What You Need to Know About Sound Healing

Sound healing can come in many forms.  Think about how many times in your life you've surrounded yourself with music and let yourself experience the emotions that otherwise could not be felt.  As a teenager, I locked myself in my room often, letting music wash over me, taking away the intense emotions that I felt for the world around me.  I relied heavily on sound healing, even though I had no idea that that actually was.  Sound healing is the idea that sound and vibration are powerful, healing instruments that can be used as a tool to change energy when observed audibly. 

Understanding the terminology in regards to sound can help to better explain its practical application for healing.  Sound occurs when the frequency range is at an audible level.  Frequency is the rate of speed at which the mechanism vibrates (a string on a guitar, the covering of a drum, etc.).  The term frequency is synonymous with the term pitch in regards to sound and music.  The unit used is Hertz, abbreviated as Hz, and refers to the amount of vibrations are occurring each second.

Sound healing has been used as a tool for centuries in a wide variety of applications.  Traditional mantras were created with respect to the vibrational resonance of sacred words and phrases.  By rhythmically chanting or repeating mantras, they are absorbed and resonate throughout each cell of the body affecting change at a core level.  In speaking a mantra, you are taking an active role in sound healing.  Affirmations are the modern answer to traditional mantras acting as encouraging statements used for intrinsic motivation. 

Crystal healing bowls are specially crafted out of quartz crystal to resonate at specific frequencies.  The sound comes from the striker or mallet when struck or rubbed against the bowl, creating sounds based on the size and shape of the bowl.  Bowls are created to resonate with the Universal Harmony frequencies of each chakra.  This is one of my favorite alternative healing modalities as I can feel the sound waves within my body. 

Crystal bowls are fairly expensive and specialized tools, so this is not a common household item.  Many yoga and meditation studios feature crystal bowl healing sessions.  There are also a number of crystal singing bowl meditations that can be found on the internet in case you can’t find a local option.  Himalayan or Tibetan singing bowls are similar to the crystal singing bowls, the main difference being the size and material used for the bowls.  Tibetan bowls are typically smaller sized pieces, often handmade of bronze.    

The Solfeggio frequencies are an ancient musical scale of six ascending notes that has been used in sacred music since medieval times.  Each of the six frequencies serves a difference role in balancing the mind, body and spirit.  One of the most well-known applications of the Solfeggio frequencies are the Gregorian chants.  See the chart below for details on each of these frequencies and the affect that it can have on your healing.  Often times, I will use this information when determining what music to use during a healing session.  The intention of the frequency allows for a deeper healing experience.

Solfeggio Frequencies: 
UT - 396 Hz -Liberating guilt and fear

RA - 417 Hz - Undoing situations and facilitating change

MI - 528 Hz - Transformation and miracles (DNA repair)

FA - 639 Hz - Connecting/Relationships

SOL - 741 Hz - Awakening Intuition

LA - 852 Hz - Returning to Spiritual Order

The comprehensive chart below identifies the frequency and color of each musical note.  This information fascinated me as this would allow for the translation of music into artwork and vice versa.   

What is your favorite type of sound healing? Let me know in the comments below! 

Love and Light,
xo Arielle Sterling

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