Last week, I encouraged you to discover how to access your own inner strength to support yourself in this unusual time.  It’ll help you to step away from the chaos that exists out there in the world right now and find your own center and place of peace.   Click here to access last weeks blog.
Even while this crisis in the world continues into the summer, you CAN find your center and inner peace — with the help of a spiritual practice!

​I shared with you that chanting mantras is one of my favorite practices to support me in difficult times. Mantra chanting, practiced for centuries in wisdom traditions, has been used as a way for people to find a deeper presence. It helps you stay focused... and in the present moment - using the mantra as the place for focus. It supports you in letting go of your negative thoughts and emotions and what you cannot control in the world.   
I’m sure you have noticed that many mantras are in Sanskrit.  Have you wondered why? 
Sanskrit is considered a divine language – a language of the gods.  It’s possibly the oldest language on earth. Its spiritual light shines through its sound and form. 
It’s said that Sanskrit was given to the ancient Rishis (sages) and spoken by the enlightened beings of that time who passed the language to their students. 

​The word, Sanskrit, actually means “well or completely formed, purified, refined, polished.” The meaning of each letter in the Sanskrit alphabet is created by its sound and is considered a bija, or seed mantra.
The language of Sanskrit itself has transformed or evolved over time.  Many say that it has become illuminated.  Because it has been used by many enlightened beings in spiritual practice, their joy and light penetrated the very essence of the language. 
 
Sanskrit became luminous, a poetic and musical language where the sounds and words are flowing and dynamic.  They allow for many meanings and possibilities. 
 
For example, the root RAM has many meanings including (but not limited to) to be calm OR to delight in OR to rest OR to join OR to play.
Today, we can still use Sanskrit to connect with the Divine. The sound vibration of Sanskrit can bring balance, remove negativities from the mind, and bring healing to the physical body. 
While chanting a Sanskrit mantra, your body relaxes and your mind becomes calm. Your head and your heart connect to your body. Energy flows to the process of restoring of your body, mind, and health back to wholeness. Back to balance which is our natural state. 
When we select Sanskrit words to repeat in a mantra, we’re invoking its meaning within us to help shift patterns from negative to positive. The effect of the mantra depends on proper pronunciation of the sound. 
Some linguists consider Sanskrit to be the perfect language as when its sounds are pronounced properly it evokes a unique vibration in the Universe that puts into motion whatever is trying to manifest through the mantra.
OM is a wonderful mantra in Sanskrit to include in a spiritual practice on a regular basis. 
 
OM (ohm) is the representation of the totality of being, the sound of the universe. It’s the first, original vibration, representing birth, death, and rebirth.  It’s everything.  It’s saying yes to Divine presence in the now.
 
Another favorite of mine is OM GAM GANESHAYA NAMAHA (ohm gung gah-nay-shah-yah nah-mah-hah).  I like to use this one whenever I’m facing a challenge or obstacle of some kind in my life. 
 
Ganesha is the name of the Hindu deity and represents the power that’s present in everything, as the power behind all power, and all the masses of energy that it controls.

This mantra is saying, "Lord, God of hosts, I invoke you." Or "Ganesha, through whose power everything is possible, no obstacle can stand in Your way."

​You can listen to an audio for this mantra here in my Free Healing Library to support you in learning the correct pronunciation. Interested in learning more Sanskrit mantras to support you in accessing your inner strength in this unusual time? Check out my guidebook, How to Bring Life to Your chakras: 7 Healing Mantras.

​How are you doing these days?  The current state of the world’s really requiring us to take a closer look at ourselves and to see how we truly are doing.
Over these long weeks, we have come to see how closely we’re connected to everyone in the world.  And how a crisis can affect all of us in our everyday lives.  
During these days when we’ve been at home, we’ve become more aware of our own fear and anxiety and how we manage that in our lives. We’ve become more in touch with our inner self as we are isolated from others.  We’ve even become more aware of others’ suffering and pain around the world.

​How are you doing in accessing your own inner strength to support yourself in this time?  Are you able to step away energetically from the chaos that exists out there and find your own center and place of peace within? 
Your thoughts, your way of being, and your engagement in this time do make a difference.  A big difference! When you are able to shift to a grounded and more positive place when needed, you’ll experience less suffering.
Even while this crisis in the world continues into the summer, you CAN find your center and inner peace — with the help of a spiritual practice.
Chanting mantras is one of my favorite practices to support me in difficult times!
Mantra chanting, practiced for centuries in wisdom traditions, has been used as a way for people to find a deeper presence.
It helps you stay focused... and in the present moment - using the mantra as the place for focus. It supports you in letting go of your negative thoughts and emotions and what you cannot control in the world.   

​By continuously repeating a mantra, we introduce the vibrational frequency of that mantra into ourselves and sustain it for a period of time.  After a little while, you begin to resonate with the vibration of the mantra and also the words.  Since mantras have sacred and deeper meanings, you resonate at the vibrational frequency with the Divine, with healing power, with your Higher Self.  
 
As you come to resonate at the same frequency as the mantra, over time, the mantra gains its own strength and momentum.  At this point, you shift from chanting the mantra to the mantra having an effect upon you. This is the space in which a mantra can be deeply transformative.  
Some say that mantras connect us to a universal archetypal energy field far greater than ourselves that reflects the nature and meaning of that mantra.  We then vibrate with a higher level of consciousness that purifies the body and mind. These fields have been strengthened over many, many years by those who have repeated the mantra in the past, and they have tremendous potential for our healing and development. So, it’s important in choosing a mantra that you do so consciously, whether it’s for spiritual practice or healing.  
  
 
I’ll share some guidance on how to use a mantra.
 

1. Take a few deep breaths, in through your nose, out through your mouth fully. Focus on your breathing and let go of all other thoughts and distractions. 
2. Set your intention for doing the mantra. Remind yourself of the meaning and why you chose that mantra. 
3. Begin saying the mantra, either aloud or internally.  Some people find it helpful to coordinate the mantra with the breath.  Explore and see what works for you.
4. Stay connected to the meaning of the mantra as you repeat it. You may find that, with repeated practice, you experience the mantra in new and deeper ways and the meaning of it may shift some.
5. If your mantra is associated with a deity, then visualize the deity and the attributes of the deity. 
6. If the mantra is specific for healing or balancing a chakra, then place your awareness on that part of your body. You can visualize the associated color, if desired.  
7. Once you have repeated the mantra for a period of time, slowly let the mantra reach a whisper until it finally stops. Experience the silence and peaceful emptiness that resonates within you and touches the primordial wisdom within the universe.  

Mantras can be used anytime and anywhere when said internally.  When you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed with your emotions or your thoughts, using a mantra can calm and center you.  Bringing you to a place of groundedness and peace.  
 
Not sure what mantra to choose to get started?  A good place to start is with OM.  Read about this mantra in my post here.  Then explore guided mantra chanting for the chakras in my Free Healing Library. 
 
Ready to dive in and bring this transformative practice into your spiritual practice for this unprecedented time in the world?  Check out my guidebook, How to Bring Life to Your Chakras: 7 Healing Mantras.  

​When you look back on your life’s journey, do you feel that you discovered your true purpose and were able to realize it in your life?  Or do you feel you missed your true calling in life?
 
Do you feel it’s too late to discover this?
 
Or maybe when you look back, you remember your childhood dreams and you realize that you never were able to realize those. 
 
Do you feel it might be too late now? 

​What if it’s not too late and you can bring life to these dreams? 
 
What if now is the perfect time to let your true calling blossom in the world? 
 
Whenever I’m in need of inspiration to birth a vision into the world, now, in my later years, I remember St. Hildegard. She lived to the ripe old age of 81 following her calling in a time where a typical lifespan was half that! 
 
When she was 52 years old, she felt called to leave her home of 40 years, the Abbey of St. Disibod, and take the bold step to build her own abbey where St. Rupert’s church on the Rhine River had been destroyed. The inspiring work of St. Rupert in the 7th century fueled her commitment to move forward with this project.

​And yet, she was faced with many obstacles along the way. The monks at St. Disibod strongly objected that she was leaving. Understandable, as several sisters leaving with her meant that the monks’ financial support would too. 
 
Yet, she continued to find her courage to do what she felt called to. And she moved forward. She built Rupertsberg, a place for her to manifest the Power of the Living Light.
 
The early years on the Rupertsberg were difficult ones. Some sisters even left. Still she persevered with the passion she had for the project.  And then at the age of 67, marching forward, she created a second abbey!
 
Then as she entered into the last decade of her life, she stayed active each and every day  - writing texts that would share with others her plant remedies for healing, developing her own forms of worship and dress at the new abbey, and writing letters to the Emperor and the Pope.
 
She even stood up for a revolutionary youth who, upon death, had repented and so she agreed to have him buried on her property, in spite of the consequences. The authorities were upset and her convent was placed under interdict.
 
Yet she fought against this injustice and won yet another battle, shortly before she died at age 81.

​What wisdom and experience, alongside determination, courage and action she displayed in her later years!
 
St. Hildegard is such an inspiration to me as I live my journey through this third phase of my life. We’re never too old to take up a passion, to find meaning in life, and to try something new!
 
Here are a few tips for finding the courage to thrive in your later years of life that I’ve learned from guides such as St. Hildegard in my life.  May they support you too! 
 
 

1. Have a purpose or a reason to get up in the morning – something meaningful in life. Consider where you can share your experience and wisdom gained over the years. Consider what you have longed to do in life and haven’t yet. Then take steps to begin it!

 

1. Celebrate and cultivate social connections – Loss of loved ones is inevitable as you grow older. Make new friends and not just ones your age.

 

1. Keep a rhythm and routine in your life – having rhythms helps to give you strength.  Wake up and go to sleep at the same times each day. Eat meals at regular times. Find some consistency throughout the week of time in nature, exercise, and social activities. 

 

1. Don’t be defined by obstacles – Remember how you crashed through obstacles when you were younger with idealism and eternal optimism? Maybe you’ve grown wiser since then but hold on to an attitude of positivity and gratitude, not bitterness, as you age.  Don’t let yourself be defined by an illness or your age. 

 

1. Try new things – it keeps your mind and body flexible! And you may discover a new passion!

 

1. Let go of the limiting beliefs of old age - There are numerous stories of people living their passions in their later years.  Read a few of them to inspire you! You’re never too old.

 
 
In this phase of life, when the busy time of raising children and building a career passes, we can begin to savor the moments of life in a new way and not let them rush by. Friends, family, new experiences, and nature can be more deeply enjoyed. Passions that have been dormant can now begin to blossom! 

May you discover the meaning and purpose of this phase of your life’s journey and find the courage to allow it to blossom in the world!
 
Want to move forward with your creative dreams, so matter how old you are?  Check out my upcoming course: "Master Your Creativity"

​Yet another spring snow has blessed us recently here in Colorado covering my blossoming flowers with a gentle blanket of white. While it was cold and blustery outside, I decided to warm my home with the aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves by making a batch of one of my favorite recipes- Joy Cookies.  And it never fails….as the smell of spices floated through the air of my home, my two adult daughters appeared and gathered around me in the kitchen. Gone were the feelings of sadness, overwhelm and isolation we were experiencing in this time of sheltering in place, as we enjoyed these delicious cookies together.
Once again, St. Hildegard has touched my life. She’s always an enduring inspiration to me! 
 
In the mid 12th century, St. Hildegard recognized the health benefits of many herbs and spices.  It was then that she shared a basic recipe for ancient biscuits or cookies that are commonly called “Hildegardplätzchen” (Hildegard’s Cookies). Today we might call them "Cookies of Joy" as she said they lift any melancholia, open your heart, and bring you a sense of cheerfulness and joy. Certainly something we all could use in these challenging times! 

​In her book, Physica, St. Hildegard recommended the use of nutmeg for its healing powers and offered the following recipe. 
“Nutmeg has great heat and good moderation in its powers.  If a person eats nutmeg, it will open up his heart, make his judgment free from obstruction, and give him a good disposition. 
Take some nutmeg and an equal weight of cinnamon and a bit of cloves, and pulverize them.  Then make small cakes with this and fine whole wheat flour and water.  Eat them often.  It will calm all bitterness of the heart and mind, open your heart and impaired senses, and make your mind cheerful.  It purifies your senses and diminishes all harmful humors in you.  It gives good liquid to your blood, and makes you strong.”                              -Hildegard von Bingen, Physica -1153AD

​If we take this seed that was planted by St. Hildegard long ago into our current times within natural medicine, we see that nutmeg is known for many health benefits including the following:
·      Supports a Healthy Brain – nutmeg contains myristicin and macelignan, natural organic compounds that have a stimulating effect, supporting focus and concentration and also protecting the brain from degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s
·      Eases Pain and Swelling – the essential oil of nutmeg helps to relieve muscular and joint pain resulting from injury, strain, or chronic inflammation such as arthritis
·      Improves Circulation – the potassium within nutmeg relaxes blood vessels, controls blood pressure, and improves blood circulation
·      Boosts Immune System – the minerals in nutmeg such as potassium, calcium, iron, and manganese help fight against bacteria and disease
·      Cures Insomnia – nutmeg has a high content of magnesium, a mineral that reduces nerve tension and supports the feeling of relaxation
 
Here’s the recipe for St. Hildegard’s Joy Cookies that I use, based on her original ingredients, but adapted to our modern times.  I hope you find that they bring you joy within your home during these times of sheltering in place!  
The spices of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves have their own unique health benefits that will boost the immune system, reduce tension, and improve mood.  The sweet aroma that will arise in your kitchen will certainly bring you a sense of joy and well-being too! 

St. Hildegard made many contributions to the field of holistic health and wellness. The wisdom that Hildegard shared about natural healing, nutrition, and healthy living was a seed planted that continued to flourish into the future within the field of natural medicine.
Don’t miss out on an opportunity to access my Free Mini Video Series: 3 Keys to Master Your Creativity inspired by St. Hildegard.  It’s only available for a limited time. Access Video #1  Access Video #2 Access Video #3