MANTRA MESSAGES IN THE NEW YEAR (c) By Polly Guerin

As the New Year brings with it promise of new beginnings, new opportunities and new surprises, there is great reason to rejoice and welcome the new challenges. But somehow worries, doubts and unanswered prayers seem to creep into our thoughts and the stress of this negativity can debilitate our well being and ambition. It might sound too good to be true but a Mantra, a single phrase, an affirmation, repeated over and over again can combat stress, reset your mood and elevate your emotions to positive levels of peaceful contemplation.
WHAT IS A MANTRA?
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of “creating transformation.” Perhaps the most familiar to Westerners is the famous one from Buddhism, OM mane padme hum (Ohh-mmm, mahn-ee pahd-mee hooom). This Buddhist mantra, translates to “the jewel of consciousness (the mind) which has reached the heart’s lotus.” This mantra is practiced more than any other in the world. One of the mantra’s simple but profound concepts is that when the mind and heart become united anything is possible. If you want to change your life, this mantra should be your spiritual icon.
UNLOCKING YOUR ENERGY CENTERS
You may wonder how sounds can affect the energy centers. Repeating the Sanskrit words OM mane padme hum stimulates the body’s chakras (the energy centers in your body). The ancient clairvoyants looked at the energy centers as spinning wheels of light, called Chakras, which in Sanskrit means ‘wheel.’ Each Chakra resonates and vibrates to a specific color in the spectrum and corresponds to a specific musical note on the C scale. The crown Chakra (top of the head) the crown of enlightenment resonates to the sound “B” on the C Scale. The Indigo Chakra resonates to “A,” the Blue Chakra to “G,” the Green Chakra to “F,” the Yellow Chakra to “E” the Orange Chakra to “D” and the Red Chakra to “C.” These musical sounds pull in spiritual energy and create harmony in your life. TRANSFORMATIONAL PHRASES
Your voice repeating the OM mantra can have a profound transformative effect on the Chakras and through them on your mind and body. When the two are joined possibilities open to eliminate stress, stabilize emotions, create serene health, and opens the path to enlightenment. Repeating the OM mantra can be personalized by a certain need in your life. It can be accompanied by a personal “thought “affirmation, as simple as, “I always focus on the positive,” “I expect success in my career,” “I am worthy, I am loveable, I am free,” or to attract prosperity, “I attract abundance in my life.” Repeating transformative phrases as an everyday practice not only shifts your focus away from stress and negativity, it centers you with peaceful contemplation for the positive aspects in your life.
TIME TO CHANT
If you cannot provide a specific time in the morning or evening to sit quietly and repeat the OM mantra then you can mentally chant the mantra while you’re waiting for the traffic light to change, while you’re waiting on line running errands or while you’re jogging. Take advantage of waiting time at the dentist or doctor’s office; at the spa or hair salon let the mantra fill the idle hours. If you can afford to set aside time from your busy schedule here is a simple exercise that puts the principle of the OM mantra to work. Sit comfortably in a straight-backed chair with your feet flat on the floor, rest your hands on your lap and close your eyes, breathe naturally several times through your nose until you feel relaxed. Focus on your affirmation and start chanting the entire mantra, OM mane padme hum! (pronounced Ohh-mmm, mahn-nee pahd-mee hooom!) Do this pronouncing all the syllables in a single breath. Repeat this five times, and then relax. The sound of the Om mantra can have a profound transformative effect on your mind and body and at the same time help you to realize your affirmation.
THE VIBRATING SOUNDS OF THE OM MANTRA, THE SPEAKING VOICE, UNLEASHES THE DEEPEST MYSTERIES OF THE GIFT OF PEACE AND HARMONY IN YOUR LIFE.