Episode 8: Meditation as a Portal Within

Author: Holly Ann
Published: Thu 07 Aug 2025
Episode Link: None

In this soul-deep episode of Anxious to Aligned: Tuning the Soul, we explore meditation as more than a calming technique; it’s a sacred portal that brings you back home to yourself.

Holly breaks down what meditation really is (and isn’t), why so many people feel like they’re “doing it wrong,” and how shifting your brainwaves during stillness unlocks powerful healing in the body and nervous system. You’ll explore different meditation styles, understand how silence connects you to your soul, and discover simple ways to begin or deepen your practice, no perfection required.

Whether you’re brand new to meditation or ready to reconnect with it in a more meaningful way, this episode will leave you feeling grounded, open, and inspired to turn inward.

Topics in this episode:

The myths and truths about meditation
Brain states, vagus nerve activation, and emotional healing
Why silence is where your soul begins to speak
Humming, sound meditation, and choosing a style that suits you
How to start when your mind is busy and you “don’t have time”

Come back to your breath. Come back to your body.
Come back to you.

Some Mantras:

1. So Hum (Pronounced: So Hum)

Meaning: “I am that” or “I am all that is”
This is a classic breath-based meditation mantra.

Use: Inhale on So, exhale on Hum.
This anchors the mind in presence while affirming your connection to the universe.

2. Om (Aum) (Pronounced: AUM)

Meaning: The primordial sound of creation; the vibration of the universe

Use: Chant slowly and deeply: Aaa-Uuu-Mmm
Om is grounding and deeply calming, activating the vagus nerve and helping the body slip into parasympathetic rest. It’s especially useful for opening or closing a meditation practice.

3. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti (Pronounced: Om Shahn-tee Shahn-tee Shahn-tee)

Meaning: “Peace, peace, peace” — peace in the body, mind, and soul

Use: A closing chant for meditations or to cultivate inner and outer peace
Invokes a deep sense of calm and balance.

4. Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung (Pronounced: Rah Mah Dah Sah Sah Say So Hung)

Meaning: A Kundalini mantra for deep healing and connection to cosmic energy

Ra – Sun energy
Ma – Moon energy
Da – Earth energy
Sa – Infinity
Say – Personal embodiment of infinity
So Hung – “I am Thou” (Oneness with the divine)
Use: Repeat slowly in a meditative rhythm or chant with soft background tones

5. Om Mani Padme Hum (Pronounced: Om Mah-nee Pahd-may Hum)

Meaning: “The jewel is in the lotus” — a Tibetan mantra symbolizing compassion, wisdom, and awakening