STRATEGIC SORCERY CORRESPONDENCE COURSE

LESSON ZERO - An Introduction.

Welcome to the Strategic Sorcery Correspondence Course! I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for
signing up. I am both honored and overwhelmed by the number of people that have signed up and I promise you that
I will do everything in my power to make this an outstanding experience for everyone. Cycle one of the class has
been running since Halloween 2009 and people have already been getting results that have made a concrete
difference in their lives.

So, why sorcery? Why not Magic, or Witchcraft, or Hermetics or something? I chose Sorcery because of some
connotations that word has, but even more for those it doesnt. First and foremost a Sorcerer or Sorceress is
someone that clearly uses magic and skill to affect the events in the outer world them as well as the minds of those
they encounter. Todays magician may be concerned only with spiritual illumination, and the modern Witch may be
concerned only with worship of the old gods, but there is no mistaking that the Sorcerer is concerned with applied
thaumaturgy - literally the working of wonders in the world around us.

As for meanings Sorcery has not taken on, it is a wonderfully under-defined term. The witch is typically associated
with folk magic and outdoor ecstatic rites, The Mage with high ceremony and the indoor temple. Many seem to feel
that these approaches are mutually exclusive, I reject this approach and so have chosen the term Sorcerer. Let the
sorcerer bask in the warmth of The Solar Logos and the Wisdom of the Moon! Let the sorceress do magic that
requires both the careful execution of complex ritual and the absorption of ecstatic trance and wild dance! Let us
cultivate both intellect and intuition, the celestial and the chthonic, the masculine and the feminine. The competent
Sorcerer will be comfortable doing magic in a Lodge, a circle in the Wilderness, or out in the open streets of a city. By
the end of this class, you will be such a person.

For a definition of Sorcery itself, the magister Andrew Chumbley provides a good definition to work with. "Magic is the
transmutability of the quintessence of all nature. Sorcery is the knowledge of the points of universal Transmutation. Its
art is to cultivate the ability to manipulate and utilize these foci of power in accordance with Will, Desire, and Belief".

A copy of The Sorcerers Secrets is required for this class so I assume that you have all read at least one of my
books, and possibly some of my articles as well. Some of you have even taken my classes and workshops. My
intention is for this class to be different in several important ways.

The first is that rather than report on how magic is done in other systems, I have now woven what I do into a system
all its own. Whereas the books are hodgepodge of topics, this system is meant to be worked in order, with each part
building upon the last. No system exists in a vacuum of course and this one is no different. Some of what you will
learn has its roots in older traditions and cultures, some has been taught to me directly by spirits or deities, and
others are developments that have arisen from my own insights and experimentations. Though I will often have my
own simple and straightforward names for things, I will attempt to make sure that you know the root of everything I
teach. If you are curious about where a piece of tech comes from, just ask.

The second difference is information density. Expect a lot of info in a small amount of space. In books authors tend to
get involved in long winded dissertations on things that do not directly bear on practice, you have to fill those pages
you promised your publisher with something after all. There is an extent to which too much writing can actually
hamper practice. The texts that I have constantly referred back to time and time again throughout my career have
more often been short practice texts and condensed explanations that pack a lot of info into a manageable amount of
space. I hope that the material in this class manifests this way, and is referred to by you for years to come. The
lessons will all be as long as they need to be and no longer. The emphasis here is on creating things for you to do,
not things for you to read.

Since magic and religion are somewhat inextricably linked, it is necessary that I say a word about religion as it relates
to the course. This class is open to anyone from any religion, including those who adhere to no religion or consider
themselves open minded atheists. Whatever your spiritual beliefs, the only requirement for the class is an openness
to new ideas and a willingness to engage the world as it is. In this class you may encounter rituals that mention
angels as well as those that mention Pagan Gods and Spirits. The magic that I teach requires no belief in any of it,
any more than your car requires your belief to be able to start in the morning. Whatever your belief I only ask you to
be open to the idea that you and your tradition may not know everything about everything, and therefore be open to
experimentation. Ideally, as a Sorcerer or Sorceress your idea of truth is shaped by your unfolding experience rather
than a fixed dogma.

It should go without saying that there will be no religion or tradition bashing on the forums when they open. Pagans
who feel that Christianity is inherently un-magical should turn their attention to the many Gnostic, Mystic, and
downright magical traditions both in mainstream and alternative churches. Those that feel that paganism is nothing
but fairy fluff and superstition should turn their attention to the many profound Pagan mystery traditions and texts like
those represented by the Chaldean Oracles or even the modern day Feri Tradition.

Although the class is intended to get those that follow the recommendations up and running as a working Sorcerer
almost immediately, I want to re-state that there is no requirement of regular meditation or ritual to do the class. I
learned the art working at my own pace and am happy to let others do the same. Some will surely work the system as
I present it and do the rituals and meditations I recommend regularly - I am sure they will receive the fruits of their
labors quickly as this system is quite streamlined for tangible results. Others will put the lessons on the back burner
until a later time - may the instructions ripen for them when their time is right. Yet others will simply cherry pick a few
techniques to work with and ignore the over-all system I sincerely wish these folks well and hope the techniques
enhance whatever it is they do. I have done this myself. Finally, I am sure some will simply collect the lessons and file
them away with many of the books and occult ephemera that they have collected - never actually using any of the
material to them I hope that the course provides a thought provoking and entertaining curiosity, there is nothing
wrong with knowledge for knowledge sake.

In other words, what each student does with the material is largely up to them. I present my system and
recommendations as they are, what you do with it is up to you. You do not need to do anything to receive the lessons,
Graduating is another matter.

There will be 12 homework assignments - one a month. You do not need to complete these in order to receive further
lessons. You do need to complete them in order to graduate. Those that graduate will receive a certificate stating that
you have graduated from the course. There is a five year limit on getting your homework in. Hand in your work any
time within the next five years and you will get a certificate.

The class material is copyrighted and under a seal of secrecy. I do not want to see or hear of the class being shared
with those that have not signed up. If someone cannot afford the class, which right now is less than $2 per lesson,
please have them contact me as I will have a number of options available. If I see material plagiarized on the net, I
will do what it takes to have it removed and take action against the offender.

Though the material is copyrighted, that does not mean that you can never change or teach this material. I want you
to make this material your own. Once you have mastered the technique, and can explain it in your own words you
should feel free to pass it on as you will, but you need to do the work of presenting it yourself. Teaching what you
have learned is not plagiarism, copying my writing and format is. After this class is completed, I am planning on doing
some kind of teacher certification for those that want to teach the system as it is.

For now, if you haven't already, you should head over to http://www.inominandum.com/forum/ and register for the
Locked forum related to the course. If you have any problems getting access, e-mail me and I will get the Web master
on it.

Though the class officially starts with Lesson 1 on Tuesday, I wanted to offer a short ritual that you can perform
sometime in the days ahead that will help align you to the current of this teaching, and to hopefully act as a catalyst
for unlocking your inherent gifts and abilities. As with most instructions, It is not necessary for you to do this, I offer it
only as an option for those that want a little boost. Feel free to do it tonight, tomorrow, or any time during the class.

Print out the Seal of Sorcery attached, and place it somewhere in the east that you can see it clearly. If you have a
black and white candle than place the black candle to your left and the white to your right. If you dont have these
candles than dont worry about it, they are not necessary for the rite. Perform the centering exercise from The
Sorcerers Secrets, and perhaps even the Pillar and Spheres exercise.

Read the following instructions in their entirety before doing the rite. There are only two words and very brief
visualizations so it is best to memorize these before performance.
Sit or stand in your temple space and stare at the seal of sorcery in front of you. After you do this for a while, close
your eyes and see the seal glowing in front of you in the darkness. In this astral temple the space behind you is the
past, the millions upon millions of actions, chances, and factors that have brought you to the current moment. On
your right there is a white pillar that represents your desire for Gnosis and Enlightenment: to elevate yourself beyond
your limits and realize your full spiritual potential. On your left there is a Black Pillar represents your desire for power,
wealth, love, and health; the realization of your full material potential. Feel how these forces are always at play within
you: the material longing for elevation into spirit, and the spiritual yearning for materialization.

In space in front of you is the unknown future, upon which you have placed the seal of Sorcery, the seal representing
the arcana that you will be receiving and learning over the next year. Focus intently upon the pupil in the eye of the
seal it is a gateway. Will yourself towards the seal and see it growing larger and larger as you approach. As you
approach, mentally or vocally call upon the powers that be as you know them at this stage to bear witness. These are
all the gods, ancestors, spirits, and saints that you have ever worked with in this life or any other. Speak to them in
your own words.

When you come up close to the seal, imagine that it is so large that you pass easily through the pupil in the eye. As
you pass through intone the word ABRA (ahhhh-braaah) as the password to enter through the pupil gateway. Once
through the other side, allow whatever appears in the minds eye to appear. You may find yourself in a temple, you
may find yourself hovering over a great sea, you find yourself simply suspended in the darkness*. Whatever appears
is fine it is a sign that may prove informative as you progress. Whatever it is, you should open yourself to
empowerment on the three parts of the body that relate to the levels.

With you right hand point at your third eye and intone: I (ee)

Move your right hand over your heart and open your hand so that your palm faces your chest and intone: A (ah)

Move your hand lower over the area between your navel and genitals and turn the palm upwards, connecting the
thumb and forefinger. Intone: O (oh)

Feel the power of the space that you have entered flood into you.

When you have sufficiently captured this feeling, open your eyes. In your own words, thank all the powers that have
witnessed your empowerment.

Thank you again for signing up for the class. You will receive your first lesson, Meditation 1, on Tuesday morning. The
forums will be open soon. for now please feel free to write me at inominandum@gmail.com with any questions that
you may have.

STRATEGIC SORCERY LESSON ONE: MEDITATION 1

Those that have taken classes from me in the past will not be at all surprised that the first weeks lesson is devoted to
meditation. In each of my books I have stated that if I had to keep only one spiritual practice, meditation would be it.
Because of the expectations of a book on magic, I have only included a short meditation called the Gate of Heka in
each one so that people would have something to practice before getting into the bulk of the book. Since this course
is aimed at those who wish to learn how I actually do things, we will be spending a bit more time on it. There will be a
total of three units on meditation throughout the course.

Some of my readers have questioned the need for meditation. It is true that you can do magic without meditation.
Some point out that many systems of magic do not have any meditational elements to them other than prayer. Others
complain that it seems like doing nothing, when most magic is about doing something, and that their time would be
better served talking with angels and astral traveling. Since this course is concerned primarily with practical sorcery,
its a fair question.

The reason that meditation is so important in Sorcery is because it is the best way I know of to discover and dwell in
the real nature of your mind. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "The ancestor of every action is a thought." Everything
you do in magic follows the mind. Mind drives the chariot of body and spirit. Without intimate knowledge of your own
mind you cannot discern the voice of a spirit from your own fantasies. Without the ability to quiet the minds chatter,
you will never be able to tell your own true will from habits and whims. Without expanding your awareness you will
never fully actualize the self, or even realize what the self is.

When asked to identify the self, most peoples first reaction is to point to their own body. Is the self contained within
the skin? Is your body your self? There is almost not a single cell in your body at this moment that you were born
with. Every day you take in food that is outside the body, and make it part of the body. Every day you expel things that
were in the body outside of it. When you are an adult you are larger than you were at six years old does that mean
you have more self? If you loose an arm in an accident, do you have less of a self? Of course not. So the body is
clearly not the borders of the self.

Perhaps the mind is the self? But when we look at the mind we find nothing there that we can identify as the self.
What color is the mind? What shape is it? Where does it exist if not in the body? Is the mind synonymous with
thoughts? Descartes declared I think therefore I am, but does the mere presence of thought really prove the
existence of the self? Certainly the thought process is tied to the body. If you have a frontal lobotomy you will not
have the same thoughts as if you had not had one. If you take LSD you will not have the same thoughts as if you
didnt take it. If you drink a triple espresso you will not have the same thoughts that you would if you had had
chamomile tea. If you drink a Coke, if you eat a salad, etc, this all affects the nature of our thoughts. Following this
train of logic, we can say that thoughts may in fact simply be an example of cause and effect the cause is not
necessarily a Self, but could be any number of conditions.

Every moment of your existence is informed by countless factors: genetics that you inherited from your parents and
ancestors, the way in which you were raised, the friends that you keep, random firing of synapses in the brain, what
you had to eat and drink, how you woke up that morning, how much sleep you got, how much money you have, the
color of the room that you are in, the television shows that you watch, the pollution in the air, the list could go on
forever. This doesnt even touch on more esoteric factors like past lives, karmic traces, psychic welfare, etc.

Nearly every thought we have is not generated by our own consciousness, but by mechanistic reactions to all of
these factors. The resultant chatter has been called in many eastern schools "The Monkey Mind". This monkey mind
just keeps reacting and reacting leaving no space for real awareness. Gurdjieff likened the situation to being trapped
in a prison. Buddha likened the situation to being asleep. If you are going to use Sorcery to improve your life, than
you need to start with your own mind. The first duty of the prisoner is to escape. The first duty of the sleeper is to
awaken.

Go and read the meditation section in The Sorcerers Secrets ( TSS) again. The Gate of Heka is a powerful
meditation technique. I am going to share a few others below, but before I do, I want to give you a lead in that will
help get the mind in the right space. I call it the mirror litany. Simply say this litany before engaging in a meditation
practice and it will help keep your mind on track.

THE MIRROR LITANY

My mind is like a mirror,

Thoughts, emotions, and sensation are like reflections.

Whatever the mirror reflects: good or bad, beautiful or ugly,

The mirror remains unchanged.

I sense my body within the field of my consciousness

What can be sensed is not the sensor.

I feel my emotions arise and dissipate within the stream of my mind

What can be felt is not the feeler.

I know my thoughts as they take shape inside the vastness of my awareness

What can be known is not the true knower

Just as the content of a reflection does not affect the nature of the mirror

So too, the contents of my awareness do not affect the primordial nature of mind.

I shall not fall into the delusion of mistaking the mirror for its contents

Though I possess body, emotions, and thoughts

I am not these things.

I shall allow them to arise like reflections

and rest my awareness in the nature rather than the content of awareness.

A
This litany is based both on the traditional pointing out instructions of Dzogchen and Ken Wilburs witness litany.
Someone experienced at meditation will be able to recite this litany or something like it and just sit in contemplation: a
state of practice that is effortlessly open without need of an object for meditation. Those unfamiliar with
contemplation, which we will talk about later in the course, can enter directly into one of the meditations below.

The last syllable of the litany is simply the letter A, which should be pronounced as aaaaaah. This is called the
Unfabricated Sound since you do not have to shape your mouth in any way to say it. Just vibrate the vocal chords.
Even used alone it can be a wonderful aid to establishing and maintaining a meditative state.

PHYSICAL POSITION

Before we focus the mind we need to take up a physical position. There are oodles of asanas that can be used for
meditation, but for our purposes I want to give just three. Whether you choose one of these three or another from
another source, you should master your position until you get so comfortable with it that your body actually craves it.
When you reach that stage, it will be like getting into a warm bath or lying down after a hard day's work. The position
itself signals the mind to start behaving in a certain way.
MASTER POSITION: There are many books that will tell you that there is no inherent benefit to sitting on the floor for
meditation and that as westerners we are probably better off sitting in a chair. I respectfully disagree. Being a
westerner and mastering both, I can tell you that the tripod that is formed by master position or even a full lotus asana
is far more stable than a chair. Furthermore the flow of energy through the feet re-circulates back into the body rather
than into the earth, which is fantastic for most meditations. We will talk more about that when we discuss subtle body
anatomy next week. This name master position is a rough translation of Siddhasana, the yogic asana that is also
sometimes called a half lotus

To sit in master position, simply draw one foot upwards towards the groin as far as is comfortable, than draw the other
foot up and rest it on the thigh of the inner leg. If you cannot manage this, you can rest the outer leg on the ground in
front of the inner leg. This position is greatly improved by lifting the buttocks over the knees, which can be
accomplished with a cushion such as a zafu or sitting on an incline such as a hill in your local park.

Your back should be relatively straight. To accomplish this reach upwards and then lower your arms without relaxing
your spine. This will straighten out the back. If you then tuck the chin just slightly, you will feel that last little bit of
spine near head straighten out. Those sensitive to the flow of energy may feel a sudden opening of the central
channel simply by sitting this way.

The eyes can be closed for most meditations, but if you have an overactive imagination (or scrying ability) it is best to
keep the eyes relaxed neither open or closed. The tip of the tongue should touch the top of the mouth either at the
front behind the teeth, or further up on the hard and soft pallets. These are points that connect important circuits of
energy in the body and will again aid the free flow of awareness.

Lastly, the hands can be placed either 1. palms down on the knees 2. on the knees, palms up with the thumbs and
index fingers touching, or 3. in the lap with both palms facing up, right on top of left with thumbs touching. Each of
these also form connections that effect awareness differently. Experiment with each and see what results chance.

If you need a visual for the legs, you can goggle Siddhasana and look at a diagram like this one:
http://lib.ru/URIKOVA/SANTEM/SVATMARAMA/fig8.gif

With persistence this is a wonderful position to adopt when doing any kind of formal meditation.

THRONE: Though the floor is preferred, in the west we more often find ourselves sitting in chairs. If you want to
meditate in your cubicle at work, or sitting on a bus, you should master meditation in a chair. Also if you have a health
condition that makes sitting on the floor uncomfortable, you should stick to the chair. Though any position will present
its pains from prolonged sitting, I dont want anyone exacerbating a physical condition in the name of mastering a
position.
To meditate in a chair, you can either place your feet firmly on the ground or, if the chair is low, cross your legs and
rest the feet gently. Keep the back, eyes, tongue, and hands exactly as in the half lotus. Be sure to keep the back as
straight as possible while being comfortable in the seat.

PILLAR: If you are going to follow a short meditation with a ritual that involves movement than standing is better than
either the throne or the half lotus. This position is deceptively simple to perform, and from the outside looks like
someone is just standing or perhaps getting ready to break into a martial arts routine.

Stand with the feet a shoulder width apart, point the feet either straight forward or slightly inward. Tuck the buttocks in
slightly so that the center of gravity is directly between the feet. Reach upwards to straighten the spine and then let it
rest on top of the pelvis. Dont forget to tuck the chin slightly. You should feel as if your legs, pelvis, torso, and head
are all stacked on top of one another like a snowmans orbs. Let the arms hang straight at the sides. Hold the eyes,
and tongue as in the half lotus.

If you have the strength to do it, you can bend the knees and elbows slightly. If you manage to stand this way for
some time, you will automatically feel your energy sink into the earth, and the energy of the earth rise within you. The
pose is quite solid, and an excellent position to master for many types of magick.

MENTAL FOCUS

The actual process of meditation is strikingly simple: focus on one thing and one thing only, allow the mind to become
still as you meditate. Like a lake that has been agitated by a storm, the waters of the mind are cloudy with dirt and
debris. If you calm the mind by focusing on one thing, the waters still and becomes clear as crystal effortlessly.

The object of meditation actually doesnt matter much. I recommend the breath most simply because we all breathe
all the time. By meditating on breath you are linking your clarity to a continuous process. Later when we learn to
control the breath for practical sorcery and effect mental states, you will be all the better for it. Also it is the easiest
way to meditate in public without making a big show of repeating a mantra or staring at a funky mandala or statue.

To actually meditate on the breath you can follow the instructions for the Gate of Heka meditation in my books,
which focuses on the point in between the breaths, or you can simply allow yourself to follow the breath with your
mind. Dont stalk the breath like a cat watching a mouse, simply flow with the breath in and out, as if you are the
breath itself passing in and out of a body that you possess. The past is a memory, the future is a projection, and the
present disappears before it can be grasped. Be in the breath with no thought to any of these.

You should also try meditating on a mantra. You focus your mind in the same way: simply feeling as if you are the
mantra itself being spoken by the body. Some teachings say that the words themselves dont matter, but I disagree.
Certain phrases throughout time have been thought to elevate, clear, or deepen the awareness. You can research
and choose a mantra of your choice or choose one of these that are listed according to source:

Buddhist: OM MANI PADME HUM or OM AH HUM

Hindu: OM NAMA SHIVAYA

Christian: MARANATHA or even perhaps even the Julian or Norwichs

ALL SHALL BE WELL AND ALL SHALL BE WELL AND ALL MANNER OF THINGS SHALL BE WELL

Islam: LA ILA HA ILLA ALLAH

Gnostic: IAO or the permutations: IAO AIO IOA AOI OIA OAI

Hekatean: IO HEKA IO HO (from my own Hekate Grimoire yet to be published)

If you dont mind repeating something longer than a few syllables, then I invite you to use the Song of the Serpent.
This Mantra or Chant is very potent both in terms of a platform to clear the mind, and also to build power in the body.
It will come up again in the course, and I highly recommend using it.

HO OPHIS HO ARCHAIOS Oh Ancient Serpent

HO DRAKON HO MEGAS Oh Great Dragon

HO EN KAI, HO ON KAI Who was and who is

HO ZON TOUS AIONAS Throughout the Aions

META TOU PNEUMATOS SOU! Be thou with our spirit.

Whatever mantra you use, you should rest your mind in the sound and let it fill your whole being. The words will at a
certain point become irrelevant and I welcome you to use whatever you like as a mantra.

You can also meditate on a visual object. Again, some say that it doesnt matter, and indeed I can attest to the fact
that I have had great meditations while staring at pebbles in the street. However, if you choose something that is
meaningful and relates to the nature of clarity and mind than it will have some extra impact. Mirrors can make a good
focus, as long as you dont get caught up in the appearance on the surface. A representation of the letter A, the
unfabricated sound, is also a great focus. My favorite object is a simple white dot on a dark blue or black background.
You can also choose various mandalas such as the Sri Yantra, but I warn you not to get to caught up in the design.
The idea is to clear the mind, not trip out on a funky image.

In all these cases, you must rest your mind in the object of meditation. Allow thoughts to arise and dissipate naturally
within the mind. Do not attach to these. When you become distracted simply go back to the meditation without
judgment. Rest effortlessly in the nature of mind.

DEALING WITH DISTRACTION

The lack of effort is actually one of the hardest things to grasp about meditation. I meet people all the time who claim
to be bad at meditation. Many even claim that they cant meditate. They tell me that they tried in the past and couldnt
get there or clear their minds. They would like to meditate, but they just suck at it. I have good news: You cannot
be bad at meditation. Barring serious mental illness, everyone can meditate.
The problem can be summed up as expectation and tenacity. The expectation of what is supposed to occur in
meditation is often a lot grander than what actually happens. People expect that they will sit down; the mind will
quickly quiet and stay perfectly still for the length of the session. They will feel a calming peace that they have never
felt before and be at one with everything. Needless to say, these expectations are unrealistic, especially when the
subject is willing to give all of three sessions worth of effort towards the goal before declaring that they cannot
meditate. This lack of tenacity is even worse than the unrealistic expectation.

The first thing to do when undertaking meditation is abandon any lust of result. You should expect to be distracted
almost constantly. In fact, if you are keeping a regular practice of meditating every day, you should expect nothing but
distraction for almost six months!

You sit and focus on breath, or mantra, or object, or whatever and a thought of food arises in the mindstream. You
start thinking about dinner. Which gets you thinking about the time, and how much time as passed so far. You realize
that you have lost focus

This is the crucial moment. When you recognize that you are distracted the natural reaction is to berate yourself
because you stopped meditating. The secret is this: you did not stop meditating. You recognized your distraction: that
IS meditation. If you can than return to the focus without judgment you will continue to meditate properly. If you
willingly continue to be distracted knowing that you are distracted; now you have stopped meditating.

Some distractions are more insidious than others. A problem for magicians, witches, and psychics is that distractions
often arise in the form of visions. If you are meditating and trying to experience the real nature of mind that is beyond
subject and object, than even visions of your patron god or goddess need to be set aside as distractions. This is the
meaning of the Buddhist axiom: If you see a Buddha on the Road then Kill him.

If you spend your whole life experiencing nothing in your meditation sessions other than being distracted and
returning to the focus of the meditation, you will have accomplished quite a lot. You will master your own thought
process. I cannot stress enough what a wonderful feat this is. Almost everything that people do, say, and think is just
a mechanical reaction. How you were raised, what you ate for breakfast, what traffic was like, what genes you
inherited, how you are dressed, these all impact every moment and push us one way or the other. If you can
recognize the mind being distracted by habitual pattern in meditation, you will learn to recognize these patterns in the
heat of everyday life. The next time someone pushes your buttons and you start to react, you will probably catch
yourself and be able to react from a place of real thought rather than habit, because you know how to recognize
attachment and distraction. Good job!

Of course, most people will eventually experience more than just this process during the course of their meditative
journey. You may see visions, you may feel bliss, you may feel the barriers of the self melt away. All of this is what
Tibetans call Nyams, which I translate as: weird shit that happens during meditation. None of it is as important as the
process of recognizing distraction. Eventually, with practice, you will probably experience some genuine subtle states
described in classical texts like Rigpa or Samadhi, but these come with time, and must not be sought after directly.
Even if you do not experience these states, you will have accomplished much just by taking a little bit of control over
your own mind.

If you can, you should meditate a bit every morning and evening, 15 to 20 minutes is great. Linking the two sessions
together with small 5 to 10 minute sessions when you have the opportunity will help increase your success and blend
your natural clarity with your ordinary living levels of awareness. I meditate in parking lots, in bathrooms, in parks,
wherever I can get a moment to myself.

Just remember that you cannot be bad at it. If the point is to get distracted and recognize distraction, what is there to
be bad at?

Work on this for now, and in a few months we will be getting deeper into the subject.