Fall Theme & Mantra
Akasha & Om
AKASHA
Akasha (ether), is the primordial void, emptiness or space that forms the foundation of reality. It is the first element of creation that sets the stage for the rest: air, fire, water and earth.
(This is off-topic, but have you ever wondered why Earth Wind & Fire, the legendary funk/groove band, didn't include water? I don't have an answer by the way.)
Akasha is also associated with sound and vibrations.
A good way to connect with Akasha in our everyday life is to simply look up at the sky, or feel the breeze, and see Akasha in motion. As empty space waiting to be filled, Akasha is also a symbol of immense possibilities.
More recently, in the 19th century, the Theosophical movement (western occultism) posited the concept of Akashic Records, an archive of everything that's ever happened to every soul in every lifetime. The records are not part of yoga or Hindu wisdom, but Akashic Records has its roots in the Sanskrit word Akasha.
OM
If Akasha is the primordial void, then OM is the primordial sound and vibration that rings out from this very place. Om is also at the foundation of all manifest reality; the sound before all sounds, and hence regarded as the most powerful mantra in many spiritual traditions.