LungTa Rituals
LungTa rituals raise up basic strength and overcome any loss or deficiency of the Air Element, the basic ability to put things in motion and keep them rolling. While, in a practical sense, we wish to improve our health, energy, charisma, success and wealth, relationship and social energy and so on, the Tibetan rituals invoke specific sources of renewed vitality and seek to unblock energy conduits that feed into our lifestream. The purpose is simply to reestablish the flow in all our endeavours and aspects of our being. Following the basic 5-fold pattern that is at the core of Tibetan spiritual practice, we first invoke the energies residing in the four cardinal directions and the center. Traditionally, these are associated with symbolic mythical beasts who embody the energies of these directions: the snow lion, the tiger, the dragon, the garuda (an eagle-like sky being) and the windhorse itself. We open up and restore the energies that come from the center, east, south, west and north, each with their own flavor and unique power to re-invigorate. There is also an evocation of the energies associated with astrological or stellar energies, which place a very deterministic, yet invisible role in our day to day struggles. All such malefic and negative energies are countered. Particularly interesting is the summoning and clarifying of the energies associated with our ancestry, or as we would say, our DNA. Karmic and biological weaknesses and causes of stagnation are corrected and revived on a spiritual level. The "miasma" (literally, swamp) of family baggage that is holding us back is swept away by the fresh spiritual winds.
Wind Energy
Prayer flags are also part of this practice, as the wind blowing across the prayers actually energizes the sacred letters imprinted there, and sets activity in motion. We are familiar with the technology of water power, wind power and solar power; Yet the Tibetans and long ago perfected the art of the sacred speech or mantra. Indeed, participants in the ritual are encouraged to generate a powerful voice and positive energy in chanting the phrases that invoke wind energy: Dra-la Kay! Finally, when our windhorse is raised and expanded, we are infused with qualities of bravery and confidence, hope and inner certainty. When this occurs, our expression becomes aligned with these strengths. Our speech is clear, true and worth hearing, and our actions are all beneficial to ourselves and those who we touch in various ways.
