Chanting

I didn’t go to chanting school. But I have learned in the company of a few friends and a few elders that chanting brings gifts. I have learned through direct experience, solo and with others.

I don’t focus on the science of chanting. But I suspect that there is much science to share that could be a lot of fun. I imagine it has to do with the physiological impact of sound. I imagine a few things about the entrainment that comes from repetition. I imaging a few things about the importance of vocalized exercise.

I don’t even really focus on the spirituality of chanting. That is to say, I’m not trying to mine from a mountain of spiritual science. But I suspect there is much spirituality to share. I imagine invitation to beings not seen. I imagine sound as a more universal language, across many known demarcations. I imagine a few things about centered and harmonized being.

Hmm…, science and spirituality kind of dance, don’t they.

In one of the purpose of life stories I often tell myself, I remember that “showing up” is of foundational significance. It’s baseline material. It’s bedrock material. In that story there are always multiple simultaneous layers.

  • Showing up for self, and as self, is an effort that lasts a lifetime. It is coming to know the deeply inner, the complex inner, the multiverse galaxy that represents even one human being.
  • Showing up with and among others, is also an effort that lasts a lifetime. It’s a rich practice. It’s a rich pragmatic. It’s a rich energetic. It’s a mystery of weave into more holistic ways of conceiving life and community, multiverse galaxies connected with other multiverse galaxies.
  • Showing up with and for circumstance, is also lifelong. It’s evolutionary. We contribute as we do with our showing up, to lend energy, to lend curiosity, to lend love. To lend patience. Sometimes grace. Sometimes animation. Sometimes unique gift.

Let’s just say that showing up is big work.

Chanting is one of the ways that I’m currently finding very helpful to be in this life-long effort — yet welcomed in the daily — to be an alive and seeking human being.

Lately, when I chant, I cover my ears with my hands. It makes the sound even more visceral. It makes the resonance, the physical sound, even more palpable and pervasive. Covering my ears helps me to get further lost, or perhaps further surrendered, to a feeling outside of time.

Lately, when I chant, I make up the notes and the sounds. It’s not words per se. If there are words, I find them to be very simple. They are place-holders, temporary hosts, for the sound and energy to have place to live.

I enjoy understanding things. Including chanting. I enjoy discovering and sharing meaning that helps me and others find added richness in life experience — everything from personal clarity to group clarity.

This morning, it’s chanting, with a bit of inherent invitation and encouragement, to give it a go, to continue following life’s invitations to show up, and to welcome through practice, many layers of surprise and well-being.

4 Replies to “Chanting”

  1. Have you read Ana Hernandez’s book on chanting? It’s lovely, just like her. You should read it.

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Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

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is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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