Healing Sounds

With regard to the chakras and its associated energy fields, we would like you to consider that in certain traditions for example, a mantra which is given an initiate will change as the initiate undergoes spiritual transformation. What sound worked to resonate a chakra at one level changes as the individual changes and another mantra is to be used at that time.

I like to ask this question to audiences; “Do you think that your heart chakra vibrates at the same rate as the Dalia Lama or Mother Theresa?” It is a valid question. These are two highly developed beings whose heart chakras certainly seems to be quite open and loving. Do you believe that the frequency of their heart chakra, for example, is the same as all other beings on the planet? I am not giving you an answer. I am simply asking you to question it for yourself.

Regarding the vibrational rates of the chakras, as well as the bodily parts and systems, I remember a time when a student came up to me and told me that their root chakra resonated to the note “C”. I nodded my head and then asked: “Is this before or after meditation? Before or after food? And what sort of food would you be eating? Before or after your use the bathroom, have sex or a run around the block? It is my belief that all these factors and many more are able to affect our resonances.

This does not mean the question of vibrational rates is settled. I was once discussing my thoughts with an acquaintance, who is himself considered a great pioneer and researcher in this field of sound healing. This person told me, “If our chakras were to change their frequency, we would explode.” Perhaps he is correct. Or perhaps not. This man had created an extraordinary box which created a system relating sound, color, movement, smell and seemingly everything else in your known universe. It is perfect in its own way and I admire this person for having created it. But I suggested to this man that perhaps he has only created a box which is valid and real for him at this particular moment in time and space since we can create reality through our beliefs. And will this reality base not change as our belief systems change?

Dear Sound Friends:
It is with deepest regret that I inform you that on August 21, 2009, Dr. Peter Guy Manners, one of the most extraordinary pioneers in the field of sound healing passed on from this planet.

It was a great honor to have had Dr. Peter Guy Manners as a mentor of mine throughout the 1980′s and into the early 90′s. He knew more about the power of sound than anyone I had ever encountered.

One of the original researchers in the arena of sound healing, he was inspirational to so many in this field. He displayed wisdom, knowledge and experience of sound healing that was astounding and remains so to this day. His understanding of the uses of sound to heal and transform led to the manifestation of Cyma-Therapy as well as many other applications of sound to create positive shift and change.

Dr. Peter Guy Manners willingly gave of his teachings at presentations sponsored by the Sound Healers Association. He was such an extraordinary teacher and purveyor of knowledge of sound healing. For those interested, an entire recorded lecture at the Sound Healers Associated presented by Dr. Peter Guy Manners has been preserved in the Listening Library at the Sound Healers Association. Click on Sound Healers for more information on this.

Mandara Cromwell, of Cyma-Therapy, has established a memorial website for Dr. Peter Guy Manners. Please click on Dr. Manners to visit this website.

Dr. Peter Guy Manners influenced and affected many. He will be dearly missed by those who knew him. Let us remember Dr. Peter Guy Manners, a truly remarkable man ahead of his time, who helped paved the way for the future of sound.

Blessings of Love & Light through Sound

Jonathan Goldman

At this point in our development, no one has yet come up with an instrument, tape or sound that will work specifically to heal an imbalance for everyone. Certainly some people are remarkably assisted by the specific sounds from instruments created by those who believe we are all vibrating at the same frequency. We know of miraculous experiences that have occurred–wondrous healings and the like–but we also know of people who have not received help through such sounds. And the question is why?

The most likely answer is that, indeed, there are those who will vibrate to specific frequencies that are the same and those that do not. This is very simply most close to the truth as we know it.

It would seem that even in our traditional medical fields, the different pharmaceuticals that are applied do not work specifically the same for all individuals. One person will get miraculous results from one drug, while another person will not have much effect at all and another person will have what is known as an allergic reaction and become sicker from the drug than before. If we were all of the same vibrational rate, would not the drug effect all people the same way? The same thought, of course, could be applied to the concept of organ transplants. There are many variables that go into the consideration of this. Not every organ is going to work for every individual. The same approach could be applied to sound.

In Ayuvedic Medicine, for example, there are three basic different types of people and what works well for one group will not work well for the other group. Could a similar situation exist with sound and help explain why one sound may work well for one person and may not work well for another?

With astrology, which is based upon the the vibrations of the planets and their effect upon an individual, we find that every individual has a unique birth chart, due to many different factors. No one is exactly the same. Even twins born only minutes apart will have different birth charts. This is another indication of the uniqueness of the individual and our own unique vibratory rate.

Image by SuziJane via Flickr

I must have been too involved in my own personal world lately to be aware of reports of an event that was of extreme importance to me. That is, until I went into my local Target and saw a tee shirt declaring “Woodstock 1969”.  I did some math and realized that was 40 years ago.  I may have forgotten how many years in the past it was, but I could never forget the event. I was there.

There’s a whole lot that’s being said about 2012 these days. A lot was said about the different 11:11 events that occurred in the 90’s. And, of course for those old enough (and with enough memory retrieval brain cells still working), there was the Harmonic Convergence of 1987.  For those of you who do remember this time, be aware that the true significance of the Harmonic Convergence was that it marked the beginning of a new threshold of consciousness that would end on Dec. 21, 2012.  “Time” and “Newsweek” magazine both had front cover stories on it a few weeks before the event occurred. From an esoteric perspective, this time represented the opening of a vibrational gateway that would culminate in the solstice of 2012.

But who can remember such trivia? The Harmonic Convergence was over 20 years ago. We’re always on to bigger and better things. Still, I’d like to ask you to step into the time travel machine with me and travel even further back—almost another 20 years, to a time of peace, love, and a lot of music—to an event collectively known as Woodstock.

For those of you who know me, I’ve been involved in these different events that are said to mark specific epochs of human consciousness for quite a while. I was down in Mexico, at the Tule Tree during the Harmonic Convergence—the place where the Mayan prophecies designated as the center of activity for that event. And a lot happened during that journey which I won’t detail now.  There is one thing, however, that I’d like to bring to your attention.

From my perspective, as one who has observed, studied, and taken part in many different vibratory transformational experiences, the event of Woodstock was probably the first, major, positive life-affirming event of the last century.  To me, as one of those who attended those “3 Days of Peace and Music”, it was an experience of extraordinary frequency shifting on both a personal and a planetary level.

I have no doubt that prior to Woodstock, there were positive events worldwide—probably the ends of either of the wars in Japan or Europe were like that. Of course, these celebratory events were a counter-balance to the tremendous and horrific experiences that preceded them. They didn’t last non-stop for 3 complete days of unconditional kindness and compassion, initially triggered by extraordinary sonic activation from one of the great spiritual masters of our time. With regard to WWII, victory in Japan had been heralded by two earth-shattering explosions that altered human history, as we know it. Most would agree that this was not a development for the betterment of anyone. I’m not quite old enough to remember or have experienced anything in the first half of the last century, but this is what I suspect.

Woodstock on the other hand was something else. An event of such positivity and grandeur that a half a million people took part in it, living it, loving it and cherishing it. And, it didn’t occur as a vibrational counter balance to much that was occurring on the planet at the time. Yes, there was war (there always seems to be) and more, but nothing truly major. It wasn’t as if it had rained for 40 days and 40 nights and then suddenly the water stopped and we were celebrating. This was something else.

I have lots of stories of Woodstock, but if there’s one thing I remember more than anything else—it’s returning afterwards to my home in New Jersey and for the next several weeks being in a state of extraordinary high elation because I understood that it was indeed possible for a very large group of humans to be in a state of unconditional love—at least for 3 days, accompanied by lots of music, enormous amounts of different substances and some other force of nature that defined the event.

Yes, Woodstock was a time of vibrational repatterning and evolutionary activation. Above and beyond anything else (and sure, Hendrix did a wonderful version of “The Star Spangled Banner” and the Who playing “Tommy” in the middle of the night was a stand out), in the days that I attended Woodstock, there was an overwhelming atmosphere of love—unconditional love. What many call compassion. Total strangers would help each other out. We all addressed each other as “brother” and “sister” and amazingly, we treated each other that way.

In the beginning, I had ended up hopping in my car with a bunch of old high school buddies from my hometown and on a whim, driving to upstate New York for this festival. I had on me, my tickets (never taken—the concert became free the exact moment I was handing them to the ticket taker. I immediately took them back, realizing their value as memorabilia, and then of course lost them in the ensuing years), my wallet, my car keys and that was it. I was dressed in jeans, a tee-shirt and some shoes. No food, no tent. Nothing to survive 3 days outdoors. Yet, due to the kindness of strangers, I not only survived—I flourished in this atmosphere of music and love. Indeed, I got by with a little help from my friends and amazing as it may seem, everyone I encountered at Woodstock was a friend!

It’s hard to imagine what half a million people—enough to make a good size city—resonating together in a consciousness from the heart would be like. Yes, there were a lot of people. And yes, that created discomfort at points—portable toilets were at a minimum and trying to make a telephone call was close to impossible—but there was nothing that was unworkable in comparison to the feeling of being in the extraordinary field of love and compassion created by 500,000 people generating kindness and love.

Some months ago, I was down in Yogaville, a spiritual community created by Swami Satchadananda, with my wife Andi. We were teaching together there. As an honoring, we were asked to present to the whole community on Saturday night.  I began by saying:  “Almost 40 years ago, I attended an event in which a white bearded elderly man lead a group of people in chanting together. That man was Swami Satchadananda and that event was Woodstock. I’m still trying to catch up and re-create it.” And this is true.

Forget about all the psycho-tropics and other substances that were circulating through the crowds at Woodstock. They were secondary to all that was happening. Do you have any idea what a mind altering experience it was to be with 500,000 people resonating together in sacred sound?  This experience was truly one that shifted the frequencies of all of us.

Many of you may be aware of much of my work with events of Global Sound Healing—such as World Sound Healing Day—in which people throughout the planet get together to project an intentionalized sound for planetary peace and healing—a process I’ve termed “Global Harmonization”. Science now seems to be validating the measurable effects of these sounds to influence the consciousness of the planet.

I know the power of sound. I know the power of self-created sacred sound such as that which was being directed by Swami Satchadananda at Woodstock. It has amazing ability—it’s an extraordinary energy—a monumental positive force that has the potential of changing the world.

At Woodstock, there were half a million people chanting together at the beginning of this event. I have no doubt that this contributed to the success of the event. I also have no doubt that through this sound and what followed, Woodstock was a major frequency shifting occurrence—the first of a series of positive vibrational changes leading up to 2012.

In other concerts and the like that tried to duplicate the Woodstock experience, the energy became less and less love-filled, leading to the tragic violence of the Altamonte Festival four months later. Please note that none of these other events of huge crowds that gathered to hear music began with chanting together—setting a field of Light & Love through Sound—this only occurred at Woodstock. This was part of its magic and part of its spiritual essence as the opening of a gateway of consciousness—a blueprint for the possibilities of what could be.

We may not have been aware that that is what we were doing at Woodstock, but it was. It was probably 3 weeks after I returned from this event that I finally realized that the group energy of compassion I had experienced for a brief time at the festival in upstate New York was not meant to be in this world—at least for a while. It still created for me and a half a million other people, the model—the paradigm–of what could be. Woodstock created a matrix for a quantum leap in our evolution—it was proof that for 3 days people could resonate together in a unified field of collective consciousness of peace and harmony.

I still have great hope. Perhaps, that’s what 2012 is all about. Perhaps, the group energy of compassion initiated at Woodstock in 1969 will finally manifest on a global level and this time, it will be here for good.

In the interim, as we wait for this event of 2012 with all sorts of speculation from it being the End of Days to it being the Beginning of a New World, let me present you with a factoid that few realize. As noted earlier on in this writing, the Mayan tradition as well as many other indigenous traditions, believed that the Harmonic Convergence was the beginning of a vibratory shift—one that would lead to 2012. This 1987 event happened over August 16th and 17th.  These were the same dates in August of Woodstock back in 1969.

For those of you into synchronicity and time/space resonance, it’s something to think about.

Blessings of Love & Light through Sound,

Jonathan Goldman

There is at present on our planet, a great schism in belief regarding resonant frequency. There are those who believe that yes, we all vibrate to the same frequency, whether it is the vibrational rate of the heart chakra or the vibrational rate of the liver. And many of these are people who believe they have indeed figured out the vibrational rate of the various organs, other bodily parts and etheric fields have invented instruments, made tapes or created machines which will somehow project the correct resonant frequency back in to the body to heal what ails you. Some of these people also work with using the voice, either to determine what frequency needs to be added or as a means of creating the correct resonant frequency.

Then, there are others who believe that we are all unique vibratory beings; that the frequencies of our organs, bodily systems and chakras, may be different and are not the same. And some of these people have also invented instruments and will make tapes or create machines which will somehow determine what the correct resonant frequency for you is, and then have that sound device project this frequency. And many of these other people work specifically with the voice because they believe it is easiest and more effective at determining the correct resonant frequency and to project it into an imbalanced area.

These are two main areas of contention in your sound healing arena today. I like to say that I am in the business of “Shifting Frequencies” and that if you believe you will resonant to only one frequency, you are not giving yourself the opportunity for vibratory change. I am among those who focus on the use of the voice as an instrument of transformation and I do this for several reasons. One reason in particular is that I have found the voice to be an extremely easy vehicle for effecting change in one’s vibratory rate or in the body and field of someone else. I (and my students work reinforces this) has found that the resonant sounds for different parts of the body and the chakras change and shift depending upon many parameters.

Do you believe you resonate to more than one frequency?

In a recent blog Frequency + Intent = Healing, I discussed the concepts of “frequency” and “intent”. “Frequency” is the rate at which an object vibrated and is also a way of measuring sound. “Intent” is the energy behind any created sound. Together, these two elements create how a sound may be used–it’s effect for healing, transformation or whatever.

When the human body is in a state of health, all bodily parts and associated fields, chakras, etc. are in “tune” and vibrating in a state of harmony with self. A concept of disease is one in which a counter frequency sets in and some body part begins to vibrate out of ease or harmony. A concept of using sound to heal is simply that it is possible to project the correct resonant frequency back into the part of the body (or associated field or chakra), causing it to vibrate back into its normal rate, restoring it to health. This is the basic principle of using sound to heal.

Now, the whole concept of healing is one which deserves its own discourse and I do not wish to create confusion regarding this. However, I will suggest that while the above principle of healing with sound is true, there are other principles which also apply and will be discussed in the future. For the moment, let us concentrate on the above very simple aspect of using sound to heal–that of the resonant frequency–and let us ask you another very simple question: Do you think that everyone vibrates at the same frequency. Or put another way, do you think that everyone’s liver has the same resonant frequency? Do you think everyone’s heart chakra resonates to the same vibration?

I ask these questions, because they are important ones, particularly in regard to sound. At this point in development on the planet, there are many different professionals, who deal with sound, and who all have different answers to these questions. And the truth of it is that on our Earth plane, no one knows what the correct answers to the above questions are. Many may think they know, but we are still in your infancy regarding sound and our knowledge is limited.

One of the great mysteries of humankind, particularly one which has manifested in the last century (though it has been in existence since the beginning) was the need for humans to qualify and quantify everything. We need to know everything and explain everything. And put everything very nicely in a box. Then we are satisfied that we have figured out the answers to the Universe. We now know the Great Mystery and we can rest easily.

We insist on putting everything into boxes and then we are happy. But the truth of the matter may be that things change. Concepts change. Ideas change. Reality changes. And because of this, by putting things into boxes we are doing ourselves a great disservice. Because sooner or later we may find that that which we have qualified and quantified has changed. And what we believe is no longer valid. We need to be fluid in your consciousness and thought. This is something that sound can teach us all.

Here’s a bit of news about crystal bowls were we were mentioned.

BOULDER, Colo. (Wireless Flash – FlashNews) – Big crystal bowls do a body good.
The smooth, resonating sounds that emit from tapping and swirling the fingers around quartz crystal bowls have incredible healing powers, according to Jonathan Goldman, who hosts The Healing Sounds Show on healthylife.net.
Crystal bowls that are up to two-feet wide, shaped like a champagne glass, and embedded with various minerals, including diamonds, gold, rubies, and platinum, can heal the human body. Goldman says the “beautiful luscious sound” goes “into the ears and brains, calming our heart rate, respiration, and brain waves.” Once the sounds travel into the body, it helps a human’s cellular structure and creates positive vibrations within the person and the room.
Crystal bowls have been used with cancer patients to help them relax and the calming energy helps ward off the disease. Goldman says, “It’s very powerful. Many people find it to be the most beautiful, transcendent sounds they’ve ever heard.”

As we approach the crossroads of our evolutionary development, which many of the various sacred traditions tell us will be occurring in the near future, we find that different models or archetypes must emerge. The current archetypes that we have dealt with in our psyche, and have manifested in the physical for many thousands of years has resulted in war and suffering. We suggest it is possible to choose a different model based upon harmony, balance, cooperation and compassion. This model exists in the various myths, legends and spiritual texts of the planet representing both strength and goodness. It is not necessary to be weak in order to be kind, although currently, we often confuse and equate these two adjectives.

The model of Tantra of Sound is one that is balanced and aligned with the harmonious integration of the masculine and feminine energies within each person. When these energies are embodied they create an egalitarian relationship with our selves and with others. This relationship is not controlling nor is it in competition with the participants involved—it is cooperative and it is compassionate. It is balanced and it is harmonious.

Despite seeming to be new to many, this archetype has existed since the beginning. Balanced relationships have manifested through many of the divine beings in different cultures who generate loving kindness, from Shiva and Shakti in the Hindu tradition to Avalokitesvara and Tara in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and to Jesus and Mary Magdalene in the Christian tradition. These energies may be understood as being divine entities and their consorts, or priest and high priestess who work together in the sacred loving unity of the Divine. These male and female energies are found within us individually, and also created through partnership. We are not talking about gender separation here, but rather about the balanced energies of the internalized masculine and feminine.

The uniting of masculine and feminine energies is found in tantra, which utilizes the symbolic male/female union within as a meditative form to assist in achieving enlightenment. A tantric practitioner concentrates on expanding all levels of consciousness in order to unveil and experience the supreme reality of God. This is done through symbolically uniting the two opposite energies of the male and female (in Sanskrit, the “Siva-Sakti” energy). Through tantra, one can overcome the “maya” or illusion of separateness, which manifest in lower levels of consciousness creating the polarity of male and female. True reality—the Absolute—is non dualistic. It encompasses unifying the masculine and feminine aspects within our selves so that we may transcend into the oneness of the Divine.

We believe that this paradigm of harmonious and balanced male/female energy is necessary for our continued journey down the evolutionary road. We have reached the place in our development where the use of our technology must be tempered with the wisdom of loving kindness.

Tantra of Sound assists in the integration of this important paradigm of relationship for the benefit of both personal and planetary acceleration.

Cover via Amazon

One of the highest levels of tantric practice involves resonating and harmonizing oneself with sound! This is done in order to enhance and energize our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual essence. Both the Hindu and Tibetan Buddhist Tantra stress the power of sound. Sound, in fact, is the basis of much tantra—through working with advanced sound techniques, tantric practitioners are able to harmonize themselves in body, mind and spirit.

It was through our work at Healing Sounds, exploring various sonic practices from the Eastern traditions that we came upon the concept of TANTRA OF SOUND. We have discovered, through years of working together using sound, easy methods of achieving this harmonizing effect that the Eastern mystics described. This desired harmony and balance of body, mind and spirit can be both safely and efficiently practiced by utilizing specific techniques and exercises.

Our primary goal in sharing this work is to assist you in reaching deeper states of consciousness and self awareness; first with yourselves, and then, if appropriate, with a partner. We are currently at a crossroads in our evolutionary development. One road leads to an extraordinary new world of hopes and possibilities filled with love and compassion, caring and kindness. The other road does not.

This first road offers the potential of us becoming the true, extraordinary humans that so many of the mystics and spiritual teachers throughout time have suggested that we can be. In order to do so, we must indeed be able to achieve harmony and balance within ourselves and then with each other. In order to do so, we must be willing to gaze into the window of our soul, acknowledge who and what we are, and then agree to love and honor that being.

Jonathan Goldman is author and sound healing musician: The 7 Secrets of Sound Healing & Holy Harmony

Image via Wikipedia

“Tantra” is Sanskrit, the ancient language of the Hindu tradition. Like many other sacred languages such as Hebrew or Tibetan, there is frequently not simply one singular meaning that can be applied to the words which we translate. Thus “tantra” is often translated as “continuum” or “unbroken stream” and indicates a flow of consciousness from ignorance to enlightenment. The word also translates as “web” or “warp” and encompasses all that is. Tantra represents the interconnecting energies between all things in this and other planes of existence. Other words used to describe tantra are: leading principle, essential part, model, system, framework, doctrine, rule, theory, scientific work, order, chief part, rule, authority, science, mystic works, magical formulas, means, expedient, stratagem, medicine.
The etymology of “tantra” comes from the combination of two words “tattva” and “mantra”. “Tattva” is the science of cosmic principles, while “mantra” refers to the science of mystic sound and vibrations. In the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, tantra is sometimes referred to as “Secret Mantra”. This may be to distinguish it from being confused with Western concepts of neo-tantra. A definition of the meaning of Secret Mantra from the Tibetan Buddhist standpoint is as follows: `Secret’ indicates that these methods should be practiced privately. `Mantra’ means `protection for the mind’ and often utilizes sacred sound to do this. Thus, the function of Secret Mantra is to enable us to progress swiftly through the stages of the spiritual path by protecting our mind against ordinary conceptions through the use of sound.

My book Tantra of Sound emphasizing the science of sound healing for relationships and personal growth.