heal: the principles of sound healing with carly grace
It’s fair to say that 2020 has come with some unexpected challenges for people all across the world. Lockdown saw many of us physically disconnected from our friends, our families, our careers and our social lives. It meant that we had to dig deep and get creative, finding new ways to communicate with the people and things that we loved. Personal Trainers, Healers and Therapists took their sessions online as we followed online Yoga classes, joined in group meditations and scheduled zoom calls that became therapy sessions. I met Carly Grace during one of those sessions. A qualified Sound Healer, she blends sound, energy and meditation. Known for her deep and gentle presence, she holds sound healing sessions and workshops that provide a safe space for people to deeply relax, rest and return to a natural harmony of being.
For anyone who is learning about Sound Healing for the first time. What is it?
The basic principle of sound healing is that everything in the entire universe is in a state of vibration. If we were to zoom in to a table we would see that at the heart of the molecules there is a tiny oscillation, where there is an oscillation, there is a vibration, and where there is a vibration there is a sound. This is the same with our body, our cells, our organs, nervous system and also our energy centres, thoughts and emotions.
Working with sound healing tools such as crystal bowls, gongs, tuning forks that vibrate at a specific resonance, we can support and inspire our cells, body and mind to shift in harmonic resonance and restore to balance. The experience of this feels deeply relaxing, soothing and supportive. As we gain a sense of balance we move into a clearer state of being and in turn respond to life from that space.
How can it be used to help us to find balance and harmony?
Happiness, peace and harmony are our natural state of being and yet with the busyness of life, the many different challenges that can come, our mind and body may enter a state of discordance, dis-ease. Our general well-being effected and our innate peace appear to be covered up. In these moments our focus and attention is on the outside world, our thoughts and the many different challenges appearing. We become consumed with life at this level, forgetting our true nature of peace that is here in the heart of our own being. Listening to the sounds of the crystal bowls we are enchanted. It is a sound that is outside of our day to day context, the sound itself is crystalline in its matrix and creates a very steady and consistent sound which is very soothing and calming for the body and mind. What tends to happen is after twenty minutes of listening the mind and body relaxes upon the sound and we rest in the present moment, the mind relaxes, the body relaxes, we breathe deeper and our natural state of wellbeing and happiness can naturally arise.
From here we return to life, the same problems are there and yet we may notice that our response might be different, instead of reacting we are able to view the experience from a wider space of being and clarity and respond from here.
What is it about sound that makes it such a healing frequency?
There are many different sounds and frequencies and each sound will have its own effects on the body, mind, spirit, for this reason it depends on the frequency of the sound that is being experienced.
In relation to the Alchemy Crystal Bowls each bowl is unique. The bowl is created in a way that is very organic, the crystal is melted at a high heat along with the precious gem stones and metals. The size of the bowl and the different elements within the bowls all effect the overall sound and healing effect on the body. When the crystal bowl is formed they chime it to check the sound, it is not created in a factory that simply sets it to a specific sound, in many ways the bowl is birthed with its own unique sound, the same as we are born with our own unique voice. It is beautiful to witness people come and play the bowls and see how some may connect with a particular bowl, or a sound that is supportive for them. You can feel and sense a resonance, a connection, appreciation and love, it is beautiful to witness this moment of joy.
How has Sound Healing changed your life?
Sound has been an immense blessing in my life supporting connection, opening and awakening and in turn the opportunity to share sound, peace and connection with others. For this I am incredibly grateful.
The first time that I heard the bowls shared was in 2011 during a group event with the alchemy bowls and voice. It opened my awareness to a depth of silence and knowing that I had not experienced before. My mind became silent, aware of my body as a field of vibration, and a deep sense of connection to myself. Following this experience it was a year later that my partner at the time bought me two crystal bowls for Christmas, I was screaming :) It was the beginning of a new journey and new openings in my life. I am so grateful to have shared sound with people from all around the World. Each sound ceremony is different, we never know how the bowls will be played, what note is coming next, there is an aliveness and presence to the moment; who is there, the room, the space, all of these factors contribute, every time is unique. Resting in the silence together after the session, a field of alive silence, united through the sound, resting in the moment together, simply being, a space beyond words. It is such a joy to share these moments and to witness the miracles that can happen when we come together in this way.
How do you think that understanding the power of sound could impact the world we live in?
We are living in a time where there is so much information, life is very busy and fast. Sound is a tool that is becoming more and more popular as it meets the needs of our times. To be able to come in to a space of deep rest, awareness and peace in a short time. I have been sharing sound healing in office’s for many years now, attendees would come straight from their meetings or computers and yet in a short space could access a deep sense of calm and wellbeing. Sound is a tool that supports us to come home to ourselves, when we feel connected to ourselves we respond to life with that awareness, this is being called for now in the World more than ever. To wake up and understand that we are inter-being, we are connected, we are one family, that includes the animals and the plants, all life. If sound can be a tool to come home to your own presence and peace then you are more likely to respond to the world, to your environment from that place and take care of each other and this planet.
You are based in London and host sessions around the world online. What do they entail?
I am currently based between London and Portugal. The online sessions are held regularly providing a space to come together, to rest, relax and receive. The great thing about sound is that everyone can enjoy, you do not need to have had any previous meditation experience. You simply lie down and the steady and consistent sounds of the bowls give the mind something to rest on. As the mind rests on the sound we let go of incessant thoughts, as the mind relaxes, the body relaxes, we breathe deeper, feel open, clear and calm. From here we return to our day to day life, the same problems are there and yet we are able to respond differently from a place of grounded presence.
One of the great benefits of receiving the sessions online is that you can receive from the comfort of your own home. You can be lying in bed, or in a space that you feel very comfortable, we recommend blankets, pillows, whatever you need to feel very cosy. It is nice to light a candle or something to signify that is a time for you, a time to receive and let go of what is not serving you. It is always a joy to share these moments together and to know that there are others around the World sharing this moment with you.
For anyone who may be having a difficult time currently, what advice can you offer?
In times of challenge there is always great opportunity in the heart of it. Giving yourself the space to stop, to rest, to look deeper and invite insights, healing and change to come, in this way a time of great challenge becomes a great blessing. There is always support there for you, know that you are not alone and that great potential and possibility can come from this time. It takes a lot of courage to turn and face the more challenging emotions and yet when we do we realise that in the heart of them is the peace that we have been longing for.
connect with carly and find out more…
visit her website: https://www.carly-grace.com
follow her on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlygrace_soundtemple/
book a private session with her: https://www.carly-grace.com/private-sessions.html
listen to her sound healing session: https://open.spotify.com/track/2yNxQjnQXRe4IVaJ3Fe3ZK?si=ny5SsOxzShqTLaYkiSrKow
