Compassion Mantra
Reciting mantras are an ancient practice that help bring the mind to a single point of focus. The meditative repetition can bring a stillness to the chattering monkey mind. The phrase or sound that is being repeated can be a really powerful tool in realigning positive thoughts or enhancing your healing frequency.
In my wellness journey I have used mantra meditation for many years. I was first introduced to mantra meditation in my yoga training where we would sit in seated meditation and learn sanskrit and chant for an hour or more. It was a really life-changing and important aspect of my healing journey. While I can’t say that I often find myself in a monastery-like setting, I do tend to devote time to listening and learning mantras and singing them in my car or in the shower!
Over the years I have developed quite an arsenal of common mantras and recently I was feeling an urge to challenge myself to find a completely new (to me) mantra. As the universe does, it revealed to me the Compassion Mantra of Avalokiteshrva.
Currently Tibet is undergoing deep suffering beyond their usual persecution. A deadly flood has destroyed countless lives. In the wake of the devastation the Dalai Lama urges us to send prayers to Avalokiteshvara to ask for compassion to all those affected. He recommended:
OM MANI PADME HUM
Which translates to “praise the jewel in the lotus” and is a very popular buddhist mantra. If you just need an easy breezy cover girl mantra - stop here and keep this one on repeat :)
I was unfamiliar with who Avalokiteshvara was. So I went down a rabbit hole to learn about the bodhisattva of infinite compassion. He is a bodhisattva who chose to delay his own entry into nirvana in order to save others. Avalokiteshvara promised to help every living being on Earth escape suffering and rebirth before returning to nirvana. He has many names and forms including Chenrezig and the female form Kuan Yin, goddess of compassion.
My research is compiled of several nondescript blog posts and loose translations of this ancient phrase. For me, when it comes to dealing with the esoteric arts, it's important to keep an open mind. It’s important to acknowledge the history, culture, and meaning from where this powerful phrase originated. I do not claim to be a strict practicing full believing buddhist but I think there is a real beauty and power in the intention of this phrase.
Here is the mantra:
NAMO RATNA TRAYAYA / NAMO ARYA JNANA SAGARA, VAIROCHANA / BYUHARA JARA TATHAGATAYA / ARAHATE SAMYAKSAM BUDDHAYA / NAMO SARWA TATHAGATE BHYAY ARHATA BHYAH / SAMVAKSAM BUDDHE BHVAH / NAMO AVALOKITE / SHORAYA BODHISATTVAYA / MAHA SATTVAYA / MAHA KARUNIKAYA / TADYATA / OM DARA DARA / DIRI DIRI / DURU DURU / ITTE WE / ITTE CHALE CHALE / PURACHALE PURACHALE KUSUME KUSUMA WA RE / ILI MILLI CHITI JVALAM / APANAVE SHOHA
Here is the link to listen to the mantra 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DDc1UJqMWM&list=RD8DDc1UJqMWM&start_radio=1
I was able to locate the lyrics and the following translations from adeline108 here on the
OM Sai Ram blog:
https://saidivineinspirations.blogspot.com/2019/10/great-compassion-mantra.html?m=1
I also found a lot of help on these two blogs:
https://soraj.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/mantra-of-avalokiteshvara/
https://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?t=44111
General Translation:
1. Adoration the noble Avalokitesvara, bodhisattva, the great compassionate one.
2. Having paid adoration to One who Dispels all Fears, O noble Avalokitesvara, to You adoration, O Nilakantha.
3. I shall enunciate the 'heart' dharani which ensures all purposes, is pure and invincible for all beings, and which purifies the path of existence.
4. Thus: Lord of Effulgence, the World-Transcending One. Come, come, great bodhisattva, descend, descend. Bear in mind my heart-dharani. Do do the work. Hold fast, oh Victor, oh Great Victor. Hold on, hold on, oh Lord of the Dharani. Move, move oh my immaculate image, come come.
Destroy every poison. Quick, bear in mind, quick, quick, descend, descend. Being enlightened, being enlightened, enlighten me, enlighten me. Oh merciful
Nilakantha appear unto me. To you who eyes us, hail. To the Great Siddha hail. To the Great Siddha in Yoga hail. To Nilakantha hail. To the Boar-feaced hail.
5. Adoration to the Triple Gem. Adoration to the noble Avalokitesvara bodhisattva, hail.
Avalokitesvara [Sanskrit, India] Bodhisattva of Compassion in the Lotus Sutra became known as Kuan Yin. The Chinese found it easier to think of Compassion in terms of a Loving and Compassionate goddess. [Also known as Chenrezig and also as Kannon in Japan].
"Reciting the Great Compassion Mantra can prevent and cure the eighty-four thousand kinds of diseases are covered, including AIDS and pneumonia .This Mantra can prevent and cure all kind of illness and diseases if recite with utmost sincerity". - The Venerable Master Hsuan Hua.
"To recite it a full five times in one evening is to wipe away your heavy offenses of hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands,tens of thousands of millions of aeons of birth and death". - The Dharani Sutra
Benefits in reciting:
People and gods who recite and hold the Great Compassion Mantra will obtain fifteen kinds of good birth and will not suffer fifteen kinds of bad death.
The bad deaths are:
1. They will not die of starvation or privation.
2. They will not die from having been yoked, imprisoned, caned or otherwise beaten.
3. They will not die at the hands of hostile enemies.
4. They will not be killed in military battle.
5. They will not be killed by tigers, wolves, or other evil beasts.
6. They will not die from the venom of poisonous snakes, black serpents, or scorpions.
7. They will not drown or be burned to death.
8. They will not be poisoned to death.
9. They will not die as a result of sorcery.
10. They will not die of madness or insanity.
11. They will not be killed by landslides or falling trees.
12. They will not die of nightmares sent by evil people.
13. They will not be killed by deviant spirits or evil ghosts.
14. They will not die of evil illnesses which bind the body.
15. They will not commit suicide.
Those who recite and hold the spiritual Mantra of Great Compassion will not suffer any of these fifteen kinds of bad death and will obtain the following fifteen kinds of good birth:
1. Their place of birth will always have a good king.
2. They will always be born in a good country.
3. They will always be born at a good time.
4. They will always meet good friends.
5. The organs of their body will always be complete.
6. Their heart will be pure and full in the way.
7. They will not violate the prohibitive precepts.
8. Their family will be kind and harmonious.
9. They will always have the necessary wealth and goods in abundance.
10. They will always obtain the respect and help of others.
11. Their riches will not be plundered.
12. They will obtain everything they seek.
13. Dragons, gods, and good spirits will always protect them.
14. In the place where they are born they will see the Buddha and hear the Dharma.
15. They will awaken to the profound meaning of that Proper Dharma which they hear.
Those who recite and hold the Great Compassion Mantra will obtain these fifteen kinds of good birth. All gods and people should constantly recite and hold it, without carelessness.
AGAIN these are not my translations and I hope the links above serve as the credit that the original authors deserve! It is my joy to pass this ancient practice and wisdom along. Thank you for being here for the deep dive.
OM MANI PADME HUM,
Julie
Wild Roots Revival
Mary Oliver asked, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” For me, when I sit deeply with that question, “Be of Service” is often my reply. One of the best ways I know how to be of service is to be a host. I have always loved hosting and gathering my friends and family in my home. It is my intention to have Wild Roots Revival be an extension of my home. Abundance of good music, food, and endless pleasantries of connection.
I also want to impart a sense of continuity by offering this festival annually, around the time of the fall equinox. Autumn is something I have always looked forward to and the season brings me a sense of renewal and insatiable desire to gather.
Wild Roots Revival is an amalgam of all the experiences that have impacted me in positive ways.
Yoga + Music + Meditation + Creative Expression + Nature Connection + Conscious Community + Nutritious Food + Safe Space
To me, gathering all these components in one place at one time is a way to impart a fun trail map on the path of Self-awareness. People do not come to a path of healing because everything in their life is going well. Often humans are seeking healing because there is hurt and suffering. Finding a way through the challenges of life is the beauty of being alive!
There are numerous paths we can take, and for me, I see the offerings at WRR a reflection of what has worked for me. This list is not exhaustive and it is ever evolving, which is why I have enjoyed offering these workshops in a festival format, with a line up and different presenters every year.
Festivals bring together people from all walks of life. I really began to see the nature of duality through being an attendee at many music festivals over the years. There is always a wide range of pure presence and absolute debauchery all in one space and I truly love to be witness to all of it. Wild Roots Revival is largely a celebration of wellness, but I always urge people to come as you are. I hope this event can be an extension of already well formed habits, but if you’ve fallen off the wagon, maybe it's a gentle redirection into a healthy lifestyle. I also think of WRR as a mini-retreat. It’s time and space away from the normal day to day to find rest and renewal.
Every year I really like to sit and ask myself what are my intentions with this event. I recognize my responsibility in holding clean, clear space for the participants. It is really a joy to be able to hold a frequency of healing for others. I ask for grace for where there are imperfections, and I trust that all is unfolding in its divine time. I truly feel of Service and that I am following my dharma by being able to offer this event to my community. Thank you for being here!
Namaste,
Julie
Happy Summer Solstice 🌞
Hope everyone is having a lovely start to the beginning of their summer. Here's a short Rumi poem to bring a little mindfulness, spaciousness, and sense of oneness to your solstice. And exhale :)
Say I Am You
I am dust particles in sunlight.
I am the round sun.
To the bits of dust I say, Stay.
To the sun, Keep moving.
I am morning mist, and the breathing of evening.
I am wind in the top of a grove, and surf on the cliff.
Mast, rudder, helmsman, and keel,
I am also the coral reef they founder on.
I am a tree with a trained parrot in its branches.
Silence, thought, and voice.
The musical air coming through a flute,
a spark of a stone, a flickering in metal.
Both candle and the moth crazy around it.
Rose, and the nightingale lost in the fragrance.
I am all orders of being, the circling galaxy,
the evolutionary intelligence, the lift,
and the falling away. What is, and what isn't.
You who know Jelaluddin, You the one in all,
say who I am. Say I am You.
Rumi
Herbal Balm Recipe
Basic Recipe
1/4C Beeswax pellets
1C Infused Oil
½ tsp vitamin E Oil (optional)
½ tsp essential oils (optional)
Yields just over 1 Cup
Combine all ingredients, except essential oil, if using, and warm the mixture on a low heat. Once all the beeswax is dissolved, dip a spoon in the liquid and place the spoon in the freezer for 2-3 min to harden in order to test consistency. If you’ve reached your desired consistency, add in the essential oils to the mixture. Now transfer the warm liquid to a pouring vessel and distribute into jars or tins.
Two Methods for Infusing Oils
No Heat Method
Passively steep dried herbs in oil for several weeks. Sanitize a mason jar and fill it to the brim with dried herbs. Cover the herbs completely with oil, and let it sit in a sunny window sill for ~30 days. Occasionally shake the contents and burp the jar by opening the lid every 2-3 days to prevent spoilage. Whisper your good intentions and gratitude to your herbs. :) Alternately you can store it in a cupboard but remember to open the jar and let it breathe occasionally. Strain with a cheesecloth or reusable nutmilk bag and store in a clean jar until ready for use.
Double Boiler Method or Crockpot Method
Assemble a double boiler and use a ratio of 1:4 herbs to oil. Gently heat the oil to no more than 110 degrees. Keep the burner on low or “keep warm” setting. It is very important to not overheat and burn the herbs. Simmer oil and herbs for 30 minutes to several hours.
For the crockpot method, place the jar in the crockpot, cover with water to below the rim, and keep on low for 3-24 hours. You can place a small towel under the jar to prevent the herbs from getting too hot.
Let the herbs cool before straining and storing in a clean jar until ready for use. The quick heat method is more ideal for fresh herbs because moisture evaporates while heating.
Oils for Infusion:
Jojoba: deeply hydrating and moisture locking
Sunflower: great for all skin types, affordable, light scent
Almond Oil: great for sensitive skin, rich in antioxidants
Olive Oil: conditioning, cleansing, affordable
Grapeseed: hydrating, anti-inflammatory
Coconut Oil: softens skin, and strengthens the skin barrier to prevent water loss
Castor Oil: intensely moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial
Herbal Balm Benefits
A homemade herbal balm is a special way to intentionally preserve and utilize your cherished garden harvest. In a dry climate like CO, our bodies can never get enough moisture! Using a salve daily is so nourishing to the skin and will keep it soft and supple even in the harshest conditions. The calendula, lavender salve combo is versatile and is great for daily hydration. Furthermore, there are many herbal combinations that can have wondrous healing effects. A plantain, yarrow, comfrey salve is extraordinarily helpful in swiftly healing minor cuts and bruises. A peppermint, arnica, CBD salve is a powerful combination that brings instant pain relief to sore muscles. Be creative in your kitchen and come up with your own combinations!
Benefits of Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural product chock full of vitamins and antioxidants to help heal and repair skin. Beeswax also helps seal in hydration while protecting the skin barrier. It helps the skin feel soft for longer. It is highly anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory. Soy wax is the closest alternative to beeswax, if wanting to make vegan products.
Methods for drying Herbs
Screened Herb Drying Rack
Food Dehydrator
Hang herbs or flowers on stems in a space with good airflow
Common Southwest Herbs to use in a salve:
Dried Lavender
Calendula
Comfrey
Yarrow
Rosehips or Rose petals
Arnica
Plantain
Bachelor’s Button
Peppermint
Chamomile
CBD
Benefits of Massage
There are numerous benefits to receiving a massage. Over the years I’ve seen massage relieve pain, improve circulation, resolve stress, aid in flexibility, boost immunity, speed up recovery time, improve digestion, and aid in better sleep, to just name a few.
The simple act of human touch can be deeply nourishing to the nervous system. I firmly believe that every massage has the potential to be a healing and restorative experience. Human beings are multi-faceted. We are physical creatures with a high need to move, strengthen, and use our bodies. We are also highly mutable and driven by impulses of the mind and emotions. This is why when I approach a massage session, I specialize in sending care and comfort throughout all the layers of the musculoskeletal networks as well as the nervous system.
The more complex act of following fascia down to its deep knotted roots can significantly impact the musculoskeletal system. Fascia is the thin white continuous sheath of fibrous connective tissue that binds our muscles and tendons to bone. While it is all one giant piece of connective tissue, there are specific pathways that can be followed to eliminate tension in the body. When we feel a trigger point, or an ache in a pinpointed spot in the body it is not always the source of the issue, but the referred pain being signaled from another location in the body. This is why if you have shoulder pain, we will not only target the shoulder but look at all the anatomical components of the upper body. Sometimes muscles need a stretch, sometimes they need a little motion, or vibration to release. Deep pressure with the appropriate amount of consent is very helpful in eliminating stubborn trigger points.
A deep tissue massage does not always mean extremely firm pressure. A deep massage is one that effectively eliminates the resistance felt in the body. Sometimes this is achieved simply through the body reaching a deep relaxation state. When the parasympathetic system clicks on, the body is signaled to relax. When we relax, cortisol is lowered, heart rate steadies, the amygdala chills out, and our bodies begin to release tension naturally.
It is my goal to provide a safe space for this massage magic to happen. I love seeing the after effects of a profound restorative experience and it is great to hear from clients a few days after a session as well. Never hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
Have a beautiful day,
Julie
Spring Equinox
Happy Spring Equinox
It is a beautiful 70 degrees in Norwood, CO as I write to you from my sun-drenched porch. While I am enjoying the incredible brightness of the day, it brings with it a paradoxical disturbance for us Coloradans. The lack of snowpack corrals us into another year of drought and we all feel that looming sense of “what if” for the summer. I’m taking a moment to acknowledge this feeling and now I’d like to circle us back to the present moment of what is.
If you’ve found this page, perhaps you are interested in booking a massage. I would love to work with you! As a business owner in a rural community with certain amenities far and few between, it is truly an honor to be able to serve the populace of Norwood and the West End. Give me a call or shoot me a text and we will work out a time for your deep relaxation. Self-care is so important in our busy days, especially as I know most commute from one end to the other.
My massage practice is a blend of all the modalities I have learned over time. Physically the body holds onto stress, emotions, and repetitive patterns. It brings me so much joy to help smooth that tension out. I believe it is important to meet each body where it is at and to listen to your individual requests. I specialize in deep relaxation and harmonizing the energy within and around the body. I really love massage because I love seeing folks shift. I love to see people decompress, breathe, and find peace in themselves. Massage is a tactile way for me to harness my intuitive abilities to transmute negative energy into positivity. Beyond the energetics, I am a total geek for fascia and anatomy am always taking in account how all parts of the body are connected!
This is my first of hopefully many blog posts to come. I am a woman who wears many hats, but my first love is writing. I have always been drawn to pen and paper and to poems and storytelling and to the freedom of hopping on trains of thoughts and wrangling them into some semblance of expression. I will use this blog to share my work within the wellness world. This will include my experiences with bodywork, yoga philosophies, delicious recipes, grounding techniques, creative writing, and more! I hope you enjoy the posts and check back in periodically to see what’s new.
Radiating all the love,
Julie