It may seem difficult to find and maintain a state of peacefulness with all of the crises going on around us in the world today. During a crisis, you may discover you want to help in some way. Alternatively, you may want to hide away from everything.
You can send money or offer prayers, or spend time with groups in an effort to assist with specific causes (war efforts, storm damage, children in need, etc.). While these actions are noble and worthy, your effort may not help you achieve peace. That’s because peacefulness is not an external process but an internal one.
“When we cultivate peace within our own hearts, the natural attitude of inner peace radiates towards others. When we do this, others give up their hostilities and aggressions in return. Peace is a non-verbal language and can be practiced by all. This is an automatic process, which most of us have experienced when being in the presence of a non-violent being. We don’t need to take on the world in order to produce peace, all we need to do is start with ourselves.” – The Elephant Journal
Sound Can Help Calm a Distressed Mind
Whether it’s your body or your mind in need of peace and healing, music has a special way of providing calm and solace when it’s needed. One great way to regain a sense of calm and wholeness is to listen to music. If you use the search term “music calms the cluttered mind,” on the Internet, a number of listening options appear including “Brain Calming Music,” which incorporates Brain Wave Therapy to help achieve a state of calm.
“Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” – William Congreve, playwright and poet, 1697
Sound-Based Tools for Healing
Author Mandara Cromwell, PhD, has devoted her life to studying the connection between vibrational sound and healing. She is the founder and president of The International Sound Therapy Association (ITSA). The organization was created to increase awareness of sound healing techniques through educational outreach. ISTA showcased the value of sound therapy multiple times including the memorable Peace Bowl at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta. Consider attending a singing bowl event in your area. You won’t regret it.
The International Sound Therapy Connection (ISTC) works with ISTA to explore sound healing techniques, and offers Kirtan night Heart Chakra Sound Meditation on Thursdays in downtown Atlanta. Recently I was invited by a friend to participate in Sanskrit chanting with the group. Participating in chanting meditation was enlightening and invigorating. Sanskrit chants in yoga can be used as a form of healing as the chants incorporate “84 reflex points affecting the chemistry and neurotransmitters in the brain,” per Mandara Cromwell, PhD, who discusses the benefits in her talk, The Mystical Side of Cymatics.
The Use of Tuning Forks and Other Sound Healing Modalities
Mark Buhrke is an Atlanta-based certified reflexologist, vibrational sound therapist and Reiki master, who uses a variety of tools to help clients find relief. His practice, BalancingtoPeace.net, incorporates sound-based tools include humming, tuning forks, crystal and Himalayan singing bowls, drums, percussion instruments, and a quartzophone.
“I see everything as energy, so we can use the vibration of various instruments to return our bodies to balance, harmony and peace. In that space our bodies can be more vibrant, energetic and full of vitality,” Mr. Buhrke said.
His greatest success was with a client who suffered nerve damage and severe pain due to metal toxicity. His pain scale was a 5.5 on a 5-point scale. “Within 15 minutes of using the tuning forks, I asked him where the pain level was and he responded I feel like I am out in the ethers (no pain).”
Other Tools You Can Incorporate to Achieve Peace
There are multiple ways to achieve a state of peace or calm within yourself. Shutting down external stimuli – such as putting on headphones to shut out a noisy environment, or stepping away from news and social media for a day or two – are two ways to regain a sense of calm. Declutterthemind.com recommends the following:
- Meditation
- Stepping away from social media
- Self-love (place your hands over your heart for two minutes)
- Be kind to yourself and others
- Steer clear of negative thoughts
- Live in the present moment
- Avoid self-pity
- Laugh a lot!
- Speak respectfully to others
- Distract yourself with a game or a movie
- Practice self-care
- Express yourself through arts or crafts. Flow baby flow!
- Accept your humanness
- Step into nature – better yet, take your shoes off and walk in the grass
- Accept things as they are
A Simple Meditation to Achieve Calm
If the idea of achieving calm seems daunting, Jennifer Healey, of HealingBrave.com, offers a simple one-minute technique than can be used anywhere. She calls it “Peace Begins With Me,” and it works like this:
Press your thumb against each finger, and as you are doing this take deep breaths and say the following:
- When you touch your index finger say: PEACE.
- When you touch your middle finger say: BEGINS.
- When you touch your ring finger say: WITH
- When you touch your pinky finger say: ME
Repeat the Mantra as often as necessary.
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