Holistic Healing

Holistic Healing covers a very wide variety of natural healing methods used in the past centuries all around the world. China and India are a home to many spiritual and holistic practices to keep our body-mind-spirit in alignment and in good shape. Just think of yoga, meditation, breathing techniques, energy, chakra, crystal and sound healing, acupuncture, Feng Shui, Shamanic rituals and other practices.

At Sophie’s Healing Haven we are focusing on Reiki energy, Crystal, Chakra and Sound healing. There are different energy and sound healing practices but the essence is the same. Energy therapies are based on the concept that energy imbalances in the body’s energy field result in illness, and that improving the flow and balance of energy can improve overall wellbeing. Sound healing works by sending sound waves throughout your body, which brings harmony through oscillation and resonance. This helps restore your body’s balance which in turn helps you heal. Crystals naturally have certain vibrations and they were well known for their mystical powers of healing. Let’s see what you can learn about Reiki and Sound Healing!

REIKI

“Reiki is love,

Love is wholeness,

Wholeness is balance,

Balance is wellbeing,

Wellbeing is freedom from disease”

Dr. Mikao Usui

Reiki (Rei Ki, 霊気) is a form of hands-on spiritual, natural energy healing. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words, Rei meaning “Universal” and Ki is "life energy.” Together, these two words stand for “Universal Life Energy.” The name was given by Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese scholar and monk who received the sacred Reiki symbols through his meditation practices in the mountains. He developed Reiki natural healing system in the 1920s and used it as an alternative therapy for the treatment of physical, emotional, and mental diseases. The Usui Ryoho natural energy healing system addresses the whole person on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels.

Reiki is however not tied to a religion or part of a religious practice; it is not a belief or type of suggestion.

This energy naturally flows through our body keeping its vitality. Reiki energy is always present in every one of us. When this energy is applied through Reiki practices it stimulates the body’s natural healing abilities, to encourage emotional, mental and physical healing and to improve the persons’ spiritual and overall wellbeing.

I would like to emphasize that Reiki treatment is not intended to replace any form of medical treatment. It is used purely as a complimentary treatment to enhance well-being.

What can I use Reiki for?

Benefits of Reiki

Depending if you are a client or a practitioner yourself, there are many ways of utilizing this beautiful energy. Most people use Reiki for healing, emotional release, detox, spiritual awakening and achieving one’s goals. However, you can use it for a variety of many other things, the list is endless and open to your imagination. Here are some of them listed below:

  • Dissolves energy blockages

  • Deep relaxation

  • Feeling calm and aligned

  • Deep sense of wellbeing

  • Energizing the body

  • Feeling grounded

  • Reduces or takes away pain completely (depending of severity of pain level)

  • Helps to let go of unwanted emotions

  • Reduces tension

  • Highlights unresolved matters needing attention

  • Helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue

  • Helps to get a restful sleep

  • Chakra clearing and balancing

  • Body and mind detox

  • Helps to promote spiritual growth

  • You can treat mummy and baby during pregnancy (baby usually moves where the hand is placed to administer Reiki)

  • Achieve desired goals

  • Animal wellbeing (You can give Reiki treatment to your fur babies)

  • Use it to start up your flat car battery, (I used it for my lawn mower and to fix our Keurig coffee machine too)

  • Boost the wellbeing of your house plants

  • Send Reiki to future events (Like job interview)

  • Can help to reach, accomplish your goals

  • Clear spaces and blessing them

  • Send Reiki to people on the other side of the world

  • Send Reiki to your past to heal / resolve a situation

  • To feel balanced and in harmony with inner self

  • Meditate and get a deeper connection with your inner self

  • And the list goes on.

What Kind of Reiki treatments are there?

The below three are the most common Reiki treatments in use:

  • In person treatment, one to one with practitioner

  • Long distance treatment where the client is physically not present (other side of the world, in hospital, child who is not able to stay still, contagious at home, etc.) and the practitioner conducts the treatment through a surrogate (mostly used a teddy bear method)

  • Paper / box method, where the practitioner writes sacred symbols along the client’s name and intention on a paper and sends Reiki through that to the client or situation.

  • There are some more methods out there like several Reiki masters administering healing to one client at same time in person or from distance, through a surrogate; or methods used through visualization.

What do you experience during Reiki treatment (in person, one to one treatment)

During a Reiki energy healing session, the practitioner releases the blockages and promotes the healthy flow of energy in the body. During treatment you are laying on a treatment table, fully clothed and covered with a sheet / blanket and have a pillow under your head and bolster under your knees for your extra comfort. We request to remove all jewelry, crystals for the time of treatment as they can absorb and store both negative and positive energies. The practitioner makes swooping movements to comb the aura (might use a pendulum to check if any or many of the chakras are blocked), placing hands slightly above the body or gently on the body at certain points to establish the energy flow. The practitioner might place crystals on body prior treatment to enhance benefits.

At Mixed-Reiki treatments we also use / place weighted solfeggio tuning forks on the body (actually, on crystals) at the chakra points to enhance the treatment along spinning a Crystal pyramid above the body, followed by some sound healing tools such as 528Hz crystal singing bowl, Koshi chimes, bar chimes and Tingsha Bells. You can feel the powerful vibration of these tools and energy pulsation through your body.

Everyone experiences different things. These are some but not the only experiences you might come across during treatment.

  • Deep relaxation

  • Seeing colors against closed eyelids during a Reiki session is common when the person is highly relaxed. The colors themselves are an indication that you are letting go and you are aware of the energy flowing through your body. These colors are associated with the 'Chakras' which are the energy centers of the body;

  • Warm or cold feeling where the Reiki practitioner places hands (can get hot when you are pulling lots of energy)

  • Relief from pain

  • Feeling a rush of energy to move in / through your body

  • Tummy might make sounds

  • You might feel emotional and sometimes cry

  • Falling asleep

  • Might settle emotional outstanding matters with peace and understanding within yourself

  • You might not feel anything during treatment (very rare) as Reiki is a very subtle, gentle energy

In my experience those people have more health or emotional issues usually have more vivid experiences during and or after Reiki treatment.

How do you feel after Reiki treatment

Sometimes the experience of Reiki is profound, while for some people, the first session may be uneventful, although they feel somehow better afterward. The most common experience is an almost immediate release of stress and a feeling of deep relaxation. People can be affected up to a week after treatment. Some people benefit from a one-off treatment and return only monthly to promote their wellbeing while others might start off with more frequent treatments to help with healing, pain relief or for other reasons. Every person is different and have different ways of healing.

The most common effects of Reiki after treatments:

  • You feel balanced and being in harmony

  • Feeling relaxed, grounded, and aligned

  • Energized

  • Sleepy

  • Thirsty

  • You can feel temporary dizziness and nausea (due to negative energy release and detox of the body),

  • Lethargy, feeling tired temporarily (usually when you have lots of emotional release)

  • Light headache

  • Itchiness

  • Feeling happy, content

  • Free of pain which was present at beginning of treatment.

Are you interested in booking a Reiki treatment?

Sound Healing

Sound Healing is also known as Sound therapy comes in many forms and routes back to ancient times. In every culture there was some sort of Sound Healing ritual practiced in some way. Tibetans used metal singing bowls while in Australia they used the digeridoo. Different cultures used different sound tools, flutes, chimes, drums, singing bowls and we could go on. While there are certain instruments used in their origin form, today’s technology enabled us to advance those ancient practices with making Crystal singing bowls, crystal pyramids, merkabas, chimes and many other instruments that were in a much more primitive form in the past centuries.

The concept of sound therapy is based on the idea that every part of your body creates a vibration which resonates in a certain way. Put another way, vibrational healing is based on the idea that everything in the universe - including our bodies - is in a state of vibration.

When your body is out of balance, dis-eases (body not at ease) can result. That is, illness is caused by blockage which stops the organ in question from vibrating at its healthy frequency. Sound healing works by sending sound waves throughout your body, which brings harmony through oscillation and resonance. This helps restore your body’s balance which in turn helps you heal. 

Sound baths, or in general the experience of sound healing, have become common in yoga, wellness, and spiritual communities. One is invited to sit or lay down to indulge in the immersion of sound vibrations and tones produced by instruments. Gongs, singing bowls, chimes, rattles, wind instruments, and drums are incorporated to help call forth healing and relaxation to the body, mind, and soul.

If you have ever participated in one of these sound events you can likely say without a shadow of a doubt that the experience had a transformative effect. Most people immediately remark that their quality of mind shifts from a state of activity, anxiety, and preoccupation to an undeniable experience of stillness and calm that has perhaps otherwise been inaccessible to them. It is not only the mind that is relaxed and pacified into a peaceful state. The vibrational frequencies of sound healing instruments like crystal bowls can move through skin, fluid, and bones of the body, creating a full body relaxation and recalibration down to the level of the cellular structure. The experience creates an environment of “resonance” within the body.

Sound healing is a wellness practice that uses sound vibrations to promote healing, relaxation and self-care. During a sound healing session, you lie down in a cozy and comfortable setting, close your eyes and focus on sounds made by music instruments like chimes, gongs, drums and singing bowls. Sound vibrations have a very powerful effect on our mind and bodies.

If you are interested in the idea of sound baths, you can reach out and book a session! There are many benefits of sound healing including deep relaxation, stress reduction and improved sleep. However, it is important to note that sound healing is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

At Sophie’s Healing Haven we use Crystal Singing Bowls (a set of seven 432Hz and one 528Hz bowls), Crystal Singing Pyramid and Solfeggio weighted Tuning Forks as part of your treatment. We also have other instruments to enhance your experience such as Gong (26” Chinese Chau Gong), Koshi (bamboo) chimes, Bar chimes, Tingsha Cymbals, Ocean, and Tongue Drum. We explain more in detail about the Crystal Singing Bowls and Tuning Forks as they are the main elements to your Sound Bath and Mixed Reiki experience.

Crystal Singing Bowls

History and Origin of Crystal Singing Bowls

Singing bowls began their journey in the ancient time of Buddhism. It is believed that singing bowls were an integral part of practicing Buddhism. Sound therapy has traveled across many religions and cultures throughout their history. The significance of sound, and its important role in supporting human spirit and our physical, mental, and emotional health, has been well known through the generations. Our ancestors practiced sound and vibration therapy to resonate with the body’s energy centers or chakras and support optimal health.

At the outset of their history, singing bowls were crafted using different metals. In accordance with an ancient Tibetan formula, many singing bowls were made of “panchaloga”, which is a Sanskrit word meaning a five-metal alloy that includes copper, zinc, iron and traces of gold and silver. These bowls are commonly known as Tibetan singing bowls.

While metal bowls are still very common, modern technology has permitted the invention of crystal singing bowls, which require complex manufacturing processes and the ability to heat crystal and sand to extreme temperatures. Today, many alternative health practitioners believe that pure quartz crystals greatly promote the overall health of our body.  As a result, many wish to benefit from what are believed to be the properties of healing crystals.

What is a Crystal Singing Bowl?

Crystal singing bowls are made of pure quartz (essentially 99.8% silicon quartz) and sand in a spinning mold, in a process that heats the mixture to about 4000 degrees. Crystal singing bowls are clear or frosted and are made in a variety of sizes ranging from 5 to 24 inches. Clear crystal bowls are generally lighter, smaller and can be played while being held in hand. During the manufacturing process, crystal bowls can be “programmed” to create specific sounds using digital technology, depending on individual needs. When played simultaneously, some bowls harmonize with each other.

The vibrational frequencies of sound healing instruments like crystal bowls can move through skin, fluid, and bones of the body, creating a full body relaxation and recalibration down to the level of the cellular structure. Some practitioners claim that crystal singing bowls are most effective relative to other metal bowls on the theory that metal is foreign to the human body. Further, it is believed that crystal singing bowls are aligned to match the frequency found in the human body and that this makes them the most dynamic and modern type of tool used for sound bowl therapy. It is also for this reason that many believe that crystal singing bowls are the best singing bowls. The use of these bowls can have a significant beneficial effect on the healing of your mind and body, especially when combined with positive affirmations in the form of mantras and chants.

Do you want to know how crystal bowls are made? Check out our FAQ for How Crystal Singing Bowls Are Made?

What effects DOES a Crystal Singing Bowl treatment haVE in your body?

The body has a natural affinity to quartz as every cell in our body has a geometric crystalline structure. This is why our body resonates so deeply with the frequencies of quartz crystals.

On a molecular level, our cells contain silica, which balances our electromagnetic energies. Crystals act as an oscillator, magnifying and transmitting pure tone. As the sound affects brainwave activity one can enter an altered state of consciousness and can be positively charged by the vibrations that are created during sound bowl mediation. As different parts of the brain are affected, it is probable that they release different hormones and neuro-chemicals.

Different notes from Crystal singing bowls produce different vibrational sounds that can open, heal, balance, and align chakras. A series of pure crystal bowl therapy is said to help rebalance the body’s optimal health. This therapy can transmit energy to the aura and directly affect brain wave activity, supporting an improved state of consciousness. Crystal singing bowls are powerful tools that can help heal mental and physical ailments.

Who is Sound Bowl Healing for and what are the benefits?

Everybody can enjoy the benefits of singing bowls. Vibration from these quartz crystal bowls moves through our body creating a relaxed, meditative feeling. Alternative health practitioners believe that they help to bring health and harmony to our life by balancing the chakras.

Sound Bowl Healing has many benefits ranging from physical to mental health. Here are the few listed:

  • Puts you in a meditative state

  • Helps to deepen meditation experience

  • Deepens spiritual connection

  • Helps with spiritual growth

  • Helps to connect to inner self

  • Helps to receive intuitive thoughts / downloads

  • Relaxes body and mind

  • Improves sleep quality

  • Helps sleep disorders like insomnia

  • Improves blood pressure

  • Improves respiratory rate

  • Calms nervous system

  • Reduces chronic pain

  • Aligns and balances the chakras

  • Releases emotional blockages

  • Boosts immune system

  • Stimulates digestion

  • Reduces anger

  • Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression

  • Promotes feeling of wellbeing

  • Helps to feel more balanced

  • Improves symptoms of some neurological disorders such as fibromyalgia and Parkinson's disease

  • Gives greater awareness of the body

  • and many more.

What Happens During a Sound Bath?

At the beginning of Sound Baths, we ask people to have an open mind and set an intention. Incenses or essential oils can be used in the room if no participants have allergy to them.

Sound Bath can happen on a one-to-one basis, in smaller groups of two or three people in a small treatment room or larger groups in a library, yoga studio or even in a park.

Usually, participants of a sound bath lay on a yoga mat on the ground with a pillow under the head and covered with a sheet or blanket (one-to-one treatment can be on a treatment table). Not everyone feels comfortable laying on yoga mats therefore some people sit in a comfortable chair or on sofa (preferably with a straight back so chakras are aligned). We recommend to have a box of tissues nearby in case of emotional release, which might bring tears.

First the gong is hit to give a deep, relaxing, and calming sound to help relaxing the body. Participants close their eyes and take some deep breaths to relax and settle the body to get ready. It can start with a guided meditation helping to release any tension in the body and to be open to receive the healing vibrations.

Then the sound therapist gently strikes the crystal singing bowls with a mallet to release vibration then moves the mallet around the rim of the signing bowl to increase the intensity of it. Different bowls release different frequencies depending on the bowl’s size and diameter. Therapist plays all bowls during the treatment but can also focus on certain chakras by playing corresponding singing bowls to a bit longer period than others. During treatment bar chimes, Koshi (bamboo) chimes, crystal singing pyramid and a tongue drum is played.

Many people fall asleep during treatment or just have an awakened state of consciousness and enjoy the vibrations entering their bodies, seeing colors, releasing emotions. Everyone has a different experience. Some people feel chills, goosebump and strong energy flow gushing through their body. The sound bath last about an hour, sometimes a bit longer.

At the end of sound bath, the Tingsha Cymbals are used to gently bring back the participants from their meditative state to the present moment.

All participants receive a bottle of water after treatment as to aid detoxification of the body which might take some days to complete. It is recommended to drink lots of fluids in the following days to help this process.

How do you feel after Sound Bath?

Everyone is different therefore the experience can vary from a feeling of a deep relaxation to a very powerful emotional release or transformational experience.

Many people reported:

  • feeling calmer

  • muscle tension release

  • a great sense of relaxation

  • feeling nausea, dizziness (mainly related to high level of emotional release)

  • complete or partial pain relief

  • better quality sleep

  • improved mood

  • very deep emotional release

  • better body awareness

  • spiritual awakening and transformation

  • and many more.

Sound Healing and the Seven Chakras

Clear quartz singing bowls contain seven rainbow colors which stimulate seven energy centers or chakras of your body. This helps heal the listener by transferring pure light into the human aura. Some alternative health practitioners believe that this process expands your awareness and brings a positive shift in your consciousness, helping align yourself with your true, original self. It is also believed that quartz crystals have the ability to balance your electromagnetic field during singing bowl meditation.

As mentioned, chakras represent the seven colors of a rainbow. Typically, color is seen and sound is heard. Sound is usually described and measured in terms of Hertz (Hz), whereas light is measured as a wave, or particle. Regardless, the two work together quite beautifully. This union between light and sound is how we can determine sound waves that resonate with the various colors that align with the chakras of our body. This is also why people say they saw colors when hearing the sound frequencies of crystal sound bowls.

Each chakra has its area of resonance within the body, a color spectrum, and a sound vibration that brings it into resonance:

  • Root Chakra: Red, C Note

  • Sacral Chakra: Orange, D Note

  • Solar Plexus Chakra: Yellow, E Note

  • Heart Chakra: Green, F Note

  • Throat Chakra: Blue, G Note

  • Third Eye Chakra: Indigo, A Note

  • Crown Chakra: Purple, B Note

When we are exposed to the crystalline healing sounds of these keys they bring the energy centers of the body back into balance in a multidimensional manner, helping us to restore health and balance holistically.

We talk about chakras in more detail at the Solfeggio Tuning Fork subtitle.

Would you like to experience the amazing vibrations of a sound healing?

Solfeggio Tuning Forks

Sound healing is an effective and increasingly popular method for balancing the mind, body, and spirit. One of the most powerful tools in sound healing is Solfeggio frequencies. Solfeggio frequencies are special tones that can positively change your brainwave activity, promote relaxation, and reduce stress. They are also believed to help balance the body’s chakras or energy centers. Using Solfeggio frequencies can promote healing. Studies found that Solfeggio frequencies help to reduce pain, lower blood pressure and heart rate along many other benefits.

 At Sophie’s Healing Haven we use weighted Solfeggio Tuning forks during your mixed Reiki treatments. To enhance vibrations, we also place chakra corresponding crystals on the body at chakra points and place the relating tuning fork on the crystal. During treatment the Solfeggio tuning fork is activated by a small mallet and while vibrating placed on the crystal. Each tuning fork is used three times at each chakra, unless some of the chakras need further attention, then it is used 9 times.

The actual tuning fork treatment (if used 3 times at each chakra) takes about 6-8 minutes. We offer it as part of our Mixed Reiki-Sound Healing Treatment.

Solfeggio frequencies and chakras

If you want to improve your overall well-being, Solfeggio frequencies may be just what you need. Listen to Solfeggio frequency tracks regularly to see if they make a difference for you, you can also see a practitioner and ask for a Solfeggio tuning fork treatment as an addition to your Reiki session.

There are 9 Solfeggio frequencies originally (174Hz, 285Hz, 396Hz, 417Hz, 528Hz, 639Hz, 741Hz, 852Hz and 963Hz) and 7 of them is used to treat our 7 main chakras. Let’s see below how the actual frequencies effect the chakras they interact with and what benefits they offer.

  • Root Chakra (frequency: 396Hz), also called Muladhara in Sanskrit is located at the base of the spine. Red is the color associated with the root chakra because it is the color of blood, which is essential for life. It is associated with feeling grounded, safe, and secure. This chakra is also responsible for our survival instinct.
    The Solfeggio frequency of 396 Hz stimulates the root chakra. This frequency is associated with the feeling of safety and security. It is also said to help to liberate from anxiety, fear and guilt. The lowest Solfeggio frequencies, 396 Hz, can help ground and stabilize us.

    Music that contains this frequency allows us to connect to our natural state of feeling safe and secure.

  • Sacral Chakra (frequency: 417 Hz), or Svadhisthana in Sanskrit, is located just below the navel. It is associated with the orange color, creativity, pleasure, and sexuality.

    Regarding the Solfeggio frequencies, 417 Hz is said to help with creative visualization. It facilitates change and undoing situations. This frequency can also help to increase our sexual energy and pleasure. When our sacral chakra is in balance, we feel confident and creative. We are able to enjoy our sexuality and our lives more.

    With the help of 417 Hz, we can connect to our creative side and start manifesting our desires.

    This frequency can help us let go of old patterns, negativity and past trauma that no longer serve us.

  • Solar Plexus Chakra (frequency: 528 Hz), or Manipura in Sanskrit, is located just above the navel. This chakra, represented by the color yellow, is related to our power, will, and determination. It is also the chakra of our ego.

    The Solfeggio frequency of 528 Hz stimulates the solar plexus chakra. This frequency is associated with personal power and confidence. It is also said to help with decision-making and manifestation.

    Music of this frequency helps us reconnect to who we are. It can also help us to make decisions from a place of strength and mental clarity.

  • Heart Chakra (frequency: 639 Hz), The heart chakra, or Anahata in Sanskrit, is located in the center of the chest. This chakra is associated with our ability to love both ourselves and others. It is also the chakra of compassion, forgiveness, and understanding.

    Most people think of the heart chakra when we think of love. While indeed our hearts related to love there is much more to it than we think. The color green is associated with hour heart chakra.

    The Solfeggio frequency of 639 Hz is said to help us heal old wounds and create relationships based on love and understanding. It is also said to help us connect with our higher self.

    Music at 639 Hz frequency can help us to heal old traumas and open our hearts to giving and receiving love.

  • Throat Chakra (frequency: 741 Hz), called Visuddha in Sanskrit, is responsible for our ability to communicate our needs and desires. This is why it is also known as the communication chakra. It is also the chakra of self-expression and creativity. Blue is the color of the throat chakra because blue is often associated with communication and empathy.

    The Solfeggio frequency of 741 Hz stimulates the throat chakra. This frequency helps us to connect to our higher selves and express our authentic voices. It is also said to help with creative visualization and manifestation.

    When we listen to music at 741 Hz, we can open up to our higher purpose and begin to express ourselves in more authentic and creative ways.

  • Third Eye Chakra (frequency: 852 Hz), the pineal gland, or the Ajna in Sanskrit is located in the middle of the forehead. It is associated with our ability to see clearly, both physically and intuitively.

    The third eye chakra, colored indigo, is related to the Solfeggio frequency of 852 Hz. With music at this frequency, we can tap into our intuition and begin to see things more clearly. It is also said to help with meditation and relaxation.

    Those attuned to this frequency can often tap into their psychic abilities and sense things beyond the physical world. Awakening intuition also allows us to see the interconnectedness of all things.

  • Crown Chakra (frequency: 963 Hz), Sahasrara in Sanskrit symbolizes enlightenment and is associated with our highest state of consciousness. This chakra is said to be the gateway to our spiritual selves. The colors associated with the crown chakra are violet and white. This is because violet is the color of spirituality, and white is the color of purity.

    The Solfeggio frequency of 963 Hz stimulates the crown chakra. This frequency is said to help us connect with the Divine and our highest selves. It is also said to promote feelings of peace and bliss.

    When we listen to music at 963 Hz, we can tap into our spiritual side and experience a sense of oneness with the Universe and the spiritual order. This frequency can also help us to let go of our ego and connect with our higher purpose.

You can also enjoy the benefits of binaural beats when two Solfeggio frequencies played together. To experience these, you need to use headphones, so each ear hears a different tone: one in the left ear and one in the right. Binaural beats can help encourage a meditative state and produce feelings of relaxation and peace. We always promote to use binaural beats when you record your affirmations to enhance meditative state, healing, and manifestation.

Crystal singing bowl treatments use mainly 432Hz frequency, which is the natural frequency of the Universe. They are very powerful to listen to either as enjoying one to one treatment or a sound bath in a group. There are crystal singing bowls tuned to 528Hz which can heal on DNA level. They are affordable and easy to use if you wish to purchase your own one for regular use at home to enhance your well-being.

The above-mentioned crystal singing bowls are both available at Sophie’s Healing Haven to experience. We use the 528Hz crystal singing bowl during our Mixed Reiki treatment while we use the full set of 432Hz crystal singing bowls for private or group sound baths complimented with other instruments such as Gong, bar chimes, Tibetan Tingsha bells, Koshi chimes, Tongue drum and Ocean drum.

Would you like to experience the magnificence of Mixed Reiki and Sound Healing?