All about Mantras
Every week, our family of mermaids presses pause on painting oyster shells and handcrafting ocean-inspired gifts to set our intentions and create our Monday mantra, which you may have seen if you follow us on Instagram!
We gather over tea to catch up and chat about all things oyster-related, but these team meetings are about so much more than the ins and outs of running a small business. This is our time to strengthen our bonds, chart our course, and set our intentions for the week ahead.
Part of setting our intentions is crafting a weekly mantra to center us and focus our minds as we move through the world and pursue our goals. We believe that a heartfelt mantra is essential for mindfulness, grace, and creativity, so today in this post we'll answer all the questions you may have about crafting a personal mantra!
What is a Mantra?
A mantra is a sacred word, phrase, poem, invocation, or utterance that is often used in meditation and, in some cultures, is believed to have religious or magical powers.
The use of mantras can be found around the globe in such religions and philosophical schools as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and the Japanese Shingon tradition. Similarly held and used hymns and chants can be found in Zoroastrianism, Taoism, and Christianity.
While the use and meaning of mantras may vary greatly across cultures, the repetition of a meaningful or sacred phrase is central to many forms of meditation to connect to a specific state of mind.
Meaning of Mantras
Clearly, the meaning of a mantra varies by the words or sounds it's composed of. For example, a meditative mantra can be as simple as "om" and used to cultivate mindfulness and achieve a certain vibration. A goal, hope, or prayer can also be a mantra that's used to guide you on your meditative journey.
At the core, however, each mantra gains power from its utterance. When you verbalize your beliefs or goals, you manifest them from your inner thoughts to the world at large.
If you choose to chant your mantra as part of your meditation, you may be pleased to know that scientific studies have found that chanting decreases stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.
It can also increase positive mood, feelings of relaxation, and focused attention, and it has even been shown to increase cerebral blood flow in areas of the brain known to deteriorate in Alzheimer's patients.
Starting a Mantra Meditation
As you begin your mantra meditation, you may choose to begin with something as simple and powerful as the universal om as you cultivate mindfulness. You may opt for a powerful phrase, poem, or intention.
Many mantra meditations repeat their chant 108 times to help cultivate harmony and mindfulness, and here are just a few ways you can utilize your mantra.
Join us for a transformational meditation and creative experience at one of Grit & Grace Studio’s Mala Workshops. Your workshop will begin with a guided meditation, tea ceremony, and setting intentions. Then you’ll celebrate the bonds of sisterhood during a tutorial on how to create your own Mala Mantra Necklace, an elegant pendant that is a powerful meditation tool to guide your journey.
It would be our honor to customize the Mala Workshop to you and your loved ones. $108 per person
Our Mala Mantra Necklace pays homage to Buddhist prayer beads and their role in mindfulness meditation.
Each necklace consists of 108 beads to guide you as you chant your mantra, and an agate sumeru, or summit bead, to remind you of the purpose of your meditation.
The Mala Mantra Necklace measures 22 inches in length and is available in brass, amazonite, and pearl or pink and zebra jasper with pink agate.
Use this beautiful necklace as a mediation tool and then wear it as a flattering and intentional accessory as you move through your day. $108
Wear your heart on your sleeve with a Mantra Bracelet!
Choose from several inspiring phrases representing your mantra, or let our favorite mantra, “Expect Miracles”, remind you of the endless possibilities. These sweet, simple bands are designed to fit comfortably on any wrist. $30
Do you have a beloved mantra that's shaped your life? Let us inscribe it on an Oyster Shell Jewelry Dish to celebrate your meditation practice and hold your beloved trinkets. Each Gilded Oyster Trinket Dish is hand-painted in our Charleston studio, and we are proud to recycle 10 oyster shells for every oyster shell product purchased.
To date, Grit & Grace Studio has returned more than 6,000 gallons of shells from local restaurants back to local oyster reef restoration projects. From $30
Carry your mantra close to your heart with a Wish Beads Bracelet. Each bracelet comes with a blank scroll to be filled with an intention, wish, hope, or guiding mantra and inserted in the delicate brass cylinder bead.
Choose African turquoise beads for protection, security, and good luck. Wear the jasper as a powerful healing stone, and don a tiger's eye Wish Beads Bracelet to ward off negative energy. $60
We would love to help you choose a meaningful mantra to guide your meditation practice. Gather your loved ones and join us for a Mala Workshop! We would love to tailor the workshop to celebrate your unique friendships and bonds; please reach out to a team member today!
Are you considering starting a gratitude practice? Read all about the benefits of a gratitude practice and shop our gratitude journals today. Are you ready to center yourself in self-care? Learn about the importance of a self-care routine and treat yourself to some nurturing, luxurious self-care products today.
One Love & Blessings,