Integrating Chant, Mantra, and Intentional Song

Integration

Key points:

Congregation may require slow integration depending on age, culture, consciousness, politics, history, focus, etc.
Use Intentional songs first as they are in English and seeded with familiar concepts
For North America I suggest Native American chants next as they deeply resonate with the cells of the population
Follow with Hindu and Buddhist chants and then introduce mantra
Sung mantra first followed by spoken (give meaning and identify the particular Deity for which the mantra is intended)
Due to current political climate introduce Islamic chants after others are well established and the congregation has experienced the power of these modalities
Please know that the repetitive nature of all these song forms can be met with some resistance by those who have learned a short attention span. Do know that continued use will allow them to move through this temporary barrier to quickly embrace the many benefits.

A variety of ways to introduce and integrate chant, mantra, and intentional songs into your congregation music program:

Meditation Service
If you have one then this is a great place to bring in these songs as the repletion and tone and flavor of them encourages a still state. Perhaps start with intentional songs to acquaint them with the form. Follow with the use of the OM. Then bring in the sequence as introduced above.
Sunday Service
1. Use as a pre-service song in a background or gathering way. Invite participation.
2. Use as joy or congregational songs. Many sung mantras, chants, and intentional songs are upbeat so they would help to raise the vibration, bring in the focus, and set the tone for the message. Align the songs with the service theme. Post lyric in Powerpoint or in program as insert. If the chant or mantra is multi-cultural provide the history and translation as well.
3. Presentation Songs. A good way to introduce the chants and sung mantras is to highlight them in solo, ensemble, or choir presentation. Congregational participation is optional but desirable.
4. Other ways to Integrate are to: Include them or make them the focus of a mid-week service; set a monthly chant night to build a focused and inspired community that will spill over into Sunday service enthusiasm; and create a monthly Spiritual Dancing evening that typically includes chants and sung mantras (see Dances of Universal Peace, Sufi Dancing)
Youth Programs
1. Children are already used to short repetitive songs. You can quickly rewrite a familiar melody with specific conscious lyrics aligned to the day’s theme. A great resource is my reference songbook for young children or the companion Songs for Teen and Adult Group Singing, available at my website.
2. Begin to use them to replace camp songs
3. Make up movements or dances to provide physical support for the chant
4. Let the children perform the intentional song/chant during the Sunday service. They are easy to learn, memorable, and filled with conscious principle.

The power of intentional song, chant, and mantra is profound. The music brings the intention into the cells and helps to clear old energetic debris. Once people start to experience the music they will want them to be a regular part of their Spiritual experience, both in church and in their personal lives. Integration into your program is easy and open to even more ways than presented in this short workshop. I invite you to allow Spirit to guide you in the best way to augment your current program and seriously deepen the experience and raise the vibration of all involved.