Active meditation is nothing more than staying mentally alert while being in an alpha state. When we first start working with meditation, we usually are kind of slow-thinking. However, with a bit of practice, you can learn to be more and more mentally active while producing alpha brainwaves.

What good does this do you? A lot! You can learn to visualize goals, and work on manifestation techniques. You can learn to improve memory, work on improving sports performance, and many other things.

With active meditation, instead of picturing a static image, you picture a series of scenes. You would mentally run a "motion picture". You may also incorporate a dialog in your head to go along with the scene. The more of the senses you are able to place into the scene (visual, auditory, emotional, kinetic, smell) the stronger the impression. With practice, you will be able to "hold" the theme of the meditation, actively participating in it's direction and production...all while producing alpha brainwaves.

You are, in effect, doing this already when you daydream. Most of us are having movie-type scenery being played out while tuning out what is going on around us. In active meditation, it's the same principle...except YOU are directing the action and writing the script.

As with passive meditation, it's common and natural for you to get sidetracked. You might start meditating working on a goal to quit smoking, then all of a sudden you find yourself deep into a daydream about cleaning out your car. Simply, and gently, guide yourself back to the images of the goal you were working on. After working with active meditation for a while, you'll soon be able to hold your theme or goal for longer periods of time.