Healing happens on many levels. One way to assist in the healing process is through the use of sound or music. This kind of healing is also called vibrational healing or vibrational medicine, as it works on subtle levels of the human body, mind and spirit.
History
Many cultures have used sound or music throughout history for healing, community-building and achieving a sense of oneness with others and with the Universe. African drumming, Indian chanting and other examples point to the power of using sound for ritual and healing. Similar to the ancient Tibetan singing bowls, a newer form of singing bowls became popular in the 1980s. They are believed to have developed out of the crystal transistors and computer chips in the communications industry. Many health care practitioners and alternative healing therapists are using the bowls to facilitate the healing of their patients.
Types
Quartz crystals singing bowls are made of pure silicon quartz crystal. Our own cells also contain silica. The reason the bowls resonate with us when they are played is that on a cellular level, we are also crystalline in structure, and so our bodies vibrate at the same frequency as the bowls. Each bowl has a different letter (i.e. A, B, C) and a different frequency or harmonic resonance that corresponds with each of the seven chakras, or energy centers, in our body. Crystal singing bowls range in diameter from 5 1/2 inches to 24 inches. They can be purchased and played singly or as a set of seven.
Tibetan singing bowls are deep, thin-walled bowls made from glass, crystal (See above) and brass. To play them, you may either strike them like bells or gently run a wooden clapper over the rim of the bowl to produce a resonant ringing sound.
Uses
Crystal bowls are played with a wooden stick covered with suede at the tip. The stick is pressed to the outside rim of the bowl in a circular manner to create a vibratory sound. One use of the bowls is to clear blockages in our bodies. In a healing session, bowls are played to affect certain energy centers in the body—to bring balance, peace and harmony to specific parts of the body or for overall relaxation and well-being. The bowls can also used to clear a room or a space or for ritual purposes, as the resonance in the bowls enters the surrounding atmosphere and creates a sense of peace and calm and high vibration. They can also be programmed with intentions for personal or planetary healing, prosperity, or other goals.
Benefits
Using crystal bowls for healing can help us on many levels physically, it can dissolve blockages in the body, reduce pain and stress and increase feelings of calm and relaxation; mentally, it can help us clear our minds, concentrate better and increase our feelings of confidence, hope and joy along with spiritually. It can alter our consciousness, raise our energetic vibration and align ourselves with our true nature. All in all, crystal bowl healing is a wonderful tool to help us live healthier, more balanced lives.
What You May Not Have Known
You can charge water in them, according to Soul Guidance. Water “charged” in singing bowls features qualities much different from ordinary drinking water.
What Is Charged Water?
“Charged” water refers to water placed inside a singing bowl while the bowl is being played. According to Hermes 3, water charged this way can create elation and a feeling of being revitalized. Frank Perry states that different kinds of bowls are associated with different elements and celestial bodies. You may choose to charge your water in a certain kind of bowl to reap the effects of that bowl’s primary association. For instance, a bowl associated with the element water would imbue your water with energies of healing, emotional clarity and purification.
Water and Tone Changes
Musicians primarily add water to their singing bowls to change the sound, according to Soul Guidance. The more water you pour into your bowl, the more muted a sound it will make. For instance, if you want your bowl to be very quiet, fill it almost halfway with water. This will, of course, also change the note produced. Experiment with your bowl by adding just a teaspoon of water at a time and noting the sound. With time, create a chart showing just how much water to add to achieve certain notes.
Charging Method
According to Soul Guidance, charging water in a singing bowl requires nothing more than placing water in the bowl and playing it. The resonant vibrations will infuse the water with the bowl’s healing energy, similar to placing a teabag in a bowl. The taste and effects of the tea are pleasantly diluted, just as the vibrations become slightly diluted in the water. The longer you play, the more vibrations get infused into the water, just like leaving a teabag in a mug for a long period of time.
Precautions
Drinking water from a metal singing bowl can be slightly toxic, according to Soul Guidance. Though the water is infused with healing energies, toxins leached into the water by the alloys in your bowl can be harmful over time. For this reason, only drink liquid charged in thoroughly cleaned glass or crystal bowls. If you only have a metal bowl, use charged water to water your plants or cleanse crystals. If you have a glass or crystal bowl, try charging other (non-carbonated) liquids in the bowl. Herbal teas and juices are especially beneficial after a singing bowl healing ceremony.