The Power of Song
THE POWER OF SONG, CHANTS AND MANTRAS
Guest contributor: Jane van Velsen
Guest contributor: Jane van Velsen
In 2010, we posted a review of a concert we attended in Los Angeles. Deva Premal, Miten and Manose, among others, sang mantras to us and asked us to sing along. We did and it was a beautiful, peace-filled event.
With her permission, we post her article about the power of the singing voice - particularly the chanting voice which sends out into the world a vibration of love. It embraces us. It shifts our awareness into the present. It uplifts us.
Enjoy both Ms. van Velsen's words and the videos, afterwords, of Deva Premal, Miten and Manose (flute musician).
The Power of Song, Chants and Mantras
Since time immemorial we have raised our voices in song whether alone or in groups. Our voice is a potent healing instrument that resonates within us and outside of us, surrounding others and imbuing a sense of wholeness, joy and well being.
Today, we seldom use our voices in this way. Our lives are taken over with listening to other voices, the voice on the television, the computer game, the iPhone, CD’s and the radio. The power of our voices is becoming lost to us.
Today, we seldom use our voices in this way. Our lives are taken over with listening to other voices, the voice on the television, the computer game, the iPhone, CD’s and the radio. The power of our voices is becoming lost to us.
Singing out loud
When did you last sing with joy, from your heart, out loud? As youngsters, it’s something we do all the time and this progresses into our teenage years as we discover the joy of music be it rap, pop, rock, soul, chants, reggae, gospel, country, heavy metal or just humming to ourselves. Do you remember sitting in your first car with the music blaring out as you sang along with that elation only the young seem to have?
Can’t sing, won’t sing
Many of us are told that we just can’t sing and that thought is implanted in our heads from an early age but when we are alone in the car, do we care? Not if it makes us feel good and using our voices in song does exactly that. Making music from our voices is a natural gift we all have no matter if we can hold a tune or not.
Delivering a powerful Mantra
Music comes in all guises and one of the most powerful forms of vocal music lies in the mantra. You don’t have to have a great voice to deliver a powerful mantra.
You’ve probably heard mantras in church or in a yoga class but have you ever stopped to hear those that are intended to rouse your senses? It’s as though energy lives in the sounds and through repetition, the sounds gather power and impart an inner belief and intention to you, the listener, that helps you transcend the now and experience your own spirituality.
Music comes in all guises and one of the most powerful forms of vocal music lies in the mantra. You don’t have to have a great voice to deliver a powerful mantra.
You’ve probably heard mantras in church or in a yoga class but have you ever stopped to hear those that are intended to rouse your senses? It’s as though energy lives in the sounds and through repetition, the sounds gather power and impart an inner belief and intention to you, the listener, that helps you transcend the now and experience your own spirituality.
Lokah Samasta
In this way mantras and chants can change sadness into happiness, fear into bravery and deliver strength to the weak. You only have to listen to a musical chant such as Deva Premal and Miten’s rendition of Lokah Samasta (http://www.devapremalmiten.com/music/video) to begin to understand the power of song and how it affects your inner well being. The power of mantras and chants lies in the vibrational quality of the sounds in each word or phrase much like the repeated chorus of a rousing pop song did when you were a teenager. Do you recall how those words and that music affected your body, mind and mood?
In this way mantras and chants can change sadness into happiness, fear into bravery and deliver strength to the weak. You only have to listen to a musical chant such as Deva Premal and Miten’s rendition of Lokah Samasta (http://www.devapremalmiten.com/music/video) to begin to understand the power of song and how it affects your inner well being. The power of mantras and chants lies in the vibrational quality of the sounds in each word or phrase much like the repeated chorus of a rousing pop song did when you were a teenager. Do you recall how those words and that music affected your body, mind and mood?
Spiritual release through sound vibration
Sound creates vibration and carrying that sound as a song or a chant or a mantra builds up energy so that the body feels the vibration in a higher frequency and reacts to it leaving you feeling refreshed, calm and joyful. This is similar to the technique used in hypnotherapy and meditation.As our world hurtles into the chaos of technology and all its complications we are turning to more spiritual experiences and release through chanting or singing a mantra is becoming more common place
Sound creates vibration and carrying that sound as a song or a chant or a mantra builds up energy so that the body feels the vibration in a higher frequency and reacts to it leaving you feeling refreshed, calm and joyful. This is similar to the technique used in hypnotherapy and meditation.As our world hurtles into the chaos of technology and all its complications we are turning to more spiritual experiences and release through chanting or singing a mantra is becoming more common place
The most sacred sounds in the world
Try it for yourself. Just sit quietly and use the chant ‘Om’ as you breathe out. Feel the word vibrate on your lips. Let the sound play out as long as you can before drawing your next breath. Repeat it for a while. Feels good doesn’t it? This chant is considered one of the most sacred sounds in the world. If we believe that the earth is made up of vibrations caused by energy and that we translate these vibrations as sounds, then this sound could be the sound of existence.
Try it for yourself. Just sit quietly and use the chant ‘Om’ as you breathe out. Feel the word vibrate on your lips. Let the sound play out as long as you can before drawing your next breath. Repeat it for a while. Feels good doesn’t it? This chant is considered one of the most sacred sounds in the world. If we believe that the earth is made up of vibrations caused by energy and that we translate these vibrations as sounds, then this sound could be the sound of existence.
Connecting through sound energy
There are many mantras and chants and they are used for many different reasons but the overall reason we are so responsive to songs and music from artists like Deva Premal + Miten, is that we recognize, and connect through, that energy. Singing a mantra or a chant or a song enhances your own sensitivity to your own inner stillness. In this way you will find your own path to enable meditation and through meditation comes the path to peace and enlightenment.
There are many mantras and chants and they are used for many different reasons but the overall reason we are so responsive to songs and music from artists like Deva Premal + Miten, is that we recognize, and connect through, that energy. Singing a mantra or a chant or a song enhances your own sensitivity to your own inner stillness. In this way you will find your own path to enable meditation and through meditation comes the path to peace and enlightenment.
Isn’t it time you started singing your heart out?
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