This week brought the distinct pleasure of leading a Zoom Retreat and singing with people online. It was sponsored by Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY and it was lovely as ever to see the way the chants and short songs worked their magic in bodies. Usually I can hear everyone, but on Zoom one relies on the looks on people’s faces. One good thing is that most people can see one another’s faces on Zoom, which isn’t always the case when we’re all in the same room.

We attended to the changing landscape of life and sang tunes to help us sustain our flexibility. We explored the healing possibilities breath, simple songs, and sounds offer us, and how they lead us from pattern to presence. We used curiosity and playfulness to dive deeper and emerge from this time grounded in kindness and compassion.

One highlight was when I invited everyone to unmute and sing the long distance healing mantra MA. Each of us set an intention for the prayer and we began on the breath. Moving slowly, harmonies  came and went with simplicity and clarity. The way faces soften when sound slips in and opens our hearts is the epitome of beauty. Through the three sessions, I could see and hear people begin to use the music as a bridge, as a way of staying grounded while standing in the sky. Thank you all for coming, and come back for more!

Try singing a few of the tunes, and be in touch if you have any questions or would like to take a deeper dive. https://anahernandez.org/chants/