SO HUM is an ancient mantra, over 2,000 years old, emerging around the same time that Celtic traditions gave rise to Halloween and indigenous Mexican rituals formed Día de los Muertos. It is a breath-linked meditation: we inhale SO—”I am.” We exhale HUM—”That.”
During Halloween and Día de los Muertos, we honor the thinning of the veil between the seen and unseen. We wonder: What mysteries lie beyond? We wear costumes, we transform. In Sanskrit, So Hum means “I am that.” I am connected to the divine. I am connected to all things—visible and invisible. I am connected to what I fear. I am connected to what I seek.
This mantra reminds us that we are not separate from our desires or our fears. Just as we choose costumes to embody different aspects of ourselves, So Hum invites us to embrace that—the unknown, the hidden, the dark side of the moon.
Breathwork Practice: Entering the Rhythm of So Hum
We begin with Sama Vritti (box breathing), inhaling and exhaling through the nose. Feel the breath gently tickle the nostrils as it moves in and out.
Inhale SO for four seconds. Feel the breath rise within.
Hold the breath for four seconds, resting in the space between.
Exhale HUM for four seconds. Feel the breath leave you, steady and grounding.
Hold empty for four seconds before beginning again.
Let your body fully relax. Soften your eyes, release tension in your shoulders, and feel the support beneath you. Tune into the natural rise and fall of your breath.
Inhale deeply, filling your chest, ribcage, and belly. SO.
Exhale fully, releasing all tension. HUM.
Continue this rhythm for several cycles. Let the mantra move through you, whispering its truth:
“I am what I fear. I am what I seek. I am what I desire.”
When you’re ready, let the mantra drift away. Return to your natural breath. Feel the stillness, the mystery, the balance.
So Hum reminds us that we are both spirit and shadow, light and dark. Tonight, let’s embrace it all.