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If you are interested in learning about sound healing, perhaps you have come across different variations of the sentence “Sound has been used as a healing modality for centuries”?
Almost every website promoting sound healing is using Nikola Tesla's quote "If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration".
Did you know, that there is no evidence of Nikola Tesla saying it?
I have a few more for you: “Ancient Greeks were using sound for healing”, and “Ancient Egyptians were moving heavy objects with sound”.
How should we really be calling the case of utilizing the mesmerizing properties of sound for relaxation and self-discovery?
Would “Sound Therapy” be a good term or a “Sound Healing”?
Maybe a “Sound Bath” or a “Sound Journey”?
“Sound Meditation”, is this really what it is?
“The Tao that can be told of Is not the Absolute Tao; The Names that can be given Are not Absolute Names. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and earth; The Named is the Mother of All Things”.
Lao-Tzu
Although I personally prefer calling a field of my profession sound wellness, sound healing is a popular way to call it. In this article, I’d like to briefly share my vision of what sound healing is and the benefits of sound. If you are looking for a program to study the arts of sound healing, please explore my Sound Healing Certification Training.
Sound is a magical phenomenon that transforms our reality and makes us experience a whole array of emotions. Sound can calm us down, evoke alertness, uplift or ground, and make us cry, laugh, dance, or run.
Healing is restoring unity between the mental, emotional, and physical states of a person as well as bringing one to a sense of belonging with the environment and the spiritual realm.
In my opinion, sound healing is the modality that provides safe space and sonic nourishment to anyone who is open to experiencing a transformative shift.
A healthy functioning organism is composed of a network of internal subsystems. When these subsystems are cooperating properly, we stay healthy. When there is a disconnect between them, a disease appears.
Traditional medicine is focused on treating the disease of each subsystem (or an individual organ) separately, while sound acts as a powerful tool that unifies all subsystems (the mind, spirit, and body) so that they can be healed collectively.
In order for any positive shift to happen, a person who is seeking help needs to be cognitively and physically involved in listening. When we listen consciously, we shift our focus from habitual patterns, trauma, and pain to sound. If we feel strongly connected to sound and resonate with it, we become one with sound and are taken on the emotional journey. An energetic release takes place while we are emotionally involved in a sonic journey. As a result, we feel a physical shift in the body too.
Sound can also restore our spatial awareness and connect the observer - the listener to the environment. Typically we spend our days in our heads, being heavily involved with thoughts and judgments. For many of us, the field of our psychic energy is limited to a small rectangular of a smartphone or a computer screen. Just by shifting focus from the inner dialogue to the sonic stimulus, we expand our consciousness.
When we make sounds by ourselves such as vocalizing our thoughts and emotions, especially if we hum, sing, cry, or laugh, we create a circuit between the sound and the listener, us. Since our own sound is being delivered with a breath, it reflects our spirit. Our voice knows everything about us. By listening to it deeply and vocalizing what’s inside, we can experience a major energetic relief and go on a spiritual journey.
I often encourage my clients and audience to vocalize inside out but my instruments of choice are Himalayan singing bowls.
Singing bowls are the main tools in my practice because almost every person who ever heard it being played was deeply touched by the sound. The sound of an authentic singing bowl is able to reset the mind of a listener almost immediately. You just need to know how to choose a proper bowl, how to play it correctly, and most importantly, how to listen.
As a sound wellness practitioner, my goal is to teach people the skill of listening. I also explain that listening with the intention to experience a positive change is halfway to healing. I teach people to listen with the body and to become open to sonic nourishment.
Sound is a form of universal energy and I strongly believe that this energy can be utilized for good as well as harm if used improperly.
Read this article, to learn how to create the ultimate home meditation room.
FAQs
Is it true that “sound has been used for healing for centuries”?
This is a widely repeated claim in sound healing circles, but it lacks historical specificity. While ancient cultures did use sound in rituals, the idea of “sound healing” as it is practiced today is a modern synthesis, not a direct continuation of any one ancient tradition.
Did Nikola Tesla really say “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration”?
No credible evidence confirms that Tesla ever said this. It’s a quote frequently used in spiritual and wellness communities, but it's misattributed and likely apocryphal.
Were the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians using sound for healing or levitation?
There’s no verifiable historical or archaeological evidence proving that ancient Greeks used sound as a medical tool or that Egyptians levitated objects with sound. These are modern myths often repeated without supporting data.
What should we really call the practice of using sound for emotional and physical well-being?
Terminology varies. Common terms include:
Sound Healing: The most popular but sometimes misleading term.
Sound Therapy: Implies a clinical setting and often formalized training.
Sound Bath or Sound Journey: Describes immersive listening experiences.
Sound Meditation: Emphasizes the meditative aspect.
Sound Wellness: A broader and perhaps more grounded term that the author prefers.
What is sound healing?
Sound healing is the intentional use of sound to provide sonic nourishment and a safe space for emotional, mental, and physical transformation. It helps restore unity between the body, mind, and spirit.
How does sound healing differ from traditional medicine?
Traditional medicine treats isolated organs or symptoms, while sound healing aims to reintegrate and balance the entire system—emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually—through sound.
Does sound healing require active participation from the listener?
Yes. Conscious, intentional listening is essential. The listener must shift focus away from inner dialogue or pain toward sound. Emotional engagement with sound can trigger energetic release and physical change.
Can sound help us reconnect with the environment?
Absolutely. Conscious listening expands our awareness beyond internal chatter and digital distractions, helping us feel reconnected to space, time, and our surroundings.
What happens when we make our own sounds (like singing, crying, or laughing)?
Self-created sound connects breath, spirit, and self-awareness. It forms a feedback loop between inner experience and outer expression, offering emotional release and sometimes spiritual insight.
Why are Himalayan singing bowls so powerful?
Their rich harmonic structure and ability to produce monaural beats can induce mental clarity and emotional stillness. When played skillfully and listened to with intent, they often create an immediate sense of reset or transformation.
What is the role of the sound wellness practitioner?
To guide clients toward deep listening, to facilitate emotional and energetic release, and to empower people with tools for self-discovery and resilience. The practitioner’s role is not to heal but to hold space for the listener's transformation.
Is sound always beneficial?
Not necessarily. Sound is a form of energy, and like any energy, it can be used constructively or harmfully. Proper training, ethical awareness, and intention are key to safe and effective sound work.