Niki Naeve

Coming soon: A chant about the power of the elephant-headed god, and the inner sanctuary music can provide in healing ourselves and the world around us.

+ Patched (About A Blood Patch)

As Tara recounts, this tiny Pygmy elephant found itself unable to scale the steep, muddy bank that the rest of the herd had climbed.

This photograph beautifully captures a moment when a mother provided refuge for her calf, their trunks intertwined in a comforting embrace. Meanwhile, the entire herd worked their way along the bank of the river until they found a place where the calf could safely make the ascent.

I felt a connection to this photo immediately, and asked the photographer if I could use it here. It connected the dots for me on a chant about an elephant-headed god, mental health and self-nurturing. And the kind of world I want to live in, where the community rallies around those who are struggling and helps them take steps toward solid ground.

For this chant, I asked you – the people who generously receive my words, on occasion – to record some of your darkest thoughts. A few brave souls were willing to let us hear what those thoughts are, in their own voices.

I also asked that you tell me what the “antidote” thought is. What are the words of refuge you use, to calm the inner voices which haunt you, and keep you from being the joyous, full manifestation of personhood you can be.

I didn’t know what to expect. The responses I received were insightful, raw, and very individual, yet words I think everyone can relate to.

I’m so very honored by the generosity of those who were willing to add their voices to my chant to ganesh. You’ve entrusted Ben, me, and an unknown number of listeners with your most private and scary inner moments. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Sharanam means “refuge.” This chant asks you to identify what your needs for refuge are. And then it asks how you will provide that refuge for yourself in every day life.

Do you find refuge in nature? In your pet? Your kitchen – with delicious, nourishing food? In looking at old photos? Connecting with others? On your couch? There are so many paths to that island of quiet, and yet so often we hurtle by on the rapids of priorities, inner turmoil and self-judgement.

I hope “Refuge” invites you to visit, for at least a few moments, that island of inner stillness.

Here is a link for pre-saving Refuge, so it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle! (It also apparently helps “prime the algorithm” for its release on July 26th.)

Patched

As many of you know, my medical journey has been inextricably connected to music and chant practice for a long time. My medical life has sent me scurrying for refuge more times than I can count.

Chant is an oasis among the virtually un-navigable maze which is caring for yourself in our medical system, music a bridge to that oasis of the mind, a diamond of stillness amid the chaos.

For those who are here for the nitty-gritty of that medical challenge, click here to read Patched – About A Blood Patch. https://nikinaeve.com/2025/07/05/patched/