The Gong is a sacred healing instrument that has been used ritually for thousands of years both to heal and to induce altered states of consciousness. “The gong is the sound of total resonance, incorporating all the tones and harmonics of the sound spectrum – those within our hearing range, and also those beyond human hearing.” (Sheila Whittaker). A high quality gong has synaesthetic powers in that it mixes the senses which takes the listener out of their normal physical reality.
“The Gong is the first and last instrument for the human mind. There is only one thing that can supercede and command the human mind, the sound of the Gong. It is the first sound in the universe, the sound that created this universe. It’s the basic creative sound. To the mind, the sound of the gong is like a mother and father that gave it birth. The mind has no power to resist a gong that is well played.” Yogi Bhajan
The gong is a member of the ideophone group of instruments which means it makes its sounds from itself by vibrating. The sounds and vibrations of the gongs move through you; opening, clearing, cleansing and recharging the mind, body and spirit. Rejuvenating, liberating all the cells, bones and organs in the body, creating well-being throughout. The gongs will shift many illnesses and regenerate the parasympathetic nervous system. As the participant in a gong bath surrenders to the sounds of the gongs, their conscious, chattering mind is switched off and the brain is taken into the Theta state (meditative). It is this which allows the mind, bod and soul to recuperate and heal.
The gongs I’m using are a 20″ and a 32″ Symphonic, Chiron, Niburu and Uranus. The Symphonic gongs contain the fullest range of tones from the fundamental base note to a huge range of harmonics and overtones. Chiron, Niburu and Uranus are known as planet gongs as they’re tuned to the natural harmonic series based on the orbit of a planet as calculated by astronomer Hans Cousto. CHIRON represents the wounded hero, vision, destiny, integrity, wisdom. NIBURU represents evolution, travel, change, resolution. URANUS represents change, spontaneity, moving on, insight, freedom.
I chose these gongs for their sounds or… did they come to me given what they represent ??
If you want to learn more about gongs I warmly recommend Sound Healing with Gongs by Sheila Whittaker.
From the start I felt really held and safe. Flumy sent me into orbit and at some time found myself sinking into the ground. Temperature dipped and found myself drifting in and out of awareness – deep bliss and loved the small Symphonic mixed in wit the big one! Beautiful over and under tomes. Visions of yellow. Shallow breathe and the my sister appeared smiling. Cass. Devon.