Meditation guided practices may not typically facilitate the use of many items, but when you incorporate them correctly, items such as crystals, beads, flowers and even paintings can provide a great boost to your tried and true meditation work. Not only can they enhance your energy levels, but they can also strengthen your ability to combat stress and enhance your technique.
A meditation object can range in price from fairly inexpensive (for flowers) to more pricey (for beads and crystals). Some schools of meditation would also consider mantras an object, as they function as a kind of tool.
If you choose to go with flowers, be sure to get fresh, live flowers. You do not want dried flowers or artificial ones, as they will provide no benefit. Cut flowers will work, but once they wilt they must be replaced. You are looking to tap into the life energy of the flower. If you are not a flower fan, but you like other plants, you can try those out as well, provided that they are also live plants.
A scented candle or a stick or cone of incense can provide a great meditation tool for you. Not only can the scent help calm you and fill the room with a warm energy, but many Eastern meditation practices cite a small fire and its energy as very important to meditating. When choosing a scent, be sure to pick something that is pleasant and not overly strong, as a bold scent could potentially distract you. For the maximum benefit from a scented candle or incense, avoid a plug-in scent or flameless candle, as the burning provides a stronger energy for you.
Certain crystals are specific to certain forms of guided meditation practices, but others are more open. You can find meditation crystals in a New Age store. Be sure to ask for help selecting the right type of crystal for your purpose. When introducing the crystals to your meditation, you can either hold them, place them around you, or even have them nearby, in your meditation area, as the energy will be available to you in that way.
For meditation beads, you can use nearly any string of beads on hand, as they are mostly a guide for reciting mantras. You can use anything from a cheap string of plastic Mardi Gras beads to a rosary. Of course, you will also be able to locate crystal bead chains that might help you enhance specific aspects of your practice of meditation guided.