My mom is a big believer in mantras and chanting. Every day she gets out her mala and chants for whatever we need (lately it’s been the removal of obstacles–I hope she’s chanting to Ganesha!). Anyway, in order to facilitate her knowledge, she purchased a really cool audiobook about the power of chanting. It’s called Mantra: Sacred Words of Power, by Thomas Ashley-Farrand (he usually has a small chant featured each month in Yoga Journal). She sent me a copy of the discs, which I’m now listening to for the second time around. His premise is that sound is extraordinarily powerful, and that it was the spoken word that created the universe. Although I’m not a regular chanter, I do enjoy mantras, especially before a yoga class. In the spirit of that, I thought I’d share the one that Nancy always used (and maybe still does) in her class.

Asato ma sad gamaya
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya
Mrtyor mamrtam gamaya

I think it’s spelled correctly, although my Sanskrit spelling isn’t stellar. Here’s the (loose) English translation:

Lead me from the unreal to the real
Lead me from darkness to light
Lead me from death to that which is immortal

Years ago when I worked at a bookstore, one of my responsibilities was to organize the New Age section. This was where all the tarot and divination, wicca, and astrology books were (and still are) kept, and it was a fascinating section. Of course, the trouble with being responsible for that section meant I frequently shopped from there, and I snagged a lot of stuff. Books about astrology and love, Atlantis, a vampire encyclopedia and more (after all, I got an employee discount!) I also picked up my first set of tarot cards there: The Goddess Tarot. This is a beautiful set that I love to look at, but not once in six years have I ever tried to read a spread. I bought them for looks alone. Recently however, I’ve started to get into the New Age stuff again…

I’ve been hanging out with my wicca-practicing friend lately, and one rainy day she whipped out her cards to do a reading for me. She uses the tarot standard: the Rider Waite deck. I really like these cards: they are easy to find and easy to interpret. The results of my reading were fascinating, so naturally, I picked up a deck for myself and did a reading for my husband. It turns out that his reading and my reading were the same: proceed with the move to Texas and pursue changes in terms of our careers. I guess our future really is in the cards! This just might be better than the online magic 8 ball.

In light of my new (attempted) eating habits, I thought this was a really great DailyOm:

Know Your Food
Eating Close To The Earth
The food we eat is a multidimensional aspect of our lives. Food provides us with the energy that enables us to grow and prosper. Yet it can be, and frequently is, much, much more. Our food can be an experience in and of itself if we allow it to be. The dishes we remember from childhood offer unmatched comfort. The act of preparing meals can be an art form of the highest caliber. And the nourishment we derive from this fare promotes wellness within us. But many of us, distracted by daily affairs, forget that the profound pleasures of eating go beyond simple sustenance. We eat foods that are convenient or we eat unconsciously, snacking on whatever happens to be on hand. To understand the true value of food and the impact it can have on our lives, we should acknowledge and honor it by eating close to the earth.If you have ever shelled and eaten garden-grown peas or bitten into a sun-warmed apple freshly plucked from its tree, you likely understand that there is a marked difference between these foods and those that are processed and stacked on supermarket shelves. Food recently picked contains more of its original life force and thus has a greater store of energy and nutrients. You can ensure you are eating close to the earth-and enjoying the many benefits of doing so-by shopping at a local farmers market and getting to know the individuals who grow your food. If you make the experience of shopping in this way enjoyable, you will be more apt to reject more convenient canned, packaged, and frozen foods in favor of the real delight you feel while browsing stalls of fresh foods nourished by the same soil you can find in your own backyard. You will soon learn what foods are in season in your area and how to prepare them.

As you savor the vivid flavors of juicy ripe fruits and the hearty crunch of unprocessed vegetables, you can also take pleasure in the fact that, by eating close to the earth, you are supporting farmers in your region, connecting with your local ecosystem, discouraging those who would waste precious fossil fuels by carting produce cross-country, and helping to preserve healthy culinary traditions that have existed for centuries.

I’m not much for praying, but the Prayer of St. Francis really speaks to me. I find it so beautiful and moving, and I love this version of it.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

I’ve been going through a hard time in my life. Within the space of about six months, I’ve had 3 seriously ill cousins, my grandfather passed away, I got really sick, I injured my back during a bad training session, and I’ve been having some problems with my job. This is supposed to be the best time of year, though: my birthday is tomorrow, and the holiday season is about to get in full swing. Nevertheless, I’ve been feeling really down, so it was nice to get this DailyOm:

Positivity Revisited
Keeping A Diary With Purpose
A diary can play many roles. It can be a confidant, a vehicle of self expression, a tool that facilitates clarity of thought, or a repository of dreams. A diary can also be a powerful source of comfort during challenging or traumatic periods. When you record those insights and incidents that clearly demonstrate you are on the right track, you can return to your words days, weeks, or months later and find uniquely soothing reassurance. A diary with a specific purpose can be a good tool for keeping track of experiences before the passage of time can skew your perception of events. It reflects the immediacy of your life and thus provides you with a landmark to return to when you begin to doubt yourself. If doubt does arise, simply open your diary to reaffirm your experiences. The confidence, surety, passion, and bravery you felt in a single moment is preserved, giving you a means to recapture those feelings in any place, at any time.Your diary serves as a repository of personalized encouragement. Since a diary is, by its very nature, as individual as you are, you should give some thought to the type of diary that will serve you best. A synchronicity-and-connections diary might describe those instances where seemingly random occurrences came together in a meaningful way, propelling you forward. Or you may find strength in the pages of a pride diary that makes note not only of those times you felt proud of yourself but also precisely why you were pleased with your efforts. And a cause-and-effect diary can help you become more decisive by reminding you of all the wise, life-affirming choices you have made. Your diary should be small enough to be readily portable and on hand whenever possible because the faster you put your thoughts down on paper, the more authentic your declarations are apt to be.

Regardless of the type of focused diary you choose to keep, your recollections will create a positive feedback loop that helps you cope with doubt in a constructive way. Reading through your diary when life seems uncertain can show you that your misgivings are unfounded. As you draw consolation from your uplifting words, you will know without a doubt that you are indeed living your purpose and following the path that you committed to before birth.