I was wondering if anyone had advice for or discussion on non-religious meditation or other self-induced altered mental states. I would like to benefit from the supposed effects of meditation such as stress relief and improved concentration, but cannot seem to find any techniques that do not have basis in religion or spirituality.

Also, I was wondering about the technique of "active imagination". Has anyone here ever tried it? If so, is it enjoyable, and to what extent do you become absorbed into the fantasies? link to wikipedia on the technique: Active imagination - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia