I thought I would add my two cents for any one beginning to meditate
Meditation is the basis for every thing if you want to experience and understand the meaning of spirituality. If you only learn one thing, learn this. When we start that inner dialogue with self through meditation, all the doors will open and the world is your oyster.
One of the ways I share how I meditate is to talk about prayer. Most people are familiar with what it means to pray and meditation is a natural extension of prayer. Prayer utilizes our hearts and minds just as meditation does. Prayer also connects us to the Divine and thru meditation you connect to the Divine with in, you find your own divinity, your original self.
Meditation to me is simply learning to listen. My suggestion is that you not focus on letting go or clearing your mind, but rather focus on listening. Go into your quite place with in and simply listen to your heart, to your soul. Once you have learned to do this one thing you can begin to act with in your highest good.
I would also share something I believe to be very important....
Approach your spirituality with out preconceptions. Let go of a need for it to look a certain way or appear like any one elses ideas or experiences. Our imaginations are incredibly powerful things and when we walk into any thing in life loaded with the ideas and expectations our imagination is programed to facilitate those expectations. So instead of getting the true benifits, we've given ourselves something less than.
So many people hear, "Learn to love yourself more" and then walk away with a huge question... "HOW!?"
The communication with self you gain from meditation is the "how". Its the begining.
For those on a spiritual path, meditation is like taking your daily vitamins and minerals. You'll notice a change in how you feel almost imediately.
ok... well that's my two cents worth. I hope it helps.
Brother