If you are looking for tuning forks, crystal signing bowls or gongs, you should start with more than one. The reason is because health, meditation, stress and pain relief etc. come much more easily and quickly with harmonics.

What is a harmonic? Most of the definitions I’ve found for harmonics are a bit scientific or assume a musical background. Here’s one I pulled off a search:

A harmonic is an overtone accompanying a fundamental tone…

In sound therapy terms, your fundamental is the note you are playing so if you are using a 256hz tuning fork, 256Hz is your fundamental. Tap a tuning fork and listen away from your ears. You may here several tones, the actual note of the tuning fork and the overtones / harmonics which are the additional frequencies coming from the tuning fork. Bring the tuning fork to your ear to hear the fundamental more clearly.  You should hear one dominant tone, the frequency of the fork or fundamental. All the other more subtle notes are the overtones or harmonics. You’ll hear the same for crystal singing bowl and gongs.

By playing more than one tuning fork, crystal singing bowl or gong you allow the harmonics from each play to off each other. It is harmonics which help to bring you to a still point, that moment of inner silence when healing and awareness take place. When I am asked what size or note singing bowl to start with with, I will give them some size and note suggestions but will also suggest getting 3 bowls so that they can get are more full harmonic experience. I really can’t emphasize this enough. Having three bowls or more or using three tuning forks or more makes a big difference in creating and experiencing harmonics.

One of the best ways I know to experiment and experience harmonics are with the Solar Harmonic tuning forks. Anyone who has had a session with the Solar Harmonics will understand what a still point is.

Can You Know What The Frequency Of Each Harmonic Is?

Harmonics can be calculate mathematically. Visit this site and enter 8Hz as the fundamental (8Hz is roughly the Schumann resonance or an earth frequency). Notice anything interesting about the 5th, 7th and 15th overtone/harmonic? Those are the frequencies of the Otto tuners. The Otto tuners are based on the harmonics of the Earth.

The Otto weighted tuning forks also create harmonics but because of the weight on each prong, the harmonics are hard to hear but that should not stop you. Since a harmonic is really a wave or vibration, place two weighted tuning forks on the body to send a harmonic wave through the body.

Creating harmonics with most crystal singing bowls and tuning forks is just a question of playing several at the same time. I say most because there are a number of tuning forks and singing bowls which because of the way they are manufactured, do not create harmonics. If the instrument you are using sounds a little lifeless or dull, that is probably the case.

Although audio and harmonics do not translate well over the internet, you can listen to some singing bowl and tuning fork samples on the Omnivos YouTube channel.

As mentioned in an earlier post, we’ve added specially tuned desk chimes to our collection of sound therapy instruments. One of these is the desk chime tuned to the ancient Greek scale. This scale is not normally heard in the west. You would use this 8 tube chime for exploring and experiencing musical archeology, for healing and connecting with the ancient Greek mystery schools.

Greek music has its origins with the teachings of Hermes, the music from Orpheus and Thebes. Pythagoras and the Music of the Spheres and the mathematical study numbers and of harmonics has a very strong influence. Because we don’t normally hear music created in the this scale, the tones and harmonics may sound a little unusual at first but if you listen to and play these chimes, you may begin to feel the relationship between the tones.

This was a favorite scale of Rudolf Steiner who as you may know, was a lecturer at the Theosophical Society and the Anthroposophical Society. The Theosophical Society still uses the Greek musical scale for tuning their harps.

For those of you who have a musical background, this chimes, created by Randy Masters, is based on a D576 Hz to the higher octave 1152 HZ. It uses undertones 7 through 14.

You can listen to this and the other chimes here.

I have been contacted by someone looking for an Aqua Marine Crystal Singing bowl. This is not a standard bowl so it would have to be made special for her. When creating a new type of bowl like the aqua marine, there is a minimum of 10 bowls. If you are interested in adding an aqua marine to your set, please contact me. Aqua marine is a power crystal which is said to strengthen courage as well as for protection. For those of you who feel a connection to the water, this might be a good choice for you. You’d certainly be only 1 of 10 people in the world who’d have one.

Those of you who like the solfeggio tuning forks or wind chimes will be glad to know that solfeggio desktop chimes are now available. The solfeggio frequencies are widely used by those working with sound and vibration for helping clients and themselves become aware of beliefs or trauma which may be affecting health or hindering desires such as relationships, wealth or spiritual awareness. These frequencies are based on the numbers 3, 6 and 9 taken from the Old Testament.

The solfeggio desk top chime come with either 9 or 18 tubes. The 18 tube chime is shown above. The second 9 tubes are a different octave which creates incredible harmonics. You can listen to them here.

This and the other desk top chimes are made from a purple heart wood base which is a beautiful, naturally purple wood so no stain or varnish is used.

How To Use the Solfeggio Desk Top Chimes

The chimes come with a wood mallet (2 with the 18 tube chime). One obvious way to play is to tap each tube or run the mallet against all the tubes. I like tapping because it feels a little more deliberate and allows each tone to come through individually. You can also tap the chimes the way you’d tap tuning forks, playing two or three then let the tones fade.

Another way is to life the chimes off the base. You’d life the two vertical bars off the base then move the chimes so that they sway freely. It is a nice harmonic effect.

For Yourself and Loved Ones

The best part about these chimes is that they sit on my desk. If I am working just sit back to take a break, I reach for the mallet, tap a few chimes then continue on. Like wind chimes, they bring harmony to the space they are in so use them for clearing too.

Having somewhat of a sneaky nature, I will also be giving these as a gift. As the saying goes, “What they don’t know can’t hurt them” and in this case, will certainly help to bring harmony.

The are many more desk top chimes available at Omnivos.com and I’ll discuss those in future posts.

Those of you using tuning forks are probably aware of the Chakra Tuning Fork Set. Last weekend the Primatones Chakra Tuning Fork Set was introduced. This 7 fork unweighted set is based on the work of Arnold Keyserling and furthered by Ralph Losey of the School of Wisdom.

What’s The Difference Between These Chakra Tuning Fork Sets?

Those of you familiar with the Melchizedek Method and other high energy practices will understand that the chakra system is not just the seven primary energy centers.  There are many chakra points on your physical body. These points are actually portals to different levels of energy which make up our entire being. Energy passes from level of our being to another. Think of them as outer bodies or dimensions. According to Randy Masters, the Primatones frequencies resonate with our chakras in a dimension different than the typical chakra set you’ll find. This is not to say one is better than the other, they are just different.

I’ve not used this set with anyone yet but my own experience has been really good. The Primatones set feels like it goes very deep, very quickly. Hard to explain but when I use them, I can feel the meditation physically before my mind starts to slow and relax.

The story behind how these frequencies were uncovered is very interesting and you can read more about it at the School of Widsom’s chakra music section.

Who Are These For?

I recommend these for people focused on deep emotional healing and past life experiences. I also see this as a good companion to the Solfeggio tuning forks.

If you live in the Santa Monica area and would like a free 30 minute session, feel free to contact me. I’ll be doing this till the end of the year. For my friends in New England, I’ll be back in the area hopefully early next year and will try to setup some time for those interested in experiencing the Primatone tuning forks.

Last year I posted a beginner’s guide to the solfeggio tuning forks. I reviewed it last week and decided to make some minor changes. So if you are new to the solfeggio tuning forks, here’s a guide to getting started. The reason I feel it is important to follow this guide is because it will help you to become attuned to these frequencies, call it a foundation.

There’s a video below in case you’re a visual kind of person.

Step 1 – Listen to each frequency

Find a quiet and comfortable place to sit. Starting with the first tuning fork, tap and place it about 3″ – 6″ from your ear. Impatience will want you to tap   as soon as the tone starts to fade but resist that temptation. Just bring the fork a little closer to your ear. Then really concentrate on the tone as it becomes fainter. This focus helps you to become more open to the frequency. Once the tone completely fades, tap again and place it by your other ear.

Repeat this for each fork in your set. Listen to each fork 3 times a day for 12-14 days. You can do it all in one sitting or once in the morning, afternoon and evening. That is up to you.

Step 2 – Listen to two tuning forks at the same time

Next try listening to the 1st and 2nd tuning fork in your set at the same time. Tap both against your puck and place them by either ear allowing the tones to fade. Then tap again placing them by the opposite ear.

Follow the same procedure for the 2nd and 3rd fork, 3rd and 4th etc. Once you have done the 8th and 9th fork, listen to the 9th and 1st fork to complete the circle.

Do this for 7-10 days, three times a day.

Step 3 – Listen to each tuning fork with each of the other forks in the set

Now you will be listening to each tuning fork with the rest of the forks in the set. Listen to the 1st and 2nd fork following the process in step 1.

Next, listen to the 1st and 3rd fork, then 1st and 4th etc. When you’ve listened to the 1st and 9th fork, repeat this process with the 2nd and 3rd fork, 2nd and 4th up to the 9th. After listening to the 2nd and 9th, listen to the 2nd and 1st fork to complete the circle. Do this with all the forks in the set.

It would be good if you could do this three times a day but this one takes a little longer. At least once a day for 7-10 days.

Step 4 – Listen in groups of three according to the numbers in the frequency

The solfeggio frequencies are based on the numbers 3, 6 and 9, if you add the frequencies using numerology, they will add up to 3, 6 or 9 (1+4+7= 12, 1+2=3). Group your forks by numerology so…

• 174, 471 & 741
• 285, 528 & 852
• 369, 639 & 936

Listen to each fork against each other, within the group:

• 174 & 471
• 471 & 741
• 741 & 174

Repeat this process for the other 2 groups. Do this three times a day for 7-10 days.

There are several decisions to make when you are selecting a crystal singing bowl. One that is overlooked is the type of base you want. The choices are round bottom or flat bottom and it is a pretty easy decision.

If you plan on walking around with your crystal singing bowl, then a round bottom will be easier to carry because it fits more comfortably in the palm of your hand. The round bottom also allows you to grip the side of bowl more easily. Because you are only gripping the bottom of the bowl and not the side, you are not hindering the vibration.

I find the smaller flat flat bottom bowls just as easy to hold as the round bottom because I can grip the edge of the bowl. The smaller round bottom singing bowls are little difficult to hold because the base is smaller than the palm of my hand.

These points may be a little trivial but I mention them because when you select a round bottom singing bowl, you should consider the size of your hand when choosing the bowl size. If you have a smaller hand, choose a smaller round bottom bowl, 5″ – 7″. Choose a larger bowl if your hand is a little larger.

One other thing to be aware of is that a round bottom bowl will not sit flat on the O ring so you will need to use two O rings. This is usually fine however if you are using a tall bowl like the one pictured to the left, it may be a little unstable because the center of gravity is high meaning that if I rub the edge too hard, it might fall over so I’ll put the bowl on a pillow instead.

If you plan on doing a lot of walking with your singing bowl or if you do clearings, then you should really consider and practitioner crystal singing bowl. This is the bowl with the handle which makes it very easy to comfortable move around a room without concern for dropping it.

One of the primary reasons for using weighted tuning forks is for the relief of physical pain. With tuning forks such as the Otto 128, the procedure is essentially to place to the tuning fork on or around the area where you are feeling pain. This promotes the release of nitric oxide which helps to reduce inflammation. For general body work, you can put the weighted tuning fork anywhere. For chiropractors, acupuncturists and those wanting a more formal procedure, there is a procedure to relieve Visceral and Somatic Pain.

Somatic Pain

Somatic pain is musculoskeletal pain. It occurs in the skin, muscles, joints, bones and ligaments. It is a sharp pain in the area where there has been an injury. There may be inflammation, cramping or bleeding.

Visceral Pain

Visceral pain occurs due to injury or illness to an organ such as liver or kidney. The three main centers for visceral pain are the thorax (chest), abdomen and pelvis.

Dr. Jeff Kintish, a chiropractor in Beverly Massachusetts has developed a series of charts which can be used as a guide for relieving somatic and visceral pain.

There are two charts, a front and back view of the body. The front view identifies the organs and where pain will typically be felt if these organs are imbalanced or injured. The back view also identifies organs and the areas where pain is felt but it goes further by also showing where on the spine (and therefore nerve groups) these organs are connected to. More on that in a moment.

To begin, interview your client or do a self evaluation then refer to these charts to get an idea as to which organ(s) is imbalanced. For example, pain in the upper shoulders and arms may indicate imbalance in the lungs. You can then using your weighted tuning forks on the areas indicated on the charts. Be sure to work on both sides of the body. My recommendation is to use the Otto 128 or Ohm/Earth tuning fork.

We have nerve groups running down our spine. At each vertebra the nerves extend out to our organs. Using the back view chart you will know which points on the spine are connected to specific organs. For example, if you are working with the lungs you’ll not only know to place your tuning forks on the shoulders and mid back but also where on the spine to place your tuning fork (see the previous post, Weighted Tuning Forks – Working with the Spine for more information on working with the spine and which tuning forks to use).

The Visceral and Somatic Pain charts are a really good guide for working with sound therapy and vibration. They can be purchased at ClinicalCharts.com.

As you may know, weighted tuning forks are best used by the ears and on the body because of the stronger vibration they create compared to the unweighted tuning forks. In my last post I talked about how to use weighted tuning forks and acupuncture meridians. In this post I’ll talk about the spine and vertebra, which organs they connect to and the body functions each organ cares for. You’ll find recommendations for which tuning fork to use for different areas of the spine in the free download at the bottom of this post.

If you have had back surgery or an injury

First, if you have had back surgery, please check with your doctor first. If your doctor says no but you decide to try it any way, have the person using the forks start at the bottom of your feet and the knees. Then on the back starting at the furthest point from where the surgery or injury is. Slowly work your way down or up the back. If at any time you feel pain, stop. This is not supposed to hurt. If you have had recent surgery, don’t use the tuning forks on your back.

Getting Started with the Spine The first thing you’ll need is a chart of the spine. Hang it on a wall if you can, I find it is easier to look up at a big chart to find your next reference point. The spine is separated into 4 regions, Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar and Sacral. Each vertebra is numbered based on the region it is in so Th1 is the first vertebra in the thoracic region and L3 is the third vertebra in the lumbar region. How to Find a Vertebra / Spinous Process The spinous process is the protrusion on the back of a vertebrae. It is where the muscles connect to the vertebra. When you feel the bumps along the spine, that is the spinous process. To begin, bend your neck down and feel for the most prominent bump(s) between your shoulder blades around where you neck ends. You may feel two bumps. The one closest to your head is cervical 7 (C7), the next one down is thoracic 1 (Th1). From there you just count up or down (C6, C5 etc or Th2, Th3 etc). The truth is that when you are using tuning forks, being on the exact spot is not essential because the vibration of the fork spreads out. If you are off by one or two vertebra, you’ll be ok and no matter which vertebrae you touch, good things will happen. When I work on the back I touch every vertebra anyway.

Vertebra and Body Function Connection

Each vertebra is connected to a body function. For example, T1 (thoracic 1) is connected to the arms from elbows down, esophagus and trachea. T8 is connected to the spleen. If you are working with specific organs, then you should definitely place some focus on the spine and vertebra which is connected to that function. A full listing of vertebrae and body function is available for download at the end of this post.

Vertebra and Symptoms

If there is an imbalance with an organ or body function, symptoms will show up. If you or your client is having issues such as asthma, coughing, difficultly breathing, shortness of breath or pain in lower arms and legs, then you’ll want to place your focus on Th1 which is the vertebra connected with the esophagus, trachea and arms from the elbows down. If the immune system is weakened, then focus on the spleen and Th8. Again, a full listing is available for download at the end of this post.

Vertebra and Chakra Connection

The connection between vertebra also extends to chakras. Following the examples above, the root and heart chakras are connected to Th1 and the immune system is connected to the spleen, Th8. So if you work with chakras, you can definitely connect your energy healing with physically healing the spine.

Because each chakra had a musical note associated with it, you can use sound therapy and music to address imbalances as well. In this case, if you have the Solar Harmonic tuning forks or crystal singing bowls, you can connect your sound and energy healing with a physical healing.

The chart below gives shows the connection between all vertebra, body function, symptom and chakra. Click the image to begin the download.

When I first started with tuning forks I had the same question many of you had; Now what? I really had no idea what to do with them until it dawned on me draw on the experience I gained from editing a few acupuncture books a friend had written. From that point on, it was easy. I just needed a comfortable place to start.

So if you are just beginning with weighted tuning forks, try using acupuncture meridians. The charts are easy to follow and with tuning forks, you don’t have to be exactly on any point or meridian, close is good enough.

It takes years to learn acupuncture and even longer to really understand the intricacies of treatments. As you read the rest of this post, remember that you are not doing acupuncture and cannot hurt anyone using tuning forks on acupuncture points and meridians.

What not to do

It is easy to get wrapped up in the study of acupuncture but remember, you are working with sound and vibration, not needles so don’t approach this as if you are an acupuncturist. You will find a lot of technical information meridians and points. For example,

1. Each acupuncture point has a specific health purpose.
2. Each meridian has a specific purpose.
3. Each meridian is said to be “active” at certain times of the day.

Don’t be concerned about this. The acupuncture points and meridians for our purposes are just markers or a guidepost.

Also, don’t be concerned about placing the tuning fork on the exact acupuncture point. The vibration expands outward as opposed to an acupuncture needle which needs to be pretty exactly placed.

What to do

First, if you are not sure how to tap your weighted tuning fork, watch this video now. Then come back to this page.

Find yourself a good acupuncture chart. It will show you front, back and side views of the body with the meridian lines and points clearly marked. I tried to find a good sample image online but they were not very clear. A good book or wall chart is all you need, you can find some ClinicalCharts.com or at your local book store.

The Basics

There are 12 meridians or lines throughout the body. They are called Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Bladder, Kidney, Pericardium, Triple Warmer, Gall Bladder and Liver. Each channel has a series of numbered points. Once you are comfortable, you can start with any meridian but for now start with the Kidney meridian which starts at the bottom of the foot.

Tap and place the stem of your weighted tuning fork on the first point call Kidney 1 or K1. Keep it there for about 10 seconds or until you don’t feel the vibration any more. The next point, K2 is on the side of the foot so go ahead and place the tuning fork there. Do not try to touch every point. Instead, move 3 inches up the side of the leg following the meridian. Tap place the fork there. The, go up 3 more inches and do it again.

This not acupuncture or acupressure, you are just working with the meridian. Once you have completed the channel, choose another channel one follow the same procedure. Don’t feel as though you have to do each channel in one session.

Remember, this is just for learning purposes. If you find that you like working with acupuncture meridians, then there are plenty of resources online. If the meridians are not for you, let your hands decide where to place the forks, use your intuition. That is the transition I made. I followed meridians when I first started then eventually let my hands decide where to place the forks. If you are concerned that you might do some harm, don’t be. Read this post to understand why.

There are over 40 alchemy bowls to choose from. One of my favorite’s is the Laughing Buddha crystal singing bowl. Crystal Tones does not reveal exactly what goes into each singing bowl but I do know that the Laughing Buddha contains iron, an earth element.

The Laughing Buddha is also known as the Happy Buddha. In Japan he is called Hotei and in China, he is called Pu-Tai. In any language, the Laughing Buddha represents health, happiness, prosperity in all aspects of life (i.e. not just wealth) and, long life.

My first set of Alchemy Crystal Singing Bowls included a 7″ Laughing Buddha E/solar plexus. I still have it. With this bowl I am combining the solar plexus (personal power) with joy, happiness and success. In other words, instilling being happiness and joy and the personal power to confidently live this way.

The Laughing Buddha is believed to have lived from 907-923 AD. He was a Chinese monk who tended to children and those in need. Use this singing bowl when working with children an those who have hit some difficult times in their life.

For those practicing Feng Shui, the Laughing Buddha is a symbol of wealth. Using this singing bowl when moving into a new home, office or when you want to clear certain energies and fill the void with prosperity and health.

The Laughing Buddha singing bowl is a cream color on the outside, white on the inside. Looks like the creamcicles I used to get from the Good Humor ice cream man years ago.

There is a belief that rubbing the belly of the Buddha brings wealth, good luck and prosperity. Rub Laughing Buddha crystal singing bowl instead.

As always, I recommend starting with 3 alchemy singing bowls to create harmony. You can get started with 3 bowls for under $1,800 and payment plans are available.