CANCER: METHODS OF USING MUSIC FOR HEALING
Music and sound therapy can induce a state of healing or self-healing through a number of different methods. Soft music and soothing sounds, used alone or with relaxation techniques, can effectively alleviate stress, relax muscles and evoke a positive mood. Relaxation music enables many people to attain a meditative state much more easily.
Everyone can use this form of music therapy by simply listening to relaxation tapes or CDs. Music shops and department stores sell a variety of relaxation tapes and classical music. As human beings, we are all individually sound sensitive. Therefore, different pieces of music will appeal to each of us and evoke a variety of different emotions and responses. Certain types of music, like classical music, are very therapeutic and promote specific healing properties.
Another simple way of incorporating sound therapy into your life is by visiting a waterfall or a stream and listening to the sound of running water, or by going for a walk through the forest and listening to birds harmonizing. These environmental sounds relieve stress and uplift depression. This form of music therapy is easy to do and costs absolutely nothing. Many relaxation and meditation tapes contain the sounds of birds, whales and dolphins, which bring about a sense of calm and relaxation. To record your own relaxation music, take a tape player to a peaceful, harmonious environment such as the rainforest and record the delicate sounds of nature yourself.
The best instrument we have for healing is our own voice. The voice has been used as a vehicle for spiritual uplifting and healing in every culture throughout history. Mothers use lullabies every day. They hum and sing harmonies to their babies to soothe and relax their precious souls. The human voice is a magical tool for transformation. You can sing anywhere at any time. Singing brings about a sense of happiness, confidence and improved health. Group singing is also fun and helps to tone the voice and uplift emotions. Certain keys or tones affect different areas of the body. Try to create your own songs. Different songs can free our ‘inner child’, ease emotional pain, spread joy, open the heart and uplift the spirit. Take a moment to sing a melody.
Toning is a form of music therapy which involves using sounds that create tones, to enhance healing and harmony in the body. To do toning, stand comfortably erect and let your body sway like a flower on its stalk in the breeze. Relax your jaw and let your teeth be slightly parted. Let sound come up from your feet, not from your mind. Begin with the first vowel sound ‘ahh’. Ann signifies oneness or unity and is believed to radiate a golden colour. It is an earth sound, which opens the heart.
Say the ‘ahh’ on the out breath and let it give you a feeling of release, of emptying out. Let your body groan and vibrate as long as it likes. Repeat a number of times and then move onto another sound. Make the toning session last from 10 minutes to one hour, or until the body feels cleansed and nourished, and a sigh is released. The sigh lets you know the body-voice is satisfied.
You can also do toning with other sounds. The second powerful vowel sound is ‘ooo’ (cool). ‘Ooo’ relates to the throat, is associated with water and is believed to draw energy in. The third sound is ‘eee’ which is associated with air. ‘Eee’ is related to the mind and radiates a bright blue-green or turquoise colour.
Beyond these are ‘hmmm’ (humming) and ‘oh’ sounds. ‘Hmmm’ is associated with the top of the head and produces all colours of the rainbow. You can do one sound in a session, or a number of sounds. It is up to you; do what feels right for your soul!
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