Chanting: Lesson 1

Chanting is a tool that we use to “zone out” to make it easier to connect with our Deities. Chanting is a group of words or sentences that are repeated over and over in ritual to help us clear our minds. Because chants are repeated so much, we don’t have to think about what we are saying, and we are allowed to clear out our thoughts and create an open mind for our Deities to talk to us easier.

1. What is a chant?

2. Why do we use chants?

3. Why do you think that chanting helps make it easier for Deities to talk to us?

Chanting: Lesson 2

Here are some chants that you may already know:

The Earth, the Air, the Fire, the Water

Return, return, return, return.

We all come from the Goddess,

And to her we shall return

Like a drop of rain

Flowing to the ocean

Grain and Corn, Grain and Corn,

All that dies will be reborn

Corn and Grain, Corn and Grain,

All that falls shall rise again.

Earth my body

Water my blood

Air my breath and

Fire my spirit

And there are lots more chants from around the world! Sometimes they are spoken, like you could say “Maiden, Mother, Crone” over and over again, and that would be a spoken chant. Some chants are sung like a song. “Earth my body” is a chant that is sung.

1. What are two different types of chanting?

2. Sing or say a chant that you know, then tell what it means to you.

Chanting: Lesson 3

In these lessons, we have talked about why we use chanting, when we use chanting, and have given examples of some different chants. Chanting can also be used to begin a pattern of meditation, because it stops thought patterns and opens our minds, which can make it easier to meditate.

1. Create your own chant. It can be spoken or sung. It must be original and at least two lines long. You must be able to remember it without reading it, so make it something easy to remember. Tell why you chose to write your chant, what it is about, and what it means to you.