Journeying into sound

“In the future, what we think of as sound healing will be called frequency medicine”, says Joshua Leeds, author of The Power of Sound, and a leading sound researcher.

In recent years, sound therapy has emerged as a powerful tool to assist the body in healing not only physical symptoms, but also bringing the mind and spirit into deep states of calm, relaxation, and peace. Sound healing is so much more than lying passively and listening to the deep resonance of the Tibetan bowls, gongs, and chimes. It offers the opportunity to practice mindful listening, release deeply into the vibrations, and effortlessly switch off the monkey mind.

The healing benefits of frequency and vibration have long been known to humankind. The ancient Mystery schools of Egypt, Rome, Greece, and India all taught a knowledge of sound as a highly refined science, based upon the understanding of vibration as the primary causative form of the universe.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). In Hindu tradition, the sacred ‘Aum’ was the first sound at the start of creation; it is believed to be the totality of all sounds and symbolizes the fundamental nature of reality. Aboriginal healers in Australia have used the deep vibrations of the didgeridoo to heal illness, muscle tears, and even broken bones -a history going back at least 40,000 years. Auditory rhythm has been used to affect healing for tens of thousands of years on every continent. Indigenous shamans around the world continue to use sound and vibration for healing and balancing disease in the body.

Modern science is catching up, with peer-reviewed studies showing that sound and vibration speed up post-surgical healing, as well as reported benefits for stress, insomnia, and migraines. The simple science behind how our bodies react to harmonic frequencies lies in sounds ability to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. When we are in a state of rest and digest, the body activates its self-healing mechanisms. This is the basis for the transformational power of sound healing.

“The body is held together by sound. The presence of disease indicates that some sounds have gone out of tune.”

Deepak Chopra.

Sound can be understood as vibration. Resonance is the frequency at which an object most naturally vibrates. Everything has a resonant frequency, whether or not we can audibly perceive it.   

It is important to understand that every bone and tissue in your body has its own separate resonant frequency. Together, they make up a composite frequency, a harmonic that is your own personal vibratory rate.

When an organ or another part of the body is in a state of health, it will create a natural resonant frequency that is harmonious with the rest of the body. When disease sets in, a different sound pattern is created that is not vibrating in harmony.

It is possible, through the use of externally created sound that is projected into a diseased area, to reintroduce the correct harmonic pattern into the affected part of the body and effect a curative reaction. Through the principle of resonance, sound can be used to change the disharmonious frequencies of the body back to their normal, healthy vibrations. Through sound, it is possible to change the rhythms of our brainwaves as well as our heartbeat and respiration.

There are numerous positive benefits to be gained through the regular use of sound therapy. These include slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of strokes and heart attacks. It facilitates muscular relaxation, which can reduce pain from tension and spasms as well as lowering anxiety. It improves sleep quality and heightens a sense of calm.

Harmonic sound and vibration signal the body to relax and flood the brain with mood-lifting chemicals. Low frequencies also cause a relaxation of the tissues, a dilation of blood vessels, and an opening of the lymphatic pathways, which in turn increase the body’s ability to heal. This relaxation response has a cascade of positive physical and emotional health benefits.

“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration,” said Nikola Tesla, the great inventor and futurist. We, as energy beings, are made with the same building blocks as the stars and all matter, and our bodies respond to specific frequencies in the most extraordinary way.

The experience of a sound journey can offer profound healing and transformation. As the body relaxes and absorbs the deep, rich tones, it is able to switch off the thinking mind and start seeing into the frequencies, often stimulating the imagination, which allows for powerful co-creation. Pure sound, which resonates with quantum fields, is able to travel to many spaces and places in time, and therein lies the healing. Messages come through, downloads happen, and there is a time to breathe and allow the body to heal itself. Sound healing is a gift you give yourself – to find the place of surrender, to be in the present moment, and to tap into source energy.

As so many of us seek healthy, natural alternatives for combating stress, pain, and illness, we should reconsider the ancient wisdom of sound healing. The resurgence of this healing modality now makes it possible to reap the physical and spiritual benefits of the magic of sound.

Anne de Chazal is a Durban-based Sound Therapist. She attended the International Association of Sound Therapy School in Spain in 2015 and has been offering group and one-on-one sessions to a growing audience over the past 8 years. She uses a combination of Tibetan bowls, gongs, Solfeggio chimes and tuning forks in her sessions, with each session uniquely tailored to the client’s needs. She also collaborates with trainers offering restorative yoga as well as Breathwork practitioners.

She can be contacted on 082 8750480 or visit her website: www.sacredsoundtherapy.co.za