Crickets and catbirds and crows, oh my….

I enjoy a morning ritual of yoga and when weather permits I take my practice outside to my deck.  I find that connecting to nature immediately upon rising is a nurturing and grounding way for me to start my day.

At the break of dawn one morning, my auditory senses seemed to be more tuned in than usual as I became keenly aware of an amazing orchestra of sounds.

Against the soothing backdrop of water flowing from my fountain, there was the harmonic toning of crickets, the mewing sound of a catbird and the distinct cawing of crows.  Their individual contributions made me realize the impact that sound has on our experiences. 

A goal of feng shui is to engage our senses and become more aware of our environment.  By doing so, we can analyze how the energy in certain spaces make us feel, and incorporate beneficial changes.  

It is said that the sound of our mother’s body is the first sensory experience we have in the womb.  Before it can see or smell, a fetus can hear.  I think this is pretty amazing.

The use of bells and wind chimes is common in feng shui, primarily because their vibrations serve to change energy and purify a space. 

Research indicates that various types of sounds such as the human voice, music, drumming, lapping ocean waves and chirping birds all serve to heal the body.

Conversely, because we absorb the energy of sound, an environment filled with TV violence, loud/irritating noises or negative words can have detrimental effects including a rise in blood pressure, muscle tension and stress.

Consider the emotional impact that sound has on you.  Like most things in life, balance is the key. There are times you need the lively chatter of conversation as you connect and laugh with family and friends.  Other times you may need stillness so you can gather your thoughts or concentrate.  

Technology can be quite distracting and can lead to stress. Turning down the noise in your environment will help to turn down the noise in your mind. 

Check out CDs that use nature as instruments, or open the windows and let the real-time sounds of the natural world bring in a sense of community and calmness to your environment. 

Nature offers free sound therapy – what a shame if it falls on deaf ears.