Gongs

The sound of the gong creates a deep sense of relaxation and peace. When used in Savasana or for meditation, the vibration of the gong help facilitate a deeper state of consciousness, releasing blocks, reducing tensions and stimulating circulation. Sound healing sessions are often referred to as “gong baths” due to the sensation of vibrational waves flowing over and through the body and are one of the most effective ways to experience a new level of meditation and calm.

Yogi Bhajan explains: “the gong is very simple. It is an intervibratory system. It is the sound of Creativity itself. One who plays the gong plays the universe. The gong is not an ordinary thing to play. Out of it came all music, all sounds, and all words.” 

Koshi Chimes

Perfectly tuned wind chimes aligned to the 4 elements: air, water, wind, and fire. The melody of these bells can elicit a powerful emotional reaction.Their enchanting sounds are the perfect addition to a sound healing journey, transporting practitioners through a magical dream-like state. Handcrafted with precision at the foot of the Pyrenees, Koshi Chimes are designed with eight notes. When sounding together the chimes roll in rich, harmonious overtones reminiscent of the elements’ coexistence in the sublunary sphere.

“When listening to the sound of Koshi Bells, you are likely to experience a state of balance, serenity and peace” -Epicenterjanet. 

Crystal Singing Bowls

“Alignment with tones of crystal singing bowls is one of the most dynamic forms of sound healing found today” –Dr. Mitch Gaynor 

The Sound of Creation

The universe and everything in it are composed of vibrational energy. This includes the human body and each of it’s physical, emotional, and energetic layers. The gong has the ability to present vibrational sounds that resonate at a frequency that is harmonious with the body. Gong therapies have been found to be beneficial in with physical, mental or spiritual blockages by bringing about the transition of cellular realignment through the medium of sound. The pure penetrating sound waves of the ancient, healing gong will facilitate freedom from tired, old patterns of behavior and allow the body to regenerate and re-balance. In my gong playing, I take you on a journey using many different sounds from my two gongs, mantra, and meditation. The sound healing experience is deeply restorative and can take you into a deeper state of meditation through the introduction of sound.

What’s the Purpose of the Gong?

The ancient gong helps to facilitate a deeper state of consciousness. It is used to aid in the release of physical or emotional tension, allowing you to release this stress into the sound of the gong. First, take a moment to set an intention to begin your sound healing exercise. The sound of the gong will create a deep sense of relaxation, releasing us from the torrent of thoughts that consume our consciousness. During this process, it also stimulates the human glandular system. 

Are There Different Types of Gongs?

Of course! Gongs come in a variety of sizes, styles, and shapes. Like dialects of regional languages, the instrument evolved differently in each location and culture it was used. Many gongs are flat, but some have a central dome built into them, and the outside rim of the gong is usually turned down; it is not sharp-edged like a cymbal. Generally, in the world of gongs, there are two main types, suspended gongs and bowl gongs.  Both have been made and played across the world for millennia.  Gong bowls are also known as singing bowls or meditation bowls whereas suspended gongs are often just called gongs or tam tams.  The term suspended comes from the fact that these larger gongs often are suspended by a rope which allows them to be suspended from a stand or players hand.  While I have an affinity for both styles, I have currently focused my energy on playing the suspended style of gong, though I am studying the art of the bowls as well. Gongs are typically hand constructed, hammered metal. Most are made out of bronze or brass, but with additional types of metals worked in.

What Gongs do you use?

My first gong is a 36 inch Paiste Planetary Pluto gong, which resonates at the approximate musical note of C#, at 140.25 Hz. Paiste Planet Gongs are tuned to the orbits of the celestial bodies in the solar system. These frequencies are made audible thanks to the groundbreaking work of Hans Cousto, author of The Cosmic Octave. Planet Gongs are similar to Symphonic Gongs but have distinct frequencies for their fundamental note, and their overtones expand from there. Listeners can experience the energy of these celestial bodies via the vibrations these gongs create. When played with intention Planet Gongs open up possibilities for spiritual and emotional healing.

Pluto represents the last frontier, the hidden landscape/underworld, hidden riches, the deep and the mysterious. The therapeutic qualities of the Pluto help to eliminate toxicity; assist in major life transitions such as death and rebirth and to clear deep emotional trauma. It is often thought to be an essential tool used for deep healing of the earth. The vibration given to us by Pluto leads us to release the trivial attachments to the material world, healing obsessive behaviors and muddy thought patterns. It brings the darkest parts of us into a balanced orbit with the brightest and warmest aspects of our natures. A Pluto sound bath restores balance to polarities within our psyche that threaten to break us apart, addressing mental blockages manifested by feelings of fragmentation and inability to feel compassion or empathy for others. In a therapeutic setting, the Pluto gong may be used to treat conditions of toxic accumulation, inadequate elimination and growth stagnation.

The Second gong in my collection is a 24-inch Paiste Symphonic Gong. Symphonic gongs offer full,  enveloping sound, and have a calming, relaxing influence. Symphonic Gongs are tuned to themselves, and somewhat thinner resulting in a mysterious, expanding and harmonious blend of resonating tones. Both gongs are pictured above. This smaller gong is emblazoned with the Tai Loi, a Traditional Chinese Ideogram that has been put on gongs for many years. It is a symbol of blessing or prayer which can be loosely translated into English as “The Bad will Depart, the Good shall Arrive” or simply: “Happiness Has Arrived!” While these gongs are called Symphonic gongs this is not meant to imply their use is only for symphonic orchestras, the term symphonic goes deeper to the root of the word, meaning to unite harmonic sounds and to experience sound in its entirety.

Emotional Transformations During Gong Meditation

The gong has influence over the body and its meridians. It releases blockages, reduces tensions, and promotes circulation resulting in a reorganization of the emotional energy and feelings that are directly tied to the body structure. We hold attitudes toward both our bodies and ourselves which are quite literally “recorded” by our habitual body postures. If either the energy or the postures were to change, there is an intense emotional flow of energy in the body. During a gong meditation, any number of emotions may be released – people report feeling weightless, laughing or even crying uncontrollably. The gong changes the feelings that are “stuck” by cutting through the thoughts that sustain these feelings. As a person completes the cycle of meditation, they may notice a significant difference between their current body’s feelings and what they have become accustomed to. Often times, these new feelings can be frightening, arousing, exciting or euphoric, it depends solely on the person’s individual response. 

Before we step into a long, deep meditation with the gong, we will first relax our bodies and guide the mind. If there is resistance, physical, mental or emotional, your body will tighten up in a fright/flight response and the gong might be loud/irritating/intense. The key is to relax and go with the sound vibrations, not work against them. 

Visualizations During Gong Meditation

When practiced regularly, gong meditation will accelerate the development of intuition, sensitivity, and visualization. The powerful visualizations that enter the mind are both intuitive and predictive of your current circumstance, providing insight into psychological and health conditions you may be experiencing. It is a powerful tool to help you gain better, deeper insight into you.

The Playing of the Gong

The rhythms and sequences of the gong are as varied as all types of music and open to the imagination, I have studied the art of the gong to be better able to effectively teach and play to bring participants closer to their inner consciousness. 

Too Intense?

If the sound becomes too intense at any point, do not panic – it may be because it is serving its purpose and working deeply. Reconnect to the sound with your breath and work to release those tensions holding you back. Scan the body for physical and emotional tensions and release them into the sound of the gong. 

What is the Connection with Kundalini Yoga?

Yogi Bhajan is the primary teacher who brought the concept of gong meditation to the U.S. He believed that the more out of balance someone was, the more he recommended the gong. Kundalini yoga focuses on purification of the subconscious, and you can’t properly awaken yourself if your subconscious is crammed with old memories, thoughts, and emotions. The gong is used to remove blockages so that positive energy can flow. 

A Brief History of Gongs

The gong is one of the oldest musical instruments known to man. Archaeologists have unearthed gongs nearly four thousand years old. It is no wonder when we hear a gong we feel a timeless energy awaken like we are being touched in our soul.

The earliest written mention of the gong is from 6th century China. The Chinese used gongs for many ceremonial functions. For example, gongs were struck to announce when Emperors or other important political and religious figures arrived. The gong and its music soon migrated from China to Java — the term “gong” is actually Javanese in origin — and the gong was established in Indonesia by the 9th century.

The Javanese made their gongs much differently than that of the large flat Chinese styles, using deep, turned-down rims with a raised knob in the center. The Indonesians also developed a unique playing style by striking many of their gongs at once, in a percussion orchestra known as a gamelan. In gamelan, the gongs are of many different sizes, with each one tuned to a different specific pitch.

Gongs migrated slowly from Asia to Africa finally arriving in Europe in the eighteenth century. 

Now, thanks to a resurgence in the interest in ancient energy work and gong healing practices, practitioners like myself are introducing the vibrational power of gong to new individuals.