How to Become a Sound Healer

Can anyone become a sound healer?  Yes!  In this episode I share what it takes to become a sound healer.  I discuss how to play crystal singing bowls and how to play gongs.  Want to go deeper? Become the receiver and be the channel.  I share how shamanic skill development changed my life as a healer, getting out of the way of my own self limiting beliefs and mental conditioning.  For more information about online sound healing classes or shamanic skill development please visit https://www.mauisoundhealing.com

For more information about my services and private retreats please visit https://www.mauisoundhealing.com

Transcript

Welcome to the Spiritual Warrior Shamanic Sound Healing podcast.  Im Rasa Priya. And in todays episode I talk about how to become a sound healer, and how to deepen your practice by developing shamanic skills.  

Lets Dive in.

Can anyone become a sound healer?  Well, the answer is yes!  Sound, like breath, is something we all have access to.  Every one of us is born with the ability to create through sound.  All that’s really required is willingness, dedication and practice.  

One of the questions I often hear is “do you need to have a musical background?”  The fact is many sound healers today don’t come with an extensive musical background.  In fact, for some of them, it’s a first attempt at being a musician.  Why?  Well mostly because its quite easy to play crystal bowls, gongs, tuning forks and chimes.  But theres a lot more to sound healing than just getting sound.

Understanding sound dynamics and how they affect the mind and body is an art developed over time.  The more you practice the easier it becomes.  What makes a sound healer really stand out is the ability to be the channel, the ability to get out of the way of mental filters, judgments, limiting beliefs about the self and others. Your personal vibration is a part of that healing experience and is acoustically transmitted and may even be perceived by the client on a subconscious level.  In science its known that the observer directly affects the outcome of the experiment.  But don’t worry, there are many types of sound healers out there from simple to complex.  All you really need are a few sound healing instruments and you are ready to go.

So lets start with the basics.

Crystal singing bowls are the foundation for most sound healings.  They’re pretty easy to play and create such a mesmerizing sound. 

The clip you are listening to is my wife Sarah.  

To play the crystal bowl you simply take your mallet and give a gentle strike.  Be careful not to hit it too hard or it might come across as a bit harsh.  The other way to play the bowl is to use friction.  Depending on the type of mallet, you can apply friction to either the outside of the bowl or the rim.  When playing, try to get a smooth relaxing tone, not too loud, not too soft.  You want good posture with your back upright and straight, elbows close to the body, arms relaxed.  Over time you will develop both strength and steadiness.  

What I like about the singing bowls is how it helps the listener ease into a deep meditative state.  And when a client is able to relax, their body goes into a parasympathetic state and healing takes place.  If the client is able to reach theta, they may begin to experience subconscious memories and feelings. Bowls also have very specific notes.  These notes are used for work on the chakras, helping to create balance of mind body and spirit.

Now lets talk about gongs.  Gongs are one of my favorite instruments.  When I do shamanic work, the gongs are powerful in activating somatic awareness, revealing unresolved emotions and core wounds.  Gongs, like bowls, are relatively easy to produce a sound.  Like the bowls, sound is created with strikes and friction.  Putting it all together is quite an art.  Awareness of sound dynamics is super important when playing the gong due to its strength and intensity.  

Most often gong players start with a warm up.  Gently striking the gong, almost inaudibly.  Just allowing it to vibrate, to warm up.  As they continue they increase the vibrational intensity utilizing different strikes and frictions.  Go ahead and explore.  You will soon find what resonates for you.

When I was learning how to play the gong, I ended up finding my own way.  Incorporating the flow I learned from surfing, energy dynamics from martial arts, somatic awareness from massage, and the effects of sound and emotions from North Indian classical music.  Soon after my shamanic work really took off.  In my opinion, even though the gongs are relatively simple to play,   the results they produce are amazing.  Listen to this clip of my 6 year old son Tao playing the gong while I join him with my didgeridoo…now keep in mind, he’s only 6 years old

Now that we talked about the basics, lets go a little deeper…

When Sarah and I do sound healings, we incorporate a variety of world instruments and techniques such as binaural beats, isochronic tones, ragas, chants, mantras, and shamanic dynamics.  What you decide to do with your own practice is really up to you.  Draw from your own experience, your own passion. Its always a good idea to practice on a friend or family member. Get feedback.  Start simple and build slowly, you’ll learn as you grow.  You will discover what works for you.  Once you get a few practice sessions under your belt, try offering to play for a yoga class or small event.  And remember, presentation is important.  

The relationship between sound and spirit has been practiced from the beginning of our existence. Ancient spiritual traditions around the world have discovered how powerful sound can be when mixed with intention.   

When it comes to quality of experience, the most important skill to develop is becoming the channel.  Developing shamanic skills has helped me get out of the way of my own conditioning, my own resistance, my judgements, my self limiting beliefs, it really allows me to step in as a healer.  Can you imagine how my session might be if I have judgements about the clients in front of me?  If I see him as less because of the way he expresses his wounding, or because of his dietary choices or whatever it may be.  I may not even say a thing, but energetically, my judgments may be experienced. Holding space for another’s wounding is the magic that we all have.  We have to be open to things that go beyond rational thinking and open to things that cannot be perceived with our senses.  In saying this, it’s also important to understand that you don’t need to be some enlightened being, or something that you are not in order to be helpful in the heal. So, no matter where you are situated, each one of us can play a role in the healing process.  However, the clearer the channel, the more possibilities can come through.  

This is a small clip from the shamanic section of my sound healing Realm of Dreams…enjoy.

You have been listening to Spiritual Warrior Shamanic Sound Healing podcast.  I’m Rasa Priya.  For more information visit mauisoundhealing.com.