Published Media
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Online Articles
Sounds of Transformation: Vedic Breath, Orisha Heart
Noetic Now, July 2011
This connection between sound and consciousness is no mystery. In contemporary life, the transformative effects of sound are being recognized in research and applied in therapeutic healing practices around the globe. But for thousands of years, sound has also been at the root of various spiritual traditions. Both Vedic and Orisha traditions are examples of two cultures that have integrated sound and spirituality, specifically through practices such as chanting and drumming. Each tradition originated approximately 4,000 years ago – the Vedic tradition in India and the Orisha tradition with the Yoruba people of West Africa. Though these two traditions have very different “containing” myths and ways of living in association with their practices, comparing them through sound may help us further understand something about the human experience as it relates to sound – or, rather, how sound relates to the human experience.
http://noetic.org/noetic/issue-twelve-july/sounds-of-transformation/
Printed Articles
The Power of Sound to Heal
Noetic Post, Fall/Winter 2011
Too often, we listen with only our ears. But sound is more than just auditory; it’s somatic. It permeates and resonates in our cells. Our bodies receive and are affected by the vibrations in which we are embedded, and everything vibrates. Considering that we are mostly water, it’s easy to imagine the effect sound has on us. Set a glass of water next to a stereo speaker, and the sound waves will become visible. With each vibration we encounter, our own vibration changes. Different vibrations resonate in different parts of our bodies. Lower frequencies tend to move us from our lower chakras, while higher frequencies tend to stimulate our upper chakras. Certain frequencies cause agitation, while others promote relaxation. The impact of a leaf blower is very different from a bird chirping. So too is the impact of a negative thought versus a positive one, for even our thoughts have vibrations. Tuning in to the quality of sound in our environments—both externally and internally—we can begin to understand the power of sound on our consciousness and everyday health. We can begin to envisage the future of vibrational medicine.
Jason K. Norris