How Can Sound Healing Support Creativity?

Does this sound familiar? You sit down to do some brainstorming for a work project, plan your goals for your business or enjoy a hobby like painting but you end up staring at a blank page for ages. Then, when you get in the shower or are brushing your teeth, suddenly you think of the best idea ever.

Creativity seems to be elusive. The harder you try, the harder it is to come up with creative ideas. Really, it’s about headspace or more scientifically, brain wave states. If you can get your brain into the right state, creativity flows much more easily. Sound healing, specifically crystal singing bowls, can help with that.

How sound affects the brain

The reason sound healing is so effective is because of something called brain wave entrainment. The brain automatically synchronises with the sound waves around it. So, when you are in the presence of crystal singing bowls, the healing vibrations have a direct impact on your brain waves and, in turn, bodily functions. 

The right sounds and instruments create sound waves that slow the brain waves down. That’s a good thing. Brain waves can be measured by the number of vibrations or waves per second. The unit of measurement used is Hertz (Hz). Generally, the faster the brain waves, the more alert you are and the slower the brain waves, the more relaxed you are. 

• Gamma waves (38 to 80 Hz) are the brain wave state of focus, concentration and complex problem solving. 

• Beta waves (14 to 38 Hz) are the state of activeness and alertness. 

• Alpha waves (8 to 14 Hz) are the state of relaxation and daydreaming. 

• Theta waves (4 to 8 Hz) are the state of sleep, specifically REM sleep, which is when you dream. 

• Delta waves (0.5 to 4 Hz) are the state of deep sleep and are associated with restorative processes. 

So where does creativity fit into all this? Singing bowls can help us move from beta to alpha and that’s when our brains are most creative. 

The creative benefits of alpha brain waves

Alpha is a balance between alertness (you’re still awake) and relaxation (you’re not stressed). You’re calm and connected enough to get into the flow state creatives often talk about when you’re so engrossed in the task at hand that you lose track of time. There’s a loss of inhibition where you can think differently and explore new ideas in a way you can’t when you’re tense. This is when you tend to have epiphanies and realisations.

I know when I’m in the shower, I have my best ideas. It’s not the most convenient place but it makes sense because I don’t need to concentrate on washing myself. That’s second nature. I’m also usually quite relaxed from the sensation of the warm water. So, my brain feels safe to wonder and explore. It can go down new paths and find the answers I’m looking for. 

We often daydream during repetitive or menial activities because we are in the space of calm awareness. Nothing we’re doing is stressing us out or putting a high demand on our cognition. We have room to explore mentally. 

You don’t have to wait until you’re in the shower to reach the alpha brain wave state. We can activate it holistically. 

How to use crystal singing bowls to bring out your creativity

Crystal singing bowls produce the soft, soothing sounds that slow brain waves down. In a sound bath, participants can move from beta to alpha and even theta and delta. Many experience being awake but their mind being quiet which is really rare and such a relief in this day and age. 

To drop into alpha brain waves, you might only need to play crystal singing bowls for 10 minutes. Try it for yourself and see what works for you. The act of playing prevents you from going too far into unconsciousness. You stay in the space of calm awareness. 

So next time you want to do something that involves creative thought:

• Painting, drawing or another kind of art

• Goal setting, planning or coming up with a vision

• Writing marketing, a workshop or business material

First, sit down and play your crystal singing bowls for 10/15 minutes until your brain moves from the worries of the moment to a place where it can play around with ideas. 

What I love about using singing bowls to support creativity is that it’s a chance to recognise how sound healing can support preparation as well as integration. When I collaborate with other practitioners, the sound bath is often the integration piece. For example, the monthly events I run with Josh Silver. The sound bath is a space to integrate after ecstatic dance. Don’t forget, sound healing can be used to get you into the right headspace before an activity too. 

If you are interested in starting or expanding your crystal singing bowl collection, browse the bowls we have available in the I Know This Girl shop, listen to the sound library to find the bowls that speak to you, and book a discovery call or in-person consultation so one of the team can guide you to aligned bowls.