Prayer the source of strength

The ability of music to affect moods and emotions has been recognized for a long time. Lullabies are used all over the world to calm children, and wailing at funerals is an obvious way to express grief. But music has also been used as a formal therapy - including as an adjunct to

psychotherapy - since the 1940s. People who have psychological problems, or a disability that prevents them from communicating well with others, can benefit from music therapy because it can help them express themselves without having to speak. And improving self-expression can improve socialization.

Music may also have an effect on the physical body. Music is sound, and sound isa collection of vibrations. Different tones and pitches create different vibrations, which can affect parts of the body in many ways. Studies have shown that music can affect the rhythm of the heartbeat and of breathing, and possibly of the blood pressure as well. Music may also promote the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain reliever, which would explain why it is so good at relieving everyday stress.

You can create your own form of music "therapy" in several different ways. If you would like to make positive changes to your moods, you can make your own recordings, starting with music that matches the mood you would like to change and progressing to music that matches the mood you would like to evoke. Then when you notice an undesirable mood, you can listen to your recordings, preferably while trying to relax, to bring yourself back to where you would like to be.

"Prayer is more than meditation. In meditation, the source of strength is one’s self. When one prays, he goes to a source of strength greater than his own." Madam Chiang Kai Shek

Music Healing Power

Music as a Healing Power

Music is a magical medium and a very powerful tool. Music can delight all the senses and inspire every fiber of our being. Music has the power to soothe and relax, bring us comfort and embracing joy! Music subtly bypasses the intellectual stimulus in the brain and moves directly to our subconscious. There is music for every mood and for every occasion. Music Therapy is incorporated in a number of areas of medicine.

Music Therapy

Besides the fact that music of all kinds sounds great, music is good for our health. Music therapy is one of several sound methods that is used for healing.

The effects music has on the human body ranges from calmness to energy to immune system boosting to easing tension in the muscles. Think about the effects music has had on you over the years. It can be soothing. It can give you a rush.

Chanting : Chanting begins with an invocation - a prayer, a group OM, or some small line of remembrance that connects everyone to a higher source. To learn chanting has a healthy strengthening effect on the mind; it develops concentration, patience and determination. So, almost any word group - or even sounds - can be used although the emphasis should be on goodness. Try repeating the word 'love' a thousand time over. Creating a connection to Self is the goal of chanting, and the process is meant to be inclusive and fun.

Breathing : Breath is life! Exchange of electrons. Flow of energy. Air is the primary nutrient. Survival without it is measured in minutes. It is so important that you do it without thinking. Your breathing is the voice of your spirit. It's depth, smoothness, sound, and rate reflect your mood. If you become aware of your breath and breathe the way you do when you are calm you will become calm. Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing. With the addition of music and it's rhythm, the "musical breath" can even help stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders. Fall into the rhythm of the music and breathe. Focus on your breathing and the music.

Chanting OM

Mantras : No one can fully explain the mystery of mantras. Their magical sounds help heal physical imbalances, relax the mind, quiet the emotions, and open the heart. They stimulate, activate, motivate, and rejuvenate. Mantras can help you dance or sleep, laugh or cry, make love or meditate, turn tedious housework or heavy exercise light-hearted fun. They can help you forget someone or find someone. They are designed to remind us that love, laughter, and inner peace are our birthright. They help us go beyond borders, realize our potential, and celebrate the power of love. Mantras offer increased flexibility and strength while they gently expand your consciousness, and help you experience love, compassion, and inner peace.

OM is the synthesis of all mantra, all rhythm and melody, all sound: the seed-syllable (bija-mantra) of the universe. The Mandukya Upanishad describes the three elements of the sound of OM. ‘O’ is a combination of ‘A’ and ‘U’ in Sanskrit, giving the syllable three parts. ‘A’ is the waking consciousness, ‘U’ is dream consciousness, and ‘M’ is the consciousness of deep sleep. The three principles are also identified with the Hindu deities of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer, representing the principles of initiation or genesis (A), preservation or maintenance (U) and regeneration (M). OM as a many cultures are especially effective when intoned while the body and the mind are at ease and relaxed. These sound formulas become the vocal conduits to invoke and manifest the union with the Divine within. Their therapeutic potential is unquestionable and constantly evolving

Om' the all-encompassing mystical entity - the syllable of slemn affirmation, is one of the most widely identified syllables from the Hindu scriptures. It symbolises the enternal world ; God Himself; union of the 3 god (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) and is the signifier of the the ultimate truth.

Being a pertinent part of the Upanishads, 'Om' is symbolic of not only Hinduism, but also philosophy.

The power and divinity of the syllable is placed so high that it appears or is uttered at the beginning of most sacred texts or at the end of most Vedic readings.

There isn't one but several connotations and interpretations of this powerful 'beej' (root) mantra. From the auspicious salutation to being accorded the highest spiritual force that encopasses all three words, this sacred syllable epitomises divinity.

The Power of Chanting Om

1. The chanting of Om drives away all worldly thoughts and removes distraction and infuses new vigour in the body.
2. When you feel depressed, chant Om fifty times and you will be filled with new vigour and strength. The chanting of Om is a powerful tonic. When you chant Om, you feel you are the pure, all pervading light and consciousness.
3. Those who chant Om will have a powerful, sweet voice. Whenever you take a stroll, you can chant Om. You can also sing Om in a beautiful way. The rythmic pronunciation of Om makes the mind serene and pointed, and infuses the spiritual qualifications which ensure self-realization.
4. Those who do meditation of Om daily will get tremendous power. They will have lustre in their eyes and faces.