The Practice--Working with Mantras (Sacred and Mundane)

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Often when we think of mantras, our minds turn to religious chants such as kirtans. We intentionally use mantras with our meditation practice or perhaps, when we feel frightened or alone losing our connection to the Divine, we chant mantras. However, this article is not about the warm fuzzy feelings we experience from sacred words and phrases.

My definition of a mantra is a phrase that we repeat either mindfully or mindlessly. While some mantras are obvious such as the Moola Mantra or the Gayatri Mantra which are sung in Sanskrit, repeated words in everyday songs also act the same way on our brain as sacred mantras. While, a sacred mantra brings us closer to God or our god-self experience, a mundane mantra manifests our everyday life experiences.

As modern-day humans, we surround and cloak ourselves in mundane mantras--ranging from the Rollingstones' "I can't get no satisfaction," to R.E.M.'s "I am superman and I can do anything." Madonna's lyrics manifest, "...like a virgin touched for the very first time," and any lyric that begins with, "I am" unlocks the power of words which are repeated throughout the song, and then throughout the day in the form of ear worms stuck in our brains, like a needle stuck on the groove of a vinyl record.

Now, we are unable to control the soundtracks that surround us. As we go about our days, stopping at this shop to purchase our groceries and the other shop to pick up our shoes from repair, we are not able to control lyrics wafting towards us. However, we can become mindful of the text we hear throughout the day. We can write the text in our journals and then reflect on the manifestations from those messages sent out to the universe via a collective.

As songwriters, authors, and poets, we can choose our words wisely knowing that our words act as mantras for the masses, especially if we reach thousands of ears. And as we play our role as part of a society, yet to awaken spiritually and otherwise, we can add practices to our lives to cleanse our auras and emotional palettes. Keep in mind that all words contain energy, but words grow more powerful when intention is harnessed to them. Using the words "I am" charges all words that follow. So, R.E.M.'s "I am superman" isn't such a bad mantra. Whereas, I wonder what happens to Mick Jaguar as he continues to sing, "I can't get no satisfaction" for the remainder of his life. How's it going for you, Mick? Are you still seeking satisfaction which doesn't come from fame, fortune, and several wives?

Mantras appear in any lyric or poem where we repeat the words multiple times. So if we sing a chorus from a song several times than those phrases act like mantras. Perhaps, we can balance self-defeating mantras by listening more to the sacred ones which do clear our auras and open our chakras. Or you can make your own mantras by singing affirmations. Trish Hatley gives us an example of turning affirmations into mantras for manifestation.

Most important, develop an awareness about the power of words hitched to intentions and musical vibration. If you can do that, you are well on your way to sound healing mastership.  

In closing, please note that it takes more than words to manifest a physical or emotional experience. However, words repeated backed by feelings, emotions, and action, leads to manifestation.