There’s a new song of peace flowing through the valley, one with a uniquely eclectic voice, says Sita Rebizant, one of the coordinators of “Chanting for Peace.”
“After initially discussing my vision with a friend, Bruce Chalmers, to ask what he thought about the idea of organizing a regular chanting gathering, we decided it would be a positive thing to try, whether it stayed as a small group of us or grew,” explains Rebizant.
”A few of us shared our own vision of healing through a variety of cultures, beliefs and experiences, deciding to simply gather once a month to experience chanting together with peace as our pivotal centre. We decided to put on the first session, and we were overwhelmed in a positive way when 17 people showed. The second time there were 28 people, so it’s been a very encouraging start.”
Rebizant, from Clearwater, is the author of a book titled Safe, Loved and Free that explains how she has implemented meditation focused on the law of attraction, and follows a healing mindset to embrace life.
Since the group began in August 2023 there has been continued interest in the meditative chanting sessions in the valley, and Rebizant — the chanting facilitator — says she thinks people may be more interested in joining the group once the weather improves and they can go back to holding some of the gatherings outdoors.
Rebizant spoke with the Times recently to share the experience of the Chanting for Peace group in the North Thompson.
”We’ve begun as a small core group with a very basic and pure goal of chanting together for peace. It is a very calm, transcendent experience. We look to various traditions of ‘chanting’ around the world and have begun to expand our knowledge of how chanting has been used historically in a healing, calming and meditative way around the world. It’s been really enlightening.”
Anja Mitchell, a Chanting for Peace group participant from Barriere, shared her feelings about experiencing chanting.
”I enjoy chanting and singing with a group of like-minded people who are accepting of all faiths and cultures. There is so much division in our society and the world that it has become important to me to focus on peace and unity.”
Clearwater’s Trinity Shared Ministry pastor, Bruce Chalmers, says “Chanting is a form of prayer that is part of the spiritual practice of all religious traditions in the world, and I deeply value the opportunity to gather regularly with others to share in this transformative exercise in prayer. While the languages and forms we use might be diverse, chanting with others invites us to move beyond difference into an appreciation of our common humanity and all that unites us.”
Rebizant suggests that anyone interested do their own research on the benefits of chanting.
“There are so many amazing resources online and in our own public libraries in the North Thompson. We are looking forward to meeting in our ‘Chant for Peace’ group on a regular basis in the valley, and encourage anyone interested in joining us to attend.
“Chanting for Peace not only means chanting for ‘world peace’ but also peace within ourselves, both individually and collectively.”
