Trudy mitchell-gilkey: Metta Chant - (with call and response)

Trudy mitchell-gilkey: Metta Chant - (with call and response)

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? One gentle route is through practices that steady the mind and soften the heart, and that’s exactly where this episode heads. Trudy mitchell-gilkey leads a communal chanting of the Metta Sutta, using a simple call-and-response style so everyone can join in, whether you’re brand new to Buddhist texts or you’ve chanted them for years.

Trudy, a lay (but aspiring) monastic, licensed clinical social worker and long-time Vipassana teacher, brings nearly two decades of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy into this guided chant. She trains clinicians to integrate mindfulness into evidence-based treatment for mental health, substance-related and co-occurring disorders, so her approach is grounded, practical and kind. Here, though, things stay beautifully straightforward: she offers “two phrases at a time because it's rather long”, then invites the group to echo her words.

You’ll hear clear instructions like, “If you know it, great. Sing out loud so that those around you can sort of follow the wave of your voice,” making the practice feel relaxed and inclusive rather than formal or intimidating. The focus is on shared rhythm, shared words, and a shared intention of goodwill. For anyone in recovery or supporting others with addiction and mental health struggles, this session can act as a short, calming ritual.

The closing wish, “Have a sweet sleep. See you tomorrow,” adds a homely touch that makes the chant feel less like a performance and more like a bedtime blessing. If you’re curious how a simple, repeated loving-kindness chant might support your own healing, this gentle call-and-response session might be a soothing place to start.