As sound healer and meditation expert Susy Markoe Schieffelin tells mbg, “Mantra means ‘mind vehicle.’ Mantra is a vehicle in the form of a word or syllable that uses vibration and sound to help us move beyond the thinking mind.” Different mantras have different meanings and effects, and Markoe Schieffelin explains that meditating on a mantra silently, or chanting it out loud, can help bring you into the more peaceful, subconscious mind. “Over time,” she adds, “working with mantra can help you to create positive shifts in your mindset and therefore create positive changes in your life.” Mantras can be repeated any time, with mantra meditation being a popular practice for mantra enthusiasts. “I find that for people who believe that they ‘can’t meditate’ or have especially ‘busy’ minds, chanting a mantra out loud gives the mind something positive to focus on, which can then allow it to slow down and bring a sense of stillness in meditation,” Markoe Schieffelin adds. And as meditation instructor Megan Monahan previously explained to mbg, mantra meditation isn’t meant to stop your thoughts, as some people mistakenly believe. Rather, she says, “the goal is to expand your awareness so you can get more comfortable observing your thoughts (and any other external stimuli) without getting immediately involved in them.” Markoe Schieffelin adds that you can, of course, try mantra meditation, but you can also simply chant it out loud whenever you feel called to, or write it down somewhere you’ll see it regularly, as a reminder of your intention. You can even repeat your mantra while you’re washing your hands or driving in the car. Here’s our guide to mantra meditation for more information. Now, let’s get into some mantras.
