Singing Bowls

The other night I drempt I did a ritual where I used a Tibetan Singing Bowl to raise power. I walked around the circle, playing the bowl and visualised it filling with the right sort of energy before sending the energy off to do its work.  so I thought I would look up something on the bowl...

Here's a bit more about Singing Bowls.

In the beginning wind ('lung') moved the Great Silence & created Sound. By it's vibration, sound produced both subtle & gross forms. In Creative Myths worldwide, sound is recognised as the womb from which the Visible and Invisible emerged.

The Bronze Age in China dates from 1600 BC. Small metal bowls were known around 11thCentury BC and are the oldest objects described as 'Singing Bowls'. By the 6th. Century BC the Chinese, being far advanced in the manufacture of metal alloys, made perfectly tuned bells. During the time of Confucius in the 5thCentury BC, the ancient kings were ever careful about things which affected the heart.

It was said that sound vibrations came from the heavens & were interpreted by the heart, the place where harmony arises. In those days it was through tones & music in rituals, which brought people's inner feelings & external conduct into balance to establish peace in the nation. The singing bowl is essentially a heart-oriented experience.

Singing bowls have a magical aliveness, and they interact in distinct ways with different people and environments when played. Each bowl has a unique voice. Comprised of the seven metals representing different planetary influences:

• Gold = the sun

• Silver = the moon

• Mercury = Mercury

• Copper = Venus

• Iron = Mars

• Tin = Jupiter

• Lead = Saturn

Together these metals produce a profound sound which can penetrate deep within the body and mind creating a subtle healing, also useful as an aid to meditation. The bowl is played by holding it in the flat open palm of one hand, allowing the body of the bowl to vibrate freely, while running a rounded wooden stick around the outside rim of the bowl with the other hand. When the correct combination of pressure, angulation, and velocity is reached, the bowl will sing, much as a drinking glass will vibrate to a certain frequency when you run your finger around the rim.

The singing bowl is traditionally used as a special offering bowl in a Buddhist altar containing barley, flower or rice, water, and butter with a wick placed in the centre to create a butter lamp. Due to its sonorous properties the singing bowl has become not just a musical instrument, but rather a practical tool of letting go in the practice of meditation.