When a loved one or someone we know passes,
A beautiful way in which to honor and bless their soul's journey into the beyond is to use the ancient mantra of Akal.
In the ancient yogic teachings,
The chanted mantra of Akal is used for those who have passed on.
Akal means immortal,
Undying or timeless,
A reminder of the infinite nature of the soul.
But with every ancient mantra,
It is not the meaning that is important,
But the vibration,
The frequency and the intention of the person using it.
The vibration and intention of the word Akal is said to help past souls find their way home to the oneness that they already are.
I share this practice as a way of honoring and sending love to someone who has passed,
To bless their soul's journey and to bring a sense of peace to your own heart that may be feeling the deep ache of the physical loss.
Akal is a reminder of the immortal and undying nature of the soul.
In the words of Henry Scott Holland,
Our loved ones have simply slipped away into the next room.
Traditionally,
Akal is chanted by one person or the family of the person who has passed for 11 minutes a day for 17 days after they have passed,
But I always feel it's important to do what feels right to you.
Do what your soul and heart feels called to do.
Remember the Akal means timeless,
So you can do this meditation at any time after the passing,
Even if many years have passed.
I share with you my personal practice,
So feel free to change or adapt as feels right for you.
I will briefly outline this practice so that when you are ready,
You can use this practice as a personal ceremony,
As a sacred space to honor your loved one.
I always begin by setting my space up,
Perhaps lighting a candle,
Gathering some crystals and getting comfortable.
I begin my practice by chanting the Shanti mantra,
An ancient mantra for peace and protection.
I take some time to connect with my loved one,
Perhaps visualizing them in a familiar space or a space in nature and sometimes opening a communication,
Saying things perhaps I never got a chance to say or just reminding them of how loved they are.
I then also give space for my loved one to give their words or message to me,
After which I send them my love,
I visualize them wrapped in light and warmth and I begin the repetition of the Akal mantra.
At the end of the meditation,
I take a quiet moment of celebration for my loved one and sending them well wishes and love for their journey on.
At any point,
Please feel free to stop or pause the ceremony if you need more time in any space and if doing this meditation or sacred ceremony in the future,
Feel free to skip this introduction entirely and move straight into the ceremony.
So when you're ready,
Let's begin.
When you have set your space,
Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down.
Take a few breaths to center and steady yourself.
Invite a softness into your body,
Softening behind your eyes,
Your jaw,
Your shoulders and your abdomen.
Take a few deeper breaths,
Feeling the support beneath you.
I will now sing the peace mantra,
Allow my voice and the vibrations to wrap you in peace Vedasyama Anishita Shuddhame Mabrahasye Anenaditenya Hoitram Samdadami Ritam Vadisyame Satyam Vadisyame Tamram Avatu Talvaktaram Avatu Avatumam Avatuvaktaram Avatuvaktaram Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om Take a moment just to breathe into this space.
And when you are ready,
Just connect with your loved one who has passed.
Perhaps visualizing them in a familiar space or a space in nature.
Or just getting a sense and feeling of them.
Take this time just to communicate anything you wish to share with them.
If there is nothing to say,
Then just rest in the space with your loved one.
And now take a moment to allow them the space to share with you.
And now visualize or feel your loved one wrapped in light,
In comfort,
In warmth and in your love.
And let's begin our mantra.
Let's repeat three times out loud.
Akal Akal Akal And now whisper three times.
Akal And now repeat silently to yourself.
Akal Akal Akal Continue to repeat the mantra.
Akal Akal Akal As you do so,
You may wish to continue visualizing or feeling your loved one wrapped in your love,
In the light.
And as you continue to repeat Akal,
If you find your mind has wandered off,
You have become distracted.
Simply and gently bring your awareness back to Akal.
Akal Akal Continue to repeat your mantra.
I will gently remind you of the mantra at the halfway point and then sound my bell at the end of the practice.
Akal Akal Akal Akal Akal Akal And now gently begin to deepen your breath.
Take a moment in quiet celebration of your loved one.
For what they brought to life.
And to know that you will always hold a piece of them in your heart.
Sending you so much love at this time.
And thank you for allowing me to take a special journey with you today.
Namaste
