Being an animist means that I am quite naturally spiritually eclectic, swimming in a sea of esoteric and pagan traditions. One tradition that always fascinated me is chanting with mala beads. I would see the Sadhus on TV, with their beads swiftly flowing over their fingers as their minds and souls would soar over the Ganges and wonder what they were doing.
The first time I did a full round of the beads with my chant, my mind became crystal clear and needle sharp, I couldn’t believe how wonderful it made me feel. I haven’t stopped since. Chanting has helped me to reach a higher state of consciousness, connection and wisdom. I reach a place of peace and serenity that I rarely reach in any other form of meditation. Recently, after attaining mastery over a chant, I started receiving messages from a being of another dimension, it seems that a way to access this is through chanting. I love the idea of the mala beads, ‘garlands from heaven’ I see the beads as they are in this world, often beautiful, strings of beads, maybe with embellishment or a tassel. But in the other world, through my shamanic eye, I see its true form, a garland of sacred flowers plucked from heaven itself. There are 108 beads and as many reasons why it is 108, one of which is, there are approximately 108 meridians that run through the heart chakra, seat of love, compassion, creation and manifestation. There is also a guru bead, which we never chant on or cross, it is left as a holy bead, it is sacred, reserved for gratitude and thanks to our teachers, God, higher self. I love how chanting with these beads fit so well with any other tradition, for example; I sit, every Saturday evening, along with my fellow shaman, with our mesa’s open, dreaming our world into being. I still do this, but I end by chanting a full cycle of a world prayer. I’ll tell you about that later. So how do you do it? Acquire a set of mala beads, either made or bought. Dedicate them in your way. Bless them, in your way. Drape the beads over your middle or ring finger, (never the index finger, the finger of ego) use your thumb to gently squeeze, roll, or stroke the bead whilst you chant your chant, (silently or out loud) then you push it along, continuing with the next beads. Once you have made your way to the ‘guru bead’ at the beginning, you can turn it around and start again. For some reason only my higher self knows, I decided that I needed a set of mala beads for each of the chants I use. And so, it began… My first mala was made from rudraksha, seeds of a holy tree that only grows in the Himalayan mountain ranges. Rudraksha beads are good for protecting you from heavy energies and supporting your energy field. They also help to purify your body and mind. Chants: Om Namah Shivaya. Om is the sound that came out of the void of potential, before existence came Om. Namah, means literally bow. Shivaya means God, higher self, divine self, the inner self, future potential. ‘Om, I bow to my sacred self’ {aum-num-ha-shi-way} Loka Samastah Sukhino Bhuv Antu. Loka, means all the people, the universe, all is one. Samastah, means All beings in the same time and location. Sukhino, means free from suffering, centred on happiness. Bhuv, means the state of unified existence, unity consciousness. Antu, means May it be so. {loka-sam-a-star-sook-e-no-buv-antu} Om Mani Padme Hum. ‘Om, behold the jewel in the lotus of the heart!’ For me this beautifully phonic chant opens up the heart chakra to love, munay, compassion and a fierce one heart flame. I dedicated this mala recently to this exact cause, the dawn of the One Heart Flame. There is so much to know within this mantra, I couldn’t possibly go through it all now. It purifies; pride, jealousy, lust, prejudice, judgementalness, violence and apathy. {aum-man-ee-pad-me-hum} Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. It is literally the word ‘peace’ repeated three times. It is a divine feminine chant, for each of the three worlds within us. {aum-shan-ti-shan-ti-shan-ti} Om Kreem Kalikayai Namaha. The chant I use has been said to be only used by very few initiates due to its purgative nature, you literally call Kali to come and destroy all that does not serve you, destroying the ego, fast-tracking you to enlightenment. {aum-kreem-kar-lee-ka-yay-na-ma-har} One chant I have created myself, is for Mother Earth, Prithvi in Sanskrit spirituality. Om Shree Prithvi Ma Purnatva Prithvi Ma. This chant for me is so melodic, it calls for healing of the earth and offers great respect and gratitude for Her. It connects you to the earth around you, allowing you to find that deeper connection and truth, that we are a part of her. {aum-shree-pritti-ma-pur-nap-va-pritti-ma} Mala beads and the chants are such a blessing, and I implore everyone to try it out and see what you think. Experiment, and find your voice. Ask the universe for a garland of flowers direct from heaven, maybe you will find one that suits your practise.
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AuthorShamanism has been a passion and an inspiration for me for many years now. Archives
May 2021
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