Since time immemorial, humankind has been singing. In every culture, in every part of the world, singing together has not only been a universal pleasure, but also a sacred tool, a way of connecting with others and with the great mystery of being.

Unfortunately many people in our culture feel self-consciousness around singing. We have created a culture of “experts” and “critics.” Many of us feel that only trained musicians are qualified to make their voices heard. We are frightened of the sounds we’ll make: we’re scared of “sounding bad” and looking foolish.

But singing is a birthright we need to reclaim. There is so much power in our voices – so much life-force that longs for expression through our vocal chords! By creating a safe place in our celebrations and rituals for singing and chanting, we help each other discover again our expressive power. Often people find that when they allow themselves to sing all sorts of emotional blockages become released – as if after years of holding their breath and choking back their native exuberance, they are finally free to “make a joyful noise” once again like they did when they were young children.

Chanting is a good way to begin. Chants are usually very simple melodies, with repeated words that are not hard to memorize. Jaiya has written some chants that can be used in ritual, and there are many more available on the web. But you can also make your own. Just create a simple phrase – a prayer for healing or peace, or a statement of gratitude, or whatever you want to sing about - come up with a simple, easy-to-remember melody, and you’re off! Teach it to your friends. Remember, chanting is not about sounding “good”. It’s about feeling your power and the power of those sharing the experience with you.