Is there a ‘leader’ in sacred sound?
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Who ‘leads’ sacred sound?
In a recent podcast with the legendary kirtan singer Jai Uttal, he discusses who the real “teacher” is in sacred sound.
In the past few years, the practice of kirtan has exploded in popularity.
For those who don’t know, kirtan comes from Hindu or Yogic traditions. It is the call and response singing of God’s names and qualities.
You can watch our short video about the practice here.
When this practice first broke into the western scene, you could find it in a few scattered living rooms. Owing to the steadfast efforts of dedicated facilitators, the practice has spread. In recent years, some yoga studios have became too small to accommodate the growing crowds.
Jai describes this growth:
“At first, 4 or 5 people would come, and then 11 people would come, and then very gradually … these rooms would become packed with people.”
With the cascading popularity of the practice came a celebrity culture, as Jai points out in his interview.
This begs the question: in sacred sound practice, is there a “leader?”
In speaking of his first experience running a kirtan retreat, Jai describes:
"I realized that, yeah, I’m the teacher, you could say … but that everyone who came was the teacher. Everyone came wanting their heart to be healed, their heart to be opened. Everyone came with their own invisible angles, gurus, and guides who accompany them in life … and I realized all of these gurus... they were the leaders of the retreat."
This quote is juicy.
It gets right to the heart of the matter. Sacred sound practices have been a core element of the human experience for millennia. That’s part of the reason why they’re so powerful. They carry the energy of the generations of humans who have come before - and the energy of the source that inspires the practice.
Practice opens us to guidance that comes from a source far greater than us (and far greater than the person leading the practice.)
So, how can facilitators shift their perspective from “leading” to honoring the true “leader” - the sacred guidance that accompanies us in life?
Our platform prioritizes creating space for conversations like this.
We are dedicated to curating dialogue, resources, and trainings that help facilitators and community organizers shape their service. The goal is to create a vibrant space where we can learn from each other - so that sacred sound gatherings continue to inspire lasting transformation.
Let us know: How can facilitators shift their stance from leading to serving? Leave a quick comment with your thoughts.