the magic of Mantra
Mantra is a huge focus in my own daily practice, as well as a big part of what I share in the 6 month mentorship program. In fact, my personal practice is almost entirely breath, meditation & mantra. These days I prefer to get my movement from (perhaps surprisingly) pilates, swimming & running, leaving space for my yoga practice to be deep and subtle. I do still love yoga asana, I just don’t do it every day anymore, but there is not a day goes by without the magic of mantra!
Mantra is most commonly described as “a sacred utterance” - it could just be a sound, a word, or group of words that are repeated- either silently or out loud, in order to bring connection to the divine consciousness (some might say God etc). Some would even go as far as to call mantra a spiritual weapon, or even a supernatural power…I’m just going to say that the words become sacred with intention and focus. We find mantra in various different spiritual practices across the globe; what I am practicing and sharing is sanskrit mantra from the Shaivite & Shakta Tantric Yoga tradition. Most of the mantra that I practice has been received from Shri Sally Kempton and Shri Acharya Shunya. I have great reverence for these teachers and the power that is held in the mantras, along with pranayama, they have been the backbone of my practice for decades.
The words are made sacred for a few reasons - for a start the energetic power of the language itself can hold significance. The sanskrit language is so powerful, each letter has a unique vibration that can be mapped on the subtle body (I’ll take some time in a future blog to talk about this because it is really very special). Personally I think that a lot of the potency or magic of mantra lies in the focus and intention imbued within it by the practitioner. We have reverence for the words, therefore they are elevated beyond regular communicative language. So, yes, the mantra is special by itself, but it is the individuals discipline that holds these psychological, mystical and spiritual powers. These have been historically useful for providing spiritual practice or connection amongst illiterate/uneducated people - or those who want to feel God/divinity energetically, rather than understand God, mentally. Some mantras don’t actually even have a meaning, they are enjoyed in a devotional, musical way, and are uplifting and spiritually meaningful, providing strength and clarity within the subtle/energetic body.
The Sanskrit word mantra- or mantram - consists of the root man- "to think" (also in manas "mind") and the suffix -tra, “designating tools or instruments”, hence a literal translation would be "instrument of thought”. Ultimately, the instrument of mantra is used to quiet the mind of unconscious thought - creating single pointed focus, clarity and devotion.
Mantras are a wonderful companion to philosophy, especially when coupled with mythology, making some of the deeper/spiritual themes more easily accessible. Usually I will work with a mantra for 40 days (or more) with a specific intention - perhaps moving through a blockage or gaining access to something; greater clarity/creativity/strength/abundance etc. Over the decades I have witnessed incredible shifts - both in my own being and through listening to others experiences too. The first thing I often notice people talk about when beginning mantra sadhana is the freeing up of blocked energy in the throat, and the subsequent freedom to speak the truth from the heart.
If you are curious about learning more about this truly magical practice please reach out, and if you would like to begin or develop a mantra & pranayama sadhana, the next 6 month mentorship begins September 3rd.
Hari Om!
Uma