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The guided meditation is a very
powerful and useful technique that can be used in a variety of ways.
A guided meditation is exactly what is says, a meditation that is
guided in some way. Usually it is guided by another but we can
always create a tape and guide ourselves. It is a process where our
attention and awareness are guided to understand a situation or
event and/or access information on the subject of the guided
meditation.
All that we need to do in the guided meditation is to allow our mind
and body to stay relaxed and pay attention to the images, feelings
or thoughts that come to us as we travel along with the directions
provided by the speaker. The guided meditation does not work with
the facts of the mind as such. Rather it works with the images of
the mind and energies of the universe that are perceived by our body
or being and characterized by mind based on the experiences we have
had. A guided meditation works with the personal symbols and imagery
that swirl though our imagination bringing meaning to our life. As
such we will have to be the one who ultimately interprets our
symbols. Others may help, but it is our imagination and our
symbolism.
The symbolism that presents itself runs deep from within our being
and can cut across all aspects of our life for our entire life. Some
of the symbolism will be uniquely ours. Some of the symbolism will
be very common and quite universal in its meaning. However, some of
what our imagination may utilize what appears to be universal
symbolism but it is adapted uniquely to our use and the meaning our
psyche gives it. In any case, what ever arises within the guided
meditation, whether it be a thought, an image, a feeling or
something else, we should not judge it or deny it. We need to let it
be and let it to lead us and take us where it desires to take us.
The guide meditation process is a receptive process. We do not need
to create any image or think any thought. Rather, we are invited by
our imagination to receive what it has to offer. Then, after we
receive what is offered, we distill the story it wishes to tell from
the symbols and images that emerge from the far reaches and depth of
our imagination. These images are of the now. That is they provide
what we sense here and now in the moment. These images frame our
life with meaning. We need to let the images freely come to us. we
only need to receive them as they arrive without judgement in any
way.
In working with the images, thoughts and feelings of a guided
mediation there should be no judgements on what you receive. We
cannot compare what we get with what someone else may get. For
example, when our imagination is asked for a symbol as to where we
find power we may get the image of ocean. For the same question,
others may get an image of a cave with symbols painted on the walls,
a forest where they can become lost in the trees, the hollow of a
tree, the wind itself whispering as it moves through the trees, a
book, a photo album filled with scenes and information, or any of a
myriad of object that our imagination may find appropriate to relay
to your consciousness what it desires to communicate. The symbolism
that surfaces can be quite simple and straight forward or they can
be quite complex often accompanied with emotion.
Often what the guided meditation brings for is not always easy to
accept. Sometimes what the guided meditation bring forth is a part
of our life that has laid buried for years. It emergence may
surprise us. Some of the images may be part memory, some part
fantasy. Some may confuse us. Some themes that emerge through the
images and thoughts may reacquaint us with dreams, hopes and/or
desire that we thought we left behind long ago.
The story and themes that emerge may be funny, slightly goofy,
bizarre or they may bring tears to our eyes. Whatever come we should
not judge it or censure any of it. It does not have to makes sense
to our logical mind. We don’t often think of our lives in the terms
used by the imagination. The imagination has its own logic and its
own reasons for bringing to us the images that it does. Some may not
come clear to us except over time. All that comes forth is a gift to
us. It comes from, and is a reminder of, our essence. We only need
to accept what comes forth for what it is, as it is.
There are two issues that arise relative to any guided meditation.
One is that sometimes if we know the journey we are going to embark
upon (the transcript or highlights of the guided meditation) , our
conscious and/or subconscious mind will channel us in one direction
or another. Unless we are able to surrender completely to the effort
and step out of the thinking and judging aspects of both the
conscious and subconscious mind, it is best not to know the journey
we are going to take. That of course will lead us into the unknown
and we may find we have fears, reservations or some other feeling
about journeying into the unknown.
It needs to be understood, a guided meditation is a journey into our
own mind. We cannot be harmed by what we experience, unless we
choose to allow ourselves to be harmed. Even if we do not like what
we experience and it may in fact be terrifying, our imagination
cannot harm us unless we allow it. It is our imagination and we are
ultimately in control of what we experience. It is only a part of
ourselves that is talking to us that we may have avoided or
repressed. That in itself is where the power of the guided
meditation lies. It allows us to access parts of ourselves that we
normally do not access. How we choose to act or respond to what our
imagination presents is another question.
To ensure that we are in a safe and secure space at all times,
before we begin our guided meditation, we can surround ourselves
with the love, protection and healing energies of the universe in
whatever form we wish. It can hold the image of our God or an angel,
or we imagine a warm and comfortable place in nature, or we can
simply see ourselves surrounded by a nurturing energy. It does not
matter what we use. We can use whatever allows us to be in a safe
and secure space fully at ease throughout the entire journey.
The second issue that arises is that whenever we step into a guided
meditation, there is the fact that the meditation itself is a
manipulation of our imagination. This is very important to
understand. We are being manipulated by the guided meditation. There
is nothing wrong with this if we are choosing to participate. On
this point we should be free to choose or not choose to participate.
If fear presents itself as an obstacle to participation, it is
recommend we
pull the string and find out the origins of that fear and
address it.
A guided meditation is a manipulation in the sense that it is
directing us to go to particular parts of our being and asking us to
see and/or experience specific things. Now, because every experience
we have becomes integrated and synthesized with all our other
experience, we will be changed because of the experience that we
have in the guided meditation even if we think we experienced
nothing. Although this integration and synthesis process is true for
every experience we have in our life, because we are in a guided
meditation we are not in conscious control of the process. Hence our
being will be shifted by where we are lead.
Two recommendations are made here. One is don’t participate in a
guided meditation unless we feel that we can trust the source of the
meditation itself. It is not the person leading us on the guided
meditation that should be of concern, it is the script that is used
to lead us. All of the guided meditations used in the Releasing Your
Unlimited Creativity are designed for us to become self determined
at all levels of our being and for us to take responsibility for our
life at all levels. The intention behind these guided meditations
are to allow us full freedom to create the experience we have and
reality of our choice.
If we are willing to take full responsibility for our life, these
guided meditations will assist us in our journey. If however, you
wish to turn your power over to someone or something external to you
and not take responsibility for your life it is recommended you do
not participate in these guided meditations. They are not for you.
The second recommendation to guard against manipulation if we are
unsure of the source of the script is to tell ourselves and set the
intention that we will go where we need to go for the growth of our
being but we will not go where we will be manipulated by the will of
another in way that is harmful to our being and that we will retain
at all times the freedom of our own being. This intention will then
prevent us from being manipulated if we follow the advice that our
intuition tells us. For example, if we are doing a guided meditation
with a group and our intuition tells us to get up and leave the
room, we will have to have the courage to suffer possible
embarrassment to get up an leave.
The starting point for guided meditation is to set the stage as if
we were going to do any meditation. We will need to become
comfortable and relaxed. Additionally we can surround ourselves with
the love, protection and healing energies of the universe in
whatever form we wish. Set the intention that we will go where you
need to go for the growth of our being but we will not go where we
will be manipulated by the will of another in way that is harmful to
our being and that we will retain at all times the freedom of our
own being. With that preparation, we are ready to go on the guided
meditation of our choice.
Guided meditation topics
Using guided meditation
Sample guided meditation format
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