Good Vibrations Follow an Ancient Tradition
continued
How to Play the Singing Bowl
The woman playing the bowls slowly ascended the scale, playing successively smaller bowls. Then she reversed the process. By the time the last peal died, some of the people lying on the floor had fallen asleep with soft snores.
My husband Bill touched my face and put a finger to his lips. I whispered "I wasn't," but turned from lying flat to my side. The vibrations seemed stronger in my new position. My arm was shaking as I looked at it, out of my conscious control.
The same bowl may sing with many different tones and harmonics. Crystal bowls also come in various sizes, with larger bowls emitting a deeper tone and lower octave.
The traditional singing bowl is played by holding it on the open palm of one hand, where the body of the bowl can vibrate freely. The other hand stirs a wooden mallet or striker around the edge of the bowl with an even pressure. This sets up a resonant harmonic.
When the correct pressure and speed are reached, the bowl sings, similar to a drinking glass when you run your finger around the rim. The bowl can also be tapped to begin the vibration.
The crystal bowls, as well as deep metal singing bowls, are too large to be handheld. Instead, they are placed on a cushioned surface, and a padded baton (rubber-ball mallet or suede-covered wand) is rubbed around the outside rim.
The distributors of the bowls warn that they should be spaced at least 1 foot apart so that the vibration from one bowl will not shatter its neighbor. (The setup at the Integratron looked much closer.) Another warning is that people with implanted metal pins or plates could experience pain.
The Environment
One of the owners told us that she and her partners had purchased the property because of their interest in blending science with spirituality.
The two-story Integratron provides a multiple-wave, acoustic chamber in its domed attic. Like the rotunda of the U.S. Capital building, sound follows the outside walls, so that a whisper on one side of the room can be easily heard on the opposite side.
