Systems, devices, and methods are provided for trajectory guidance using instrument position data and planned trajectories into or through a patient's body or an object. Lasers are emitted from a laser system toward the patient's body or object at an area within or proximate to the instrument operator's line of sight. Information about the instrument, including the position of its proximal and distal ends, and the position of the patient's body or object, are used to direct the emission of the lasers in real-time during operation of the instrument. The emitted lasers function as visual cues indicating the manner in which to position the distal and proximal ends of the instrument to properly align with the planned trajectory. A guidance map on the instrument can be used to output visual cues about the position of the distal and proximal ends of the instrument relative to a planned trajectory.
