Om and salutations. I attract she who is dark and powerful. 

The fiercest of all warriors, the Dark Mother, Kali-Ma is the Goddess of transformation, change, death and rebirth. She is the one to call on if you want change to happen swiftly and efficiently. She is NOT the one to call on if you’re looking for a more gentle approach!  Kali is ego destroying and especially hard on arrogance. Her visual portrayal often leans toward the gruesome; severed head, tongue hanging out, skirt of severed arms and a necklace of skulls. And yet, to those who are devotees, she is the fierce mother, the mama bear who would do anything to protect her cubs.  What are you ready to offer up to Kali-Ma for destruction? A habit, a belief, a behaviour, a relationship…what needs to end, once and for all? 

Enhance your mantra practice by adding sacred art to your space. Check out the Sacred Art Collection.

Because creating a beautiful sacred space brings us closer to the divine.  

These beautiful sacred art pieces make sitting down to meditate easy. The powerful energies of these deities help us tap into our own inner wisdom, find solutions, relax the mind and body and generate feelings of deep peace.

The lightweight design means they are portable, easy to travel with, and easy to ship to loved ones. 

You can check out the collection at www.sanctuary.is/shop

This stunning collection includes: Ganesha, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, Krishna and Shiva. Whether you’re looking for abundance, inspiration or transformation, we’ve got you covered!

To learn more about the deities in the collection, their mantras and energies, check out other posts on the Mantra page.

With so much love, gratitude and blessings! xo

I bow to my highest self, the light of consciousness within me. 

Lord Shiva, God of transformation, change, destruction, death and rebirth is the divine healer, who helps us to let go of what no longer serves us; old patterns, stories, habits, behaviours, and relationships. This shedding of what we have outgrown provides space for new growth, new beginnings, rebirth. We can call upon Shiva to help us to release, shed, let go, to help us through the growing pains of life. What have you outgrown in your life and are ready to release?

Enhance your mantra practice by adding sacred art to your space. Check out the Sacred Art Collection.

Maha Mantra: the bridge to the Divine

Beloved Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, represents devotion, a direct connection to the Divine, the igniting of our hearts and souls. We chant the Maha Mantra - the great mantra, to dissolve bad habits, purify ourselves, raise our vibration, bring joy, peace, happiness and simplicity to our lives. Krishna’s main teachings include duty, living according to our true nature and the omnipresence of God. 

This mantra immediately connects me to my heart, to the divine space within. Perhaps as you recite the Maha Mantra, focus on your heart, imagining the heart space filling with light and love.

Enhance your mantra practice by adding sacred art to your space. Check out the Sacred Art Collection.

Looking for a way to invite more peaceful moments into your day? Perhaps a daily mantra practice is for you. 

There is no denying the positive impact mantra and music has had in my life and the lives of many others. Whether we need support to work through a difficult moment in life, to open the heart, or to find the courage to speak up, mantra practice can provide a steady flow of healing energy to guide us through life. Through this practice we connect with our inner wisdom, the part of each of us that is divine, the most connected and empowered version of ourselves. The part of us that has the answers we are seeking.

Here are the best tips to get you started and keep you practicing.

Begin with a simple, do-able commitment of 5 minutes a day.

Choose a mantra that speaks to you and that you can easily remember and recite with good pronunciation.

Set the same time and place every day to develop a habit. I keep my mala beside my bed and reach for it before I get up each day.

Set a goal of 40 consecutive days to really get to know one mantra before experimenting with others. Of course you can continue longer than that, I have one mantra that I have recited daily for almost two years!

Think about the meaning of the mantra and set an intention for your practice. For example, I chant to Ganesha each morning to thank him for creating ease throughout my day, a lightness of spirit and wise decision making.

Choose how many times you will recite the mantra 9, 27, 54 or 108 times (all divisions of a full mala of 108) and keep it consistent.

The mantra can be chanted out loud, spoken, whispered or even said silently. Experiment to feel the difference and see what works best for you.

Enjoy the routine of a regular practice, the good feelings that come from the power of the mantras themselves and from the power of showing up for yourself everyday. Build in 5 minutes of mantra meditation to create a peaceful pause in each day. xo

I am gratitude.

Can we allow gratitude to flow through us, through our hearts, permeating our words and actions, generating feelings of expansiveness? Gratitude creates a place where we experience ‘santosha’, where we are content in this present moment. When we are grateful for our lives as they are in this very moment, we discover the joy in being alive and we find peace. xo

May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may my thoughts, words and actions somehow contribute to that happiness and freedom. 

In order for everyone to be happy and free, we need equality and respect between women and men, as well as all beings on this planet, human, plant and animal. It reminds us of the interconnectedness of all. All beings want the same things; love, happiness, freedom, belonging, compassion, health, safety and peace. We play an important role, either consciously or unconsciously, in the lives of others. A role that either contributes or takes away from their happiness and freedom. Let’s consciously choose to LOVE.

Praise to the jewel in the lotus. 

The jewel (enlightenment) is in the lotus (the heart centre). This is a traditional Buddhist mantra of Compassion. Often chanted to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of compassion, also known as the Mother of Mercy.  Do you see the qualities of Kuan Yin in yourself? Patience, gentleness, kindness, empathy, purity and peace? These are all qualities of the heart, that can be found in the centre of the lotus. The lesson she teaches us is that we are One. She dissolves the illusion of separateness. Where in your life do you need to show more compassion? Is it to yourself? To a loved one? A colleague? A Neighbour? 

Salutations to the one who bestows compassion, fearlessness and patience. Bless me with your protection and love. 

Durga is a Hindu warrior Goddess who embodies the ACTIVE power of the feminine - the Shakti. She is known for both her warrior strength and power to do battle as well as being the power behind radical spiritual awakening - she sets Kundalini in motion. She is the one to call on when you are in deep trouble. She gives us the courage to listen to our inner voice that says “Hell NO!” or even “Hell YES!”…and take action. She gives you the strength to do what you must do. Where in your life do you need to take ACTION? 

Enhance your mantra practice by adding sacred art to your space. Check out the Sacred Art Collection.

Om and salutations to the great Goddess Lakshmi, she who provides abundance. 

Chanting to Ma Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of abundance is an act of gratitude for all the blessings in our lives. Lakshmi removes the illusion that we aren’t already abundant. The old texts tell us that “when we have Lakshmi, we have everything, inner and outer, for a beautiful life.” She radiates the qualities that make life lovely; love, harmony and kindness. She represents both material and spiritual abundance and is very generous and will bestow on all who ask. Will you ask for what you truly want? 

Enhance your mantra practice by adding sacred art to your space. Check out the Sacred Art Collection.

Om and salutations to the great Goddess Saraswati, the one who leads to the essence of self-knowledge. 

Working with the energy of Saraswati brings forth blossoming in music, creativity and the arts, spiritual knowledge and divine speech. Saraswati is said to be the source of mantra, sound, creative impulses and inspiration. We feel her when we are given a ‘download’ of a creative idea or in an ‘aha’ moment. She is the one to call on when you need help with communication: speaking your truth, writing, listening. Also call on her for help with all things related to knowledge: study, learning, taking tests, enhancing memory, understanding math and languages. Where are you needing a little Saraswati energy? Is there a conversation you are avoiding? A presentation that is terrifying you? A creative project that needs some inspiration?

Enhance your mantra practice by adding sacred art to your space. Check out the Sacred Art Collection.

I am Divine Love. 

Chanting this mantra affirms that the Self (big S self) is divine love. The Self is the part of us that is unchanging, the part of us that is connected to a greater consciousness. When we get caught up in the day-to-day stresses of life on this earth, this mantra reminds us that we are much larger than our small selves, larger than our egos, larger than our bodies and larger than our thoughts. We are Divine Love. 

Om and salutations to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. 

Working with the energy of Ganesha helps to remove obstacles in our paths. When I work with Ganesha, I think about EASE. Not necessarily removing an obstacle but the ease to move around an obstacle and to work through it with ease. Ganesha, the elephant headed son of Shiva and Parvati is often called upon at the beginning of new projects, business deals, or spiritual undertakings for help removing obstacles in the way of progress. Ganesha also symbolizes wisdom, sweetness, lightheartedness and humility. Where are you wishing to find more ease? Do you have a new project that is feeling a bit stuck? Are you taking yourself too seriously?

Enhance your mantra practice by adding sacred art to your space. Check out the Sacred Art Collection.