The images within this blog post are of my personal collection of Crystal Singing Bowls, Chalices & Pyramids. No unauthorised use of these images are permitted without written consent being given from Jay Burrell and the Academy of LivingReiki Therapies.
Introduction
Sound healing, which is also known as sound therapy, has been practiced since ancient times. The concept of sound therapy is based on the idea that every part of your body creates a vibration which resonates in a certain way. Put another way, vibrational healing is based on the idea that everything in the universe, including our bodies is in a state of vibration. When your body is out of balance, diseases can result. That is, illness is caused by blockage which stops the organ in question from vibrating at its healthy frequency. Sound healing works by sending sound waves throughout your body, which brings harmony through oscillation and resonance. This helps restore your body’s balance which in turn helps you heal. Singing bowls are often utilized in the course of sound therapy. One type of bowl commonly used in this regard are known as a crystal singing bowl, which are also known as quartz singing bowls or glass singing bowls. Various alternative health practitioners believe that the use of these bowls can have a significant beneficial effect on the healing of your mind and body, especially when combined with positive affirmations in the form of mantras and chants. One of the reasons for the use of crystal singing bowls is the belief that our bodies are made of crystalline structures. For this reason, it is believed that crystal singing bowls significantly affect all the organs and cells of your body. In addition, some alternative health practitioners believe that your brainwave frequency and state of consciousness can be positively charged by the vibrations that are created during sound bowl mediation. In this blog post, I discuss crystal singing bowls along with their history and origin. I also discuss how crystal singing bowls are made, what makes them special and explain in detail how to use a crystal singing bowl. I will then discuss the healing properties of crystal singing bowls, how sound bowl healing can help with your physical and mental health, and things to keep in mind when considering the purchase of a crystal singing bowl. I then conclude by comparing crystal singing bowls to tibetan singing bowls, which are another popular type of singing bowl made from an ancient blend of metals.
What is a Crystal Singing Bowl
Crystal singing bowls are made of pure quartz (essentially 99.8% - 99.9% quartz) and sand in a spinning mold, in a process that heats the mixture to about 4000 degrees. Crystal singing bowls are clear or frosted and are made in a variety of sizes ranging from 5 to 24 inches. The seizes that I use are 9 inch chakra bowls plus 2 x 14 inch bowls for the pineal chakra, OM chakra and a larger 18 inch higher heart bowl. Clear crystal bowls are generally lighter, smaller and can be played while being held in hand. During the manufacturing process, crystal bowls can be “programmed” to create specific sounds using digital technology, depending on individual needs. When played simultaneously, some bowls will harmonise with each other. The body has a natural affinity to quartz. On a molecular level, our cells contains silica, which balances our electromagnetic energies. Crystal acts as an oscillator, magnifying and transmitting pure tone. As the sound affects brainwave activity one can enter into an altered state of consciousness. As different parts of the brain are affected, it is probable that they release different hormones and neuro-chemicals. It is believed that crystal singing bowls produce a vibrational sound that resonates with the chakra of your body. A series of pure crystal bowl therapy treatments are believed to rebalance your body to optimal health. This therapy is believed to transmit energy to your aura and directly affect your brain wave activity, supporting an improved state of consciousness. Various alternative health practitioners believe that crystal singing bowls are powerful tools that can help heal mental and physical ailments.
History and Origin of Crystal Singing Bowls
Singing bowls began their journey in the ancient time of Buddhism. It is believed that singing bowls were an integral part of practicing Buddhism. Not withstanding these origins, sound therapy has traveled across many religions and cultures through their history. The significance of sound, and its important role in supporting human spirit and our physical, mental and emotional health, has been well known through the generations. Our ancestors practiced sound and vibration therapy to resonate with the body’s energy centers or chakras and support optimal health. At the outset of their history, singing bowls were crafted using different metals. In accordance with an ancient Tibetan formula, many singing bowls were made of “panchaloga”, which is a Sanskrit word meaning a five-metal alloy that includes copper, zinc, iron and traces of gold and silver. These bowls are commonly known as Tibetan singing bowls. While metal bowls are still very common, modern technology has permitted the invention of crystal singing bowls, which require complex manufacturing processes and the ability to heat crystal and sand to extreme temperatures. Today, many alternative health practitioners believe that pure quartz crystals greatly promote the overall health of our body.
How Crystal Singing Bowls are Made
Singing crystal bowls are mostly made of a natural element: pure quartz. These crystals are molded to shape at 4000 degrees, which is a temperature at which most impurities are burned away. Different methods of manufacturing are used for different kinds of quartz singing bowls. For example, to make frosted bowls, the mold is spun into shape, whereas to make clear bowls, quartz tubing is used. Singing bowls may also be manufactured using different kinds of quartz. For example, rose quartz singing bowls are a popular variation. I also have a unique fusion bowl which was made using a combination of emerald crystals and clear quartz. This special fusion bowl was created to balance and align the zeal chakra. During the manufacturing process, it is very important to consider the tone of the sound that will be produced by the end product. Frosted bowls have a octave higher tone when compared to clear quartz singing bowls. Each quartz singing bowl is digitally matched to the musical scale C&C# / D&D# / E / F&F# / G&G# / A&A# / B which relates to different chakras of your body. Bigger bowls produce deeper sounds which have a more grounding effect and resonate more strongly with the physical aspect. Smaller bowls have a higher pitch which stimulates higher chakras and resonates more with the spiritual aspect.
What Makes Quartz Singing Bowls Special
Every cell in the human body has a geometric crystalline structure. This helps your body resonate with the frequencies of quartz crystals. Because quartz crystal bowls have the ability to align with your chakra, they are widely used and considered to be effective singing bowls. They can also produce the purest sounds, which can be ideal for meditation and singing bowl healing. Clear quartz singing bowls contain seven rainbow colors which stimulate seven energy centers or chakras of your body. This helps heal the listener by transferring pure light into the human aura. Some alternative health practitioners believe that this process expands your awareness and brings a positive shift in your consciousness, helping align yourself with your true, original self. It is also believed that quartz crystals have the ability to balance your electromagnetic field during singing bowl meditation. Some energy health practitioners also claim that crystal singing bowls are most effective relative to other metal bowls on the theory that metal is foreign to the human body. Further, it is believed that crystal singing bowls are aligned to match the frequency found in the human body and that this makes them the most dynamic and modern type of tool used for sound bowl therapy. It is also for this reason that many believe that crystal singing bowls are the best singing bowls.
The Basics: What is a Sound Bath
But having a primer on the history of sound therapy still doesn't tell you what a sound bath is, which was exactly what I wanted to know before I started to walk the path as a sound therapist. Essentially, a sound bath is a form of meditation that aims to guide you into a deep meditative state while your enveloped in ambient sound played by sound therapy teachers. Sometimes participants stay in a seated position on comfortable cushions during sessions, though my personal method is to lay on a soft blanket or a yoga mat. In general, meditation is excellent for managing stress and improving your overall wellbeing. While it sounds easy enough, if you’ve ever actually tried to meditate, you know it can be very difficult. It's hard enough to quiet the distractions in your physical environment, let alone the distractions in your own brain. Personally, I find it very difficult to turn off my thoughts. I have quite a short attention span and am constantly checking my phone or thinking about what I need to do next with work, who I have booked in for a distant attunement or what I need to do with a channeled attunement that I am working on. I could easily spend 45 minutes replying to messages from students through my website. I could spend hours replying to 50-60 emails from students that I receive on a daily basis. It’s a mindless activity that’s not restorative. If you’re like me and have difficulty with meditation, you may find sound baths helpful.
What is it like to experience a Sound Bath
When I first started to use Crystal Singing Bowls and Crystal Singing Chalices I experienced a total clearing and alignment of my heart chakra and soul self. I sat in a comfortable position, holding the pink heart chakra bowl in my left hand and slowly ran the mallet around the circumference of the bowl, making it sing. The feeling I received from this was breathtaking and whenever I sense my heart chakra starting to block I immediately go to my singing bowls to bring a release from the built up tension. It is important to remember that not every sound bath, nor every person's experience, will be the same. For example, while some will enjoy the sound of the singing bowls others will find the tone uncomfortable. Some will fall into a deep state of relaxation while others will fidget and won’t be able to relax. This is the same for Reiki healing. We are all unique and if it doesn’t resonate with you then this is ok. It isn't meant to be. Not all sound therapists use the same instruments, either. But they should all share the goal of leaving you feeling refreshed and relaxed. It is important that you take time to find the right sound bath for you and treat it the same way you would find your favourite exercise class: through trial and error.
The Bottom Line & Small Print
Sound baths can be an excellent way to meditate, especially if you're in a rut with your usual self-care routine. While I love my meditation apps, spending 15 minutes listening to my phone really can’t compare to giving myself a sound bath healing session. Sadly, sound baths aren't necessarily accessible to everyone, either because of geographic or economic factors. A group sound bath session can range anywhere from £30 to £65 per person for 1 hour while private sound baths could ring in at a much higher cost, depending on your guide. Plus, the experience is more widely available to those who live in large, urban areas. While other forms of meditation occur nationwide and are often scheduled on a daily basis, the sound bath experience is still gaining steam, and even the most popular events usually occur on a monthly or one-off basis. But if you can spare the cash for a session, then I recommend checking out the calendars of your local yoga studios and event spaces. Further, some people find sound baths challenging, and it isn’t unusual to feel frustrated the first 20 or 30 minutes as you work to clear your mind. But as long as you try to focus on the sounds, your breath, and being present, you will likely experience some level of relaxation, even if you don't reach a meditative state. What I am planning on offering through the Academy is a pay per view sound bath healing session once a month starting in 2021. This will be a live event when for a small fee I will perform an online sound bath healing session for clients who wish to sign up to receive this life changing and completely different form of holistic therapy. I will also be working on creating my very own MP3 files next year which will be available to download for a small fee. More about this will be made available through the Academy website and here on my facebook group.
Below I will give you the name of the Chakra, Colour and Note/Tone.
1. The Crown Chakra is positioned at the very top of ones head. Violet in the colour and resonates with the musical note of B
2. The 3rd Eye or Pineal Chakra is located in the centre of the forehead. Darker blue is the colour but Indigo can also be used to balance this chakra. The musical note of A and A# are connected with this Chakra.
3. The Throat Chakra and Zeal Chakras are located at the base of the Throat. It is related to Communication, Phrasing and Speaking the Truth. Lighter Blue is the colour of the Throat Chakra and the note for it is G and G#
4. The Heart and High Heart {Thymus} Chakras are positioned in the centre of the chest. Green is the shade of the Heart Chakra but one can also use Pink Crystal Singing Bowls to bring alignment and healing alongside the musical note of F and F# for relationships and sending love from ones heart.
5. The Solar Plexus Chakra is found midway between the end of the Breastbone and the Navel. Yellow is the Sade of this Chakra and the musical note is E.
6. The Sacral Chakra and the Sexual Chakra are positioned in the area between the Navel and Pubic Bone. The colour associations is Orange and the musical note if D and D#
7. The Root and Om Chakras are found at the base of the Spine. It is connected with problems of Survival, Drive, Aspiration and Grounding ones energies in the Physical body. Its colour is Red and its note is C and C#
Healing Properties of Crystal Singing Bowls
The ancient civilizations of India, Africa, Europe and the Orient have used sound and music as powerful healers for thousands of years. Our ancestors believed that the sacred vibrational sound can adjust any imbalance affecting our physical or emotional well-being. Based on this concept, crystal sound therapy is believed to balance your chakra and re-energize your auric field. Each crystal singing bowl is tuned to a particular sound that resonates with a specific chakra. These bowls are also pleasing to look at and pleasant to listen to. They are used in sound healing, yoga, crystal cleansing and specially used at the beginning and end of meditation. Some experienced practitioners believe that crystal singing bowls, when played in the right way, can produce the most calming and healing sounds. A famous oncologist, Dr. Mitchell Gaynor, used crystal singing bowl therapy on his patients to minimize and relieve pain without medication. His studies have claimed that sound healing therapy helps to create natural inner harmony in the body. Crystal singing bowls are powerful tools to help enhance your mood and soothe your soul. Some of the healing properties of these bowls include the following:
1. Relaxes your mind - Your mind is constantly processing thoughts, often on perpetual repeat. Crystal singing bowls help stop this thought process, allowing you to relax deeply.
Some of the benefits of this relaxing therapy include the following:
1. Effectively reduces stress and anxiety.
2. Relieves physical pain.
3. Improves mental and emotional clarity.
4. Cleanses and balances chakra.
5. Stimulates the immune system.
2. Helps meditation and healing - Crystal singing bowls help you meditate by creating more awareness in your mind. Being aware of your thoughts can help you change your negative thinking patterns and move towards positivity. In particular, positive affirmations create balance and harmony in your mind and soul by activating your physical, emotional and energy centers. By meditating with a crystal singing bowl, you can become immersed in a soothing singing bowl sound which further helps you heal by changing your thinking patterns. All the healing happens naturally while you are enveloped by the overwhelming, magnificent singing bowl sound.
3. Helps improve sleep - Crystal singing bowls have the ability to slow your brain wave patterns, creating more delta waves. These are the dominant waves present during your sleep. In this way, singing bowls can help bring deep sleep by releasing your stress and worries.
Crystal Singing Bowl Therapy {Sound Bath Therapy} can help with the following:
1. Attempting to achieve complete relaxation of your mind.
2. In need of enhancement of your meditation and yoga practice.
3. Seeking to balance the chakra or energy centers of your body.
Everyone can enjoy these benefits by using singing bowls. Due to the nature of our modern, industrialized lives, many pure, natural healing sounds have disappeared from our lives. We no longer commonly hear the beautiful sounds of nature such as singing birds, rustling leaves or running streams. Because of the high pitched noises surrounding us, our mind tries to shut out sounds from reaching us in an effort to protect us from constant distraction. During this process, even the beneficial sounds are filtered out. It is believed that the pure sonic vibration from crystal singing bowls can help wake up your ability to hear. Vibration from these quartz crystal bowls moves through your body creating a relaxed meditative feeling. Alternative health practitioners believe that they help to bring health and harmony to your life by balancing your chakras.
