Reflections

The Power of Sound

By Jane Offer

Sound has always played a major part in ceremonies of ancient cultures, recognised as a powerful influence on all life down to the cellular level. They understood we listen with our ears yet hear with our whole body.

Greek philosopher Pythagoras prescribed music as a therapy. He realised that music and number are intricately linked as a clear expression of Sacred Geometry.

Science is now proving sound vibration has a profound effect on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health

“….music and number are intricately linked as a clear expression of Sacred Geometry.”

and wellbeing. A study published by the National Institute of Health, revealed that music effectively reduces anxiety, stress and pain in patients, and increases compassion and empathy in caregivers.

Personally, I’m not musically inclined; I cannot play an instrument, have a terrible singing voice, sounding rather like a frog in a bucket and my musical taste stays firmly in the 1960s. However, in 1993 I was asked to be a trial client for one of the practitioners at our UK centre. Whilst I viewed it with scepticism, yet I’m always drawn to try new approaches to health, I presented myself for the experience. Little did I realise the profound and lasting effect this would have!

The practitioner settled me comfortably on the floor and told me he would be playing a digeridoo for the session - I had seen a digeridoo but not heard one played. He held it about 5cm above my solar plexus chakra and began. The sound started quite low and slowly it built ripping through my body, evoking a deep and indescribable feeling of belonging.

“Little did I realise the profound and lasting effect this would have!”

My mind lost the sense of present reality and images began to form of a group of indigenous people performing a ceremony. I was watching yet also connected, being drawn deeper and deeper into the experience. The group separated, with the men moving away and the women coming closer. As they surrounded me, I felt an overwhelming sense of love and support. I could feel their hands, breath, and the sound of their voices united in chant. I became enveloped by the surroundings I could now see clearly, the dry landscape, the sound of the birds, and heat of the sun. I felt water being poured over my head and earth applied to my face.

I was remembering the meaning of the sounds, the reason and purpose of the ceremony and a close connection with the group and life itself. This was a transitional healing ceremony and I knew nothing would ever be the same again. I have no idea how long the music played, internally, it lasted for a long time. I found it impossible to describe accurately to the practitioner because it was so intimate. I had flashes of memory during the days to come; it was difficult to focus sometimes because I just wanted to be part of it again. The connection to those people was a deeply meaningful experience, as it was the first time in my life I felt ‘at home’ belonging to a group.

As time passed, the memory faded, yet a vague sense of loss continued to stay with me. I was not the same; I felt more connected to nature, craved time to myself, and experienced massive life changes over the next few years. Despite the challenges that presented I felt safe, not necessarily when my mind began to run with stress but in the calm inner place that seemed to have developed.

Thirteen years later, I visited Australia for the first time and, as we left the plane to stand on the ground I knew I had come home. The following year we relocated and later visited Uluru. The memory came flooding back; the sense of timelessness, connection to land and people, the sound and the smell – everything.

Did that sound healing evoke a past life memory or provide a prediction of what was to come, building the connection so I could leave my homeland and settle happily in this historically spiritual country? Who knows? All I know is that the experience was a preparation in some way. It changed me, settled me and made sense of the knowledge that rested inside me that noone in my circle of friends or family seemed to understand. No longer was I different, I fitted with something greater than I could have imagined. I was free.

“No longer was I different, I fitted with something greater than I could have imagined.”

Sound, as with any natural therapy, will of course affect each person differently demonstrating the nature of our uniqueness and that is exactly how it should be. This is no ‘one size fits all’ process, it is a personal experience, bringing us closer to the truth of our innate self, the infinite within.

Jane Offer runs the Purple Dragonfly holistic shop in Warrandyte Victoria as well as The Oaktree Organisation Australia, a not for profit business for training and wellness.

Photo Credit: Pixabay