Abstract: A surgical navigation system comprises a computer system, a tracking system and a projector. The computer system includes instructions for performing a surgical plan. The tracking system is electronically connected to the computer system and has a viewing area in which markers can be located within a three-dimensional space relative to the viewing area. The projector is electronically connected to the computer system and has a beam projectable into the viewing area to display a step of the surgical plan based on a location of a marker. A method for guiding a surgical instrument comprises tracking a surgical instrument within a three-dimensional space using a computer-operated tracking system, matching the surgical instrument to a step in a surgical plan for conducting the surgical procedure using the surgical instrument, and projecting a visual instruction into the three-dimensional space for the step in the surgical plan related to the instrument.