body. Feel the last tingles of a tail and the last scents of the water.... and open your eyes.      So! There you have it. Congratulation! You have just successfully completed your first F-Shift. The land that you found here is always right there, right when you need it. Come back anytime. The more you meditate as a mermaid, the more your body gets used to the feeling of water, to holding your breath or breathing through gills, and to everything about being a mermaid. Also, it is important that you have fun with this meditation! There is no right or wrong, and your can improv anything you want into it. Do not be afraid to break the rules! One thing that you could add is talking to your mermaid self, or finding out your mermaid name (you could if you wanted to!). Nothing is wrong, just so long as you accomplished the task of finding your mermaid self. Good luck, and happy F-shifting!