Sound Bathing - Niamh McGrady
What is sound healing? Sometimes known as a sound bath, sound therapy or vibrational medicine, the use of sound to balance, heal and elevate consciousness has been around for millennia. It can be traced to the Australian Aborigines who are known to have used the didgeridoo as a healing tool for more than 40,000 years. Studies suggest that the Egyptian pyramids were sophisticated sound healing chambers and, closer to home, in the medieval period, churches were being built with sound amplification in mind, so that voices in harmony could inspire and connect souls to the divine.
Sound is energy. To quote Nikola Tesla, ‘If you wish to understand the universe, think in terms of frequency and vibration'.
So what is a sound healing and why are they becoming so popular?
Modern life has us completely out of whack. We are busier than ever, more stressed than ever, and all of us are reliant on screens to communicate and to work. The demands of modern living mean more disconnection from our natural rhythms, the rhythms of nature and our connection to community. As such, we are burning out and reaching for new ways to effectively rest and heal. The ‘New Age’ is booming because we need more ‘Old Age’ ways of being.
Enter- the sound bath! The frequencies and vibrations of the instruments (these can be gongs, Tibetan bowls, crystal bowls, drums, chimes, voice etc) gently soothe the nervous system and slow down our brainwaves. We move out of ‘fight or flight’ and into ‘rest and digest’. The frequencies of Tibetan and crystal bowls also align with the different energy centres in the body, known as 'Chakras'. As you drop deeper into relaxation and meditation, the brain moves into Alpha and Theta brainwave states, and sometimes even to Delta waves, the slowest of all and where deep healing occurs. Our bodies struggle to heal effectively when we are in a state of stress so coming to a sound bath allows the body to really let go and restore. They are a space to come back into balance with yourself.
Sound healing works particularly well for those of us who struggle to meditate as the tones and vibrations are doing all the work for you. Sound moves faster through water than air so your body is receiving healing on a cellular level no matter what your busy mind may be doing. If you have physical limitations that exclude you from other practices like yoga then sound is a really good option. South baths are a place to just turn up, lie down and receive.
They are also a reminder to take life gently.. to become aware of the sounds we are surrounded by in our day to day.. to appreciate the birdsong and the healing vibrations of nature.. the breeze through trees, waves at the shore.. even the words we speak carry frequency and vibration. So we are all sound healers when we choose to speak with love.
About Niamh
Niamh McGrady (@mourne_magic) is originally from Castlewellan and first discovered the magic of sound healing while living in London as a way to ground and reset in the midst of a hectic and fast paced life. Niamh is an actor but has also been working with energy healing since 2016 and continues to train in spiritual psychology as well as pursuing her art on screen. Since relocating back to County Down three years ago she has been passionate in sharing healing and sound, and working with the Celtic Wheel of The Year to reconnect us to the rhythms of Mother Earth and to awaken and empower our own magic.
