Using metallic instruments for wellbeing has a long and venerable history rooted deep in the mists of time. Thousands of years ago, a Bronze Age blacksmith must have discovered the trance-inducing properties of struck metal, which shamans and mystics then exploited for therapeutic and energy-clearing purposes. It's a tradition that has continued uninterrupted to the present day, and with good reason; because sound is extremely effective at stimulating a human being's innate self-healing abilities. Now, this alchemical ancient art has been re-invented for the 21st Century.
Bathing in sound
About
A gong bath is a profoundly relaxing experience. Washed by waves of sound, the body, mind and spirit enter a state of cohesion, while the vibrations of the powerful nickel-silver Planet Gongs*, Bronze gongs, Chinese gongs, singing bowls and other healing instruments cause the cells to resonate sympathetically. It’s a fast track to a state of deep meditation, perfect for quieting the busy mind, and stimulating for the body’s own natural healing abilities.
If it is the first time you’ve tried the experience, the power of a Gong Bath - sometimes known as sound massage - may be something of a surprise. The sounds of the gong vary dramatically from the quietest whisper to a primal roar; a wall of sound that resonates everything it touches, including the particles that make up our physical bodies. The Gong’s frequencies are cleansing and purifying, detoxing, relaxing, or enlivening, depending on the state in which you arrive for your session. All that is required of you is to turn up, lie down, and chill out.
Who created Gong Baths?
The tradition of using gongs in spiritual practice began, as you might imagine, in Asia; in Burma, Java, China, and Annam. The tradition was carried to the USA in the 20th Century, where Don Conreaux (the 'Don' of the Gong!) created the modern gong bath concept we see today. Don is still teaching gong playing techniques well into his 80's, and he commonly refers to gongs not as instruments, but as power tools - a description that aptly suggests the transformative power of sound.
People frequently report improvements in physical symptoms, sleep issues, and stress; and some find that sound and meditation is an effective vehicle for spiritual awakening.
Why 'Planet Gongs'?
*Planet Gongs - Hush Hour's primary instruments of choice - are tuned to specific frequencies. These frequencies are taken from the studies of mathematician and musicologist Hans Cousto, who proposed that musical intervals are the embodiment of the natural law that connects all of nature, including planetary orbits, cycles of weather, music, tone and rhythm. His unique understanding was published in a treatise called The Cosmic Octave, which was published in 1978, and is still available to buy today.
German cymbal makers Paiste were the first to create gongs using Cousto's knowledge, swiftly followed by Meinl and other gong craftsmen and women.
How are gongs made?
Gongs are made from a special alloy, and hand-hammered from a flat disc into the form seen in the attached image, using guides that dictate the pattern of hammer strikes. The edge is first tempered with fire, and then hammered into a curved shape that gives stability to the instrument; allowing for a richer sonic vocabulary and longer audio sustain. The planetary symbol is printed on the centre of each Paiste or Meinl Planet Gong. The Earth Gong is said to contain the AUM, or original seed sound of creation that brought all matter into being.
The photo of a gong being made was taken at Paiste's factory in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.To see the process, click HERE
