healing
In today’s world of chaos and stress, it is difficult to reset yourself and feel grounded. Moving to Australia 15 years ago and functioning in a chaotic mode, which is what we have been conditioned to in Pakistan, gave me a feeling that I am lost and could not find my purpose in life. Day in and day out, focusing on work and finding ways of how to settle in a foreign country, with the responsibility of two young children as a single parent, was quite challenging.
However, not giving up and being resilient made me productive and motivated me to keep going. God has been really kind to me and been my support all the way through for my children and myself. But I never spent time understanding the need of shutting down and pausing to think where this attitude would end up without having a work-life balance.
After being qualified as a registered nurse in Australia, I was lucky enough to care for the dying (Palliative care) and their families. Ah, what a learning curve. The teachings that I received, about how short life is and that we all must return to the one and only, it just gave me goosebumps on daily basis.
Early last year, I came across the term ‘quantum physics’. I started searching for books related to quantum physics and how it works. That is when I was introduced to couple of quantum physicists including Deepak Chopra. He is one of the people who have worked on the effects of ‘vibration produced by sounds’ on human cell and its healing effects.
Sound healing therapy has been used for thousands and thousands of years. Experts also believe that this healing technique is considered as a form of meditation and has been used by the ancient ‘Pyramids of Gaza’. Sound healing is an ancient practice, originating in the Tibetan and the Himalayan tribes. Usually, sound healers use Tibetan singing bowls made of quartz crystal or metal bowls.
Looking deeper into the rich history and current research related to sound healing, simultaneously, it can be concluded that, sound healing helps align and balance an ‘out of tune’ body. To explain this phenomenon, according to American institute of stress, ninety per cent of physician visits are stress related - experienced by individuals. In today’s era, we all have stresses caused by different stressors. It is all about how we are handling them - an out of tune body that is caused by stress begins to experience anxiety, insomnia, allergies, food sensitivity and physical and emotional pain.
In addition, research has identified the effects of sound baths which have proven to be a great way to indulge oneself to calm down, heal and discover. It shifts an alert and focused body and mind, to a relaxed state, where healing can take place, while reducing the stress levels too. Scientifically proven, human cell and organs vibrate when they are exposed to different sound frequencies. During the time, that I was indulged and researching the benefits and origin of sound meditation/ healing, I got the chance to physically attend a sound healing session. I have always been an open-minded person, ready to experience new things, without any judgement.
It was a beach session at sunset under the trees. Even the sound of it was so mesmerising. During my first sound healing session, I was welcomed with open arms into a group of like-minded people. I put my yoga mat on the grass and used a blanket and an eye mask. Before the session the email that I received, instructed me to drink water as sound flows better in fluid, which I did. I got myself relaxed and waited for 6:30 pm (that was when the session was going to begin). Sanchia, a high school teacher was the sound healer on my first session. She asked us to breathe in and out and set an intention for the coming week. Sanchia, then started playing the crystal bowls which she stated that they coordinate with each Chakra. Chakra (cakra in Sanskrit) means ‘wheel’ and refers to energy points in your body. They are thought to be spinning disks of energy that should stay ‘open’ and aligned, as they correspond to bundles of nerves, major organs, and areas of our energetic body that affect the emotional and physical well-being of our body. She also played the ‘rain stick’ and the ‘Gong’ over each one of us. I was feeling each beat, each frequency in my body and eventually my body relaxed and I slept during the session.
The whole experience grounded me, and I felt as if all the stress and tightness left my body. It was something else. So magical! For the next couple of days, I felt clarity in my mind, and I was more confident in making my decisions. I started going every week and started feeling the shift - the shift in energy. Currently, almost after one year of regularly attending sound bath sessions, I feel I have a purpose in life. I am able to love people around me with an open mind and I can forgive easily. The energy in my body does not feel blocked, rather it is flowing freely.
A gentle loving reminder; to grow, you must flow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Stagnancy is not a part of life; rather, movement should be incorporated in our daily routine. Physically, we should detox our body and cleanse it by eating healthy, as well as workout regularly.
Mentally, create movement by journaling, by moving thoughts onto paper. Last but not least, spiritual movement can be created by meditation including sound healing, so that you can connect deeper with your spirit , call it ‘nirvana’; call it ‘enlightenment’; call it ‘bliss’. Start living with a new sense of being in this world.
*The writer, based in Perth, Australia, is a registered nurse by day and a spirituality seeker by night.