Healing Sounds

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“FREQUENCY + INTENT = HEALING”.   Frequency of course, is the actual sound used.  Healing was a term used to describe the process of putting something into its healthy resonance.  Today I use the term “Frequency Shifting”.   Intent, in this formula, is the important ingredient.  Intent is the energy  behind the sound.  It is the consciousness that is encoded into the sound.  Intent is very important.

I began to realize that it might be possible for two people to make the same sound and have a very different response, depending upon the energy that was put into the sound.   Have you ever had someone you were not particularly fond of see you at a party and say in a snake-like tone “Good to see you” and felt as though you immediately wanted to leave the party.  While the words (or the frequency) may have been one thing, the intention (or energy behind the words) said quite another.  And the effect was not one of welcoming, but rather something very different.  This is an illustration of how intentionality affects the outcome of the sound.

I found that even specific mantras would resonate different chakras, depending upon the intentionality of the person giving them.  The “Om” might resonate the heart chakra, or the belly chakra or the third eye–it all depended upon what  a spiritual master might be teaching to a person.  As I began to realize the importance of intention, I began to spend considerable time in my teachings stressing the important of this.  And at the time, it was necessary to do this.  However, I admit that I went a little overboard.  Initially I began by talking with scientists and medical doctors who were so interested in examining only the frequency of the sound that the idea of intention was a new (and somewhat ridiculous idea to them).  Nevertheless, I continued sharing the importance of intention in my workshops, lectures and writing.  And as usual, things got a little out of alignment.  People began to think “Well, it doesn’t matter what sound I make as long as my intention is there”.

On one level, this is true.  On another level, it is not.  The formula which I was given was “FREQUENCY + INTENT = HEALING”.   This formula was created for the 3rd Dimensional Earth plane as it is currently evolved in your time and space.  While it is true that in higher dimensionalities, Intent (and consciousness) does create all, very few beings on this planet have reached the level of development,  where the actual sound they create is unimportant and the intention is everything.

Now undoubtedly, there are spiritual masters on this planet who can belch or create any such sound and produce miraculous results.  However, a majority of you (while you may perceive you are spiritual masters, and you may be) have not reached the state of development where you can do this.    I illustrate this point by saying that if you wish to calm someone down with a sound and then you shout in their ear, the result will be that your shouting will undoubtedly produce severe reactions of agitation in the individuals.  Their heart beat, respiration and brain waves will all escalate and they will probably not enjoy your shouting in their ear, regardless of your intent.  So I say that until you can levitate or dematerialize or do any of a number of frequency shifting exercises that you will ultimately be able to do, we urge you to pay attention to the frequencies that you are using.  As well as the intentionality that you are putting into these frequencies.

Image by true2source via Flickr

Every object has a natural vibratory rate. This is called its resonance. One of the basis principles of using sound as a transformative and healing modality is to understand the idea that part of the body is in a state of vibration. Every organ, every bone, every tissue, every system–all are in a state of vibration. Now, when we are in a state of health, the body puts out an overall harmonic of health. However, when a frequency that is counter to our health sets itself up in some portion of the body, it creates a disharmony that we call dis-ease. This is very simple to understand, yes?

Now, if we were somehow able to create the correct resonant frequency for something that was vibrating out of harmony, say for example, the liver, and we were able to project this frequency into that area, one could conceivably create a condition of healing by restoring the imbalanced area back to its own resonant frequency. It is as though your body and all its parts are like some wondrous orchestra that is playing some sort of “Symphony of the Self” when we are healthy. But what happens when the third violin player from the end looses their sheet music? Soon this player begins
to play out of harmony and rhythm. They are not only playing the wrong notes and the wrong timing, they begin to affect the whole string section. Pretty soon the entire orchestra begins to sound badly. This is what happens when a counter frequency sets into the body.

Currently, our medical approach to dealing with this problem is simply to either give the poor string player enough drugs so they collapse and are no longer in the orchestra–either that or to cut the head of this player off with a broad sword. This does alleviate the initial problem. The string player is no longer playing the wrong notes. In fact, they are no longer playing period. But what if it were possible to somehow give this player back their sheet music. What if it were possible to somehow encode and project the correct resonant frequency back into the organ and get it vibrate to its proper frequency? This is the basis of using sound for healing; to restore back to harmony some portion of the body that is vibrating “out of tune“.  Is your orchestra in tune?

Image by Tonyç via Flickr

I recently did an interview with Jill Daniel of Glam

Here is an introductory excerpt:

What if you had, within you, a resource for your own healing that you already use in everyday life? Would you work with that ability to bring yourself more peace, harmony, and wellness? We’re guessing you’re nodding your head, “yes.” Now say, “yes” aloud. Congratulations—you just performed a healing act! Your ability to make sound—to speak, to hum, to sing, to moan, to chant, etc.— as well as to listen and cultivate certain sounds in your environment, is a healing step you can take daily.

Click this link to read the full interview

by Jonathan Goldman

Many of you who have read my books and other writings, or found yourself listening to or reading an interview with me know that I believe “Intent” is a truly important aspect with regard to the power of sound.  You may know that over 20 years ago, I created a formula in my first book HEALING SOUNDS : “Frequency + Intent = Healing”. By this I mean that the actual sound that manifests coupled with the consciousness that is encoded upon the sound creates the ultimate effect of the sound.  I also included another formula in the book: “Vocalization + Visualization = Manifestation” which pretty much echoed this same concept in a slightly different way.  In my latest book THE 7 SECRETS OF SOUND HEALING , I have created yet another formula—one which again is very similar to the other two and seems to encompass even more. It is this: “Sound + Belief = Outcome”.

As those familiar with my work know, the original “Frequency + Intent = Healing” formula came to me while trying to deal with a collection of papers that stacked a foot high. These papers were different systems I’d been collecting for several years from scientists, spiritual teachers, musicians, sound therapists and just about anyone else imaginable who had been working with using frequencies for healing.  I had hundreds of different systems for the organs, for the chakras, for just about anything you can conceive. It was all quite wondrous, except for the fact that a majority of the systems didn’t agree with each other—to put it musically, they were not harmonious. Scientist X would be using one frequency for a condition. Scientist Y would be using a totally unrelated frequency for the same condition. Both claiming success. Spiritual Master A would use one mantra for a chakra. Spiritual Master B would use a different mantra for the same chakra or even more confusing, the same mantra for a different chakra.  I remember being in a state of great intellectual angst and confusion.  I asked : How could this be?:

I remember sitting in front of my computer with my head in my heads trying to figure out some sort clarity, when I distinctly heard a voice which said: “It is not only the frequency of the sound which creates the effect, it is also the intention of the person projecting and receiving the sound.”  I wrote down the formula: “Frequency + Intent = Healing”. To this day, I am a firm believer in the validity of this and all the other formulas that have manifested.

This is not to say that I am not a seeker of knowledge with regard to the physiological effects of sound, whether it’s the binaural beat frequency phenomenon or anything else that might manifest. Certainly there is validity in this. And it is something that any student of sound healing needs to be aware of. Do you understand how sound effects of nervous systems? Do you understand the different chemicals that are released in the extraordinary pharmacy that is our body due to the effects of different sounds?

There’s a reason that sound is so powerful and some of it is due to its frequency (which is truly a metaphor for the physical counterpart of sound—we could be talking about vocal tones or harmonics or mantras or anything that creates a resonance). But from my knowledge and experience, something else is also occurring with regard to sound.

Call it “intent”, or “visualization” or “feeling” or “belief”—there is another component to sound that is also responsible for its effect.  I’ve written extensively on this subject and would ask those interested to check out my various writings. From my understanding when dealing with life on the Earth plane, it is the combination of both the “Frequency” + the “Intent” that creates the “Healing” (or whatever outcome you desire for the sound). I think it’s a 50/50% equation here for most of us.

But I also perceive that for some highly advanced individuals, the frequency—the actual sound—may be less important than the consciousness they project into the sound.  As an example, there may be saints in various places throughout the world who can make a tone in a less that mellifluous voice and achieve all sorts of miracles. But I think these may be highly evolved individuals. Unless you can walk thought walls, levitate and do all sorts of other “siddhis”, it probably is best to utilize the 50/50% equation of the formula using equally both “frequency + intent”.

I would very much like to engage you in a discussion—with you sharing your experiences and stories with regard to the importance of intent—visualization, belief, feeling—whatever you want to call that special energy that is encoded upon the sounds we make and the sounds we receive.

I could share pages of stories with you, but this is not my purpose. It is simply to open up this blog to comments on “The Power of Intent”.  Please share you stories with us—whether they affirm the validity of intent or not. I believe it’s important.

With regard to your stories I ask that for those who have encountered the miraculous (and no doubt many have—that seems to be the nature of sound and why we are so drawn to working with it), I’d love to hear your experiences about this. But I’m hopeful we can disassociate ourselves from whatever experiences we may have had, realizing that being part of the experience does not make us the creator of the experience. Remember, the Prayer of St. Francis that asks: “Lord, make me an instrument….”. Being a conduit for the divine is not the same as being the Divine. It’s important that we honor this so that we can truly honor the power of sound and “The Power of Intent”.

In conclusion, I’d like to quote my dear friend Sarah “Saruah” Benson, who many years ago when we were looking for a logo for the Sound Healers Associations, told me: “The true sound of healing is Love”. I couldn’t agree more.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

The Sound of Light
by Jonathan Goldman

The relationship between sound and light has always been fascinating. Many believe there is a one to one relationship between them. Many believe there is not. Some believe sound and light are the same thing. Others believe they are very different. This current blog is dedicated to this subject. After this initial writing, I will contribute other thoughts along with you.

The relationship between light and sound is most intriguing because both are measured as frequencies in cycles per second. Sound is measured from the ten’s to the ten of thousand’s of cycles per second. Light manifests as billions of cycles per second. Therefore, one way of viewing the relationship between sound and light is to assume that light is speeded up sound, or conversely, that sound is slowed down light.

The ancient Hermetic Principle of “As Above, So Below” is often quoted in regard to the relationship between sound and light. Mathematically, if you speed up a sound’s frequency by doubling it forty times, you come up with a frequency that is within the parameters of light. Conversely, if you slow down light’s frequency forty times, you have a frequency within the parameters of sound. The frequency of 518.7 cycles per second, which creates a note somewhat near what we call a “C” for example, when speeded up in this manner, falls within the range of what we see as a green. Or, when slowed down, this greenish colored light that vibrates at approximately 570 billion cycles per second. becomes that note “C”–at least mathematically. Very dark red vibrates at a frequency of approximately 430 billion cycles per second, which when reduced by 40 octaves becomes 391.3 cycles per second., creating the note of “G”. The spectrum of violet goes from light violet at around 690 billion cycles per second (which equates to 627.8 cycles per second, creating a note somewhere around a Eb) to very dark violet at about 750 billion cycles per =second. (which when reduced 40 octaves manifests as 682.4 cycles per second, creating a note close to an F).

The question is, while the above information is mathematically correct, is it true? Is light sound and vice versa or is this relationship very different.

To my knowledge, no one has ever succeeded in turning a sound wave into a light color without the use of a computer or some other instrument which can easily effect the relationship between sound and light by having specific colors assigned to specific notes. This does not mean there is not a direct relationship between sound and light, but thus far, no one has figured out exactly what it is.

When I first became this journey into sound over 30 years ago, I also begin an examination of light and the relationship between the two. As I delved into the subject I found that many different people had expressed very different understandings about the relationship between light and sound. Within the last twenty years, the most common relationship found between musical notes and their colors matches the notes of one octave with the colors of the electromagnetic spectrum, starting with the note C. Red = C, orange = D, yellow = E, green = F, blue = G, indigo = A, and violet = B. This is a very different relationship than the octave doubling relationship discussed previously.

It may be that color and sound are two very different energy forms or it may be that there is a direct relationship of color to sound. But it may be that this relationship is much more complicated than simply taking a note and bringing it up 40 octaves to the bandwidth of light. It may be that as sound goes up the electromagnetic spectrum, that as it changes energy, the mathematics become more complicated and different than simple doubling. Many years ago, I met a visiting scientist at MIT who was working on the relationship of sound to color and had developed a formula 4 pages long on this subject. I don’t know whether this formula was correct, but it is another indication of the extraordinary possibilities inherent in relating color to sound.

Is there a direct one to one relationship between sound and light? Is it purely geometric (being based upon the doubling of one to another) or is there something else? Are sound and light similar but different energies that can synergistically work with each other-with any sound carrying any color and visa versa? Or does a specific sound have to be matched with a specific color in order for there to be an effect?

I know that many of you are using some relationship between sound and light in your healing work. I invite all who utilize some relationship between sound and light to contribute to this blog.

When I first started in this field, there were two mediums of playback-record albums (lps) and cassettes. No, excuse me-there was another medium that went the way of the dinosaur in less time than you could say diplodocus, and that was the 8 track tape. But regardless, albums and cassettes were both analog. That was about 1980. Sometime towards the end of the 80’s, digital recordings began to manifest-first as digital lps and then as compact discs. The digital controversy in the sound healing community began about then-were digital recordings as healing and therapeutic as analog recordings?

Some scientists and researchers tried to show that digital was indeed inferior and in fact was the opposite of healing. Digital technology improved. Records became dinosaurs. Cassettes soon disappeared from the scene. The point became moot-we became a digital world. It was either digital or nothing. Digital quality continued to improve. Then, a real bright spot in the sound world appeared-Super Audio-a medium that did not play back sounds sampled at a 44.1K (approximately 22,000 Hz). The reason for this sampling rate chosen for CDs was that since humans can not hear above this 22,000 Hz., any material above this rate was deemed irrelevant (though some speculate that there is important sonic information that we can perceive with our nervous system and energy field that is well above 22,000 Hz.). Super Audio was able to sample music at 64 times the rate of CDs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Audio_CD The implications were astounding for not only listening, but for healing. All those frequencies-the ones we couldn’t hear, but perhaps contained powerful and sacred energy-were present again.

Super Audio required it’s own playback unit and somehow, it never caught on. While it still exists as a medium for both recording and playback, its presence is negligible. Those who have heard it, know its power. But most never will. Enter the mp3. We are now in the age of “convenient sound”, where wallet size playback units that contain nearly all the music in the world are available. And who wouldn’t want that?

An mp3 file is compressed sound, which is the main reason why you can fit so much music in such a small system as an i-Pod. Mp3 files are about 1/10 the size of a CD file and achieves this through by reducing the accuracy of certain parts of sound that are deemed beyond the auditory resolution ability of most people. It seems our brains fill in the missing parts in terms of the sound. It’s an auditory illusion, since the sound isn’t actually there, but most people don’t seem to care. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3 It’s convenient and it’s easy. The question is: do these parts of sound that are reduced in mp3 files contains important aspects of sound that may have great relevance in terms of the healing and transformational ability of sound? Or does the convenience of being able to access so many different varieties of therapeutic and transformational music outweigh the lower quality of the sound?

Considering we are in the digital domain of the Internet, for this first writing of the Healing Sounds Blog, I thought the subject of our communicating about mp3 vs. CDs vs. Lps and any other playback with regard to healing sound seems quite appropriate.

I’d like to hear from you with regard to your thoughts on this subject?

Are I-pods hazardous to our sound health?

Should we celebrate the easy access to the variety of worldly sounds available as mp3 downloads?

Does the size of the frequency spectrum matter? Or is there something more that makes sound healing?

Let’s hear from you with regard to the question: To mp3 or not to mp3?