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What is Sound Healing?
Cast your mind back to the last time a sound affected you. Perhaps birdsong set a positive tone for your day or a favourite song lifted your mood. Sound certainly has the power to send our spirits soaring but how exactly does it do this and can it go beyond this to enhance our wellbeing and even help us heal ourselves? Recentresearch has proven that it absolutely can and that sound healing can therefore help us achieve all kinds of personal transformation,enabling us to lead more authentic, connected and contented lives.
The combination of the Q&A approach, insightful case studies and practical exercises means this little book really takes you on abehind-the-scenes tour of this powerful practice, giving everything you need to begin a life-changing journey full of healing potential.
The combination of the Q&A approach, insightful case studies and practical exercises means this little book really takes you on abehind-the-scenes tour of this powerful practice, giving everything you need to begin a life-changing journey full of healing potential.
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 30, 2021
This is an alternative therapy book based on serious study of therapeutic sound. It asks the fundamental question, how does sound affect our well being?
It has been established scientifically that we respond to music or to abrasive sounds with our moods, but the premise of this book is that sound also has a physical effect on us. When you think about how our nervous system is affected by sounds from relaxing music or the purring of a cat, to grating noise, the idea of physical effects becomes plausible.
The first chapter will be most accessible by those who have studied music theory. While the author repeatedly assures the reader that it isn't necessary to have studied music to use sound healing, the frequent references to the effects of "a perfect fifth" and other musical terms left me feeling like I was missing something.
The subsequent chapters define what is meant by the word 'healing' and some history from different parts of the world of how sound has been used for meditation, including Tibetan spirit bowls and chanting. In the fourth chapter the Om chant that is familiar to most people gets a basic explanation.
In the fifth chapter we are told what happens in a sound healing session. The author writes about using voice intoning, Tibetan spirit bowls, gongs, drumming and a crystal version of the spirit bowl. Different effects from high and low tones are mentioned, but to my surprise there didn't seem to be detailed techniques. It sounded pretty much the same as hippy/Pagan/Alternative practices.
The subsequent chapters cover attentive listening, some expansion on rhythms and self-experimentation and further resources, including the author's website where CDs and MP3 downloads are for sale, the British Academy of Sound website where courses are available and several other website addresses.
While the book gives a good overview of sound therapy, I would like to have seen more detail about both application and how it works. It strikes a balance between 'new age' techniques and scientific study, but I felt that it only touched on the latter and could have expanded more.
Still, I'd say it's a good starting off point and the subject probably takes extensive study to become a sound therapist. I'd still like to know what constitutes a 'perfect fifth' and how that resonates with the nervous system to create effects.
It has been established scientifically that we respond to music or to abrasive sounds with our moods, but the premise of this book is that sound also has a physical effect on us. When you think about how our nervous system is affected by sounds from relaxing music or the purring of a cat, to grating noise, the idea of physical effects becomes plausible.
The first chapter will be most accessible by those who have studied music theory. While the author repeatedly assures the reader that it isn't necessary to have studied music to use sound healing, the frequent references to the effects of "a perfect fifth" and other musical terms left me feeling like I was missing something.
The subsequent chapters define what is meant by the word 'healing' and some history from different parts of the world of how sound has been used for meditation, including Tibetan spirit bowls and chanting. In the fourth chapter the Om chant that is familiar to most people gets a basic explanation.
In the fifth chapter we are told what happens in a sound healing session. The author writes about using voice intoning, Tibetan spirit bowls, gongs, drumming and a crystal version of the spirit bowl. Different effects from high and low tones are mentioned, but to my surprise there didn't seem to be detailed techniques. It sounded pretty much the same as hippy/Pagan/Alternative practices.
The subsequent chapters cover attentive listening, some expansion on rhythms and self-experimentation and further resources, including the author's website where CDs and MP3 downloads are for sale, the British Academy of Sound website where courses are available and several other website addresses.
While the book gives a good overview of sound therapy, I would like to have seen more detail about both application and how it works. It strikes a balance between 'new age' techniques and scientific study, but I felt that it only touched on the latter and could have expanded more.
Still, I'd say it's a good starting off point and the subject probably takes extensive study to become a sound therapist. I'd still like to know what constitutes a 'perfect fifth' and how that resonates with the nervous system to create effects.
February 15, 2017
Not something I'd usually pick up but sounded interesting then I won this on a giveaway and really enjoyed it. A very interesting read!
May 12, 2016
Just love these types of books, about what the properties of sound are and why we react to it, how it heals both within and without and how a sonic quick fix for stress works wonder and zaps negative emotions. Sound healing is a tool which deepens your spiritual connection.
February 2, 2017
Dont you just love these types of books about what the properties of sound and why we react to it, how it heals us both within and without, how a sonic quick for for stress works wonders and zaps negative emotions. Sound healing is a tool which deepens your spiritual connection.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews