The cycles of the year, shaped by the changing seasons and lunar rhythms, remind us of nature’s intricate harmony, where each cycle seamlessly supports life’s continuity and renewal.
At the heart of this natural rhythm lies the December Solstice. This is the astronomical point when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. On December 21st, the solstice reminds us to reconnect with nature, find balance, and celebrate the cycles of life.
In this blog, we explore how facilitating or attending a sound bath can help us align with the changing seasons and connect more deeply to the rhythms of nature, with a focus on the December solstice.
The December Solstice Is A Moment Of Renewal
Many believe that the December solstice symbolises balance, marking a pivotal moment in the celestial dance of light and darkness.
Observing this dynamic, this yearly occurrence is a gentle reminder of the biorhythms we are connected with in our lives.
The Power Of Sound Baths For Seasonal Connection
Sound baths have been used for ceremonial and spiritual purposes for many years.
People are drawn to them, and they are becoming increasingly popular. A sound bath involves participants becoming immersed or bathed in waves of sound.
Usually, the group rests comfortably on the floor to receive the sonic event from the sound artist or facilitator. The event can last from 15 minutes to 90 minutes. Many participants have reported that the vibrations of these healing sounds help relax their minds and bodies.
You can create a soundscape for yourself or others in your community. Typically, they are hosted in a quiet space inside or outside. They can incorporate specially selected instruments like crystal singing bowls or gongs. Some people find that chimes and percussion instruments add another layer of depth to an already immersive experience. Short periods of repetitive patterns of sound can aid relaxation. The brain can recognise and time into such patterns.
Playing gently and mindfully can promote increased well-being. This can be calming and supportive for those who find meditating difficult. Sound baths can work very well as a sense of occasion.
Gathering people together to mark the rhythms of the world and seasonal changes can be very powerful. You can host such a gathering to mark the solstice in nature, at a local community hall, at your home or even online. Such an event, where people experience music and rhythm together, might evoke primal emotions from when we gathered in early communities; it might even promote the rebalancing of emotions.
At the very least, people can feel safe and connected.
How To Align Sound Healing With Seasonal Energy
Sound, rather than music, would have been common in prehistoric communities. People would have sourced a variety of tools to create instruments, perhaps creating rhythms using animal bones, clay pots, or wood.
It doesn’t necessarily need verbal language to create meaning. Messages can be experienced through music and sound without verbal communication. Sounds can mirror the light and dark of the seasons by changing the shared textures and experiences of light and dark. Cycles of sound textures, as well as seasonal shifts, can affect our mood. Such experiences transcend geographical regions.
As the Northern Hemisphere moves through the winter solstice, we might feel a shift in consciousness. Deep reflection might be encouraged using grounding instruments such as gongs. The vibration of Tibetan singing bowls or healing tuned pipes can root us in the Earth. And incorporating drums can support the contemplative nature of the occasion. Setting the intention for these vibrations to inspire inner stillness and reflection can help create a space for personal renewal.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the energy of summer might inspire you to play instruments such as crystal singing bowls, Zaphir chimes, or bar chimes. These instruments can create bright, expansive tones that align well with summer vibrations. Setting the intention for these sounds to inspire creativity and joy can help us connect with the surrounding environment and celebrate the sun’s energy.
Integrating The Concepts Of Nadam In Sound Bath Celebrations
We don’t necessarily need to have sound healing instruments on hand. One of the most powerful instruments is our voice. The traditional Sanskrit term “nadam” refers to the concept of “sound” or “sound current”. In many Eastern traditions, sound is understood as a cosmic vibration. Some call this sound the inner OM.
This primordial sound is sometimes called the source of all creation, underlying all phenomena in the universe. When we make the sound OM, we can feel it as a physical sound vibration, connecting us to our body. However, it also resonates spiritually, so it is a very useful sound for meditation.
A sound bath facilitator might use the voice alone for their gathering or celebration. The voice is highly adaptable. For winter, you can adopt grounding sounds, like humming. These can connect us to powerful energies deep within us and the earth. We can celebrate the season’s energizing renewal in summer by using range gliding.
The voice alone can produce frequencies that align with all the seasons. Within sound, there is silence. We can use silence within a sound bath. It is a powerful tool! A few moments of silence can give more meaning to the sounds and rhythmic vibrations that come before and follow it. Silence can help create contrast. It can help give the sounds meaning by building a moment of anticipation and then release, or it can help anchor us within a rhythm.
Much as the silence between sounds gives sound its meaning, the solstice invites us to pause, to be still, and to reflect on the meaning of our own lives. It is an opportunity to honor the dualities that define our world – rest and activity, silence and sound, light and dark, north and south, endings and beginnings.
By aligning ourselves with these natural rhythms, we find renewal and balance. In some traditions, “nadam” refers to this cosmic vibration’s auditory perception. This is why listening is often incorporated into sound healing, meditation, and spiritual development practices.
Listening Exercise: Stillness For Inner Peace & Balance
In our life’s course, the biorhythms that we are connected with call for moments of rest.
The word “solstice” is derived from the Latin for “sun” and also “to stand still.” We would like to invite you to consider this for a moment. What does it mean to be still?
- Find a comfortable space, seated or lying down.
- Place a finger in your ears. Don’t use any force; a light touch can support this exercise.
- Try to focus on the sounds you hear within your ears for a few moments.
- What do you hear?
- As you begin to settle into the stillness, do you notice anything? Perhaps your breath? Or ocean sounds? Maybe even bells or chime-like sounds.
- These sounds are our inner sounds. When we connect to them often enough, we find calm and a sense of balance.
Consider using this moment of stillness and self-connection as part of your solstice celebrations.
Observing A Moment Of Peace In The Cyclical Calendar
Another technique you might like to incorporate into a sound bath when celebrating the December solstice is “damping”. This is where you use a tool or hand to gently lessen the vibrations, allowing the sound to slowly fade.
This echoes the solstice as one season fades to another. Eventually, the sound might stop; this quiet pause is a useful marker, a poignant moment before a new cycle begins.
In these quiet moments, we have time to reflect, breathe and embrace any changes that might be on the horizon. The relationship between sound and silence reflects balance. As silence amplifies sound’s effect, the solstice’s stillness offers a moment for reflection and renewal.
Are You Part Of Our Ever-Widening Community?
If this blog interests you and you’re not already part of our lovely community, we warmly invite you to join us!
At The Sound Healing Academy, we learn and grow together, and we are confident that we can offer you a space where you can find like-minded people and experience sound in a meaningful and enriching way.
You can sign up for our Newsletter or learn about our In-Person Training Workshops and Online Sound Healing Courses. Whether through a course or picking up tips from our social media, what we offer here is backed by expert research.
If you host a sound bath or participate in one, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you!
Our Sound Therapy Shop Gift Card
Did you know that The Sound Healing Academy offers gift cards that can be purchased from our Sound Therapy Shop?
Giving the gift of a sound healing instrument is an opportunity for the receiver to begin their own sounding journey, which may help them achieve inner peace! Check out our USA Gift Cards and UK Gift Cards, and let your loved ones choose what resonates with their soul!
And…to wrap up our blog, may this December solstice bring you harmony and new beginnings, be it through a sound bath or a moment of silence and reflection! As we consider our place on Earth, let us share with all the others who celebrate the North and South solstice.
What To Read Next
References
Bartel L, Mosabbir A. (2021)Possible Mechanisms for the Effects of Sound Vibration on Human Health. Healthcare (Basel). 8;9(5), 597. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9050597.
Lyon D. (2021) A Time to Reflect and a Time to Move Forward. Oncol Nurs Forum. 4;48(1):9-10. doi: 10.1188/21.ONF.9-10. PMID: 33337435
Sukhbir, S (2022) Efficacy of Singing Bowls in Childhood Asthma—A Pilot and Feasibility Study, Sound and Vibration. 56(3), 245-253. doi:10.32604/sv.2022.016139
Øverland S, Woicik W, Sikora L, et al. (2020) Seasonality and symptoms of depression: A systematic review of the literature. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. 29, e31. doi:10.1017/S2045796019000209
Winthorst WH, Bos EH, Roest AM, de Jonge P (2020) Seasonality of mood and affect in a large general population sample. PLOS ONE 15(9), e0239033. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239033