By chanting Sanskrit, you can put your whole body and mind into such a state of vibration that you begin to experience yourself as energy rather than a solid physical form, with boundaries and definitions.’
- Vyaas Houston, Yoga International, May / June 1992
I love Vedic chanting and Bhakti yoga, and while I’ve always shared these practices on retreats, I haven’t yet shared them on Guernsey. But now’s the time! It’s soon 2021 and the world definitely needs us to step up and deepen our practice, tapping into the power of sound, expanding our awareness and positively affecting the collective consciousness.
I’d be delighted if you’d join me in circle, on the first Saturday afternoon of the new year, in a cosy and safe space, with other like-minded individuals, so we can chant Sanskrit from the Vedas* and sing devotional mantra**, and see where the energy takes us.
I am aware that it can be confronting if you have never sung or chanted previously, and sometimes this approach taps into our vulnerability and fear around not being good enough, being or not being heard, and being out of tune. None of this matters! Let’s come together; We’ll feel our chakras, we’ll chant, we’ll feel our chakras some more, we might hold crystals, we might even eat dark chocolate and dates! We’ll sit quietly too, feel in, and we might even have a little lie down too!
WHAT TO BRING: And open heart and mind! Also whatever you need to sit comfortably and warmly, maybe cushions and a blanket. You might like to bring a crystal to hold, and a drink.
WHERE: St Martin’s Community Centre (downstairs opposite the office)
WHEN: Saturday 2 January 2021 | 3.30-4.30pm
COST: £12 drop-in or usual voucher system applies (£55 for 5 vouchers), £7 for students.
DO I NEED TO BOOK? No, drop-in, the more the merrier and the stronger the power of our collective voices!
*Vedic chanting involves, as the name suggests, chanting the Vedas. These ancient spiritual teachings are the basis of the six classical Indian philosophies, yoga being one of them. The Vedic texts are presented in Sanskrit, the most ancient language in the world, containing the most ancient teachings on yoga, which are still relevant to us today as they were back then. Sanskrit has an energetic resonance, and chanting it, helps to raise our vibration, expanding our consciousness and further enlightening us.
**Bhakti yoga is yoga of devotion, and for me, it has always been the most joyful and illuminating path of yoga and I am always keen to share this with others. There is no set form (unlike Vedic chanting which has six rules), and the chanter’s personality and musical ability can enter into it – I’ll be honest, my musical ability is not great, but fortunately we have the benefit of pre-recorded music!