The Sound of Healing

Healing thoughts and energy to Bill Nivison, my cousin Lisa Hammarstrom Nivison' s husband and to Mary Debus, from Murrieta Hot Springs & Alburquerque, two of my favorite people.

Carlos Nakai, Earth Spirit

I am particularly drawn to Native American flute music, such as that of Carlos Nakai. It is my preferred music for giving massages and teaching yoga. I have been listening to it since 1980 and never tire of it. There is a circular feeling to it, almost like a sound mandala. It is also soothing to animals.

When my yoga teacher friend recently had catarract surgery with some complications, Mercedes Martine the acupuncturist told her to listen to 432 and/or 528 hertz solfeggio music with headphones, 10-60 minutes per day, for four to six weeks to accelerate the healing.

When I was recovering from gall bladder surgery she told me to go get some headphones and listen, for 10-60 minutes a day for four to six weeks to the same solfeggio tones to encourage incision and soft tissue healing.

The Solfeggio frequencies are the original musical scale used in Gregorian chants and their soothing spiritual overtones were believed to infuse great spiritual blessings and transformation when sung in harmony.

Meditative Mind - Meditative music

528 Hz repairs DNA, helps with sleep, relaxation and healing.

For more information go to www.meditativemind.org

Nestor Kornblum, founder and director of the Association of Sound Therapy believes that sound has the capacity to change form at the physical, etheric, emotional and spiritual levels, and also all these levels simultaneously.

Tibetan Singing Bowls, also called Himalyan Bowls, as well as quartz crystal bowls create otherworldly sounds that can induce trance states. Some healers believe that by using Tibetan Singing Bowls that are attuned to the various chakras or energy centers in the body, near magical transformations of body, mind and soul can be achieved. Singing bowls are used to aid meditation, religious practice, relaxation and healthcare.

Deer Park Buddhist Monasatery, Escondido, CA

The Bells of Mindfulness

My first experience with crystal bowls was in a yurt in the hills of Aguanga, California. Lying on the floor I felt the vibrations and energy of the sounds reach into my body to soothe and heal it. Recently I am hearing about crystal bowls played in salt caves, while participants float in hot mineral springs pools.

In Philadelphia in 1980 my dance company Agape choreographed a piece to Tibetan Bells called Amanita. We sat cross-legged on the ground at City Hall and circled from the waist, letting the vibrations from the music lead us. When the tones of the bowls stopped, we "toned", or vocalized, letting the sounds come from different areas of our bodies. Toning is another way to use sound for healing. Sounds can come from yourself or from a healer, bodyworker or even shaman to reach the wounded parts of yourself. Either way the vibration of the sound is moving through you to break up energetic blocks and faciliate a free flow of healing energy.

Singing bowls are actually a type of bell known as a “standing bell.” The bowls are played either by rubbing a mallet around the rim (as one might play a crystal glass with your finger), or striking the side of the bowl with the mallet. The two playing methods produce quite distinctive sounds.

Although much sound healing is not melodic in the western sense, it is healing to our body/minds, down, some believe to the cellular level. In addition to helping with many chronic and acute illlnesses, some believe that these ancient healing tones can help with trauma and PTSD.

Animals also respond to healing sounds, tones and vibrations. Although I must warn you, my cat made a fast exit the other day as I listened to 528 hz solfeggio tones. As with any healing modality we must find the correct resonance for the current need.

Tuning forks are also used by sound healers on the physical body to help restore movement and flexibility to joints, and to aid in the development of connective tissue. They stimulate the flow of lymph and blood to the area of application thereby speeding up the healing process, as well as promoting deep relaxation, among a myraid of other benefits.

For my clients and students facing a physical challenge, along with appropriate allopathic modalities I encourage them to go to youtube to learn more and then purchase what they like. Or tune into a local concert or event by the many sound healers in the world. Where I live now in Escondido, California, Elivia Melody is in great demand with her crystal bowls.

When Sufi dervishes whirl to the sound of a reed pipe called a Ney they believe they become one with the divine spirit. When Native Americans dance to drums they also become one with their deities. All cultures and religions have their form of movement and music to enable them to reach a divine state. Whether it is for father sky or mother earth, sound can inspire, elevate and heal us. I look forward to the day when people across the globe acknowledge that sound, light and energy is what forms the universe and we can live together peacefully, rejoicing in what we share.

Learn more about healing ourselves and each other in my book, Circles of Healing.