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| The use of sound in ritual, ceremony and healing can be traced back to ancient times. To speak of something, to voice it, gives it power and makes it come alive. The first humans are believed to have used sounds to enhance fertility, to aid in birth, to encourage the growth of crops and to acknowledge the changing of the seasons. In the Hindu tradition Brahma is said to call upon his power Saraswati, the divine speech of manifestation, to invoke the universe into being. Kuan Yin in Chinese Buddhism is referred to as “the divine voice” which calls forth the universe out of the seven elements. The Vedas speak of the divine sound current Shabda Brahma, which permeates all and is a key to creation. In the Bible in the book of Exodus, the sound of trumpets is said to bring down the walls of Jericho. |
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The use of sound can also be found in some of the ancient mystery schools, in shamanic ritual, aboriginal ceremony, Tibetan monasteries, Gregorian choirs, Kabbalistic chanting, Christian hymns and even modern day football stadiums.
Sound itself is a wave, created by vibrating objects and propagated through a medium from one location to another, also transporting energy from one medium to another. The frequency of sound is measured in Hertz (Hz). Everything in the universe is in a state of vibration and also has its own resonant frequency (the frequency at which an objects naturally vibrates). Sound waves can interact with one another, this is known as wave interference, when two waves meet while travelling along the same medium. The interference of waves causes the medium to take on a shape which results from the net effect of the two individual waves upon the particles of the medium. This interference can either enhance the vibrational frequency of the receiving medium of the sound waves or their effects can be cancelled out. Translating this into more esoteric terms we can see that using sound to heal, to bring body, spirit, mind back into alignment could be a very effective tool. When sound, particularly the voice, is used with intention, then it can be an extremely powerful tool for bringing transformation and change. (We can also perhaps see that sound too can sometimes be used destructively, the power of harsh or negative words upon a child for example.) Through the use of ancient Mantras, tones and chants we can tap into this power.
The word mantra is derived from the Sanskrit words manas “mind” and trai “to set free from”, the literal meaning being “to set free from the mind”. Mantra is a mental tool that can release us from our preconditioned ideas and habits. Sound in general conversation derives its power from the meaning of the words whereas sounding a mantra creates a physical vibration in the form of sound that has an effect in the physical and subtle bodies. Many mantras have no logical meaning, or are in an ancient tongue that we cannot easily comprehend so that the mind does not get caught up in analysing, instead we “feel” and “listen” to the energy and transformative effect that it brings to us. They can be a tool for healing issues in life that we all face, can help us feel more peaceful and energised, encourage physical healing of the body, and help bring awareness of the “bigger picture”. When we sound a mantra with intention then we are strengthening its effect upon us on all levels. Mantras are repeated in a steady rhythm, either aloud or inwardly, over a period of time. There is no “right” length of time, it is the intention and focus that is important. The repetition of the mantra allows the sound to work on all levels of consciousness. One of the simplest and best known mantras is “OM”, which is the universal sound representation of “oneness”.
While Mantra is working with a particular sound representation of an energy or intention, “toning” is simply allowing yourself to express the sound that is already inside you. This allows the natural flow of energy through the body to be stimulated, healed and brought into balance. In many religions the sounds of the vowels are thought to be sacred and to belong to the realms of heaven. By sounding, by toning these sacred vowel sounds ourselves we are aligning ourselves with that energy and “tuning in” to that energy as a divine instrument of God/Goddess brining about great healing on all levels. Witnessing the sounds that you are creating by listening to yourself is an important part of this process and can b an amazingly powerful act. Too often we do not live fully in the present moment but instead look to the past or the future, or distance ourselves from our experience by filtering everything through the rational mind. By being present and witnessing our emotions, thoughts, feelings being made audible we can truly be in the present moment and take responsibility for where we find ourselves. Ultimately toning is an expression of our inner joy and can help us find ourselves and our voice once more.
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