Our words have great power. Greater than we even realize. They express our thoughts and our feelings in the moment. 

​Our words have the power to heal and power to create anew. 
 
And when we listen to the words of another, truly and deeply listen to the words of another, without wanting to respond, without judgement, without trying to fix, we can enter into the world of the other. Here, with our attention and presence, we can participate in the healing of their pain or in the creation of their new idea that is needed in the world. 
 
Deep listening connects us.

Using the Voice to Heal
There’s a section of the Kalevala, the great epic of Finland that illustrates the incredible power of the voice and illuminates the possibility that exists for all of us.  I’ll share it here with you, in story form. 
 
Vainomoinen opened his mouth and began to sing. 
 
He sang a most powerful song that only the wisest and the oldest upon earth could sing. 
 
It rang with eternal wisdom that stretched to the farthest depths of the sea. Across the wide expanse of land.  And to the heights of the sky. 
 
He sang of life and death and the origin of all that was created upon Mother Earth.
 
He sang of the waters, the mountains, the animals. 
 
And of himself, the first human being. 
 
He sang of love and hate. 
 
He sang of creation and destruction, of ease and pain. 
 
He sang of all such matters of importance in the world.  
 
The words of song traveled across the land as seeds do in a breeze.  The Earth came alive and shimmered like the leaves of a birch tree.
 
For She remembered her Origin. 
 
The sunlight danced. The streams bubbled. The mountains trembled.  The flowers swayed. 
 
All creation sparkled in this knowledge

​Vainomoinen sang on.  He sang of the origin of the sledge. Then the runners of the sledge became branches of a willow tree.  Then disappeared into a seed in the earth….
 
He sang on.
 
Soon Joukahainen’s sword rose out of its sheath at his hip and sunk into the ground becoming a rock as a flash of lightning struck it…
 
Joukahainen was now terrified as he saw the power of Vainomoinen’s song.  He stood there helpless.  Off flew his wool coat and hat, back to the sheep who disappeared into thin air…
 
Then suddenly, Joukahainen felt himself moving toward the nearby lake!  He stumbled at the edge and found his feet sinking in thick mud.  Though he tried, he could not pull himself up out of it…
 
……for Vainomoinen deeply understood that the healing of the pain and suffering comes from the power of remembering and voicing its origin. 
 
Vainomoinen continued singing, but the melody changed significantly.  
 
Now, as he sang, Joukahainen moved upward out of the muddy bank and onto the dry land.  His wool coat and hat returned to him…
 
Vainomoinen continued, now with the sweetest song of creation. Joukahainen’s wool coat and hat returned to him. His sword returned to its sheath. The runners on his sledge appeared once again. 
 
All of the land glimmered with the life of creation. 
 
 
May we remember that our words have great power. 
 
Power to heal and power to create anew in our lives and in the world.
 
Bearing witness to another’s words with deep listening lets us participate in their healing and in their creation in the world. 
 
The Throat Chakra
This is at the foundation of the fifth chakra, the throat chakra. 
 
It’s located in the throat area that includes the neck, jaw, shoulders, and also ears. It’s the source of your speaking, listening, and ability to express yourself authentically. 
 
When your throat chakra is balanced and you speak your truth, it’ll be experienced as authentic and compassionate. 
 
You’ll be able to be open and honest.  To stand up for what you believe, yet not be hurtful toward others. 
 
You’ll also be able to listen deeply to others, giving them an experience of being heard and understood, a profound human need.

​The main obstacle within the throat chakra is self-doubt or the negative voice within your thinking. You may fear how others may respond to you or judge you. This may interfere with your ability to express yourself or speak your truth. You may shake or stutter as you speak. Or speak words before you think. 
 
Balancing the Throat Chakra with Mantra
Chanting a mantra that relates to a Hindu deity associated with this chakra can help you to bring awareness and healing to this chakra, supporting you in finding your voice in self expression and in communication with others.
 
To help balance the throat chakra, we can call upon the goddess, Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess, of abundance, wealth, and beauty. She is depicted wearing red clothes embroidered with gold thread, indicating activity and prosperity – both material and spiritual.  She can support you in your efforts to speak your truth with compassion and to listen deeply to others, bringing abundance to all. 
 
You can find the Healing Lakshmi Mantra in my Free Healing Library and chant along with me as you sit in a relaxed, yet upright position. 
 
Before you begin, speak this prayer to the Divine Spirit:
 
“Divine Spirit, infinite source of life and love, I ask that you support me in bringing balance to my throat chakra. I release and dissolve any negative energies or experiences within this energy center so that I can express myself authentically and with compassion as I grow into the Light of the Divine to become my highest self.”
 
Then, begin the Lakshmi mantra chant. Remember to end with a moment of silence and inward reflection. 

One of my favorite flowers is the radiant lotus blossom. This flower pushes through the muck and mire of the waters reaching toward the light.  It opens its blossoms of beauty, untouched and unsoiled.  Connected, yet hovering just above the mud below.  A pure and radiant beauty. 

​As we are in the midst of the muck and mire of the pandemic and the pain of bringing more awareness to the continued systemic racism in our country, I try to bring the image of the lotus flower to mind.
 
I take time to contemplate what is the divine opportunity that exists in this moment and how I can be of service. 
 
I focus on my seventh chakra, the crown chakra. That’s what gives us the ability to “rise above” and access higher states of consciousness, as we open to that which is beyond ourselves. 
 
It’s located at the top of the head and slightly above the head. It sits like a crown, opening upwards.
 
It’s the source of our connection to the divine energy of creation and to our higher self.  Also to the experience that we are one with everyone and everything in nature. 
 
So, I take time to bring my awareness to my crown chakra so that I’m able to feel grounded and connected to the divine. I open myself to the experience of unity with others and the world, endeavoring to discover the deeper meaning of life and feel a deep peace in this current time. I seek to experience the Divine within myself and within the world. 

​Opening the Crown Chakra with Mantra
 
Are you, too, pondering the higher meaning in our current circumstances?  Are you wondering how to understand this and how you can be of service to the world in this moment? 
 
I invite you to join me in chanting a mantra that relates to a Hindu deity associated with the crown chakra that can help you to bring awareness and healing to this chakra, supporting you in connecting to the divine and feeling at one with all that is. 
 
With the crown chakra, we can call upon Brahman. Brahman is not to be confused with Brahma, the Hindu deity. Brahman’s without a beginning and without an end and yet is within all. Brahman is cosmic spirit and infinite consciousness. The universal principle and eternal truth. 
 
You can find the Healing Brahman Mantra in my Free Healing Library and chant along with me as you sit in a relaxed, yet upright position. 
 
Before you begin, speak this prayer to the Divine Spirit:
 
“Divine Spirit, infinite source of life and love, I ask that you support me in fully accessing my crown chakra. I release and dissolve any negative energies within this energy center so that I feel a deep peace in life and unity with others as I grow into the Light of the Divine to become my highest self.”
 
Then, begin the Brahman mantra chant. Remember to end with a moment of silence and inward reflection. 

Interested in learning more mantras to support you in accessing the divine in this unusual time?  Check out my guidebook and accompanying audio recordings, How to Bring Life to Your Chakras: 7 Healing Mantras.  

​In this unusual time, our hearts are heavy with grief and pain. We see how much work we still have left to do in the world to relieve human suffering.
 
What suffering of the heart have you experienced recently? Have you felt the loss of a loved one or isolation from those you love? 
 
Have you felt the pain of our country with the recent protests against police brutality and racism? 

​Are you able to open your heart to compassion, love, and understanding – for yourself and for others? 
 
Opening the Heart Chakra
 
Chanting a mantra that relates to a Hindu deity associated with the heart chakra can help you to bring awareness to this chakra, healing your hurt and pain and opening your heart to love, compassion, and understanding.
 
The fourth chakra, the heart chakra, is located at the center of the chest.  It’s the bridge between the lower chakras of matter and the upper chakras of spirit. It’s related to the element of air.  We can use our breath and movement, within the air, to feel deeply connected with all that is around us, harmoniously exchanging energy with it. 
 
When this chakra is open and balanced, you flow with love, empathy, and compassion.
 
You accept others and yourself. You forgive easily. 
 
You have unconditional compassion for yourself and others.
 
Your heart is free from past hurts. You are open to love. 

​I love the old tradition in Japan that is called Kintsugi, the mending of broken pottery with gold. It reminds me of how our pain and suffering can be transformed. 
 
A lovely piece of pottery glimmers with cracks that are filled with gold. Giving the piece an appearance that is unique to itself.  Unlike any other piece of pottery. 
 
The artist, instead of hiding or disguising the past, has transformed the piece’s damage and history into something beautiful.
 
The original piece now becomes even more stunning and unique than before it was broken.  Creating a glorious, new life.
 
In this art form, I’m reminded of how we don’t have to hide the pain in our hearts, but we can transform it into something new that serves the world. 

​To help transform the pain of your heart, we can call upon the god, Krishna, the Hindu god that radiates love and compassion. His playful nature also reminds us to remain good-natured through the challenges that come our way in our life’s journey. 
 
You can find the Healing Krishna Mantra in my Free Healing Library and chant along with me as you sit in a relaxed, yet upright position. 
 
 
Before you begin, speak this prayer to the Divine Spirit:
 
“Divine Spirit, infinite source of life and love, I ask that you support me in bringing balance to my heart chakra. I release and dissolve any negative energies or experiences within this energy center so that I can open my heart to love, compassion, and understanding while I grow into the Light of the Divine to become my highest self. “
 
Then, begin the Krishna mantra chant.   Remember to end with a moment of silence and inward reflection

May you transform the pain within your heart, filling it with gold, so that you may open to love, compassion, and understanding to serve the world!
 
Interested in learning more 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.  
 

​Our nation is in pain and agony. It is clear. As protests and unrest have erupted across our country, it’s clear that our fellow human beings are not only grieving but also feel compelled to speak out for justice and demand changes to the destructive and hurtful ways.
 
At the same time, across our country, many are grieving the loss of the lives to the coronavirus and the loss of freedom in life as we knew it. 
 
Our hearts are heavy.  There is much grief and sadness.  There is anger.
 
We are in pain. 
 
How do you work through your pain?  How do you support others in pain? 
 
To heal my own pain and suffering, one spiritual practice I turn to is mantra chanting.  The sacred sounds coming from my voice resonate throughout my body, bringing my being back into harmony and balance. 
 
Then, as my voice rises into the air, I can send that same energy out to my fellow human beings who also suffer. 

​Healing with Mantra Chanting
 
Chanting a mantra that relates to the Hindu deity associated with a chakra can help you to bring awareness and healing to a particular chakra. Our second chakra, the sacral chakra, is located in your lower abdomen, a couple inches below your navel and where our emotions reside. 
 
This is a good place to focus when we feel pain and suffering. 
 
The sacral chakra is a place where we can access our creative nature to move through challenges. And where our relationships with our fellow human beings grow. 

​The goddess Saraswati, reigns over creativity, wisdom and knowledge, music and the arts.  She can inspire our creativity in life.  She can support us to find our creative expression that can flow forth in dance, yoga, drawing, painting, singing, and in all aspects of our daily life, allowing us to access our deep wisdom that will guide us through difficult times. 
 
Saraswati supports human beings to ignite the seeds of creative expression within themselves and bring to form in beauty that which has not yet come to manifestation in the world.  Whether it be an idea, thought, dream, song, artistic piece or passion. 
 
A new impulse comes into being!
 
Creation of the new that is needed in the world. 
 
As you begin to feel the soothing of the grief, pain and suffering that lives within you and the world around you, you can move toward the creation of a new way in the world. 
 
Sara meaning Essence, and Swa as One Self comes together as The Essence of One Self.  In the word Saraswati the meaning becomes, “One who Leads to the Essence of One Self.”  
 
Saraswati, the one who taps into the deepest essence of who you are and your gifts to the world that are needed that can flow through you and out into the world. In service to humanity. 
 
You can find the Healing Saraswati Mantra in my Free Healing Library  and chant along with me as you sit in a relaxed, yet upright position. 
 
 
Before you begin, speak this prayer to the Divine Spirit:
 
“Divine Spirit, infinite source of life and love, I ask that you support me in bringing balance to my sacral chakra. I release and dissolve any negative energies or experiences within this energy center so that I may bring to birth my own unique creative expression while I grow into the Light of the Divine to become my highest self. “
 
Then, begin the Saraswati mantra chant. Remember to end with a moment of silence and inward reflection. 

May Saraswati help you to soothe the pain and suffering at this time and rediscover the creative aspect within that will guide you to bring to the world what it is needing now. 
 
Interested in learning more mantras to support you in accessing your inner strength in this unusual time?  Check out my guidebook and audio recordings, How to Bring Life to Your Chakras: 7 Healing Mantras.