How chant helped me find my voice…and health. 

Nothing in my upbringing gave any indication that I may be drawn to explore the “weird world” of healing chant.  Quite the opposite.  My mother was a Christian, so we went to Sunday School and followed the church calendar for all the main Holy days.

At aged 10 I remember having quite deep conversations with my grandma about God, and religion, and what it all might mean.  She thought I was very odd and that the whole thing was unusual for such a young child.  I guess that was the early signs of an enquiring mind, a soul already seeking for answers.

Like many people I experienced bullying at school, and sadly from my older sister too.  Speaking up for myself, standing up for myself, seemed impossible as I was verbally and physically pummelled (oh how cruel children can be!)

So, a big part of my journey has been to find my voice.  To know I’m worth standing up for, understanding assertiveness and learning how to set boundaries.  It’s not been easy…but I am now known for holding good boundaries and offering safe spaces for everyone in my groups.

Chant has been an incredible healing tool for me – and a sacred one.  It has strengthened my voice physically – but most importantly, energetically.

What does that mean? 

We are far more than our physical body and mind…we have an energetic ‘body’ too (as understood in the yoga and Chinese medicine traditions).  When we don’t function well, whether that’s a physical illness, emotional difficulty, or mental disturbance, it is important to see this is as an “energetic imbalance” rather than judging ourselves as failing in some way.

Not having the confidence to speak up for ourselves, to speak our truth, or to find and express our Authentic Self, is very common, and there are multiple reasons why this happens.  Family upbringing, cultural expectations, and women in particular struggle more than men.

Healing Chant – such a gift.

  Benefits of Chant might include:-

1. Calms the mind.

2. Increases energy.

3. Vibration soothes the nervous system, improving digestion, immunity, and organ function.

4. Creates clarity and clear thinking.

5. Improves confidence and self-esteem.

6. Improves listening (physical and intuitive).

7. Develops personal discipline.

8. Helps you to find your voice and be authentic.

9. Clears, balances, and strengthens the Chakras/energy centres.

10. Offers a spiritual practice – with no religious belief required.

Chant will, as mentioned above, strengthen your voice physically, and energetically.  But the magic lies in knowing that chants hold a healing energy because they are sounds and vibrations not words.

Chants can…offer physical healing (for specific organs in the body or conditions), soothe us emotionally or mentally, remove obstacles, bring auspiciousness and abundance, protect us, reconnect us to joy and help us experience the Divine (however that relates to you – it may be Mother Nature rather than a Divine “Being”).

Who says so?!

Well, they have been practised for thousands of years, and millions of people continue to chant daily around the world.  It is your experience that counts, and your experience that will show you how they work.  You do not need any belief system.  We chant…and we begin to notice changes within and around us in our daily lives.

ME/CFS – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Some of you reading this already know about my long and challenging journey with ME/CFS – it was frightening, lonely and with no understanding or help from the NHS (not to mention judgement from people around me), I was very much in the dark about what was happening, or how to heal.  A “Dark Night of the Soul” to be sure…

Healing Chant was, thankfully, already in my life and so I leant into that.  I chanted to remove obstacles, to open doors to my healing, for support and insight.  Sometimes I just chanted to remind me to keep going…

And doors did open.  I was led to an Ayurvedic practitioner.  Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga, and uses diet, natural medicines/herbs, and lifestyle changes for healing.  This was not the right person for me…I kept chanting and then suddenly, out of the blue, another practitioner popped up on the internet.  Strange – she hadn’t come up when I was searching before.  But this amazing lady changed the course of my healing journey.  Ayurvedic treatments, herbs, and diet were all advised on, and slowly I began at last to move forward.

Since that time, I’ve gone through a divorce, dealt with parenting issues, supported a sister who has addiction issues (incredibly hard), had a diagnosis and surgery for early-stage breast cancer (during the pandemic, marvellous!!) and …I’m still standing!

Chanting has supported and guided me through all these experiences – calming my mind, helping my physical health, and revealing my Spiritual path too.

There is nothing special about me.  What I mean by that is that YOU can benefit from chanting too.  It WILL support and guide you, because A) sound, chant and mantra are available to us all, you don’t need to believe.  B) Modern medicine now understands, and uses, sound waves (think of ultrasound) – so this puts those tools into your hands (with the deeper appreciation of how ancient and sacred these sounds are).

Curious about chant?  Come and join me – beginners particularly welcome 😊

Sound & Silence Healing Chant circle – Sunday April 16^th 1.45pm – 3.45pm.  @ The Stable, Weston Super Mare AND Livestream via Zoom

Exploring Resonance – a Sound & Silence retreat day – Sunday April 30^th 10am – 4pm @ Shipham Village Hall, nr Cheddar/Winscombe, Somerset

With Love, Sarena x

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.