Sound Healing

Sound Healing: A Brief History of Sacred Instruments & Brainwave Entrainment

Traditionally, music was brought to life through inspiration, participation, and imitation. “Songs come from creation itself, [and] songs come from the earth. We are merely vessels through which it can flow and come forth and give joy and give culture, and show us traditions. In many songs, nature is presented with respect, honor and gratitude.” explains Whirling Cloud Woman from the Ute peoples.

Divine Productions operates under the belief that every sensory occurrence is a part of the grand symphony that is life, guided by the divine will.
It is our lifelong practice to attune ourselves to the harmonious natural tone of the universe in many different ways. 

In the world of sound healing, brainwave entrainment is a powerful tool that can help people achieve a meditative state. Brainwave entrainment involves using sound to influence brainwaves, leading to a deeper state of relaxation and a more focused mind. Binaural beats and isochronic tones are two methods of brainwave entrainment that can be used in sound healing music. Sound healing makes use of various instruments that have been associated with healing and spiritual rituals for centuries. Voices,  flutes, chimes, percussion, and other instruments have been widely used in sound healing practices for their therapeutic properties and their ability to create a meditative environment. 

Sound healing is a therapeutic practice that utilizes sound vibrations to promote emotional, mental and physical well-being. According to the research via MindAmend, sound healing works by stimulating brain activity and synchronizing brainwave patterns with the help of techniques like brainwave entrainment, binaural beats, isochronic tones, and mixing with music.

Brainwave entrainment is the process of synchronizing the brain's activity to a particular frequency using rhythmic auditory or visual stimulation. This technique is based on the idea of frequency-following response, where the brain syncs to external stimuli, such as sound or light, to reach a particular brainwave state. For example, brainwave entrainment can help achieve a meditative state by using alpha brainwave stimulation that slows down the brain's activity.

Binaural beats are a type of brainwave entrainment that uses two slightly different frequencies played through separate headphones to create a third beat. This beat can cause a frequency-following response in the brain to help achieve a specific state, such as relaxation or focus. Isochronic tones, on the other hand, use a single tone that is turned on and off in a regular pattern to stimulate the brain's activity. Both of these techniques are often used in sound healing to create a meditative or healing experience.

In sound healing, mixing with music can intensify the relaxation and healing effects of sound therapy. For example, combining binaural beats with soft instrumental music can help in attaining a meditative state or help in reducing anxiety.

When sound healing is mixed with music, the result can be an even more transformative experience, which is why many of our events mix sound healing with different kinds of music.

Music has been used for centuries to evoke emotions and elicit states of mind. It is an effective way to calm the mind, enhance focus, unlock emotional blockages and achieve deep relaxation when carried out by trained practitioners with the right instruments and equipment. 

With greater knowledge of these instruments and their history, we can approach our music therapy practices with a more informed perspective surrounding the use of these instruments.   

Instruments

The voice is vital to Indigenous tradition and is used in song, prayers, and chanting. Almost all Native American music centers around the voice, as seen in songs for ceremony, celebration, healing, lullabies, songs from guardian spirits, and other songs in daily life; instrumental music is rare. 

Vocables enhance the emotion expressed through song and many vocable-only songs exist. A vocable is a sound that focuses more on form than meaning, for example the use of “la” in a song. Vocables can also provide structure to songs, sometimes used to show the end of a phrase or song. 

It’s truly the programmed healing and intention at work- the innate blueprint transcends language.

Icaro is most commonly used to describe the medicine songs used by shamans in healing ceremonies, such as with the psychedelic brew ayahuasca. Traditionally, these songs can be performed by whistling, singing with the voice or vocables, or playing an instrument such as the didgeridoo or flute.

Traditionally, icaros may come to a shaman during a ceremony, be passed down from previous lineages of healers, or come to a shaman during a 'dieta' (a spiritual contract between the medicine, the healer and the student) where plant spirits are believed to teach icaros to the shaman directly. The singing or whistling of icaros is sometimes accompanied by a chakapa, a rattle of bundled leaves. 

Due to the complexity of certain performance techniques, it may take many years to learn certain icaros, and experienced shamans may be able to recite hundreds of them.

Percussion instruments such as drums have been used in sound healing practices for centuries around the world. Drumming produces a low-frequency sound that can help induce a meditative state, deepen relaxation, and improve focus. The rhythmical beating of the drum has also been used in traditional rituals for its ability to align the energies of those participating. 

Drums are the oldest instruments on earth and the ones most important to Native Americans. Drums are thought to speak to the player: The vibrations help the player tune into the natural frequency of the earth and bring balance and renewal to the drummer. Numerous oral traditions refer to drumbeats as the earth’s heartbeat (the spirit of life) and rapid drumming can signal the manifestation of a spirit presence.

Flutes have been used in many cultures as a powerful instrument for spiritual and emotional healing. Native American flutes, for example, are known for their rich, earthy tones that can promote relaxation and help alleviate anxiety. They were originally used by indigenous tribes in North America as a tool for healing, prayer, and meditation. 

Chimes, or wind chimes, have been used for thousands of years, with origins in ancient China. They produce gentle, soothing tones that are believed to have a calming effect on the nervous system. In sound healing, chimes can be used to clear blockages, promote relaxation and release tension, as well as to create a harmonious environment. 

Other instruments used in sound healing include singing bowls, gongs, and didgeridoos. Singing bowls, originating from Tibet, produce a complex harmonic sound that can cleanse the entire body of negative energy. Gongs have a persistent sound when struck which can be used to stimulate spiritual experiences. Didgeridoos, originating from indigenous Australian culture, produce a deep, drone-like sound that is grounding and relaxing. 

While instruments like drums, flutes, and chimes are often associated with sound healing music, the truth is that any instrument (or sound) can be used to create a meditative and healing experience. Our events are designed to be a method of brainwave entrainment, meaning that every sound is carefully chosen to help our attendees achieve a state of relaxation and focus. 

To experience the transformative power of sound healing firsthand, we warmly welcome you to join us at one of our exquisitely crafted energy healing events.

Written by Kaileah + Cassandra