As you may know, there are various types of meditation to choose from. Among them, guided meditation is one of the most popular and widely practiced techniques. In guided meditation, someone reads a script for you to imagine and follow, helping you create a vivid mental picture. Mindfulness meditation, on the other hand, involves paying attention to your thoughts, and feelings, or simply observing objects around you without judgment. Spiritual meditation varies depending on your spiritual traditions and may include practices like prayers, whirling (as in Sufi traditions), or seeking a deeper connection to a higher power. These are just a few examples of the many meditation techniques available.
If you are new to meditation or simply want to quiet your mind, you may wonder: How do I know which type of meditation is best for me?
Guided Meditation: A Beginner-Friendly Option
Guided meditation is often the easiest technique for beginners. It engages your imagination to calm your body and mind. Although it’s simple to follow, guided meditation is a powerful tool for developing focus. As you visualize scenarios or images, you engage your senses and influence your body’s physical functions. For instance, guided meditation can lower your heart rate, decrease blood pressure, and activate your parasympathetic nervous system—the body’s natural resting and healing state.
Exploring the Layers of Your Being
It’s important to recognize that you are more than just your physical body. Around your physical body are layers of subtle energy fields, including the Breath body, Emotional body, Intellectual body, and Bliss body. When you meditate, these layers connect, creating a holistic experience. The Breath body, responsible for vital energy and moving energy throughout your system, plays a key role in this connection.
Through guided meditation, you may revisit a specific place or moment in your life, transforming negative emotions into positive ones. This shift brings peace and vitality to your entire being. Healing occurs when you release the need to control and allow yourself to open up to new imagery, find solutions, or gain clarity about challenges you face.
A Case Study: Meditation as a Healing Tool
Guided meditation can extend beyond simple visualization. It can help you process and transform deep-seated emotions tied to past events. Let me share a powerful example:
In 2018, I worked with a young client diagnosed with cancer. Her tumor was large and understandably caused significant fear. We began by teaching her how to use her breath to calm her mind and thoughts. Once she was comfortable with this practice, we progressed to visualizing the tumor in her body. Rather than fearing the tumor, she learned to connect with it. Through meditation, she stopped seeing the tumor as an enemy and instead embraced it as part of her body.
The meditation sessions focused on calm breathing, communicating with the tumor, and visualizing it shrinking bit by bit. She practiced this daily, both with me and on her own. Over time, her fear of the tumor and of dying diminished significantly. She reclaimed her power, leaving the tumor energetically powerless.
While she continued with her conventional treatments, including chemotherapy, she also maintained her meditation practice. After six months, her PET scan revealed that the tumor had shrunk so much it was no longer detectable. Today, she is cancer-free and thriving as an artist in Northern California. She continues to practice meditation and embraces holistic approaches to support her well-being.
The Power of Your Mind
This story illustrates the immense power of the mind. When you decide to harness this power for your benefit, you unlock your potential and discover just how capable you truly are.
Namaste,
Shab
