Take music for instance - as opposed to sound. Music is wonderful, phenomenal. But most of what you consume is "overstuffed", meaning it requires many instruments, sometimes more than one voice. Rare are radio stations that will play a piece with only one sound, one instrument (one drum or singing bowl playing alone, with one single tone).
For meditation, personal reflections or centering, those instruments that just produce one sound - one vibration - with some tone subtleties, variations and layers (harmonics, partials and overtones) can have a profound role in helping you find your song, your vibration. Like a drum, bell, a singing bowl... With which you can immerse yourself in the oneness of a vibration. Breathe it in. Commune with it.
You see, when you only have one sound, one vibration to concentrate on, it is much easier for you to go into a deeper meditative, restorative or healing state.
Did you notice what we said? One tool, many uses?
Yes, you can use the same sound for any purpose that you want or need. Just like you can use the same technique for any purpose that you want or need. It is the intention that you set before you begin that changes the end result.
The key is, once you find one technique that really works for you, learn it well. Then you can apply it to whatever aspect of your life that needs attention or work. That toolbox of yours need not be so heavy and cumbersome.
What we are saying is that your societal impulse to accumulate can make you clutter your spiritual life with way too many tools or tricks. Yes, you can have a few techniques or practices that you enjoy, that help you grow, but you always have a "favorite". One that speaks to you more than the others. But your toolbox should be light, and only contain "items" that you regularly use and love. As we have mentioned before, traveling light is a good thing. And that principle can be applied to all aspects of your life. If it feels right for you.
This Earthly accumulation tendency can make some people lose their sense of "enoughness".
As if the enough setting in their life disappeared. Accumulating more and more things. And "better" things. Always upgrading. And it seems that this obsession has been extended to the spiritual as well.
I mean, if you have found something (such as a technique) that has produced results beyond your wildest dreams, your greatest expectations, why on Earth would you seek to learn another technique? Look for another tool? Time keeps speeding up, and you so often complain you do not have enough of it. At one point you just have to stop to appreciate what you have, see if it is enough, remove the extra, add what is missing, then use what you have to the fullest. "Spend out" as some people say. Do not wait for a special occasion to use that great technique of yours. Every day is a special occasion.
Once you have a complete life toolbox, then, you have enough. You apply that main tool that works for you in every aspect of your life. Perfecting it every passing day. Returning to your toolbox for extra help when you feel stuck, but mainly using what you have, and what works for you.
Once you have found all the elements in your toolbox, then all the time spent exploring new avenues or ventures is quite frankly time lost. Time that you could spend furthering the path that you have, mastering the tools, the instruments that work for you. Resting. Enjoying time with family or friends. Connecting with nature.
Avoid the temptation to keep looking for something "better". Your "life strategy" or "life survival/growing kit" is not like an electronic gadget. Once you find the right fit, that is it. Whenever you use it, it just grows, flourishes and "upgrades" with you. And you know you can not be good at everything. The more diluted your practices are, well, you are just becoming less inept at a bunch of things instead of becoming proficient in a few.
There is no need to look for a fancier model. Or one with more options or gadgets. The more you put into the tool(s) that you have, the more they give back to you in return. You feed it if you will, not the other way around. Because, well, it is simply a tool.
And yes, sometimes you do need to test out a few techniques before you come across the right one(s). Those experiments help you discriminate (discern) between the immensity of choices offered before you.
The thing is, once you find that perfect match, the ideal tool, you know. The feeling of joy knowingness will simply fill you up, expand your heart. It is an unforgettable feeling that stays with you. It is important to know what to look for and remember the feeling once you experience it, to keep yourself on track.
Diversions are everywhere. And some "sellers" use a lot of bells and whistles to get people's attention. Everybody's attention. Those who actually could benefit from those tools, as well as everybody else. Once your toolbox is complete, it is perfectly acceptable to listen to the tool sellers. For the discussion may provide you with valuable insights or trails to further master the tools in your box.
Call it browsing for inspiration. No matter how well-stocked your cupboards and fridge are, sometimes you just need to walk around the grocery store aisles to get ideas on how to use what you have at home in new and different ways. Leaving empty-handed, but with a head and heart full of inspiration.
Returning to the "one sound" element. We have an exercise for you, if you are interested. For it, you need any instrument or tool that makes one long sound vibration (bell, singing bowl, tuning fork).
- Get in a comfortable position - standing, sitting, laying down...
- Ring the bell or strike the bowl or the fork and simply listen to the sound
- Breathe into the sound
- Tune into it
- Feel it
- Immerse yourself in it
- Be with it
You can strike your instrument once, and listen to it until it completely stops. Or strike it multiple times. Or at regular intervals. It does not matter, really. We simply want you to appreciate the simplicity of One vibration.
You can also perform the exercise with a recording (CD or MP3) of one single sound. However, the act of playing with the sound, of making it, of witnessing the subtle changes in tone depending on the speed, rhythm or intensity of your action to produce the sound. You are getting acquainted with a vibration.
And after a while, if you have two singing bowls for example, you can have them both before you, and see how the difference in tone or vibration change your mood, your feelings, your perception.
You see, We have made the Messenger perform this exercise for the past few days. Of course she had no idea what We had in mind. She has done this exercise. She had to do it before she could understand. Otherwise, this message would have made no sense to her.
This is simply a tool. Your box may already be full. You may not need this. But a lot of you would greatly benefit from it. You decide. Always. If it feels right for you.
You see, by tuning into that one sound, that unique vibration, you are fine-tuning your ear. Teaching yourself how to detect and adjust your own vibration, your sound/song. So you are always able to recognize it. Wherever you are. No matter how noisy your surroundings get. Even if there is interference. Your ear is attuned to your sound, to the vibration that truly makes you shine. Guiding you on your path. Helping you find the answers within. Find your way.
You know, when your vibration is "pitch-perfect", whenever you come across anything or anyone that is dissonant, that hurts your ear if you will, that gets you a bit disoriented, you can simply excuse yourself and walk away. You just know right away when someone in your life (or a stranger) is not tuned to the same chord. No use playing competing songs. Wait for a better day.
And anything dissonant does not necessarily mean it is "bad". It just means that you are playing to a different scale - either just that day (like pianos, people can get out of tune) or in general (meaning if you take that person into your life, do not be suprised if there is a lot of disharmony).
And what sounds like a cacophony to you may be the song your neighbour has sought all his or her life. It may be the sound he or she needs to move further on his or her path.
For that reason, avoid judging or dismissing the "musical tastes" of others or "where they buy their music". Everybody's song or sound is different. It evolves as you do. And all of you are simply searching for your own sound. Identifying your unique vibration. No competition. No race.
As people find their sound, their song, their vibration, the cacophony of life as it is will transform into a beautiful symphony. You need to find the right instruments first (and not all can play the same ones). And all of that takes time, and practice.
That is all.
Much Light and Love to Everyone.
© 2011 Gaia's Daughter of Truth. All rights reserved http://gaiadaughteroftruth.
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