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Chanting like a Hare-krishna
Kirtan chanting is such fun. Well perhaps fun isn't quite the word for it . You feel a bit like a Hare-krishna devotee but the tunes are great and you sometimes get to play instruments - even if you can't play them! Somehow the instrument (rattle, tamborine etc) plays itself. There's a leader who sings the line and then the group repeat it, so you don't need to read music or know the songs. It's very meditational, and it helps when you are in a low emotional state - perhaps in the same way as exercise does, but more spiritually...
Of course, the words you are singing are mantras, and they are repeated either softly to yourself (japa) or out loud (kirtan) in order to channel divine energy. And you know what, you feel you really are!
You can do it here at Triyoga in Primrose Hill (http://www.freetheinnervoice.com/chanting.html) or you can do it at my fave place, Innergy yoga centre in Kensal Road every month on a saturday night and have a delish indian meal afterwards. http://www.innergy-yoga.com/chantingnews.htm. Innergy is great because it's a lovely carpeted old hall and there are fairy lights everywhere...
To find out what sort of stuff you might be singing, listen to Krishna Das (double cd Live on Earth, try songs Namah Shivaya or Devi Puja) or JayaLakshmi (try song Ocean of Mercy) ... I often find myself singing along to these at top volume whilst doing the housework.You find that some of them have a great beat and I often wish I was a cool funky DJ that knows how to technically take these tunes to another level by transforming them into some sort of Deep trance house rave mix. If you know of DJs out there already doing this, lemme know.
Anyone who's recently taken up kirtan chanting, would love to hear your comments.

