by Ana L. Palles

Walking a labyrinth while seven chakra-toned singing bowls are playing is not a typical pairing, but the results are an amazingly potent experience. I first encountered this combination a month ago at an event led by Dr. Jacob Hans, a Colorado chiropractor, and found it an interesting and worthwhile evening.

The labyrinth I visited is in the basement of a Methodist Church. The pattern is painted on the floor of the basement and those wanting to walk the labyrinth sit on big cushions around the outside entering the path when they are ready. Before starting, the attendants go over a few simple, gentle reminders regarding courtesy and how to work with the labyrinth. Following the announcements, the lights are dimmed and there are a few moments of silence while those assisting Dr. Hans take their place behind the singing bowl they will be playing.

The crystal singing bowls were positioned on stands around the outer edge, encircling the labyrinth in the order of their notes. On cue, each person picked up their striker and tapped the side of their bowl to begin the vibration. As each bowl joined the procession, the room filled with the crystalline sound of each note, their voices coming together in unison reverberating around us. The sound vibrations flowed in rhythmic waves, the feeling reminiscent of walking along the shore; crystal blue waters washed over me, single-mindedly making their way to sandy edges and back again. The sensory effects were powerful since I was not only hearing the notes. I felt them on my body.

As I walked the labyrinth, deep in meditation, my focus tightly wrapped around my intent, I noticed subtle changes. Some were straightforward, such as the pounding headache on one side of my head that shifted and dissipated. Others were somewhat unexpected, such as the alterations in my vision and perception of space. The readjustments of my sense of balance and relative location that at times, made it difficult to navigate the labyrinth path, reminded me of the sensitivity of the mechanisms inside our inner ear that control the perception of our surroundings and our place in relation to gravity.

As I went deeper into the labyrinth, I noticed a surge over my heart and solar plexus areas. It was as if I had a knot of congestion which felt very taut and then suddenly let go as I stood quietly and breathed deeply. Just as the ocean waves clear away a path when they crash on shore, these sound waves felt as if they were opening and moving areas where I was holding on tight. The release left me feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Energy healers working with the chakra system would say that this was typical of the effects of sound waves on the body. Some believe that the Chakra system, which is a series of energy points located down the center of the human body, first appeared in ancient Indian Sanskrit texts where they were categorized into different centers.

But the chakra system was not known only to ancient India. Writings, and oral tradition, on the application of these energy centers, are found across cultures. It was used by the Chinese in acupuncture medicine, by native healers on several continents, by various martial arts disciplines and is thought to even be represented by the halos in medieval paintings of saints.

The understanding behind the relationship of the musical notes to the chakra is said to be based in the concept that each part of our body vibrates at a specific sound frequency, and each of these chakra points carries its own vibration, associated with a particular note.

The chakras have well documented correspondences both to the physical and the emotional bodies. Several Eastern medical systems work with these associations to treat a variety of conditions pertaining to imbalances with specific organs and functions. There are different systems and cycles for determining which tones correspond to which chakras. One system aligns with acupuncture meridians, while another is termed the Cycle of Fifths. In the traditional system, the chakras are identified with the following notes.

• Crown which is linked to the Thalamus and consciousness. Musical note B.
• Third Eye is associated with the pineal gland and envisionment. Musical note A.
• Throat is associated to the thyroid gland and linked to communication and expression. Musical note G.
• Heart is associated to the thymus and linked to the emotions, compassion, and growth. Musical note F.
• Solar Plexus is associated with the pancreas and adrenal glands and linked to the will and digestion. Musical note E.
• Sacral chakra is linked with the reproductive system and is linked to creativity and sexuality. Musical note D.
• Base chakra is associated with survival and fight or flight and is linked to the adrenal medulla, or inner adrenals. Musical note C.

The sound and vibration of the singing bowls is said to balance and clear the chakras. This is very helpful in our fast-paced, stressful lives where we deal with road rage, demanding jobs, economic and social pressures. Sometimes, simply playing or listening to a singing bowl can bring about a deep state of relaxation and release.

The effects of the labyrinth itself are a bit different. A labyrinth differs from a maze in that there is a single way in and out, one walks a defined path. A maze is all about choosing which way to turn and what path to take, often leading to dead ends or circular routes.

Labyrinths have been used for years as a spiritual tool for meditation and awakening spiritual insights. Some believe that labyrinths evolved as a way for religious pilgrims to accomplish the effects of the ritual without the long journey.

While there are various meditation practices and recommendations for enhancing the spiritual effects of walking a labyrinth, the simplest approach for me was to focus on my goal. Combining the practice of walking the labyrinth while in meditative contemplation, maintaining my intent, with the tones from seven crystal singing bowls washing over me in waves, was a bit like shattering the veil of consciousness. I felt as if I was walking in an altered state where the room itself pulsed and my sense of perspective and space refused to settle into a single version.

The vibrations from the crystal bowls are not the soft gentle tones of Tibetan bells or the hand hammered brass bowls. The crystal bowls have an assertive pitch, and in my experience, an explosive energy about them. I aligned myself with the frequencies in the pursuit of my primary goal to remove my own internal obstacles. We all have our shadowed places where we hold ourselves back and sabotage our own efforts. I decided this would be a worthwhile focus to hold.

However, it is important to remember that there are many ways in which we can accomplish the same objective. Some ways are gentler than others. So, an important tip when setting intent is to establish appropriate parameters and qualifying the intent with a desire for the experience to be enfolded in ease and grace.

Debriefing after the event, a group of us noted that we’d had difficulty walking the path at various points. Some of us experienced the smooth and level floor as convex, and some were so deep in contemplation that we lost our sense of where we were and what we were doing for a few minutes. This was the cue for us to stop, stand still and ground before continuing.

A few of us had very vivid dreams following the labyrinth and crystal bowls walk. In my experience, the sensation was akin to a deep cleansing and resetting of time and space around me.

Labyrinths can be found not only in churches but in hospitals, hospices and other care facilities, historic gardens, schools, you name it. Some of these are even wheelchair accessible. Studies on the beneficial effects of walking a labyrinth are ongoing. The Labyrinth Society maintains a labyrinth locator search so that you can find the nearest labyrinth in your area.

If you also have the opportunity of experiencing the labyrinth with crystal singing bowls, don’t miss it. Just be sure that you spend a few minutes grounding yourself after the experience so that you can get home safely.

Grounding

1. Eat - One of the simplest ways to ground is to simply have something to eat. Choose something healthy and wholesome, grains and protein are good choices. I know some folks that bring a power bar filled with healthy nuts and fruit to eat after such an event.
2. Movement - Walk outside in nature, work on your yoga, tai chi or martial arts. Any kind of sports or physical activity will help you ground.
3. Animals  -Go and hug your pet, or visit with the animals in nature. Your pets are experts at helping you ground.
4. Water  -Drinking water helps refresh the body’s processes and flush out waste. Enjoy a nice tall glass.
5. Garden - Go run outside and work on your plantings, clearing away weeds and waste, all the while, digging your hands into the dirt. You can’t get much more grounding than this!

Additional References

• http://www.hopkinsbayview.org/labyrinth/index.html
• http://dev.knoxunited.ab.ca/uploads/file/Brochures/Labyrinth-WS2008.pdf
• http://www.gracecathedral.org/labyrinth