Wildmind Buddhist
Wildmind Buddhist Meditation Newsletter

CD Review
Guided Meditations for Children: Journey into the Elements

There are far too few resources for teaching children to meditate, and for that reason Chitra Sukhu's CD is to be welcomed. In essence, "Journey into the Elements" is an exercise in imaginative storytelling, and therefore not at all alien or unusual (in other words, parents needn't be worried about what kind of "meditation" their children are doing) and in addition the guided journeys are accompanied by natural sound effects and very pleasant music, which is not at all childlike.

Sukhu guides us through various realms in which we are guided by the King of the Gnomes, a mermaid, the Sun King, and other characters. In each case the guide leads us (or the child) into the magical realm, and simply leaves us with an opportunity to simply enjoy the music and to use our imaginations. At the end of each meditation, the actor and director Mario van Peebles (who is Sukhu's partner) gives us an ecological message of interconnectedness.

The meditations are designed to be used at nap or bed-time, with the child lying comfortably in bed. For younger children, caregivers will probably have to explain what the words "inhale" and "exhale" mean. This is very lightweight meditation to be sure, but appropriate for most children of storytelling age, and encourages relaxation, calm, focusing, and creative imagination.