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Sound Bath

I woke up troubled today -- uneasy in the mind, restless, searching for a way to feel better -- when I remembered a new book I'd chosen from Audible, waiting in my account for me to start listening. It's called Sound Bath. Within the first few seconds on introductory sounds, I began to feel more hopeful. The practice is called psycho-acoustics.




What is a Sound Bath? Officially, it's an immersive experience involving being quiet and listening to meditative sounds that include Himalayan singing bowls and other pleasing tonal instruments. But here, I'm extending it to the sounds of nature, at home, involving only the practice of paying attention to the birds, wind, chimes, leaf-rustles, or whatever pleasant visitors to my home. I'm a morning bird-listener, and even now, at 4:44 a.m., I am waiting with anticipation for the first songs of the day. Something in me eases, loosens, brightens when I hear them.

I don't have a sound temple like this one:


or a lot of beautiful singing bowls, gongs, and crystals, like you see here:

Calming Sound Bath

My sound temple is the greenhouse. I do have one Tibetan singing bowl, which I treasure, but when I want soothing, I can begin with no instruments at all except the birds. It helps to have three bird feeders bursting with wild bird seed.

Deborah Pena of Beautiful Voyager explains some of the benefits of bird songs:
  1. "It invokes positive memories. Bird sounds associated with enjoyable or special events help combat stress and anxiety and can ease depressive episodes, as it creates positive emotions linked with particular places and times.
  2. It shifts the focus. Listening to bird music during trying times moves the focus away from the problems at hand and leads to calm.
  3. It is a change of stimuli. We get used to the everyday sounds of city life. When we listen to bird music, it provides a break from the emotions associated with our surroundings. This short reprieve will help reduce stress.
  4. It’s a welcome distraction Bird music has the ability to effortlessly take you out of your current environment without you having to move a muscle."

  6. This book is one of my cherished possessions. It helps identify birds by song and is so fun to listen to. It's like learning the choir members' names and recognizing them as they enter the sanctuary of my yard.

  8. (painting by Marichit Garcia)
  9. I will be out in the greenhouse today, continuing to clear the bed, transplant the remaining plants into the new beds outside, and starting many new bulbs and seeds. I will be accompanied by the birds' choir. If you're a beginning bird watcher and listener, like me, you might find this useful. Enjoy your sound bath.
  10. 15 Birds and Their Songs

  12. Blessings,
  13. Tamara





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