What is Sound Healing?
Photo from Cymatics website - John Stuart Reids research and work with the Cymascope Instrument to see sound
“Sound Healing is the use of instruments or the voice to change the balance of the body from dis-ease or dis-harmony to ease and harmony. A person who practices Sound Healing makes use of the vibrations that instruments create to initiate a healing response from the body. “ Acutonics.com
Acutonics tuning forks, tuned to the frequencies of the *planets (see below), are applied to stimulate acupuncture points and meridians to support or restore the strong, balanced flow of Qi (life force) in the body. Our Qi, and it’s flow through the meridians, is affected by our experiences of life and how we perceive and are able to digest and integrate life experiences. Which, in turn correlates to the function of our organs, mental and physical well-being, and sense of connection beyond the physical perceptions.
Our body has it’s own hologram (or blueprint) of perfect health in our auric field, making it key to keep our chakras and the correlating layers of our auric field healthy. Happiness, joy, community, nature, quiet time to reflect and process our experiences, are some of the necessary ingredients.
“The term biofield refers to our body’s electrical system in its entirety - both the electric current that runs through our bodies, and the magnetic field that surrounds it. Biofield Tuning is a sound therapy method that works directly with this system, seeing it as inextricably connected with our conscious and subconscious mind, including our memories.” BiofieldTuning.com We use a combination of weighted (on the body and in the field - biofield, auric field) and unweighted (in the field) tuning forks to assist the chakras; electromagnetic systems; physical, mental, emotional fields to come into harmony and balance.
Research using the Cymascope by John Stuart Reid and others shows the influence of sound and vibration on water. Cymatics (Hans Jenny) worked with the science of sound and found that “each material has its own special way of behaving” when sound was applied. The cymascope and cymatic images are beautiful and intricate. Since our bodies include a variety of ‘materials’ as well as water it is worth observing how sound might be like an internal vibrational massage within and how it might have an influence our physical 'structure'.
A Few BOOKS:
“Tuning the Human Biofield: Healing with Vibrational Sound Therapy,” by Eileen McKusick
“The 7 Secrets of Sound Healing,” (and other books) by Jonathan Goldman
“The Healing Power of Sound”, “Sounds of Healing”, “Dr. Gaynor’s Cancer Prevention Program” by Mitchell L. Gaynor, M.D.
When there are no lyrics or melodies (as in Sound Journey Meditations) we can free our logical mind from having to be engaged. In deep relaxation our body can then go into rest and digest and tend to detoxing, repairing, rebuilding, restoring.
Sound and vibration has also shown to increase nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide is understood to support vasodilation, (relaxes the inner muscles of the blood vessels, causing them to widen and increase circulation), stimulation of hormone release (signalling and regulation of neurotransmission), may decrease muscle soreness and may improve exercise performance. There are many other benefits - known or yet to be discovered both via science or our own personal 'research' to see how we can use it for our wellbeing. But ultimately we can see for ourselves how sound and vibration affects us - whether positively or negatively in our daily lives. We all experience the effect of music on our emotions and energy … and equally how some sounds are disruptive and cause us stress.
Research paper on a variety of benefits of application of Vibration.
Research paper - Vibroacoustically-Augmented Mindfulness demonstrating the benefits of vibration to reduce trauma responses. “Augmenting BFM with vibration appears to have considerable effects on interoception, attention and autonomic regulation; it could be used as a monotherapy or to address trauma treatment barriers.”
Additional energetic tools such as clearing cords or agreements and contracts or Reiki are incorporated when relevant to the healing process. In some cases, guided meditations such as a forgiveness process can assist clients in restoring healthy dynamics.
Photo from Cymatics website - John Stuart Reids research and work with the Cymascope Instrument to make sound visible.
Healing Practice Reflection
Practicing Sound Healing and Cranial Sacral Therapy calls me to be fully present—attentive, open, and free from judgment. My intention is to approach each session with wholehearted acceptance, holding space for every individual who chooses to come to me to do their work. The conversations we share are insightful, sometimes infused with laughter, sometimes tears and always deeply meaningful.
This daily practice serves as a reminder that we are all in a state of becoming—a continuous unfolding. I am honored to assist in releasing restrictions that hinder alignment with one’s true self. In this shared journey, both client and practitioner are supported in deeper self-discovery.
At the heart of this work is the ability to be intimately engaged yet simultaneously detached from the result. The focus is not on the outcome, for the outcome exists in the future. Instead, the focus rests in the process—the intention in the moment, within the connection between giver and receiver. What the receiver chooses to do with the offering is irrelevant; it is the intention itself that acts as a catalyst for healing. And I see it a little like flying an airplane, one small adjustment in the flight path can take you to a totally different city or even country—each little adjustment we make affects the trajectory of our lives.
What I offer—my presence, my hands, my application of treatment—is ultimately a gift. Yet healing itself is never imposed; it can only be invited. My role is to create conditions that foster healing, while the choice to receive remains in the hands of each person I serve.
Over the past 13 years of my work in this field of sound and vibration I am grateful to witness the ever increasing understanding of what it can do for our well-being physically, mentally, energetically and relationally. There are many who are exploring how to use it more precisely whether via research or in a health practice or both - Dr. Jeffrey Thompson, John Stuart Reid, Dr. John Beaulieu, Mitchell Gaynor, MD, Jonathan Goldman, Robert Edward Grant, Eileen McKusick ...to note a few. Of course sound and vibration is just one of many ways we can support our wellbeing naturally.
Photo from Cymatics website - John Stuart Reids research and work with the Cymascope Instrument to make sound visible.
*The Cosmic Octave and Quadrivium are 2 sources of information that explain the frequencies (musical notes of the planets and their movements).