Liz Frost explores the wellbeing benefits of immersing herself in healing sound
If you’ve never tried reiki before, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s some kind of sorcery. The linchpin of the practice – laying hands on or near the body to guide the life force energy – sounds like something straight from a wizard’s spellbook, but in reality, this respected, ancient Japanese practice has been shown to help all manner of illnesses and maladies, and can even help with stress and relaxation. So where does the music element come in? “Reiki music is calm and soothing, and usually used to help connect the reiki healer to the client,” explains reiki master teacher Paul Miles (paulthehealer.co.uk). “But it can be used separately from the practice to aid meditation, too.” During this contactless time, this is how I’ll be exploring the music – through the medium of meditation.
Paul tells me traditional reiki music is made up of gongs, tibeten bells and sometimes traditional Asian instruments that are historic and deep in the roots of Japanese culture, but I wonder, what sets it apart from other meditation music? What makes it healing? According to Paul, it’s all about the frequency. “I always chose reiki music over 400hz,” Paul explains. “Anything over 417hz has a fantastic healing and soothing effect on the body”.
This high frequency, also known as Solfeggio frequency, is said to heal and balance the sacral chakra and, in healing circles, it’s a huge deal, with it having the reported ability to remove negative energy, thoughts and behaviours, as well as facilitate change, ease trauma and even undo negative outcomes. Okay, now I’m ready!
Paul has recommended some tracks (see right for his playlist) and I download them all. I get into a comfortable position, laying flat on my bed, for my healing experience.
According to Paul, you need to come to the table with an open mind, free of clutter and agenda, which could be tricky at the moment because, like many of us, my head is a whirling mass of anxiety, to-do lists and emotions that are difficult to untangle. But I can expect to come away from this with a clearer mind and a happier me, which sounds like just what I need.
“Think of a great place you have been in your life, what it’s like walking around this place. That’s where you want to be when listening to this music,” he says.
My happy place is a pebbly beach I visited in the summer with my son. I picture myself there in crisp autumn sunshine with the wind blowing fresh sea air on my face. Starting with 10,000 Angels by Bliss, I immediately notice the undercurrent of what feels like a vibration running through the music. Not unlike a heavy bass, it feels as though it’s resonating through the body rather than simply bouncing off the eardrums. My body definitely wants to sink into this, but my mind isn’t playing ball. I can’t help noticing it wandering off and worrying about the dishes or the features I’ve got to write. “If you cannot connect or you are thinking about the evening’s dinner or issues that are going on in your life,” suggests Paul, “stand up, have a glass of water, say to yourself, ‘my mind will be free of clutter and will not wander,’ then try again”.
I do this and try again. I manage to stay for a while longer and the music seems to pulsate through me, along with the coming and going of the waves on my pebbly beach. I do feel a sense of happiness fleetingly before my attention flits away again down a random worry wormhole.
It takes several goes, working through various tracks on various days, but I keep at it, each time trying something different to keep me bound to its magic.
Another of Paul’s recommendations is a full body scan, for which you concentrate your energy on the sensations in your head and work your way down your body, focusing on each area as you go until you reach your feet. It’s a great way to give your brain something to do for a moment’s peace, but in the end, for me, the pebble beach works best.
After a week of practice I find I’m able to stay ‘present’ in meditation for around 20 minutes without my brain nipping off to the shops. I’d never truly appreciated the power of meditation before, finding it frustrating and a little ‘squirmy’, but I begin to look forward to my little sessions of ‘me time’. The music really helps with relaxation and I do begin to feel a kind of elation and energy after my sessions. I even listen to some of the Sound Blocks whilst I’m working during the day and find they help with concentration. Who knew music could have such power?
If you’re thinking of giving this a try, I highly recommend a heavy blanket and some warm socks. The feeling of being covered and comforted really helped me drift off and get lost in the meditation. Happy healing!
