Fundraiser for Tibetan Temple

It was an awesome place to do a sound healing concert. A huge home in San Diego with gardens, fountains, enormous fireplaces and expansive rooms. Setting up my Tibetan singing bowls and Chiron gong I had a feeling that the instruments were longing to sing. When Drupon Samten Rinpoche arrived with his assistant and set up Tibetan flags, jewelry and other items to sell, the setting felt complete. I played for an hour and as expected the bowls and gongs sang out like old friends. The best part was how well Rinpoche was able to express what I was doing with the instruments after the concert. He said that the music was an expression of beauty and peace. The gong I play in a textural manner and then expands into a crescendo of sound. Rinpoche said that our egos need to be overcome and the loud sound did just that- quieting the ego and allowing us to just feel ourselves in space/time without anything else going on. It was a lovely and accessible description of what I was doing. After that he offered a meditation and New Year Blessing. A perfect end to a wonderful day.

Sound Healing as a Mirror

At the end of this months intensive weekend workshop we did a partnered exercise that gave participants a view of themselves from someone else's perspective. In this way students got a glimpse of how they are perceived. One student was surprised at all the uplifting, true and lovely things that were said about her from her peers because her sense of herself was so negative. The feedback she got showed her that despite her inner critic, she is what she is.. and the jewel of that is visible to other people. Her whole being lit up as she permitted herself to open to her obvious gifts and relinquish her self sabotaging belief system. When we hold the vision of the best in others, they begin to see and experience that for themselves as well. When we speak to that, they hear it. The Sacred Sound family-Tibetan singing bowls, tingsa's, gantas and dorjes are effective tools in reawakening us to who we really are. We sentient beings are all moving, breathing instruments of sound and are capable of reawakening in others the best that is in them. As we journey into a new year I hope we can remember how powerful we are and keep blessing our environment with our love and compassionate words and deeds. Next Sound Healing Workshop is in January

New Sound Healing Video

Here is a new Tibetan Bowl Sound Healing video made by Satiama, a wonderful organization that promotes those healers, artists and musicians whose work inspire and awaken.

I have been taking tap classes.. Yep- something fun to do that taxes the brain and the feet. It's great to be creating dynamic rhythmic patterns and I now find that the sound of the patterns stay in my mind for a long time. One thing that is great about learning new things is the opportunity to examine our thoughts -to make sure they are encouraging and positive even when faced with challenges and insecurity. We humans learn by repetition- steps, words, thoughts, actions. Over time the work done with sound energy healing with the Tibetan bowls has greatly transformed my own thoughts and actions and because of it learning new things is a source of great fun rather than frustration. Sound healing brings us back to our essence again and again and that helps have a positive perspective for whatever we do.

Kripalu Yoga & Sound

Yikes! I haven't been here in a while. No matter, life gets busy. I'm here now and getting ready to do a Kripalu Yoga class to Tibetan bowls with an extended meditation at the end. I have only spoken to the yoga instructor but we both feel totally comfortable with just doing it. Playing for yoga classes is the most natural thing.. just following the movements as they happen with the sound of the bowls.. changing up the pace, the volume, the textures of sound. For the students, the sound of the singing bowls and gong goes into their consciousness and their limbs making the poses even more meaningful and effortless. It is as though the sound carries them through the movement.. At least, that has been the reports. So if you happen to be in Cardiff by the Sea, CA on November 15 at 5:30 pm, come to EZIA at the Sanctuary, 230 Birmingham Drive. This is our gift to the community so there is no charge, but you do need to register at 760-845-1400

Sound Healing Interview

Listen to this interview on Tibetan bowl sound healing with Diane at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/illuminated/2009/09/10/Luminous-Living-interview-with-Diane-Mandle

Sound Healing and Consciousness

Over the years the voice of my inner critic has changed a great deal, thanks to working with the Tibetan singing bowls. These instruments that teach compassion through their magnificent voices, that touch the soul and help us to remember who we are have made a major impact on my own life and the lives of my sound healing students and clients. It is good to once in a while, acknowledge our accomplishments and the other day, when I surprised myself with a tone of voice that did not match the image of who I want to be.. I just stopped. This voice has been part of me for a long time and pops up now and then, when I am tired, irritated or rushed. It is a voice that does not feel good to me or to the person receiving it. I am speaking here of a tone of voice rather than words used. In working with the bowls daily, I am able to access the highest part of myself. I do not require that I walk around ignoring my humanity tho.. But in this case the tone just didn't feel acceptable anymore.. I recognized that I had far outgrown the need to express myself in that way. I just released it because it no longer serves me rather than because I felt I should. The tone has been replaced by a moment.. a pause, a silence in which I can make a decision rather than a habitual reaction. The singing bowls, bring us into alignment so in using them often alignment becomes the norm rather than the exception. In this way what is not in alignment falls away simply because it feels right. I'd love to hear your stories about how the bowls have impacted on your life. Check out the websites at http://www.soundenergyhealing.com and http://www.tibetanbowlschool.com