I can't remember if the levitation effect on boats was in on Live, but if I'm going by memory, I think it was added because people were glitching through the boats. It still happens occasionally, but far less - so dying in the middle of the Ocean of Tears isn't as much of a concern.
As to your newer questions - you can right click on them if you're close enough to inspect. And yes, you have to learn the meditate skill from the trainer before you can use it. For intelligence casters that's at level 4, and for wisdom it's at level 8.
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