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Sanskrit Wisdom and Ancient Practices for Modern Times with Dr. Katy Jane
Dr. Katy Jane elucidates the bridge between traditional practices and modern relevance. Dr. Katy Jane is a Sanskrit scholar, Vedic astrologer, and spiritual guide known for making ancient wisdom accessible and relevant to modern seekers.
Our conversation with Sanskrit and Vedic Astrology expert elucidates the bridge between traditional practices and modern relevance. "Sanskrit is a technology for awakening consciousness. It is designed for us to tune into it, so the sounds can awaken our natural intelligence." -Dr. Katy Jane
Anandra had the great privilege to have ta...
Kīrtan Chanting and the Brain: Mirror Neurons and Direct Sensory Experience
Kīrtan is a call-and-response musical form that's unique!
I have been musing about this lately, and recently wrote a short piece about this I thought I'd share on my blog. :)
With call and response mantra chanting, participants in the chant experience get to enjoy both:
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Listening to a leader sing or chant a mantra (and often accompanied by wonderfully skilled musicians in the kīrtan band!)
This activates the mirror neurons or what I connect to the "guru principle", giving the participant a sense of aspirational elation when observing someone do something that's...
Sheela Bringi: A Lifetime of Evolving the Indian Traditions of Mantra, Music & Bhakti
A Heartfelt Exchange on the Power of Sound and Tradition
In this episode of Mantras for Peace: A Widsom Gathering, Anandra joyfully welcomes Sheela Bringi, a musician, teacher, and “lineage keeper” of sacred sound traditions from India. Over the years, Sheela has dedicated herself to preserving the wisdom of these traditions while breathing new life into them in America.
Sheela Bringi, MFA, is a sacred music artist and educator. She is faculty at Naropa University in Boulder, CO, where she teaches courses in Indian Devotional and Rāga Singing. She is a vocalist and ...
Om or Aum? How to Chant Primordial Sound for 14 Mantra Yoga Therapy Benefits!
Chanting OM in a yoga class or kīrtan is practically ubiquitous. Everyone chants OM all the time, it seems! It's certainly the most well-known mantra.
But are you one of those (many!) folks who shyly mumbles along,
not really sure what you're supposed to do or how you should be feeling?
Or are you one of those chant lovers who thrills at the chance to tune into this potent, primal sound and lets it ring through their bodies with full resonance before you dissolve back into spacious silence and peace, becoming fully attuned and aligned with your whole self in JUST. ONE...
Gayatri Mantra Spelling in IAST with Pronunciation Tutorial Video
If you love mantras, you know that finding properly spelled Sanskrit Mantra is really challenging!
This post is part of a series on accurately spelled Sanskrit mantras in IAST. If you're looking for reliable information on how to spell the Savitri Gayatri Mantra you'll find it below:
- Gayatri mantra in Devanagari (or the Sāvitrī Gāyatrī mantra in Devanāgarī if we're being precise!)
- Sāvitrī Gāyatrī mantra in IAST transliteration
- The long form of the Sāvitrī Gāyatrī mantra with 7 bīja mantras (instead of the usual 3)
- An image of Sāvitrī Gāyatrī
- A quick video tuto...
Gayatri mantra FAQ: why is it so special?
The Savitri Gayatri Mantra (also know as "the Gayatri") is often celebrated for its profound spiritual resonance and universal appeal.
Here are a few reasons why the Gayatri mantra is so special:
- The Sāvitrī Gāyatrī mantra is a great mantra for beginner / intermediate chant lovers, as it transcends religious and cultural boundaries, and serves as a powerful tool for healing and self-realization.
- The Gayatri mantra's essence lies in its simplicity and accessibility. It's a non-dogmatic invocation that calls upon the divine light to illuminate our minds and hearts....
What is Mantra Yoga?
Mantra yoga, a simple definition for ordinary people:
I was on the phone once with tech support for my web hosting service. The guy (who sounded like a nice Southern California surfer) was looking at my website, and asked, “What's a mantra?"
I said, “It’s a collection of sounds or words that you repeat over and over to yourself as a form of meditation, either out loud or silently in your mind.”
And he said, “So kind a like ‘think happy thoughts?' "
Laughing, I replied, “Sort of. If you repeat one happy thought over and over again, it would be a form of mantra medi...
What defines "Sacred Sound"? What's the best way to start?
When asked about the best way to start or the most powerful approach, I believe cultivating listening is something anyone can do.
Listening awareness is Sacred Sound, ...
Is it OK to mix mantras? Do we risk cultural appropriation or misuse of mantra?
For chant leaders and mantra recording artists, the question of mixing mantras for chanting is one that has intrigued many, prompting inquiries about the permissibility of blending deities and languages in spiritual practice. For some, the idea of combining "oṁ namaḥ śivāya" with "wahe guru" in a single chant may feel intuitively right, but is it ethically sound? Let's delve into this complex topic, which I also cover in depth in my sound and mantra teacher training course.
Q. (From a graduate of our 500hr Sound & Mantra Training course who teaches mantra workshops ...
10 Educational Standards to Look For in Sound Healing & Mantra Trainings
Are you seeking sound healing training to enhance your practice or professional repertoire? Yay! There are hundreds of sound healing courses available, but not all are created equal!
(If you cringe when someone attends a weekend workshop and then calls themselves a certified sound healer, then the following month they have their own training certification course... this article is for you!)
Here are 10 things to look for in a sound and mantra training!
We've been to LOTS of them, and have addressed some of the common pitfalls and icks that sound healers and mantra l...
