Global Chant
Global Chant is a growing network of chanting circles. Our mission is to use chanting as a vehicle for global transformation and healing. We are open to wisdom from all traditions without being linked to any one teaching or ideology. Our sacred chant collection includes chants from the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Native American, Sikh, and Sufi traditions.
The first chapter of Global Chant, which began in 1996, continues to meet every week in Tucson, Arizona and has over 150 members. The simple format developed in this circle, which serves as the model for other Global Chant chapters, includes:
- Intention-Setting. At the beginning of a session, each member dedicates the love, blessings, and healing energy that is to be generated in the circle. We may place the names of specific individuals in our “blessing bowl” to help focus our intention and direct our healing energy.
- Chanting. On average, we chant 5-8 sacred chants from each session. Words to the chants are provided to each member of the circle, along with percussion instruments to those who wish to play them. The chants serve to generate healing energy and to open each member of the circle to the flow of that energy.
- Healing Meditation. After the chanting is done, we have 10-20 minutes that we spend in silence. During that time, members send out the energy that has been generated in the circle.
- Closing Prayers. We close the circle by affirming our intention that the energy we generate as a group serve the spiritual needs of all beings.
Our typical session lasts about an hour. We maximize the time spent in chanting and meditation while minimizing the time spent in conversation. There are no lectures or sermons in Global Chant, and we do not promote any personal, financial, religious, or political agenda. The chanting circle is our sanctuary, which means that it is a place of safety, holiness, and healing.
The role of the Global Chant facilitator is to serve the healing mission of the group and to promote the welfare of the chanting circle and its members. If you are interested in starting your own chapter of Global Chant and serving as its facilitator, please e-mail actonwisdom@gmail.com. We will be glad to send you information about how to get started.
The following is a list of active Global Chant circles:
Tucson, AZ: There are two circles: 1) Meets every Wednesday night at 6pm at the McCormick Library, 1401 E. 1st St.; 2) meets every Thursday night at 6:15pm at Villa Campana, 6651 E Carondolet Dr. For more information, e-mail support@actonwisdom.com.
Oroville, CA: Meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 5:00 to 6:00 pm at the Unity of Oroville, 1321 Robinson Street. Contact Dawn for more information: thedawnoftime@hotmail.com or (530) 533-7073.
Port Townsend, WA: Meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Center for Inner Awareness (at the corner of 9th and Sheridan). Contact Amy for more information: amyspirit@gmail.com.
Green Valley, AZ: Meets fom 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoons at the Casa de Esperanza Community Room, located on the La Posada Campus. If you would like more information or directions, please call Myra at 520-990-3374 or e-mail MyraAnn@cox.net.