Can There Be Too Much Guidance In Your Guided Meditation Script?

[becky hicks]

When you write a guided meditation script, the whole idea is to guide
the recipient through the experience, giving shape and reinforcement
to the process. However, this isn't always ideal. Guided meditations
can be used for any number of purposes, and you'll have to adjust just
how much "guidance" is needed accordingly. For some, you may wish to
take them through from beginning to end like a tour guide in a hurry.
Other times, you may wish to hand them a map and compass and just act
like a lighthouse and reference point for them to use in their
exploration.
If your guided meditation script is to impress images of protection
and safety upon a child, you don't really need to give them time to
wander. While it might be very entertaining, it defeats the purpose.
The idea is to produce a feeling of safety and security, and as
entertaining and illuminating as side-trips might be, it would be
folly to engage in them because the whole point of this guided
meditation would be lost. In cases where you're trying to get a point
across or reinforce something, you want a constant stream of guidance.
Not oppressive, but like the tour guide, you show what there is to
see, and keep the party moving. Pause just long enough for it to sink
in, and move on.
If your guided meditation script is somewhere in-between the example
above and almost free-form exploration, then my suggestion would be to
provide a structure, but give them time to experience each stop along
the way. Classic examples of this would be a guided meditation
experience from mythology, (be it modern or ancient). Another example
would be if you are using this meditation as a cleansing experience.
Bring their attention to something, let them experience it and/or deal
with it, and then move on. Keep it going, but let them explore.
On that note: Your guided meditation script is just that, a script.
When a script is to be read for any kind of theater (TV, film, stage,
you name it), a director will guide and coach the actors and crew into
bringing that script to life. Coming back to the topic of meditation,
it is important to remember that the person meditating is top
priority. Paying close attention to them is your first concern. If
they need more time to process what's going on, let them have it. If
they're ready to move on, then go ahead. The guided meditation script
is meant to serve, not control. If they actually wind up in distress,
then bring them out immediately and help them get their bearings.
Remember to have a safe and secure feeling environment to reinforce
the sense of well-being.
In cases where they are exploring pretty much on their own, there is
still work to do. Here, your observation skills will come in very
handy, and you can monitor them and see how things are going. The
signs will be subtle, but there. Look for REM movements, and changes
in facial expression. Look for muscle twitches and changes in
breathing. The guided meditation script here would be rather short and
often rather vague, as the exploration is more open. However, you can
use the script to point them out where they wish to go during the
meditation. Even if it's free-form exploration, you can still use a
handy script to guide them in, provide reference, and bring them out
again for optimal results.