What's your mantra?

A mantra is a word, sound, or phrase repeated to aid in your concentration while meditating.

When using a mantra, it's believed that only the positive intentions and actions will fill your mind and eliminate negativity.

A mantra can be as simple as the word 'love.' I often meditate on qualities I am trying to bring forward in myself such as grounding, surrender, and ease.

You can also meditate upon affirmations, such as 'I Am Enough' or 'I Am Grounded' or 'I Am Abundant.' It's been proven when using positive affirmations that you are actually able to re-wire your brain to embody these positive qualities!

If you are wanting to use a sanskrit mantra, the phrase 'om shanti, shanti, shanti' is a beautiful place to start. It represents all encompassing peace.

Many people are fortunate enough to be gifted a mantra from a teacher or guru. However, that's not always possible! It is possible to choose a mantra for yourself depending on what you are searching to cultivate for yourself. While choosing a mantra, you should consider your inner motivations for practicing meditation.

Whether you're looking for positivity, health, happiness, self love, or if you simply want to find balance.

Here are some of our favourite modern day mantras:

Endurance/Strength
"This too shall pass."

Love
"I am love."

Calmer mind
"Smile, breathe, and go slowly."

Being present
"Be here, now."

Allowing the universe to guide you
"I am open to receiving universal gifts."

Happiness
"Today I choose joy."

Release
"Close your eyes, clear your heart, let it go."

Empowerment
"I are capable of wonderful things"

Some of our favourite ancient sanskrit mantras:

Om Namah Shivaya
“I honour the divinity within myself” to help with self confidence.

Om Hreem Shreem Hara Hara Swaaha
This mantra will help you attract abundance into your life.

The Gayatri Mantra
While long, the Gayatri Mantra (below) is the most ancient of prayers which encourages one to be lead by the universe, as it is divine.

Om bhur buvah svah
Tat savitur varemyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yonah prachodyat

Or you can simply choose a word (the words below are in Sanskrit):

Shradda - Faith
Bhakti - Devotion
Shanti - Peace
Prajna - Wisdom
Santosa - Contentment
Veda - Knowledge
Ananda - Bliss
Moksha - Liberation
Dharma - Righteous path
Prasada - Grace/clarity

To learn more about how to use your mala beads, read our article 'How to use your mala beads' or watch our video 'How to use mala beads in meditation (japa mala beads)'

This article was written by Mala Collective founder and journalist Ashley Wray.

Original article and pictures take cdn.shopify.com site