Cymatics – The Art of Sound

Cymatics, the study of wave phenomena, is a science pioneered by Swiss medical doctor and natural scientist, Hans Jenny (1904-1972). For 14 years he conducted experiments animating inert powders, pastes, and liquids into life-like, flowing forms, which mirrored patterns found throughout nature, art and architecture. What’s more, all of these patterns were created using simple sine wave vibrations (pure tones) within the audible range. So what you see is a physical representation of vibration, or how sound manifests into form through the medium of various materials.

Dr. Jenny’s methodology was meticulous, well doumented, and totally repeatable. His fascinating body of work offers profound insights into both the physical sciences and esoteric philosophies. It illustrates the very principles which inspired the ancient Greek philosophers Heraclitus, Pythagoras and Plato, on down to Giordano Bruno and Johannes Kepler, the fathers of modern astronomy. “In the beginning was the word…” takes on a whole new meaning while looking at these experiments!

These cymatic images are truly awe-inspiring, not only for their visual beauty in portraying the inherent responsiveness of matter to sound, but also because they inspire a deep recognition that we, too, are part and parcel of this same complex and intricate vibrational matrix.

Prepare to expand the way you look at your world. As the ancient Hindu scriptures stated: Nada Brahma, the world is Sound!

Cymatic therapy is a form of sound therapy developed by Sir Peter Guy Manners, MD, DO, PhD from England in the 1960s. It is based on the work of Hans Jenny, who coined the term “cymatics” in the mid-twentieth century. Cymatics refers to the effect of sound waves on matter, and cymatic therapy presumes that sound can have similar effects on the body.

According to practitioners, illness appears when the rhythms of the heart, brain, and other organs are not working harmoniously. During treatment, computerized instruments are used to transmit sound waves through the skin, either directed toward the diseased organ or transmitted along the acupuncture meridians. The selected frequencies are related to those that are normally emitted by the healthy body part. The signals passed through these cymatic devices are supposed to restore synchronous rhythms and boost the body’s regulatory and immunologic systems. In some of the newer cymatic devices, a magnetic field has been added to oscillate along with the sound waves.

Practitioners of cymatic therapy believe that sound waves can rearrange molecules in the body. Although the sound waves do not directly heal, proponents say that the waves promote a healing environment for the body’s cells. Available scientific evidence does not support this claim (see Music Therapy).

Relying on this type of treatment alone, and avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for cancer, may have serious health consequences.

A Brief History of Cymatics

The origin of cymatics dates back to the 18th century and the work of German physicist Ernst Chladni. Among other things, Chladni studied the speed of sound and the ways in which plates vibrate. This two-dimensional study of sound was preceded centuries earlier by Pythagoras’ studies of vibrating one-dimensional strings. Chladni’s research had immediate application in music and the construction of optimally tuned musical instruments.

The development of cymatics was furthered in the 20th century by Swiss physician Hans Jenny. He experimented with a variety of materials and forms. Most significantly he used photography to document and illustrate his findings. The often beautiful results, the Chladni patterns, captured the imagination of the public and the scientific community alike and popularized the research.

Benefits

Practitioners of cymatic therapy believe that sound is capable of rearranging the structure of molecules, and therefore has unlimited potential as a tool for healing. They claim to have successfully treated otherwise incurable and terminal diseases. At the same time, they acknowledge that some patients seem to be unaffected by sound therapy. The treatment has been used on patients with tumors, internal bruises, calcified joints, bacterial or viral infections, blood diseases, and other problems.

Description

Sound consists of mechanical vibrations that travel through a medium such as air, water, or in the case of cymatic therapy, the body. Sound healers believe that all parts of the body vibrate and therefore produce sound, either at a healthy, “harmonious” frequency, or at an inharmonious, unhealthy frequency. Using a computerized instrument, cymatic therapists direct healing frequencies into the body to restore resonance and harmony. The healing frequencies are related to those emitted by a healthy organ or body part. In this way, cymatic healers say, the immune system and other natural regulatory functions are stimulated. Frequencies may be applied directly, or transmitted along acupuncture meridians.

Cymatic therapy does not directly heal, practitioners say. Rather, it creates a near-optimal environment for organs or cells. In such an environment, they say, the body can heal itself without drugs or surgical intervention. The instrument produces as many as 800 controlled audible frequencies. The therapy may also be delivered without such equipment, with the use of instruments such as tuning forks.