Sound and self-transcendence

Scientifically, the way in which sound interacts with the body in relation to healing still has no valid explanation as a phenomenon, but the theory behind the movement is becoming progressively stronger. Using sound as a therapeutic tool is an ancient concept. It was used in daily life and rituals by the Aboriginal people with the didgeridoo, Tibetan Monks with singing bowls and a wide spread of other cultures around the world – all with the intention to bring harmony to the body and heighten a state of meditation.

Sound healer and frequency guru Avishai Barnatan explains that the modern context of the practice is ever-evolving into a widespread modality. The primary concept is derived from quantum physics in the sense we are living in a vibrational universe. As humans, our personal cluster of vibrating atoms can be brought out of harmony by our external environment. When there is dissonance we experience physical and mental pain.

Certain frequencies produced by therapeutic tools (be it a crystal bowl or Tingsha cymbals) are believed to realign the vibrations in our body. Avishai’s sound healing ceremonies are based around Tibetan singing bowls. I’ve personally experienced a handful of his ceremonies and would mostly describe them as a blissful deep meditation that takes you out of your body. it can definitely bring about immense discomfort at times – kind of like the vibrational equivalent of a masseuse working through a knot in a muscle. At first, it hurts but after you work through it, the sensation is of pure euphoria. The aftermath of your holistic wellbeing post sound therapy is hard to put into words, but simply, you just feel harmonious. Vibrational sound therapy has been said to help with stress, anxiety, menstrual pain, muscle pain, and many more health issues.