Mantra
As you begin to delve deeper into the world of yoga and modern spirituality, you will probably hear the term mantra used a lot. The word ‘mantra’ is a little bit of a buzz word among yoga advocates and spiritual celebrities and it seems to be akin to repetitive positive thinking, perhaps, I feel an overly simplistic interpretation of its broader meaning but certainly on the same page.
A mantra is what we chant, chanting is repeating the mantra. These are the sacred words or prayer performed in song, rhythmically and repeatedly. Chanting in its ancient form is part of the process of “pratyahara”, the withdrawal from the world of the outwardly senses, to the inner terrain of the Self. Mantras, in yogic terms are traditional to the Sanskrit language, one of the most ancient root languages known, and is the language many mantras are still performed in today. Some traditional mantras are merely sounds, seed sounds, ‘Om’ being the most well known of them, that have no verbal translation yet have so much meaning and connection to the essence of what they represent, ‘Om’ being the vibration that encompasses all of consciousness itself in one sound, pretty powerful for such a small word. Mantra can be chanted to various deities, to call on their wisdom or to help you embody what they represent. It is connected with deep held intention, transcendental embodiment and vibrational transformation. After all, we are merely vibration, mantra is one way to alter that vibration, we are tapping in to our personal frequencies and being our own vibrational conductor.
Most traditions from all around the globe have a form of chant, from Hawaii, Native America, Africa and Aboriginal Australia. We may be familiar with Gregorian chant, the Roman Catholic form of repetitive sung prayer usually in Latin. It is pretty apparent from the use of chant through the many traditions and ages, that it holds some truly powerful spiritual significance.
Good vibrations.
So looking a little further into chanting mantras, why might this practice be so powerful?
Through the more recent work in quantum physics, we may be going some way to help explain the reasons why. I’ll give you my very unscientific interpretation of the reasons.
All matter is, simply put, just vibrations, oscillating at various levels or frequencies. And sound of course, is pure vibration. This piece from The Scientific American jokingly refers to how the “hippies” had it right, good vibrations and all that is truth and more easily understood by all. Check out the article here.
‘Well, we agree that vibrations, resonance, are the key mechanism behind human consciousness, as well as animal consciousness more generally.” Scientific American.
So we can change our own vibration, tap in to our consciousness, through sound. We know words are also very powerful, the meaning and the intention all have their effects, they have their own energy (just look at how effective an expletive word can be when you need to release a moment of quick anger or pain when you stub your toe in the dead of night).
The ancient language of Sanskrit is still used for chanting purposes today. Sanskrit is a uniquely resonant language, it has 49 letters, 35 of which are soft sounds, making it a wholly different vibrational and resonant experience to chant and hear than more modern languages. It has also been around a real long time, which allows us to echo back to our ancestors no matter our origin. However you can use mantra and chant in any language you desire, you don’t even have to understand the full meaning of the words, you sense their energy and sacredness. Then we look at communal chanting.. this is where it gets more interesting. Vibrations effect and spread around them synchronising with other objects of vibrating frequency, creating a heightened effect. Pretty effective way to spread an idea.
So it is all about vibrations, but it’s also about the type of vibrations and, most importantly, about shared vibrations.
If you wish to take this powerful practice to the next level, group chanting is an energising experience which I can not recommend highly enough. Check out the exquisite offerings and opportunities to be lead in a safe group environment, suitable for everyone of every voice and experience level, available through the wonderful facilitator Yasia. Information on events around the Bray and Dublin area on her page here.
Working with mantra is still something I am exploring. I have only scratched the surface of this beautiful tradition so please forgive me if my interpretation is unsophisticated. My own personal experience has helped me clarify however why using a mantra and chanting is so significant to me and why it may help you.
- Intention – even if the mantra is a seed sound or a language you do not know, it is your intention, your belief and your cherished hope that is so crucial an element.
- Vibration and frequency – this is linked inextricably to the intention. The metamorphosis of your vibration can lead to many changes in your thought patterns, beliefs, the physical energy that you emit and so your circumstance.
- Developing my voice and the spoken word is part of the process . For me, finding my voice and using my voice, something I struggle so frequently with, a disconnection from which has plagued me through my life, has been an utter joy. It is a huge missing part of my personal tapestry, my disenchantment from the power of my own voice and speaking my truth. I will look at this in another post as it is a significant part of the conditioning particularly of women in our society.
If you would like to begin to use traditional mantra in your practice. Here is a little mantra I have had the pleasure of exploring and is a lovely place to explore from.
I have drawn my inspiration from the book “Awakening Shakti” by Sally Kempton, who wonderfully and sensitively explores the goddess’s from Hindu traditions to help us in the west understand the vast history of these beautiful figures. Also from the book and CD by Thomas Ashley-Farrand, Healing mantras. Learn Sound Affirmations for spiritual growth, creativity, and healing. Giving us a practical and very accessible guide to mantra.
A mantra to Lakshmi.
This mantra is a powerful one for drawing abundance to your life. Lakshmi – a deity, is a goddess in the Hindi tradition. I am not Hindu myself, so to me, she is simply the embodiment of abundance, in the form of a somewhat relatable earthly figure.
Lakshmi embodies certain qualities which we would all at some point or in some way find desirable in our lives. Abundance, whether it be an abundance of love, health, vitality, joy, money, peace, or whatever you feel is scarce in your world, that you would like to attract more of.
The words are as follows-
Om Shrim Maha Lakshmiyei Swaha
(Aum Shreem Ma-ha Lak-schmee-Ya Swa-ha )
When I use this mantra I envision Lakshmi as the beautiful dark haired Goddess she is often depicted as, dripping in a red sari, precious gold and red rubies lavishly adorn her radiant skin, she is gazing with quiet confidence and pure open generosity in her face. She is rooted in contentment, a knowing that all is well and always will be, I suppose a kind of self assuredness that comes with knowing abundance in your life. Lakshmi, to me, is also generosity, a kindness and ability to give freely that comes from a connection to the source, knowing no scarcity or lack. She is sustainability, health, love, joy and comfort.
I begin to feel warm golden light flooding through my body. She is honey in my veins, luxurious cloth on my skin, radiance in my eyes, vitality in my entire being. She is fine food, opulent decorative surroundings, decadence in all manner of ways that is always tasteful.
As I repeat the mantra, I expand the embodied sense of confidence, contentment, abundance to my very cells. Even the words of the mantra are rounded and soft, like the essence of Lakshmi. I carry this sense with me for as long as I can. Feeling abundance is already with me, I already have it. With this comes a sense of gratitude and grace. To me the gratitude is as important as the ability to embody the sense of abundance. I then imagine sharing this abundance, spreading the light, the joy the love through my body to those around me, the earth, mother nature or wherever it is I may be. This represents the expression of Lakshmi that is her generosity and lack of fear of limited resources and scarcity which we can be lead to feel in this world right now.
I hope you will find the beautiful potential power and grace of mantra and voice work as helpful as I have. Enjoy, be playful, loosen up and let your voice soar!