MN101 - Introduction to Mantras

Many Pagans find that chanting can help them center and focus before meditation or ritual, but did you know that it can also transform your life? The magickal power of words is recognized in spiritual traditions the world over, and mantras are among the most famous and ancient magickal word formulas. Mantras are a form of magickal prayer-chant that originates in the Hindu tradition. They were designed specifically to have dramatic transformative effects on those that recited them. When said aloud, each letter of the Sanskrit alphabet (which the mantras were originally composed in) creates energetic vibrations that, when combined into spiritually potent phrases can help the chanter attain their goals and desires - or even bring them into contact with the gods! While Hindu & Buddhist tradition holds that most mantras may only be recited by initiates, there are plenty of mantras that have been used and proven to be extremely effective (and safe) by Westerners.

In this experiential course students will be introduced to the basics of what mantras are, how they work, and explore how THEY can begin to use mantras in their own spiritual practice. After 11 lessons of intensive academic study using Healing Mantras by Thomas Ashley-Farrand as a guide, students will experience first-hand the effects of chanting mantras in an exciting 21-day chanting practicum that they design themselves based on the knowledge gained throughout the course.

Enrolment Duration: 4 months (125 days)

Course Level: Novice - Intermediate

Course Requirements:

• 3-4 hours / lesson (36-48 hrs total).
• Students will be expected to read critically and journal their thoughts and reactions to the material, and intelligently apply the knowledge to their own life during the 21-day practicum.
• The chanting practicum involves a 3 week DAILY practice of sitting and chanting a mantra of the student's choosing, and journaling their experiences.
• Students must also have access to a digital camera in order to take and submit pictures of their meditation altar.
• Students are assumed to have a PC with audio capabilities, as some lessons contain sound files.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Japa beads (full string of 108+1), meditation altar accoutrements of your choice

REQUIRED TEXT:

OPTIONAL (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) ACCOMPANYING CD:

** Students are not required to purchase their supplies through the Amazon links, however, they are provided for convenience. **

The course facilitator, Devi Spring, has a Religious Studies B.A. from the University of Toronto, where she specialized in the Hindu Religious Tradition. She has been using mantras as part of her spiritual devotional practice, as well as for personal transformation for the past 7 years. Mantras are part of her daily sadhana, during which she chants to Ganesha, Lakshmi, Siva and Durga-Kali.

Course Outline

Lesson 1: What is a Mantra and How Does it Work?

In this first lesson students are provided with many sources from varying perspectives that illustrate and elucidate exactly what a mantra is and how it functions. Vibration, resonance, energetic bodies, and other factors in mantric science are introduced to give a detailed overview of the subject.

Lesson 2: A Brief History of Mantras

A contextual history is presented that demonstrates the role mantras played in antiquity, and into modern times.

Lesson 3: Bija Mantras - The Divine Seeds

The student begins exploring some of the components that make-up mantras and mantra theory. Seed sounds, or bijas, are introduced along with an explanation of how these play into the functionality of mantras.

Lesson 4: Gayatri - Metre, Goddess, Mantra

Gayatri is a work that will be encountered quite a great deal with studying mantras, and this lesson introduces the subject to the student. The various connotations of the word itself are examined, along with several audio examples of the mantra known as the Gayatri.

Lesson 5: OM - The Ultimate Mantra

OM is by far the most famous mantra, representing the sound of creation itself. In this lesson the student is introduced to many perspectives on the mystical significance of OM and will come away with a greater understanding of its role in Eastern traditions, and in the universe as a whole.

Lesson 6: To Chant or Not To Chant - Does One Need to be Initiated to Use Mantras?

One of the most talked about and worried-over issues by Westerners who are interested in adopting a mantra practice, is the topic of initiation. There are many varying and contradictory opinions on the subject, and some of the most prevalent, compelling, and applicable will be addressed here.

Lesson 7: What You Need to Prepare to Chant - Tools of the Trade

Any ritual practice comes complete with a few props to aid the practitioner in their journey, and chanting mantras is no different. The most important and indispensable tools will be presented along with traditional and common-sense reasoning behind their inclusion.

Lessons 8 & 9: How to Choose a Mantra

In these lessons the student will be immersing themselves in the meat of the required textbook and taking in a lot of information regarding how mantras and can be used, what mantras can be used for various purposes, and how those mantras enact change. The student will be actively thinking towards and preparing for their 21-day chanting practicum while reading this material. During these lessons the student will also be asked to design and build a meditation altar at which they will perform their 3 week sadhana.

Lesson 10: How to Properly Chant a Mantra

Clear and concise information is presented, answering the most frequently asked questions regarding chanting protocol and procedure. This is the final lesson that the student will draw from for their 21-day practicum. At its conclusion the student should be fully prepared to embark on their experiential 3 week sadhana.

Lessons 11-13: The 21-Day Chanting Practicum

Students now undertake a daily practice of japa - mantra recitation. They are asked to keep a detailed journal of their experience before, during and after each session, as well as any experiences or changes that they experience between sessions. This will aid the student in tracking their overall progress with the chanting, and see objectively what changes are taking place, and in what ways they are manifesting. In-depth and individualized feedback and additional instruction is provided to the student by the facilitator after each 7 day period, in order to aid the student's progress and troubleshoot any challenges that may arise.

Lesson 14: Crafting a Mantra Practice

Having experienced a mantra discipline first-hand, the students are presented with one final lesson that addresses how mantras can be used to craft one's entire life - including addressing and mediating the effects of larger and uncontrollable issues that affect us all, such as challenges presented by our astrological birth charts, past life karma, as well as collective karma from our communities and cultures.

Final Retrospective Essay

The final examination will consist of a retrospective essay outlining the student's progress and evolution during the class, their opinion and insights regarding their experiences with the 21-day practicum, and thoughts on whether or not they would choose to adopt mantras as part of their personal practice.

Introduction to Chakras 101

This 3-month course will introduce students to the locations, major symbolism, metaphysical functions, and correspondences related to the 7-chakra system. Vital to the understanding of body energies and spiritual evolution, this course is geared towards giving those with little to no previous knowledge a solid foundation in the basic principles and attributes of the chakras. Intro to Chakras takes a multi-media approach, providing video documentaries, mp3 music composed for chakra work, and illustrations to act as learning aids in addition to academic readings, involving all the senses in the learning process.

Meditations based in breath, mantras, and visualizations will also be assigned in a 3-week practicum so that students get hands-on experience using and working with these energies. Putting ideas and theories into practice is the best way to internalize new information, and asking the student to immerse themselves in a daily meditation practice for 21 days provides an excellent foundation for student's to then craft their own personlized chakra-based routine increasing their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being and development once they have completed the course.

Level: All levels

Enrolment Duration: 3 months (110 days)

Course Requirements:

• 2-4 hours / lesson (26-52 hrs total).
• Students will be expected to read critically and journal their thoughts and reactions to the material, and intelligently apply the knowledge to their own life during the 21-day practicum.
• The meditation practicum involves a 3 week DAILY practice of working with the chakra meditation(s) of the student's choosing, and journaling their experiences in detail.
• Students are assumed to have a PC with audio and video capabilities, as lessons contain mp3 files and streaming video.

Required Text:

** Students are not required to purchase their text through the Amazon links, however, they are provided for convenience as this text is usually not readily available at local bookstores. **

Course Outline

Lesson 1 - Introduction to the Human Energetic System

This lesson sets up the course by providing the students with an overview of the energetic anatomy of the human body (which is reflected in every other order of being as well), how it functions and what roles it plays in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. Several short videos are screened to bring the words into pictures and sounds that the student can relate to on various levels, outside of the cerebral one. Complementary readings are assigned both from outside resources, as well as in the required text.

Lesson 2 - The Base Chakra

We start the exploration of the individual chakras at the base, the foundation of the system. The related themes of survival, as well as more esoteric attributes are presented in the various assigned readings. This lesson begins the viewing of a mini-documentary series dedicated to making the information regarding each chakra clear and accessible to a wide audience. Music and meditation ideas are also provided so that the student can begin to informally work with the energies of this chakra experientially.

Lesson 3 - The Sacral Chakra

This lesson continues the student's journey up the central spinal channel and the chakras along the way, bringing them to rest in the sacral chakra source of the creative instinct and related impulses. Located in the genital region this centre is not focused soley on physical sex, and the assigned readings explore the varied themes and attributes of this chakra. The mini-documentary series continues, and music and meditation ideas are provided for the student to begin experimenting with.

Lesson 4 - The Solar Plexus Chakra

The student's next stop is the solar-plexus centre, the seat of one's personal power and the main point of energetic interaction with the environment. Readings focused on introducing and fleshing out the major themes and associated attributes of this chakra are assigned, and the next documentary is screened. Once again music and meditation ideas are presented for the student to begin experimenting with to become more familiar with the energies being discussed.

Lesson 5 - The Heart Chakra

This lesson focuses the student's attention firmly on the heart chakra, and all the very important themes and energies associated with it. Situated at the energetic transiton point, the heart chakra uses the power of love and compassion to transmute the energies of the three "lower" and more physically-linked chakras, into the lighter and more subtle vibrations used by the three "higher" chakras which have more abstract spiritual functions. The assigned readings outline and detail the information and associations vital to understanding this complex centre. The next installment of the chakra documentary series is screened, and music and meditation ideas are presented for the student's use, including mantra suggestions for those students who are familiar with their usage.

Lesson 6 - The Throat Chakra

The student's attention is now brought to the throat chakra, the source of communication. Brief discussion related to the levels of communication ruled by this center are presented before the readings are explored. Another short documentary in the chakra series is screened, and additional music and meditation ideas designed for stimulating the throat chakra are provided.

Lesson 7 - The 3rd-Eye Chakra

The ever mysterious 3rd-eye centre is introduced in this lesson. Ruling intuition, psychicism, and other forms of "paranormal" perception, the ajna chakra governs sight and perception of all kinds. In addition to the readings, mini-documentary, and resonant music, the student is treated to a guided video meditation to aid them in internalizing the energies.

Lesson 8 - The Crown Chakra

The journey upwards draws to a close as the student reaches the crown chakra, the centre that connects us to the Divine Source. The themes related to this highest state of being and the profound silence found there are explored through the readings, and put into pictures thanks to the documentary series. Music resonant with this chakra is again provided for the student's to informally begin experiencing these energies.

Lesson 9 - Cleansing and Activating the Chakras with Meditation and Bodywork

Now that the student has a clear idea of the basic structure and functions of the chakra system, various techniques of working with the chakra energies are presented. From hatha yoga, breathing, chanting, aromatherapy, crystal healing, color therapy and more, a variety of modalities are explored. The student is asked to do some personal research into other methods available, and then to start planning which methods they would like to experiment with formally during their 21-day practicum.

Lesson 10 - Week 1 Practicum

The student now begins the practical work by performing their first chosen chakra meditation daily for 7 days, tracking and journalling their progress by examining their external and internal processes throughout this week.

Lesson 11 - Week 2 Practicum

In the second week of the practicum the student is asked to choose a new meditation to work with that uses a different methodology of accessing and stimulating the chakra energies. This will help broaden the student's experiences of the energy, and help encourage confidence in the utilization of varying modalities of energetic health. The detailed journal work is continued.

Lesson 12 - Week 3 Practicum

Week three continues the breadth work begun in week 2 by asking the student to once again choose a new meditation that utilizes a new method of working with the chakra energies. The detailed journal work continues.

Lesson 13- Review and Looking Back

Having taken in a great deal of information from all the various sources, and then had the opportunity to experience and confirm aspects of that material first-hand, the student is now asked to take a step back and review their experiences. Several video files are provided that will briefly review the academic material presented throughout the class, and that hint at the wider spiritual ramifications of the chakra energy system. These ideas should seem more familiar to the student who has immersed themselves in the energies and theories of the chakras for the past 21 days. The final assignment for the student is a retrospective essay.

Loving Ganesa Readings and Workshop

This course will take Shakti Wicca Neophytes through the seminal text Loving Ganesa, providing specific meditations and assignments that will help bring the material to life, and bring the Petitioner closer to Ganesha. Shakti Wicca Facilitators will provide individualized feeback and advice every step of the way, helping to support and clarify all the material and practices.

Requirements:

• Neophytes will be asked to journal their experiences throughout the course
• Neophytes must have access to a digital camera to submit pictures of some assigned projects
• Neophytes should be able to play mp3 and RealAudio files on their computer

Enrolment Duration: 3 months (110 days)

Required Text:

(Available for free online at http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/lg/lg_table_of_contents.html, but hard-copies are useful in the long run. Purchasing the text is completely optional.)

Crafting a Devotional Altar Workshop

In this workshop, Shakti Wicca Neophytes will be guided through the process of crafting a general devotional altar to Ganesha and any other deities that they are feeling drawn to. They will be asked to meditate on the process to invite Divine direction as well as working with their own intuition and personal design tastes.

Enrolment Duration: 1 month (30 days)

Course Requirements:

• Neophytes will be asked to submit a journal of their meditations and thought processes leading up to the design of the altar
• Neophytes are required to have access to a digital camera to take pictures of the finished altar

Pre-Requisite: Completion of Loving Ganesa workshop

Beginning a Daily Japa Sadhana Workshop

This course will take the Neophyte through the process of beginning a daily japa practice to Ganesha, and walk them through an 8 week sadhana.

The Neophyte will be asked to provide weekly detailed journal entries, outlining their experiences with the practice, charting their personal inner-processes and developing relationship with Ganesha as they unfold.

Enrolment Duration: 3 months

Pre-Requisites: Loving Ganesha Workshop, Building a Devotional Altar Workshop, and Intro to Mantras

Requirements:

• Neophytes must have RealPlayer installed on their computer to play some of the audio files (it's a free download)
• Neophytes must be able to play mp3s on their computer

Required Materials: japa beads (108 beads), devotional altar