Welcome to the ultimate guide to crystal singing bowls! In this post, we discuss how to play a crystal singing bowl, their health benefits, how they are made, the significance of colored bowls and their chakra notes, their origin and history, and what makes quartz singing bowls special. Let’s dive in!
Introduction
Sound healing, which is also known as sound therapy, has been practiced since ancient times. 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, diseases 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.
Singing bowls are often utilized in the course of sound therapy. One type of bowl commonly used in this regard are known as crystal singing bowls, which are also known as quartz singing bowls or glass singing bowls. Various alternative health practitioners believe that 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.
One of the reasons for the use of crystal singing bowls is the belief that our bodies are made of crystalline structures. For this reason, it is believed that crystal singing bowls significantly affect all the organs and cells of your body. In addition, some alternative health practitioners believe that your brainwave frequency and state of consciousness can be positively charged by the vibrations that are created during sound bowl mediation.
In this blog post, we discuss crystal singing bowls along with their history and origin. We also discuss how crystal singing bowls are made, what makes them special and explain in detail how to use a crystal singing bowl. We will then discuss the healing properties of crystal singing bowls, how sound bowl healing can help with your physical and mental health, and things to keep in mind when considering the purchase of a crystal singing bowl. We then conclude by comparing crystal singing bowls to Tibetan singing bowls, which are another popular type of singing bowl made from an ancient blend of metals.
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 body has a natural affinity to quartz. On a molecular level, our cells contains silica, which balances our electromagnetic energies. Crystal acts as an oscillator, magnifying and transmitting pure tone. As the sound affects brainwave activity one can enter into an altered state of consciousness. As different parts of the brain are affected, it is probable that they release different hormones and neuro-chemicals.
It is believed that crystal singing bowls produce a vibrational sound that resonates with the chakra of your body. A series of pure crystal bowl therapy is said to help rebalance your body to optimal health. This therapy is believed to transmit energy to your aura and directly affect your brain wave activity, supporting an improved state of consciousness. Various alternative health practitioners believe that crystal singing bowls are powerful tools that can help heal mental and physical ailments.
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. Notwithstanding these origins, 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.
How Crystal Singing Bowls are Made
Singing crystal bowls are mostly made of a natural element: pure quartz. These crystals are molded to shape at 4000 degrees, which is a temperature at which most impurities are burned away. Different methods of manufacturing are used for different kinds of quartz singing bowls. For example, to make frosted bowls, the mold is spun into shape, whereas to make clear bowls, quartz tubing is used. Singing bowls may also be manufactured using different kinds of quartz. For example, rose quartz singing bowls are a popular variation.
During the manufacturing process, it is very important to consider the tone of the sound that will be produced by the end product. Frosted bowls have a octave higher tone when compared to clear quartz singing bowls.
Each quartz singing bowl is digitally matched to the musical scale – C, D, E, F, G, A, B – which relates to different chakras of your body. Bigger bowls produce deeper sounds which have a more grounding effect and resonate more strongly with the physical aspect. Smaller bowls have a higher pitch which stimulates higher chakras and resonates more with the spiritual aspect.
What Makes Quartz Singing Bowls Special
Every cell in the human body has a geometric crystalline structure. This helps your body resonate with the frequencies of quartz crystals. Because quartz crystal bowls have the ability to align with your chakra, they are widely used and considered to be effective singing bowls. They can also produce the purest sounds, which can be ideal for meditation and singing bowl healing.
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.
Some energy health practitioners also 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.
Chakras and Colors
The sounds of crystal singing bowls correspond to the octave of the sound within our etheric body. Sound can be translated into color and the body may be seen as a visible frequency that produces an auric color field which reflects our emotional states of consciousness and thus our physiological status. Pure quartz crystal contains the full spectrum of light and these bowls use specific colors that compliment each chakra:
ChakraColorNoteCrownVioletBBrowIndigoAZeal PointMagentaG#ThroatBlueGThymusTurquoiseF#HeartGreenFSolar PlexusYellowENavelOrangeDRootRedC
How to Play Crystal Singing Bowls
Playing a singing bowl is an enriching activity that helps in both healing and meditation. Crystals are believed to have a living energy which, when matched your energy, can help make you feel happy, calm and relaxed.
Steps to Play:
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Use your singing bowl in a quiet and calm space.
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If you have a large singing bowl, please the rubber ring that comes with the bowl on a flat surface and set your bowl on it.
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With smaller bowls, it may be preferable to place them in hand to hear them better.
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Grasp the mallet or striker (it often looks like a pencil).
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Gently tap the outer rim of the bowl and glide the mallet around the outer edge of the rim.
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Continue gliding with constant, firm pressure to continue the ringing sound.
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You may have to practice a few times to achieve that perfect sound.
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Always use light pressure while taping the quartz bowl as they are fragile. When handled with care, these bowls can remain vibrant and beautiful for a lifetime.
Healing Properties of Crystal Singing Bowls
The ancient civilizations of India, Africa, Europe and the Orient have used sound and music as powerful healers for thousands of years. Our ancestors believed that the sacred vibrational sound can adjust any imbalance affecting our physical or emotional well-being. Based on this concept, crystal sound therapy is believed to balance your chakra and re-energize your auric field.
Each crystal singing bowl is tuned to a particular sound that resonates with a specific chakra. These bowls are also pleasing to look at and pleasant to listen to. They are used in sound healing, yoga, crystal cleansing and specially used at the beginning and end of meditation. Some experienced practitioners believe that crystal singing bowls, when played in the right way, can produce the most calming and healing sounds.
A famous oncologist, Dr. Mitchell Gaynor, used crystal singing bowl therapy on his patients to minimize and relieve pain without medication. His studies have claimed that sound healing therapy helps to create natural inner harmony in the body.
Crystal singing bowls are powerful tools to help enhance your mood and soothe your soul. Some of the healing properties of these bowls include the following:
Relaxes Your Mind
Your mind is constantly processing thoughts, often on perpetual repeat. Crystal singing bowls help stop this thought process, allowing you to relax deeply. Some of the benefits of this relaxing therapy include the following:
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Effectively reduces stress and anxiety
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Relieves physical pain
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Improves mental and emotional clarity
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Cleanses and balances chakras
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Stimulates the immune system
Helps Meditation and Healing
Crystal singing bowls help you meditate by creating more awareness in your mind. Being aware of your thoughts can help you change your negative thinking patterns and move towards positivity. In particular, positive affirmations create balance and harmony in your mind and soul by activating your physical, emotional and energy centers.
By meditating with a crystal singing bowl, you can become immersed in a soothing singing bowl sound which further helps you heal by changing your thinking patterns. All the healing happens naturally while you are enveloped by the overwhelming, magnificent singing bowl sound.
Helps Improve Sleep
Crystal singing bowls have the ability to slow your brain wave patterns, creating more delta waves. These are the dominant waves present during your sleep. In this way, singing bowls can help bring deep sleep by releasing your stress and worries.
Who All Can Benefit From Crystal Singing Bowl Therapy
Crystal singing bowl therapy can help you if you are:
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Attempting to achieve complete relaxation of your mind.
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In need of enhancement of your meditation and yoga practice.
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Seeking to balance the chakra or energy centers of your body.
Everyone can enjoy these benefits by using singing bowls. Due to the nature of our modern, industrialized lives, many pure, natural healing sounds have disappeared from our lives. We no longer commonly hear the beautiful sounds of nature such as singing birds, rustling leaves or running streams. Because of the high pitched noises surrounding us, our mind tries to shut out sounds from reaching us in an effort to protect us from constant distraction. During this process, even the beneficial sounds are filtered out.
It is believed that the pure sonic vibration from crystal singing bowls can help wake up your ability to hear. Vibration from these quartz crystal bowls moves through your body creating a relaxed meditative feeling. Alternative health practitioners believe that they help to bring health and harmony to your life by balancing your chakras.
Tips For Choosing Your Crystal Singing Bowl
Crystal singing bowls come in a variety of size, shape, tones and colors, and some even have embedded gems on them. The easiest way is to choose your bowl is to go for the one that feels right to you. This means letting the bowl sing and trying to interact with it emotionally and physically. You can also listen to sound clips to get a sense of how it feels. Allow your intuition to guide you. Once you choose the tone that connects with you, then consider the different sizes and weight of that crystal bowl.
Being aware of your affirmations and thoughts is important while playing your crystal singing bowl. Your thought process can affect the sound. You can better experience the powerful healing effect of these bowls when used deliberately and with intention.
Some Important Factors to Consider:
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Do some research. Depending on your needs, decide whether you need a large bowl or a smaller one. Determine the optimal pitch for your particular preferences.
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Practice playing your bowl and see how you can enhance your experience.
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Handle them with care. Crystal bowls are delicate and can shatter if played strongly.
Crystal Singing Bowls vs. Tibetan Singing Bowls
An important factor to be considered while choosing a singing bowl is where and how it is intended to be used. Tibetan singing bowls are a popular alternative to crystal singing bowls and can often be more suitable depending on your needs. These singing bowls are created using an ancient Tibetan formula known as “panchaloga”, which is a Sanskrit word meaning a five-metal alloy that includes copper, zinc, iron and traces of gold and silver.
There are various reasons why your needs may be better served by a Tibetan singing bowl than a crystal singing bowl.
First, metal singing bowls are very durable and can tolerate a lot of handling and movement. On the other hand, crystal singing bowls are very fragile and can easily becomes cracked or damaged during transportation or use, rendering them useless. If you wish to use your singing bowl for meditation or yoga sessions, or during travelling, then you may benefit more by enjoying the versatility and ease of transport of a Tibetan singing bowl.
Second, metal singing bowls can produce multiple harmonic tones, which is incredibly calming and helps enhance mood and create a sense of happiness. This is not something that can be achieved in the same way with crystal singing bowls, which only produce a single tone. Accordingly, Tibetan singing bowls offer a greater breadth of experience than do crystal singing bowls. Put another way, you can use a Tibetan singing bowl to create a range of sounds which you could not otherwise achieve unless you were playing several different crystal singing bowls at the same time.
Third, crystal singing bowls are generally expensive, and can cost anywhere from $150 to thousands of dollars. That said, price is not always a good indication of quality. In many cases, sellers mark up their crystal bowls considerably higher than their production cost in order to increase their profits. Unfortunately, these sellers make their crystal bowls less accessible to those who cannot afford them. Fortunately, there are some sellers that produce excellent quality crystal singing bowls but price them fairly to make them accessible to everyone (a good example is here).
However, even in this case crystal singing bowls will generally be more expensive than Tibetan singing bowls. While there are many singing bowls for sale, very high-quality handmade Tibetan singing bowls can be obtained for a reasonable price of less than $75 from certain sellers who are focused on making Tibetan singing bowls more affordable and accessible.
Conclusion
Crystal singing bowls are a way of honoring ancient wisdom with modern technology. They create beautiful sounds that can help shift your consciousness and support positive transformation.
We invite you to get your own crystal singing bowl or Tibetan singing bowl today!
Did You Enjoy This Article?
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this article, you might also like the following articles: Guided Meditation with a Tibetan Singing Bowl and Singing Bowls: Everything You Need to Know (Updated 2021)
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