Compendium of Magical Things: Communicating with the Divine to Create the Life of Your Dreams

Words are powerful. If I were going to sum up mantras in three words, that’s how I’d do it. I believe many people think mantras and meditation are close to the same thing or that meditation is a required part of mantras, but they really are separate concepts.

If you’re unfamiliar with what mantras are, they’re usually a few words or a phrase (though a mantra can be just a single word) most often spoken in the ancient language of Sanskrit. They’re tied to Hinduism, though they also exist in Buddhism and other belief systems.

What mantras aren’t are affirmations. When I reached out to my friends in the spiritual community for their stories about mantras, I was really surprised at how many of them thought that affirmations and mantras were the same thing. Every single person who told me they worked with mantras followed up with something like “I use them every day! My current mantra is ‘I am infinitely loved.’”

Affirmations are positive phrases, set in the first person and in the present tense, that people repeat to themselves when they’re wanting to manifest something in particular or comfort themselves. An affirmation might be “I am abundant in all things” or “There’s a reason for everything that happens.” They aren’t tied to any particular deity, are spoken in your native language, and generally do not require a daily practice. Affirmations are magical in their own right, and I definitely want to talk to you about them! However, mantras are an entirely different practice from affirmations. Ironically, in order to find people truly practicing mantra, I had to reach out to my students!

Mantras are believed to have spiritual, almost magical, powers. They’re also seen as a way to work with the psyche to change your perceptions of the world and your life (and therefore your reality).

Taking the explanation to the next level, mantras are particular phrases set to tones or musical notes called a raga. They can be chanted either aloud or in your mind. They aren’t prayers per se, but a way to tune in to spiritual energy. A particular mantra might invoke a deity, create a more powerful spiritual life, ward off danger, or just help with concentration. Used in their purest form, they’re meant to bring you closer to the Divine—to God—so that you can realize your highest self, balance karmic issues, and end the cycle of reincarnation so that you can return to Source. Those wishing to make this their life’s work can spend eight hours a day moving between mantras, meditation, and prayer, for years. Some chant mantras for decades.

Mantras are tied to deities such as Krishna, Shiva, Kuan Yin, or Buddha. Some consider the Ave Maria to be a kind of mantra for Mother Mary, although that is probably more like a prayer.

It isn’t a requirement to follow Hindu or Buddhist philosophy to work with mantras. Though if your purpose in using mantras is enlightenment and to see God, it’s likely that you would shift into those belief systems. If your purpose is less lofty and more along the lines of finding a more peaceful life or manifesting a life partner, then you can use mantras with whatever belief system you already have.

You’ve probably heard the term guru. A guru is meant to refer to someone who’s attained a high level of success with mantras. A guru should be someone who has successfully invoked the full power of a mantra, leading them closer to God. They now have that power within them to access as they see fit. I say “should be” because fake gurus are sadly common and true gurus incredibly difficult to find in this day and age.

If you were to seek a guru and find a true one, the two of you would most likely spend a year or more together making sure you’re right for one another. A guru might decide what the right mantra for your training is during that time.

The guru-disciple relationship is extremely powerful and not something to be entered into lightly. A guru may decide to “initiate” you, literally placing some of the power of their mantra within you. In the Hindu belief system, you and the guru are now linked not only in this life but in all lives. You’re also linked to your guru’s guru, and the guru before that. It’s easy to see how that makes this relationship an extremely weighty choice.

While it’s believed to be preferable to find a guru to help you work with with mantras, it’s absolutely not required that you do. As I said, true gurus are quite rare these days, and there are a lot of fake gurus running around creating problems for unsuspecting students or would-be disciples.

The other thing that is crucial to know is that teachers and experts in mantras insist that if you don’t believe in God, and especially the Hindu or Buddhist Gods, then you’re wasting your time with mantras. By their very nature, they’re tools of faith meant to lead you through the power of a deity to the ultimate All That Is. If you don’t believe, then it’s a bit like buying a toaster but not having electricity in your home—there’s nothing to power it. Each mantra is linked to a specific deity, so if you don’t believe in that deity, then you’re also not going to get very far.

When you look at the history of mantras and meditation, a lot of the time line sounds alike. That’s because the reference material for them travels through the same belief systems. They’re believed to be at least 3,000 years old, although Vedic priests insist they’re far older than that. Still, the earliest mantras are said to come from the Rig Veda dating back to 1500 B.C.E.

Initially, mantras were taught only within the Vedic priests’ circles and were handed down orally. Eventually, they began to be written down, which is how they went from the spoken word to Sanskrit.

Mantras are said to have been discovered (as opposed to created) by great seers thousands of years ago. These seers are called rishis. The sounds of the mantras and the spiritual energy they have were discovered through the rishis’ spiritual practices, and then shared with others. It could be said that mantras are the music of the Universe. Those who chant mantras sing along until that music becomes a part of who they are.

The word mantra at its simplest level means “sound.” Sound is vibration. When someone is chanting a mantra, it’s not just about the chanting, it’s about trying to become the sound. It’s about activating different parts of the body and the mind to align with what ancient Vedic priests determined would connect you with the spiritual energy that’d provide the desired effect. Mantras are literally considered a science in the Hindu belief system.

Countless people have used these same mantras for thousands of years to connect with the Divine, manifest what they want in their lives, or protect them from danger. Think of the power that kind of focused energy would create! Those who dedicate their life to this spiritual practice open themselves up to that Divine energy, and it becomes a part of them. It can take years of unending, dedicated practice, but once they’ve been successful, they become a part of the mantra, and the mantra becomes a part of them.

AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY . . .

Throughout this compendium, I have provided you with real stories from real people (including me) about experiences with various oracles and belief systems. As I wrote the chapter on mantras, I felt a little concerned. Of all the topics, mantras certainly demand the most from you. They also could arguably have the greatest reward. Nevertheless, I worried that I was making the practice of mantra seem unworkable for daily life. Because of that, I decided to share two real stories within this chapter so that you can read for yourself just how powerful and uplifting working with mantras can be. Here now is a story from Priti Mistry (you first met her in Chapter 7 on pendulums) about how mantras have helped her life. (The second story will come later in the chapter.)

I’m sharing my early experience with mantras. Over a decade ago, I started taking meditation seriously. I started practicing one of the techniques that I’d learned from my teacher. It’s called Manas Havan, or Havan meditation. Havan is where you create a holy fire, chant a mantra, and go on offering oil, ghee, or other Havan ingredients to the fire. Havan is done with a specific intention to manifest or achieve something, whether material or spiritual. In Manas Havan, we visualize the process instead of actually doing it.

The ritual asked me to chant a mantra 108 times in meditation. The mantra I chose was Om Narayan Narayan Arpan Namaha. Swaha! We say Swaha after each chant, as we make an offering to the fire. The meaning of this mantra roughly is “Dear God (Narayana), I surrender and merge my Divinity in you. We’re both one now.” My only intention and deep desire was to connect to my higher self.

The first three days saw me getting worked up and stressed while meditating because I was totally focused on counting. (Remember, 108 times.) It became like an academic ritual, and I hate rituals.

On the fourth day, I told myself, No more counting! I want to enjoy the process and not get stressed. That’s it! That’s when I stepped into magic—or, rather, allowed magic to touch me. I enjoyed being in that space for as long as my heart desired.

On the seventh day, I could sense and see a ball of light hovering above my head. I wondered what it could be. Well, lo and behold, I received an answer through my thoughts! I am your higher self! It was a deep and reassuring voice. I was dumbstruck and ecstatic and experienced myriad emotions. I hadn’t expected to connect so soon . . . not in my wildest dreams!

What followed next was simply magical. I started receiving healing energy and guidance from my higher self without even asking for it. I became an observer and simply acted on the guidance. At that time, I had no idea that I was supposed to help others connect with their own higher self, for healing, protection, and guidance. It’s been a wonderful journey of living from my heart.

There’s one more mantra that I chant often—while walking, cooking, or doing just about anything. That is the Gayatri mantra. It helps me get focused and grounded instantly:

Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha
Tatsavitur Vareniyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo Yo naha Prachodayat.

As I mentioned earlier, mantras are generally chanted repeatedly until the desired outcome has occurred. There are books that share mantras for particular purposes, such as abundance, removing blocks, or romance. Mantras take time, dedication, and passion. Any particular change you wish to make with mantras is likely to require a minimum of six weeks to accomplish. During that time, you would need to set aside perhaps one or two hours at least twice a day for chanting. A mantra might require being chanted 108 times (like Priti’s) or 1,000 times! You might be asked to chant for 40 days, or a mantra might require 960 days!

This chanting can’t be mindless. It requires that you’re focused, emotionally and mentally involved, and devout. Even if you’re doing extra chanting while washing the dishes, your mental focus still has to be on the mantra. This is where meditation and mantra are alike. They require a commitment that can be challenging to remain loyal to until you’ve really made it a habit.

Most people will have a special space or altar where they practice their mantras. It’s said to be best to do it during the time just before the sun rises and right after it has set. It’s customary to take a bath or shower and to put on fresh clothing before beginning the chant.

Choosing a mantra is important. If you have a real guru, they may give you a mantra based on what you wish to accomplish. But that’s rare these days, so you’ll probably need to choose one for yourself. As I said, there are books that describe mantras based on your desires. Mantras cover a vast array of topics, from spiritual insights to self-confidence, physical and mental healing, and ridding yourself of unwanted emotions.

If the practice of mantra is for you, it’ll lift you up, make you happy, sometimes bring up unexpected emotions that you can heal, and generally be a pleasant experience. You might learn a mantra and be so pleased that you just don’t want to stop saying it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Jagdeep Mangat was going through a difficult phase and was truly trying to understand the meaning of life, manifest abundance, evaluate her relationships, and discover what was generally for her highest good. Here, in her own words, is her magical story about mantras:

One day while meditating, I felt a presence. It felt very real to me, as if someone were right next to me, blessing me. My whole body went very hot, and I felt dizzy with the high energy that was present. Through my third eye, I was shown that it was none other than Ganesh, the Hindu God of good fortune. I bowed my head out of respect and love, and tears began to flow down my cheeks. My soul had yearned for such a blessing.

The same day, I had a strong inclination toward listening to mantras. As I often do, I pressed the SHUFFLE button on my mantra playlist and said aloud, “Please play the mantra that is for my highest good.” The random mantra that played was Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha, the mantra to remove obstacles that is sung for Lord Ganesh. I closed my eyes and immersed myself in the mantra. I felt my soul, body, and mind immersed in the love that was showered on me by Lord Ganesh, and I in turn was filled with gratitude.

Ganesh is the god who helps to remove all obstacles in life and is called upon to bless new projects or when anything new in life is started, such as a business. I didn’t pay much attention to why I was being drawn toward this particular God. I said my gratitude and thanks to him for being there for me.

The next day, I was meditating outside under a tree. Immediately after meditation, I saw a white rat on the fence. Now, in my 18 years of being in this house, I have never seen a rat near my house. And yet, the rat is Ganesh’s vehicle in Hindu beliefs. I just looked at it and thanked Ganesh for sending it to me as a blessing from him. I recognized it as another way that Ganesh was sending me the message that he was here with me.

The same thing happened the next day and the day after that. I said my gratitude and started to ponder why I was being shown Ganesh every day.

This continued for a week. I finally put two and two together when I realized that Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganesh’s birthday, was coming up. Right up to Ganesh Chaturthi, every day I would either stumble upon a photo of Ganesh or would switch on the radio and hear Ganesh mantras or receive messages on Facebook or my phone about him.

I opened my heart and welcomed him into my life. Why wouldn’t I? A deity was connecting with me to show me the way to life. Instead of now pondering and wondering about it, I just let go of all control and welcomed him into my life. I felt so relieved that a God that clears obstacles was there with me, saying to me, “I’m here, and I’ll help you.”

On the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, not only was I blessed with financial abundance but also many internal mental blocks and old belief systems and fears were eradicated. My relationships started to bloom. I felt truly blessed.

Since that day, I’ve bought a little idol of Ganesh and pray to him every day to remove any obstacles in my life and to assist in my soul growth. I also continue to sing Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha for him. Simply saying “I give all my worries to you Ganesh, and I know you’ll take care of them” helps me in my life.

I’m truly grateful, Lord Ganesh, for you being a part of my journey and my life, holding my hand and guiding me. Thank you.

Manifesting with mantras is basically the same practice as the spiritual path of mantras. You may or may not spend hours a day in practice; hopefully, it won’t take you the years that the enlightenment of self-realization takes in the spiritual practice. The rest, however, is the same. It’s a daily recitation in a focused and prayerful way of the appropriate mantra for what you’re wanting to create.

To give you an idea, here is an example of what a true mantra would look like for the purpose of bringing good luck into your life:

Affirmations are sort of Mantra-Lite. Louise Hay’s pioneering work in affirmations brought them to the attention of most of the New Age world during the course of her life. Can you use affirmations to manifest things? I believe you can. I think they’re directly tied to the Law of Attraction, and they can definitely help you rewire your noggin from a place of negative chatter to a place of . . . well . . . positive chatter!

THE MONEY MAGNET

My friend Joanie Light is a big-time affirmation practitioner. Affirmations have always been a part of her manifestation techniques, from creating peace in her life to manifesting material goods. Here’s what Joanie had to share about affirmations:

The first affirmation I ever learned was the oldie but goodie from Émile Coué, dating back to the 1800s. “Every day in every way, I am getting better and better” has always been a simple affirmation to manifest anything in my life that I wanted to be better, including finances, health, and happiness.

I have used affirmations to deepen meditation and get in touch with a deeper spirituality. Repeating “I am love” or “I am peace” while meditating can enhance a spiritual connection to the Divine.

When my husband and I started our business, the early months were tough. Our cash flow wasn’t flowing yet. Rather than panicking about our bills not getting paid, I would meditate and repeat the affirmation “We are magnets to money. Money flows easily to us.” During my meditation, I would visualize a shower of $100 bills raining down on us. Sometimes as quickly as the next mail delivery, we would receive multiple payments from clients or letters containing discounts on bills that gave us a zero balance. The key was not putting limits on how money would appear and giving thanks for what we had received.

It’s just as easy to affirm abundant health, loving relationships, or joyful lives. Even when something pops up in my life that is worrisome or difficult to face, I affirm, “Out of this situation, only good can come.”

So. This is what I think about mantras. I think the practice is powerful, amazing, and ancient spiritual work that can absolutely bring you right up, nice and personal, to the Divine. If that is what you’re looking for . . . if what you want is to really see God and know a kind of bliss and self-realization most of us never experience, then you should be signing up for mantra class. I’m rather tempted to call mantras the ultimate language of the Divine because of that very possibility.

I also believe mantras can help you manifest your wish list. But they come with the price of big-time commitment. I think that if you’re using mantras for your spiritual “go touch the Divine” quest, then as you proceed on that journey, you can probably use the manifesting mantras rather quickly.

However, if you aren’t on that quest . . . if you don’t have a lot of time to invest in mantra work . . . then maybe affirmations or one of the other methods in the compendium would be better for you.