Guided Meditation Notes

Guided Meditation - Silbar Method

Meditation Setup

  • Seated Position:
    • Sit in a chair or straight seat without armrests.
    • Place both feet flat on the floor.
    • Hands should be relaxed on your legs.
    • Palms facing either up or down.
    • Keep your head parallel to the floor.
  • Body Relaxation:
    • As relaxation progresses, your head may tilt, shoulders may drop, and your mouth may open.
    • Allow your body to settle without correcting your position, as it is unnecessary.

Finding the Right Environment

  • Choose a Quiet Place:
    • Preferably a consistent location for meditation.
    • Aim to meditate at the same times each day.
  • Avoid Meditating Post-Meal:
    • Do not meditate after eating, as it may lead to drowsiness.
  • Timing Considerations:
    • Avoid evening meditation after a long day to prevent sleeping.
  • Initial Practice:
    • Practice following the guided voice initially, transitioning to independent meditation without the recording once learned.

Meditation Process

  • Embarking on Meditation:
    • Sit comfortably with feet on the floor, hands relaxed on your legs, knees apart, and find a comfortable posture.
    • Maintain a straight spine and head parallel to the ground.
  • Breath Visualization:
    • Repeat the guided affirmations in your mind as if speaking in the first person.
    • Begin with a deep, soothing breath while visualizing the number '3' three times as you exhale:
    • "3, 3, 3"
    • With the second deep breath, visualize the number '2' three times as you exhale:
    • "2, 2, 2"
    • For the third breath, visualize the number '1' three times as you exhale:
    • "1, 1, 1"
  • Affirmation of Peace:
    • Enable a sense of peace:
    • "Now I am in a wonderfully peaceful state, deeply relaxing. Each day, in every aspect, I feel better and better, healthier, at peace with myself, happy, positive, and full of joy."
    • Meditative state is achieved more rapidly with practice.

Handling Distractions

  • Environmental Noise Acceptance:
    • No distractions from home noises (e.g., refrigerator, door close) or outdoor sounds (e.g., wind, birds, children).
    • Environmental noises facilitate deeper relaxation rather than distraction.
    • "The louder the noise, the more deeply I will enter this state of relaxation."
  • Thought Observation:
    • Be aware of all thoughts, images, and concerns as they arise.
    • Observe each thought without engagement, allowing it to pass like clouds in the breeze.

Deepening Meditation

  • Descending Imagery:
    • Visualize a beautiful staircase of 20 steps leading down.
    • Count down each step:
    • Each descending step corresponds to a deepening state of relaxation.
    • "As I count down, I enter 10 times deeper into meditation and 20 times more relaxed."
  • Personalized Imagery:
    • Imagine the staircase appearing in a pleasing way (e.g., wood, modern design with railings).
    • Visualize yourself comfortably dressed (e.g., sandals).
  • Countdown Structure:
    • Step Descriptions as You Descend:
    • 20: "Beginning to relax deeply."
    • 19: "Continuing down, deeper relaxation."
    • 18: "Breathing in deeper relaxation."
    • 17, 16, 15: "Feeling 20 times more relaxed."
    • 14-1: "Each step translates to deeper tranquility."
  • Reaching the Bottom:
    • At 1:
    • "I am now at the base of the stairs, feeling 100 times more relaxed than before."
    • Prepare for 15+ minutes of silent meditation.

Conclusion of Meditation

  • Post-Meditation Awakening:
    • Eyes will open after the meditation.
    • Expect to feel refreshed, alert, happy, and better than before.