Mantra & Meditation
Sacred Practices for Inner Peace & Healing
The Practice of Stillness
Meditation is the intentional practice of focusing your mind on a single object, thought, or activity to train attention and awareness — and, through this training, to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state.
It is not about emptying the mind or stopping thoughts. It is about observing thoughts without being swept away by them. Over time, consistent meditation practice rewires the brain toward greater calm, clarity, compassion, and resilience.
At Happy Heart, we work with meditation as both a standalone healing practice and as a complement to Reiki.
“Meditation is not about becoming a different person, a new person, or even a better person. It is about training in awareness and getting a healthy sense of perspective.”
Benefits of Regular Practice
Mantra Meditation
A mantra is a sacred word, phrase, or syllable — often in Sanskrit — that is repeated either aloud or silently as the focal point of meditation. The vibration of mantra recitation is believed to align the mind and body with higher frequencies of consciousness.
Mantras have been used for thousands of years across Vedic, Buddhist, Yogic, and many other traditions.
The Gayatri Mantra
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम्
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Romanized Transliteration
Oṃ Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ
Tat Savitur Vareṇyaṃ
Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi
Dhiyo Yo Naḥ Prachodayāt
Meaning
“We meditate upon the divine light of the radiant Sun.
May that light illuminate and inspire our minds.”
How to Practice Mantra Meditation
Find a quiet, comfortable seat. You may sit on a chair, cushion, or the floor — whatever allows your spine to be naturally upright without strain.
Close your eyes softly. Take three slow, deep breaths to settle your body and signal to your nervous system that it is time to rest.
Choose your mantra. If you are using a traditional mantra like the Gayatri, begin with the intention of receiving its light and wisdom into your life.
Begin repeating the mantra silently in your mind, or softly aloud. Allow the rhythm to be natural and unhurried — like a heartbeat.
When your mind wanders (and it will — this is normal), gently bring your attention back to the mantra without judgment or frustration.
Continue for 10–20 minutes. When you are ready to finish, stop repeating the mantra and sit quietly for 1–2 minutes before opening your eyes.
Practice daily, ideally at the same time — morning is traditional. Consistency over intensity: 10 minutes every day is more powerful than an hour once a week.
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे
सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ॥
Romanized Transliteration
Oṃ Tryambakaṃ Yajāmahe
Sugandhiṃ Puṣṭivardhanam
Urvārukam Iva Bandhanān
Mṛtyor Mukṣīya Māmṛtāt
Meaning
“We worship the three-eyed one (Shiva) who is fragrant and who nourishes all beings. May he liberate us from the bondage of death, as a cucumber is severed from the vine, and may he grant us immortality.”
Havan Made Simple
A Havan (also called Homa or Yajna) is a sacred Vedic fire ritual in which offerings are made into a consecrated fire while mantras are chanted. The fire is considered a divine presence — a messenger between the human and the sacred.
Havans have been performed for thousands of years for purification, healing, thanksgiving, new beginnings, and blessings. They can be done in simplified form at home with basic materials.
What You Will Need
How to Perform a Simple Havan
Prepare your space. Choose a well-ventilated area — ideally outdoors or near an open window. Place your havan kund on a heat-safe surface.
Set your intention. Before lighting the fire, sit quietly for a moment. What are you bringing to this ritual? Hold this intention in your heart throughout.
Purify yourself. Wash your hands. You may sprinkle water around your space and on the kund, saying “Om” or a cleansing prayer to purify the area.
Prepare the fire bed. Place a small amount of mango wood or kindling in the kund. Place a piece of camphor in the center, resting on or near the wood.
Light the fire. Light the camphor and allow it to catch the wood. As the fire grows, offer a small spoonful of ghee into it, saying “Om Swaha.”
Begin your offerings. Take small pinches of havan samagri and offer them into the fire with each mantra repetition. The standard offering phrase is “Swaha” at the end of each mantra line.
Chant your mantras. Recite your chosen mantras while periodically offering samagri and spoonfuls of ghee. The fire should be kept fed and alive throughout.
Offer with both hands. Hold offerings in cupped palms, touching your fingertips to your thumbs. Release the offering into the fire as you say “Swaha.”
Close the ritual. When you are ready to close, offer a final, larger spoonful of ghee with a closing prayer of gratitude.
Receive the blessings. Hold your palms over the smoke (safely) to receive the blessings of the fire. Touch the ash to your forehead as a blessing.
“The Havan fire is a living bridge between the seen and the unseen. What you offer with faith is received by the sacred.”
A Note on Practice
There is no single “correct” way to do a Havan at home. What matters most is your sincerity, your intention, and your presence. If you would like guidance, Rakhi is happy to walk you through a Havan personally.
Work with Rakhi One-on-One
Private meditation sessions with Rakhi are available as a 7-session program. Whether you are building a new practice or deepening an existing one, Rakhi will tailor each session to your needs.
View Meditation ServicesGet in Touch