16 - Bird of Light

I offer this chant as a powerful practice of presencing. In the dark, difficult, and uncertain times, one of the most powerful tools I’ve found is to chant mantra. Mantra, that which protects the mind, helps us to enter into a one-pointed concentration, thus quieting the looping stories and the fears. Choose one part and stick to it throughout, and notice how you feel afterward. This is also a beautiful one to sing with a large group of people. Hamsa so hum translates as “I Am That” in Sanskrit. In Vedic philosophy, it means identifying oneself with the universe or ultimate reality. The Soham mantra has been called the universal mantra because of the fact that its vibration is already a part of the breath, and everybody breathes. Sooooo… is the sound of inhalation, and Hummmm… is the sound of exhalation. Hamsa means white swan. The swan, of course, is an ancient symbol of spiritual grace and purity. The mantra is called White Swan because when the in-breath and out-breath are freed and purified, they are like the wings of a swan helping our spirits to soar. The Hamsa mantra helps us find the grace within and carries us beyond our limited concepts. Lyrics: Part 1 Hamsa so hum, hamsa so hum Part 2 I am that I am that I am, I am that I am that I am Part 3 So hum, so hum, so hum, so hum Part 4 I am this breath, I am this voice Part 5 I am a bird of light, I am a bird in flight