Growth means doing stuff we’ve not done yet, right?
Well, here I go!
I’ve done a particular Peace Chant lots of times with my primary mentor, Donna Farhi, and colleagues, and in my personal practice over the past 5 years.
Even though I sang in choir and even had solos through middle and high school, I have never done karaoke. And I mostly sing in casual, comfortable places like my car. Or with close friends. Or the shower. I teach for a living, using my voice, but singing mantra feels sacred and I don’t wanna mess it up. And for a long time, it had been a solitary, secret practice.
I’m getting comfortable now sharing my voice in new ways with chanting and mantra. It started as an intention of mine in october 2015 to begin bringing it into my teaching. What’s that saying – “even if your voice shakes?”
I challenged myself in October 2015 to record this favorite mantra as an audio for my 4 Month Private Immersion Clients. And I’ve done a bit more with it in recordings since, and plan to bring it into the teacher training programs and workshops I’ll be leading in the future. Singing makes me show up and be seen in a more rich, real way.
Through mantra I ‘drop in’ to my meditation more easily, I can feel fear and anxiety dissolve, and I connect to the divine feminine which in my early career years eluded me. Comfort. Expression. Soulful. Engaging.
What’s your intention for growth?
Is there a new practice you’re embracing?
When thinking about things I’ve not done yet, I’m reminded of the surprising comments I received from clients and friends when I registered for my first marathon. Or for my first ultra marathon (52.1 stellar, unforgettable miles!)
Some of those people closest to me had an unwavering vote of confidence that I’d not only complete training and toe the line, but finish well and feeling good. (Thanks for that, by the way.) Yet I felt amazed, and gladly terrified to try something I didn’t truly know whether I could do.
I had never attempted to run that far before, nor had I completed that distance during training. The weather on the 
north shore would be unpredictable, and spending the sheer 12-14 hours on the course would mean plenty of opportunity for my food, electrolytes, socks, shoes, chafing, blisters, and mood swings to get in the way of finishing.
But I did. I set out into brand new territory and took home glorious lessons, memories and gratitude having experienced it all. We don’t know unless we dive in. We get answers on our way through, after committing – so if you’re scared to jump in, get support and go for it. I’ll help you catch yourself during the journey.
Here’s to our continued embodied expansion! Whether it looks like running a new distance or singing mantra out loud…sing it, sister.
Cheers to new territory and growth.
Tell me what you’re up to or adding to your practice…comment below!
Massive love,
Cheri