When I began practising meditation fifteen years ago, I explored a variety of approaches. Some of these were guided meditations in which (as the name implies) someone else leads or guides a session for you, most commonly, through an audio-recording or face to face speech. The person may talk you through the how's of breathing; share specific affirmations or provide a soothing voice to help you refocus. Considering these benefits, guided meditations can be helpful for a novice. However, when I first tried them something just felt off. Generally, the guided meditations I heard did not quite gel. I was discomfited by the thought that the people behind the voices instructing me did not look like me.

It may seem strange or like an insignificant issue but for me having a white person tell me to relax was a bit unsettling. I wondered how it would be to instead have a black woman speaking to me as I meditated. I suspected that I would be more at ease. I suppose the sentiment is akin to my feeling more comfortable with a black female psychologist or gynecologist. It provides some degree of comfort to think that the person assisting me in such an intimate way can relate to me, to my womanhood and to my blackness. 

Fortunately, there are more black women in the holistic wellness world creating spaces and advocating for us these days. This has meant that there are sisters now appearing on the pages of yoga magazines, owning yoga studios, designing wellness products, organising retreats and guiding us through our at home meditations. It's refreshing. At a time when many of us are becoming more conscientious about supporting black businesses and leaning into spaces made with us in mind, it seems appropriate to focus on this topic as a part of our meditation series.

Here are a few guided meditations created by black women for black women. Click on each name to be directed to the respective link.

1.Beautiful Self Love Meditation by Yoga Bliss Dance

2. Guided Gratitude Meditation by Alexis Verday

3. A Relaxing Meditation by Black Girl In Om

4. A Meditation for Black Women written by Monet Marshall & Nia Wilson

5.Black Girl Magic Meditation by The Healing Sanctuary 444

Photography Credit: Joel John