Through hearing, we arrive at listening. Listening is more than hearing; it is a perception of sounds with the whole body. Allow yourself to fully engage with the sounds, bodily sensations, thoughts, and feelings. Listening to the sounds leads inward and into a soothing stillness. What is happening in the outside world fades into the background.
Sound exercise with a Singing Bowl
- Make yourself comfortable. Place the Singing Bowl directly in front of you on a cushion or another surface that can vibrate.
- Now gently strike the Singing Bowl and perceive its sound.
- Perhaps you will close your eyes to fully immerse yourself in the sounds.
- Listen to the different sound nuances. There are high tones, low tones, many different tones that together create a wonderful overtone-rich soundscape.
- Listen to the sound with your whole body – focus all your attention on the sound. You will become one with the sound, so to speak. You might feel how your body is touched by the sound vibrations and that you can feel them more and more.
- After a while, strike the Singing Bowl again.
- When listening to the rising and falling of the sounds, your breath becomes calmer, deeper and more relaxed. If you like, take a few deep breaths consciously.
- The silence after each sound creates a pleasant calmness within you.
- Enjoy the sounds for as long as you like.
- Feel the relaxing, harmonizing effect.
- Now, put the Singing Bowl and mallet aside and feel the effects with your eyes closed. Perhaps you can still feel the sounds even though they have faded away – they continue to resonate within you.
- Take a few minutes to be completely present with yourself: How do you feel, what's going on inside you, how do you perceive your body? Take your time to give space to everything that is, without judging it, just observe.
- Finally, take a few more deep breaths, stretch and come back to everyday life at your own pace.
Source: Sound exercise from the book: "Singing Bowls – mein praktischer Begleiter", 2018, p: 61-62, Author: Peter Hess