Many years ago I wrote three books that I never published. Not because they weren’t valuable, but they were a practice for finding my voice in writing. I would see too much of my influences coming through, as an emulation of those I found great comfort in. They slowly morphed into my first book, The Architecture of Sound and the Alchemy of Transcendence. It is where I found my voice, or in truth…when my inner voice was strong enough to speak my truth.
I wrote a book called The Nomenclature of Belief during that time. The premise was that each individual holds a divine truth of the greater energies which hold the universe in its place. I call it God because it’s simple for me. It’s funny how three little letters can pull someone’s mind to peace or turmoil. The book argued that no matter the words we use and the path we follow, both belief and non-belief are equivalent in the eyes of the creator, only the words we choose to satisfy our vantage point of our place in the universe. In other words, an Atheist’s perceptible non-belief in God is no less valid for eternal truth than that of someone in a religious order. For it is not what we see, but how we see it.
Within this world we live in, there are infinite variations upon a theme determined by individual perception. The language we use to refer to everything in life is often based on personal truth rather than actual truth. Perception is an addiction we prescribe through speaking with others.
Within the world of sound, we are presented many things about the possibilities of working with sound. All of which tend to be circumstantial and from a distance. It is often presented as if it were medical, allowing you to help with mental and physical ailments. Though there are many studies that show a myriad of effects, it is not the approach practitioners should take. It is a show of desperation.
Many are in the constant act of self-validation by reciting some script of the benefits of the practice. It feels as if it is an attempt to convince of the possibility of change. In an era where people are suffering, only truth should be presented. Everyone seems to have the same instruments, the same style, and the same nomenclature. I call it the regurgitative phase. This being the recitation of knowledge rather than experience. We repeat what we learn after we watch a video or read a book because one does not have the depth of understanding to formulate wisdom. This is not a dig at practitioners, for one does not know what they do not know.
Some of the greatest benefits no one speaks of are community and support. Through the sharing of space and thoughts, individuals can place themselves in situations where they can benefit from the involvement with community. The importance of presenting the practice based in truth rather than speculation is important in the overall value of working with sound.
B.K.S Iyengar once said, “Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.” My practice with sound is Yoga. It is not a practice of healing, but it is my path to greater understanding of the world and my role within it. It is my path to enlightenment. I will never say it will cure or heal you. I do not like the term sound healing, I believe it gives false interpretations to individuals who are seeking a cure for a disease they have. Though many people who enter the practice do not have this at the forefront of their experience, there are some who undoubtably give too much power to it and in essence, devalue their own power as they outsource their healing.
Everyone has their right to choose the path they will follow. As this practice continues to grow and more people become involved, there needs to be greater understanding in the presentation of truth and expectation. Greater integrity and respect for that which one does not know and has not experienced firsthand. This is not a medical practice. It may be involved in a holistic approach to medical care, but it is complementary and not direct. Our words are powerful, yet we do not always think about how others hear them. In an age where information is skewed, less is more. Instead of personal projection of speculative possibility, we want individuals to be inherently the ones who find resolve.