mantra & voice   didjeridu   singing bowls  

Singing bowls resemble traditional Tibetan bowls, however originally they were never used for sound healing. They were commonly made with a mixture of precious metals, ranging from seven to twelve different ones, including iron, copper, gold, silver, lead, zinc and mercury. The precious bowls were created and used for ceremonial offerings and pregnant women were permitted to eat from them to benefit from their mineral rich composition. Kathmandu in Nepal is probably the biggest producer of the bowls today, where they are mostly made of brass.

Historic use of metal bowls to create sound is found in Japan, while in China stone and jade bowls were used to create sound. Playing Tibetan metal bowls, and the origin of 'singing bowls', began with the new age movement and holistic awareness of the 1960s and 70s in California. Awareness of the interconnectedness of life forms created a wave of different healing modalities. While scientists were researching sound vibrations and their effects on the brain, people began to play the bowls and explore their healing effects.

The frequencies produced by the bowls influence brain chemistry and promote balance in the physical and energetic body. A healing session may involve the use of several bowls played around the individual, as well as placed on the body. When played with a wooden mallet their sound envelops and penetrates the body on all levels.

Ting-shags are Tibetan bells that are held together with a thin leather string or strap, and when struck produce a high pitched sound. They are often used to signal the beginning and end of meditation sessions and may also be used to clear the body's auric fields and physical spaces.