My first time camping in the United States was a combined experience of striking visual beauty — and auditory shock. I was visiting from Sweden, and looked forward to seeing the National Forest in the Laguna Mountains of California. Being a typical Swede, where being-in-nature is the largest unofficial religion, I thoroughly enjoyed the spectacular scene. My co-campers and I were all enjoying ourselves in the calming bosom of nature.
When dusk came, I prepared for a magic moment viewing the stars. That was when the generators started: loud engines that supply electricity and bright lights for campers. They effectively erased the sounds of birds and crickets alike, the noise vibrating painfully through my entire being. The evening wasn’t destroyed, but my content feeling was definitely lowered.
The negative effect of noise pollution has been studied for many years, showing associations between exposure to loud, unwanted sounds and psychological and physical disorders. But there is another side to the coin that is just beginning to be rediscovered: the art of using sounds to heal. Nancy Hopps, who worked professionally with Mind-Body medicine for 35 years, is one of the people on the forefront of this fascinating field. She feels that Sound Healing is now at the stage where Mind-Body medicine was all those years ago when she started her career.
In Nancy’s words: “I was fortunate to ride the crest of the wave that helped bring the concepts of this ‘new’ healing modality into more mainstream awareness. Now, as I begin this next season of my life, I feel a similar sort of excitement and gratitude regarding my work in the pioneering field of Sound Healing.”
Sound can be described as transmitted vibrations. Hearing is one of the first human senses to be developed, and one of the last to go. We not only perceive sounds with our ears, but also feel the pressure waves of sound through our skin. In addition, sound travels four times faster in water than in air, making our approximately 70 percent water-filled bodies very sensitive to the effect of sound waves.
We are simply created to react strongly to sound waves. But it goes even deeper than that. Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D., explains in his book The Biology of Belief, how ultra-sensitive tiny antenna-like structures on our cellular membranes respond to vibrations. His studies show how vibrations, such as sound, can alter our biological make-up.
According to this fascinating field of study, certain sounds are very appropriate to help the body and mind heal on a deep level. For example, Nancy Hopps uses the healing sounds of alchemical crystal singing bowls when working with her clients. These bowls create pure tones and overtones that are not only heard, but also felt in our bodies. According to Nancy, the high vibrational frequencies transmitted from the bowls affect people’s entire being. Sometimes the effect can be so strong that uncomfortable emotions are stirred up, but that also means these emotions are allowed to be cleared, and leave the body. The frequency of the bowls, combined with the frequency and intention of the practitioner, often creates profound spiritual awakenings and healing on all levels of being.
Nancy believes that Sound Healing is the next big wave in integrative medicine, and that the concept will move into mainstream use.
I no longer feel silly or over-sensitive in my painful reactions to harsh and loud noises, such as the generators. Today I am fortunate enough to live in a most peaceful place, having crickets and the wind in the trees lulling me to sleep each night. But I have also added the sound of high frequency harmonic sounds, to help shift the vibrational resonance of my entire being into a healthy and positive state. I know it is good for both my body and my mind. And I, too, believe this will be a big part of integrative, alternative medicine. As Nancy puts it, “I feel deeply fortunate that I get to “surf another big one.”
C’mon along for the ride — if you’re ready! I guarantee you, it’s a powerfully transformational and awesome journey.
To learn more about Nancy Hopps, visit her website at Nancyhopps.com.
