Self-Healing through Sound Healing

Once I gave up the notion that I could be a rock star like Stevie Nicks, I re-ignited my passion for singing through devotional chanting. I spent over two decades practicing this sacred art, and it is a fun way to get me clear-minded enough to settle into meditation. Once when I was leading a chant I found a friend staring at me…he apologized sheepishly then admitted “I love to watch you chant because you look so happy—like there is no other place in the world you would rather be.” It was true. Very often chanting is totally ecstatic for me.

Recently, I got a chance to chant with my student’s band Manuka Honey at the Healing the Gulf event and tears of joy streamed down my face the whole time. At the culmination of the Gulf Blessing with Dr Emoto, he led us in singing as he noted: “Water loves music”.

So what is it about sound that is so healing?

“Humanity’s affinity for music can be traced to our most primitive origins. Tribal cultures around the world instinctively used sound for communication and as a healing tool. Today’s technology explains why: Music bypasses learned behaviors to naturally regulate our pulse, blood pressure, breathing and hormone production; especially dopamine, which controls mood. People throughout the ages have fashioned various instruments that manipulate these neural connections, clearing the mind of distracting thoughts or inducing states of well-being, satori and trance—even ecstasy.” (from “Sound Therapy throughout the Ages” by Robert Austin)

Toning
The priests of ancient Egypt knew how to use vowel sounds to resonate their energy centers or Chakras. The Australian Aboriginals and Native American shamanists use vocal toning and repetitive sound vibration with instruments created from nature in sacred ceremony to adjust any imbalance of the spirit, emotions or physical being. There is a direct link between different parts of the body and specific sounds. Edgar Cayce, the American psychic, and Rudolf Steiner, German philosopher/educator, both predicted that “pure tones will be used for healing before the end of this century”. (excerpted from www.crystalinks.com)

Toning is the creation of extended vocal sounds on a single vowel in order to experience the sound and its effects in other parts of the body. It is a simple yet powerful technique, accessible to everyone regardless of vocal ability or training. No melody, words, rhythm, nor harmony – just the sound of the vibrating breath.

Through toning you can immediately experience the effects of sound on your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Toning synchronizes the brainwaves and helps relieve tension within a few minutes. Toning restores balance and harmony to the mind and body. It can help you awaken and deepen your sense of self, and align you to the deepest vibrations of soul and spirit. (excerpted from Nada Yoga by David Gordon).

Years ago I was doing energy healing with a client and some blocked energy surfaced yet was not fully releasing from the body. Finally after quite some time of watching the blockage move around, I had the thought to tone “Om” right into her belly and the blockage vanished immediately.

Vibrational Sound Healing with Crystal Bowls
Vibrational medicine is based on the idea that all illness or disease is characterized by blockage in the channels on some level, either in the veins, nerves or nadis (astral body channels that transport prana or life force and generally correspond with the nerves.) A body is healthy when each cell and each organ create a resonance that is in harmony with the whole being. When an organ is vibrating out of tune or non-harmoniously this is described as “dis-ease”.

Crystal bowl music is a form of vibrational medicine. The pure tones of crystal bowls emit a White Light vibration which is the highest level of radiance. The resulting vibrational sound field resonates and harmonizes the light body energy centers (Chakras) and corresponding physical areas. A Crystal Bowl is 98.9% silicon quartz, and our body has an affinity for quartz as much of our body is crystalline in structure, including the bones, blood, parts of the brain and DNA.

Physical Benefits
Through sound and light one can break up, dissolve and release these blockages that originate in our etheric body or energy field. For instance, ultra sound has been used medically for almost two decades as a diagnostic tool by pediatricians while the baby is in the very early stages of fetal development and more recently ultrasound is being used to cleanse clogged arteries.

Crystal is able to maintain the balance of electromagnetic energies between the north and south poles. It is extremely accurate and consequently the foundation of timekeeping systems in all our contemporary watches is quartz crystal. The same electromagnetic field exists within all life forms. Clear quartz integrates and balances our own electromagnetic energies. (excerpted from www.crystalinks.com)

Personally I have experienced headaches vanishing in under two minutes, and many of my clients (including animals) seem to find immediate calm and physical relief when I use my crystal bowl. Many of my clients find this a favorite part of the healing sessions, even over the phone.

Spiritual Benefits
In addition to the potent physical benefits, I have experienced immediate shifts in awareness using the crystal bowls. It also is a quick and effective way to do a space-clearing when you want to raise and harmonize the vibrations in a room.

Through the pure crystal tones, as the sound effects brain wave activity, one can travel into an altered state of consciousness. There is a measurable wave pattern which is equivalent to the alpha waves produced by the brain (associated with deep relaxation and meditation states).

Crystal acts as an oscillator, magnifying and transmitting pure tone. This is why pure silicon crystal is used in all of our most advanced telecommunication systems. Like a powerful radio transmitter, the crystal bowls transmit energy into the atmosphere, filling a person’s aura with vibrational radiance which translates into the seven main colors of the rainbow. Clear quartz contains the full spectrum of light that is related to the seven energy centers (Chakras) and thus heals the listener by bringing pure light through sound as specific color back into the human aura. (excerpted from www.crystalinks.com/bowls.html)

Animals and Sound Healing
While sound healing can certainly benefit animals too, many people want their animals to have some comfort when they leave and they turn on the TV or the radio. My experience is that most animals do not favor this type of sound and try to tune it out. One dog actually complained to me about his person watching too much “very loud scary TV.” When I asked her if this was true she said she was obsessed with horror flicks.

Most of the research shows that certain types of classical music are the most harmonic and produce states of calm; however not all classical music is appropriate as often there are abrupt changes in tempo and loudness. Best to stick with no sound, or check out the music CDs developed specifically for animals that have been researched for their effectiveness.

So if you are looking for a quick shift or to relieve stress, try using a form of sound healing. And you can be your own personal Rock Star!