Setting an Ideal and Meditation

According to Edgar Cayce's discourses, the most important meditative technique we can do is to first set an ideal. He wants this ideal to be a mindful understanding, even written down. He says, "Know in whom and in what you believe. Know what is the ideal you, as well as the ideal life, attitude, emotional dynamic, and activity. Why do we need to do this? Because the practice of meditation gives life and strength to our ideals - whatever ideals we hold. Cayce said that we can build a frankenstein or a godling of the great God using the same techniques - the ideal held while building this being will determine what the outcome will be. Thus, we need to spend a little time reflecting on our ideals, shaping them in a manner that we feel good about, because they are going to gain strength over the course of our meditation practice - whether we are conscious or unconscious of this. Cayce said that we will gradually be raised to the level of our highest ideal. He encouraged us to set a high, spiritual ideal, one that included the Fruits of the Spirit: love, kindness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, humility, meekness, and so on. He encouraged us to think of ourselves as channels of God's love and light in this world, and to leave the world a better place for us having lived in it. Our meditation practice will build on these, and we will become what we hold as ideal. Meditation is creation. Let's be mindful of what we are creating. Set an ideal and hold that in heart and mind, both during our meditation and our daily life.