Please don't stop the music
Audio delights of summer
When I was in Corfu with my sister last month, we ended up taking a sound healing session. My eyes went wide as I turned to her, clutching a piece of paper with the timetable of daily activities at our hotel. “We have to do it!” I didn’t need to persuade her, she was also keen. In the normal kind of amount. Perhaps not quite as excited as much as me.
I’d been intrigued by the idea of sound healing and baths for a while. Especially after hearing magical stories from friends about their experiences. Got to get me some of that.
It was one of the most visceral experiences I’ve ever had. I was in the deepest state of meditation I’ve ever been in and had intense visions of how I felt about my life, my purpose and myself. After the session ended, I was in a bit of a daze for the rest of the evening. Sporadically remembering the things I saw and the places I went to in my mind. Scrambling to take notes and preserve everything. Wondering what it symbolises and how to interpret things.
All of the tension from flying and lugging around my suitcase left my body entirely. I was at peace. I had mental clarity for the rest of the holiday and felt more connected to myself and my goals than I had in ages.
Did you know that the origins of sound healing can be found back as far as 40,000 years ago? From digeridoos and drums to singing bowls and chanting. Prehistoric civilisations and human cultures around the world have been utilising sound and music therapy.
There have been many more recent studies on music as a form of medicine and healing. Evidence is strong that music, or sound healing, has various health benefits. The list is extensive but key benefits include improving mood, reducing stress and providing physical pain relief.
One particular study looked specifically at Tibetan singing bowls. It had powerful and positive results with recommendations made on the potential for using them as an effective form of treatment. The studies found that sound meditation helped people reduce tension, anger, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Participants also experienced significantly increased feelings of spiritual well-being.
Summer is a great time to surrender to the power of music. Festival season is very much upon us. Although I dare not even mention the G word today. The trip to Thailand was a consolation and commiseration for not getting tickets. Naturally, it had to be done. Festivals are euphoric. Otherworldly. Little towns that pop up and exist purely for your entertainment. Focusing solely on evoking your emotions through music.
I have vivid memories of hearing certain songs at festivals over the years. So powerful they give me chills. A feeling so strong that right here, right now I am exactly where I’m meant to be. Standing in a field surrounded by my friends. Dancing like an idiot. Screaming lyrics at the top of my lungs. Present. Grounded.
If festivals don’t do it for you, how about open-air concerts? Where sound has no limits. Songs travelling off into the sky, reverberating off the clouds. Music made for the Gods. A sickly sweet blood-orange sunset for a backdrop, as long summer days tiptoe across into night. The closeness of thousands of people who’ve travelled far and wide to see one band or person they adore. Harry Styles’ monumental Love On Tour show last week at Wembley Stadium set the bar.
I’ve got quite a few day festivals lined up over the next few months that I’m so excited about, and I want to look into another sound meditation as well. So from Tibetan singing bowls to Harry Styles, find your rhythm this summer and relinquish control to the melody.