Sound Healing: Mantras.
Mantras have the power to transform the body, mind and spirit. Using mantras in sound healing is a form of spiritual healing which can be used to treat specific conditions, balance the chakras and elevate the consciousness. Reciting or singing mantras on a regular basis can have a positive influence on your health and your sense of well-being. The sound of your own voice resonating through your body has a powerful effect on the physical body and the aura. This is why singing songs is also beneficial for the body.
The most famous and most widely used mantra is the OM chant. This is a universal sound which is used in Tibetan Budhism as well as in many other countries and cultures. The Amen sound of Western Christianity has a similar vibration to the Oriental-derived OM chant.
The OM Chant is a good all rounder:which covers physical and emotional needs. Om helps to balance out the chakras so that the energies are well distributed through the body. Chanting OM on a regular daily basis will give a boost to the nervous system, providing more oxygen to the brain, enhance the digestion, help balance the endocrine system, improve the circulation, relax the mind and body, and provide spiritual upliftment.
There are Tibetan Buddhist Chants which correspond to each chakra, or energy centre of the body. Om relates to the spine and solar plexus.
Eng relates to the nasal passages, ears and brain. First discovered this magical chant in an article by a medical doctor of the 1950’s: He had discovered Tibetan Buddhism sound healing chants and wrote a treatise on their practical use. ENGcan be chanted for short periods on its own to help combat ear ache, ear infections and sinus congestion. Be careful not to overdo the chanting: If you are not used to chanting, you could very well over=excite the brain and nervous system by doing too much at a time. Just a minute of chanting ENG, or OM for that matter, is enough to begin with. These chants help toxins to become released in the body, so if you have toxins to be cleared, you might get a big rush of them into the blood stream which could be distressing. Short and sweet is the thing. Dp just a little at a time, and build up as you feel you are able.
Some modern correlations of the Tibetan-derived chants have been given in a book on sound healing by Jonathan Goldman.
1st Chakra, the Root Chakra: This writer suggests that UH, as pronounced in Huh, be used to stimulate and balance the base chakra He suggests making the UH sound seven times whilst conctntrating on the base, or root chakra which is at the lower centre of the trunk line, above the pubic bone. This chakra is called the ‘root’ chakra, because it is the one most connected with earth with being grounded, and the basic functions of life.
The 2nd Chakra, or sacral chakra, is situated about two to three finger widths below the navel. This chakra is more related to reproduction, the production of sexual hormones, and the creative impulse. The OOOO sound resonates to the sacral chakra. Again, seven times, no longer than a minute’s worth, is enough chanting to begin with.
The 3rd Chakra, or solar plexus chakra, is found slightly above the navel. This is the centre of the nervous system and is the controlling force of the entire body. Good digestion requires that this energy centre is kept well charged. In Buddhism, this is the seat of the soul.
OH is a compatible sound to make to resonate with the Solar Plexus vibration.
The 4th Chakra, or heart Chakra, issituated in the middle of the chest, between the nipples. Tjhis, as the name would suggest, governs heart as well as lung function. It is also associated with love, compassion and forgiveness. This is the spot where Jesus is shown with a bleeding heart in the Catholic religion. AH is a agood sound to make to resonate with the heart chakra.
The 5th Chakra, or Throat Chakra, is situated at the centre of the throat. This controls communication, speech, voice production, hearing, memory, thyroid function and lymphatic drainage, EYE is a compatible sound to make for the throat chakra resonance.
6th Chakra, or Third Eye chakra: This governs spiritual awareness, psychic ability, dream recall, imagination and helps calm the brain. AYE is the sound to make for the third eye chakra. Only chant this sound for a minute, as any longer could hyperactivate this centre if you are not used to chanting. Om also heightens this chakra and will help enhance spiritual awareness.
7th Chakra or Crown Chakra: This is at the crown of the head, and is the centre of spiritual development. Most people do not have a fully opened crown chakra, which means that most people have not realized their highest spiritual potential yet. EEE is the sound which corresponds to the Crown Chakra.