The Power and Benefits of Chanting Part 1
The power and concept of the sacred chant is multifaceted. It warrants a beautiful study and a profound quest for enlightenment. What is not often overstood or even spoken on is that chanting the sacred praises of the deities and chants to your own 𞤮𞤴𞤵𞥊𞥅 orí (self divinity) influence the physical body, clears the emotional body, and leads one to 𞤮𞥊𞤸𞤵𞥇𞤲𞤥𞤹 òhǔnmɛ (Ajã for the inner heart) and effecting other parts of one's being.
Our energy-centers, levels and rhythms are activated by the measure of breaths that are drawn in through the nostrils and released during recitation of what we call, in the Ajã language, 𞤶𞤭𞤸𞤢𞥈𞤲 jihàn. This is the word used for "chant" in African Vodún. From a 𞤲𞤵𞥇𞤻𞤱𞤹 𞤧𞤭𞥊𞥅𞤥 nǔnywɛ sínsen (spiritual science) perspective, the hàn balance electromagnetic rhythms and energy currents in the body with the vibrancy of 𞤢𞥈𞤷𞤹 àcɛ/àṣẹ: the life-force/energy of all that is. The universe is permeated by this primal, mass free phenomenon and would not be cohesive or "held together" if it were without it. Thus, we can perceive of acɛ̀ as being based on a divine and ordered protocol.
During 𞤿𞤮𞥊𞥅𞤿𞤭𞤿𞤢 xóxixa (the act of reciting jihàn), all elements of the hàn are in use: even the breath is a precision instrument. Yes, we should watch our breath during rhythmic chants of 𞤥𞤤𞤢𞤲𞤹𞤤𞤢𞤲 mlanmlan (praising a divine entities), verse of the 𞥂𞤮𞥊𞥅𞤤𞤭𞥊𞥅 𞤬𞤢𞥉 Kpólí Fá, 𞤮𞤣𞤵𞥊 𞤭𞤬𞤢𞥉 Odù Ifá, kwk. It all works together, like an orchestra and its conductor. The breath, voice, meditation focal points and intention efficiently and effortlessly function like the sun efficiently and effortlessly shines.
All of our energy and rejuvenating centers are activated by the sound of the hàn through xóxixa; certain ones effecting us in different ways according to their purpose. The jihàn itself works in a multitude of ways which align the energies, magnetic currents, biochemistry and brainwave patterns on a very subtle level. Immediately, or in time, one will notice the wonderful effects.
The chanting the sacred 𞥂𞤮𞥊𞥅𞤤𞤭𞥊𞥅 𞤬𞤢𞥉 Kpólí Fá (Odù Ifá), the 𞤮𞥊𞥅𞤪𞤭𞥊𞥅𞤳𞤭𞥊 oríkì of the 𞤮𞥊𞤪𞤭𞥊𞥃𞤢𞥈 òrìṣà, the mlanmlan of the 𞤸𞤵𞥊𞤲 hùn (African Vodun deities) can have various positive effects that I've seen manifest, including reducing stress and anxiety, improving focus and sleep, and promoting a sense of inner peace and well-being. The repetitive nature of chanting can calm the mind, redirecting focus and potentially lead to deeper meditative states and even mystical experiences. From another perspective, concentrated chanting can increase the feeling of inner power and forwardness.
Xóxixa (the act of chanting) can be very intricate or as simple as invoking the sacred names of the deities. This is done to involve, not only the presence of the divinity, but to also communicate with spirit and pull out the aspects of the divinity that you have within.
A formal way of the use of jihàn is during 𞤣𞥉𞤽𞤿𞤭𞤿𞤮𞥊 ɖɛxixò. Ɖɛxixò (ɖɛ̀) is the overall act of worship of deity or ancestors which may include offerings and prayers; prayer in relation to ritual service (at personal or collective shrines). However, the jihàn can be done at any time.
Regular and consistent practice may lead to positive changes in the brain, including improved mood, reduced anxiety, better cognitive function, and improved memory. It can also improve blood flow and blood pressure regulation. Chanting, singing, and even humming (all three classified under the term jihàn) can stimulate the vagus nerve, which plays a role in regulating the nervous system and promoting relaxation. Think about the humming tradition of our 𞤳𞤤𞤭𞥊𞥅𞤼𞤽𞥇 kúlítɔ́ (ancestors). In fact, one of the meanings of the word hàn, found in jihàn, is "song".
Proper use of jihàn can have the power to replace unhealthy patterns with positive ones by promoting patience, clarity, and giving one the ability to see situations more clearly.
In Afrikan Vodún and other living Afrikan traditions (Ìṣèṣẹ, Odinani, Akom Kese, kwk) chanting —as a means to and a catalyst for the inner jihàn, an “inner sound and vibration”—does more than simply help the reciters get in touch with their deepest selves. It can be defined as that which protects the mind. In relation to divinities, jihàn/oríkì/mlanmlan can be seen essentially as sound symbols of a particular deity or elevated ancestor.
If these divine entities could become a sound, then that sound is what we call jihàn. The jihàn can therefore be thought of as the true, inherent name of the divine entity - regardless of whether it includes the divine entity's conventional name.
A powerful jihàn related to the Great goddess 𞤢𞤾𞤤𞤫𞤳𞤫𞥊𞥅𞤼𞤫𞥊𞥅 Avlekété (the deity of speech, chants, kwk depicted above) gives us a peep into this fantastic world of spirit (see the alphabet pronunciation below):
𞤣𞥉𞤮𞥊𞥅 𞤦𞤫𞥊 𞤽 𞤴𞤤𞤽 𞤹 𞤣𞥉𞤮𞥊 𞥁𞤢𞥇𞤲𞤥𞤹 𞤱𞤵𞤼𞤵 𞤽⹁ 𞤫𞥊𞥅 𞤲𞤽 𞤸𞤥𞤸𞤭𞥊𞥅𞤲 𞤧𞤵𞤲𞤾𞤭𞥊𞥅 𞤱𞤽𞤦𞤵𞤱𞤽𞤦𞤵
Ðó gbè ɔ ylɔ ɛ ɖò zǎnmɛ wutu ɔ, é nɔ húnhún sunví wɔbuwɔbu lɛ.
Invoking her by night, the sound shakes the galaxies.
𞤢𞤴𞤭𞤸𞤽𞤲𞤩𞤫 𞤼𞤽𞤥 𞥁𞤢𞥇𞤲𞥁𞤢𞥇𞤲 𞤶𞤱𞤫𞤲𞤵 𞤫 𞤢𞤪𞤵𞤭𞥊𞤳𞤵𞥊𞤦𞤢𞤲 𞤮 𞤬𞤽𞤲 𞤫𞥊𞥅 𞤽⹁ 𞤢𞤼𞤭𞥊𞥅𞤲 𞤫 𞤲𞤽 𞤻𞤭𞥊𞥅 𞤦𞤢𞤲𞤴𞤢𞤲 𞤫𞥊𞥅 𞤦𞤽𞥇 𞤢𞤳𞤽𞥇𞤲𞤼𞤢 𞤼𞤽𞤲
Ayǐhɔ́ngbe tɔn zǎnzǎn hwenu e Ayikúngban ɔ fɔ́n é ɔ, atín e nɔ nyí banyan é gɔ́ akɔ́nta tɔn (Avlekété).
The next morning when Earth woke up, Her (Avlekete) lap was full of banyan tree leaves.
𞤩𞤫 𞤲𞤵𞥇𞤶𞤭𞤱𞤵𞥇 𞤼𞤽𞤲⹁ 𞤩𞤫𞥊 𞤣𞥉𞤢𞤩𞤫𞤣𞥉𞤢𞤩𞤫⹁ 𞤦𞤫𞥊 𞤥𞤹 𞤫 𞤣𞥉𞤮𞥊 𞤲𞤵𞥇 𞥂𞤽𞥇𞤲 𞤱𞤹 𞤣𞥉𞤮𞥊 𞤦𞤹𞥇 𞤽 𞤹𞤹 𞤽 𞤥' 𞤺𞤽𞤲𞤺𞤽𞤥 𞤫𞥊𞥅 𞤼𞤽𞤥⹁
Gbe nǔjiwǔ tɔn, gbè ɖagbeɖagbe, gbè mɛ e ɖò nǔ kpɔ́n wɛ ɖò gbɛ̀ ɔ mɛ gɔngɔn é tɔn,
Sound of wonder, noble sound, sound of one looking deeply into the world,
𞤩𞤫𞤣𞥉𞤭𞤣𞥉𞤮𞥊𞥅 𞤶𞤭𞤱𞤵𞥇 𞤣𞥉𞤫𞥊𞥅⹁ 𞤩𞤫𞥊 𞤫 𞤼𞤽𞤧𞤭𞤧𞤢 𞤽 𞤣𞥉𞤮 𞤶𞤭𞤶𞤹𞤶𞤭 𞤱𞤹 𞤫𞥊𞥅 𞤼𞤽𞤲⹁ 𞤩𞤫𞥊 𞤫 𞤥𞤭𞥇 𞤲𞤢 𞤥𞤽 𞤣𞥉𞤮𞥊𞥅𞤼𞤮𞥊𞥅 𞤸𞤱𞤫𞤦𞤭𞥇𞤲𞤵 𞤫𞥊𞥅
Gbeɖiɖó jiwǔ ɖé, gbè e tɔsisa ɔ ɖò jijɛji wɛ é tɔn, gbè e mǐ na nɔ ɖótó hwebǐnu é.
Extraordinary sound, sound of the rising tide, the sound to which we will always listen.
This jihàn implies that, at its essence, the name of the great deity Avlekété is pure sound that people can take refuge in.
Finally, chanting, from the sacred aspect of the African languages used during jihàn, connects the Afrikan back to their past. It is one of the final bridges in our much needed and vital ReAfrikanization process.
Wékun do Fɔ̀ngbè me - The Alphabet in Fɔ̀ngbè
Fɔ̀ngbè has 31 alphabets. It has seven oral vowel phonemes and five nasal vowel (awɔntinmɛwékun) phonemes. There are 25 consonants (wékun asu).
Alpha ----- a b c d ɖ e ɛ f g gb h i j k kp
Phono ----- a b ʧ d ɖ e ɛ f g gb h i ʤ k kp
Alpha ----- l m n ny o ɔ p r s t u v w x y z
Phono ---- l m n ɲ o ɔ p r s t u v w h j
The "c" is pronounced like the "tch" in "hitch". wékun asi – vowel ǒ, ó, à, ɔ́, ɔ̀, á, ɛ̆, ɛ́, ɛ̀, è, é, í, ì, ĭ, ú, ù
Vowels like “ɔ” and “ɛ” are what are considered open vowels. They are often nasal. The “ɔ” (ọ in Yorùbá) is pronounced more like “aw” and the “ɛ” (ẹ in Yorùbá) is pronounced more like “eh” but from the back of the throat causing the open sound as the “a” in bat.
“e” is pronounced “eh” and not like “ee” in the word
“seen”. “u” is pronounced like the “oo” in “food”.
“a” is pronounced like the “a” in “father”. “i” is pronounced like the “ee” in the word “seen”.