Cymatics, the study of sound made visible, allows us to see the precise architecture underlying matter and the nature of our reality. When we begin to investigate the coding within sound, we become more aware that the world is not random but organized by frequency. Each frequency in-forms matter through vibrational oscillations of its wave form and can be seen visually through the experiments of Hans Jenny in the 1960s, in what is commonly now known as Cymatics. Cymatics, when coupled with what we know and understand about sacred geometry, creates a language in which we gain greater understanding about health, vitality and consciousness.
First, let me help you gain a greater understanding of cymatics. Typically, sand or water (in a petri dish) is placed on a vibration plate which is then hooked up to a frequency emitting device. Either music or specific tones are played, and we can observe the visual language that coincides with the auditory signals we receive. Amazingly, we can watch what appears as random and chaotic sand, move into organized geometric structures.
A beautiful pentagonal Campanula flower, created by Nature. Right: a beautiful pentagonal CymaGlyph, created by low frequency sound Photo courtesy of: Cymascope.com
These structures increase in complexity as the frequency is increased. Observers notably see that the transition between one frequency to another appears chaotic, until suddenly we see a more refined and organized pattern appear on the plate. We can see these specific sacred geometry structures replicated throughout nature whether it be on a snail’s shell or in the shape of a flower. They are also observed in some of the most beloved architecture and even mysterious crop circles. Below are some videos illustrating the cymatics of ancient sacred sounds like “AUM ” or “OM” and known healing frequencies, like the 528HZ and Solfeggio frequencies.
History
Chladni Figures
Source: Directional Harmonic Theory: A Computational Gestalt Model to Account for Illusory Contour and Vertex Formation
The first visuals of sound were created in 1680, when Robert Hooke an English scientist, broke the visible sound barrier placing flour on a small glass plate and passing a violin bow aligning the edge of the plate and observed various patterns occurring. (Gurjar, 2015)
It wasn’t for another 100 years that a similar observation was found, this time from “the father of acoustics” German musician and physicist, Ernst Chladni. Chladni observed several geometric patterns were created which are now commonly known as ‘Chladni Figures’. Chaladni famously wrote about them in his book from 1787, “Discoveries in the Theory of Sound” (translated) which is still relevant today.
Margaret Hughes Image
Courtesy of Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery
In the 1800s Michael Faraday published a paper describing geometric ‘nodal forms’ under the effect of vibration. Later in 1885, an American Singer named Margaret Watts Hughes was able to produce “finely detailed images mirroring the brachiated structure of plants and flower water” by experimenting with an ‘eidophone’ (a small saxophone-like instrument with a membrane spread tightly over the bell in which various powders and liquid were spread). (Gurjar, 2015)
Hans Jenny and Cymatic Images
However, it wasn’t until Hans Jenny, in the 1960s began playing with a similar device known as a ‘tonoscope’ (a device of his invention similar to the eidophone but with an electro-mechanical transducer to excite the membrane), to study the effects that sound and vibration have on matter. The scientific name for this field of study is also known as, ‘Faraday Wave phenomena’ but was coined by Jenny as ‘Cymatics’. Named by Jenny and referring to the Greek word ‘kuma’ meaning to pertain to ‘waves’ or ‘billowing’, Jenny is considered ‘the father of cymatics’.
Lastly, any discussion of Cymatics would be incomplete without including the more recent work of James Reid who invented an electroacoustic device enabling one to visualize the voice, music and other sound sources, called the CymaScope. The CymaScope “makes visible the inherent geometries within sound and music by imprinting their vibrations onto pure water.” (Cymascope, 2022) According to Reid areas of research using the Cymascope include: Asteroseismology, Biology, Botany, Cardiography, Electromyography, Hematology, Musicology, Neurophysiology, Oceanography, Ornithology, Phonology, Physics, Quantum Physics, Sonocytology, Sound Therapy, Zoology.
The Law of Resonance
In order to understand the implications and applications of cymatics we must also consider the law of resonance. Resonance in physics is defined as “a phenomenon in which an external force or a vibrating system forces another system around it to vibrate with greater amplitude at a specified frequency of operation.” All matter, we know from Einstein, is energy that is vibrating at such low oscillations that it can actually be seen and although appears solid is actually just dense energy. Therefore, all matter has a “natural frequency” inherit to it. Resonance between two things occur when they operate from this same natural frequency. When an object begins to vibrate at a certain frequency it will activate other things that are operating at the same resonance without any physical touch. (Admin, 2022) This can be observed by watching two tuning forks. When a tuning fork, let’s say tuned to the Frequency of 528 is stuck, it will cause vibrations to occur with all tuning forks tuned to this same frequency within its proximity and push the oscillations of the second above its normal harmonics. However, if the forks ARE NOT TUNED to the same frequency, no resonance will occur.
When we extend this concept out to our human interactions, it becomes easier to understand why some people (even strangers) we are immediately drawn to while others repel us. This intuitive information is also physical, despite it being below the level of the conscious mind for most. We may feel a natural draw to someone, even when this is a stranger, and we have no conscious understanding as to why we may feel this away. The vibrations emanating from this person however are activating us through resonance. This frequency signature, or natural frequency, is a complex compilation of all that creates and coalescences into what we deem as “me”. Organs have a natural frequency when they are healthy and amazingly will change its frequency when dis-eased.
David Hawkins Map of Consciousness
Emotions also hold a vibration or frequency and can be seen here in David Hawkins, “Map of Consciousness”. We can see how holding lower vibrational emotions affect the whole (our natural frequency) and can influence the vibrations of those around us.
So how can we apply these scientific discoveries to our everyday lives? By beginning to view the world through this lens of frequency, we can evolve our own state of being and consciousness. If I begin to feel ‘low’ or our ‘out of touch’ with myself, I can analyze both my exterior and interior environment to understand how I may be attuning to unhelpful or unhealthy things. Just as a cymatics image of a disharmonious sound appears de-formed and gives us visual information of an unseen experience. These reflections help us to understand the significance of attuning ourselves to higher vibrational states by considering everything from the food we are eating, the company we keep and of course, the music we listen to. At The Starlight House, this is the basic underpinning of everything we do. Through light, sound and vibration we are attuning your body to harmonious and helpful frequencies of the body. These tones leave the body in a parasympathetic state, allowing self-healing to happen. Color and sacred geometries are often a part of the interior visual experience as we stimulate the 3rd eye, allowing information to be received by the higher self. Our goal is to help you achieve higher vibrational states by which you can not only live your most aligned and sacred path but be the impetus for another through your vibrational resonance.
Another important observation from working with cymatics, is the shift we experience when going from one vibration to another. As stated earlier, when the frequency tuner is tuned to a higher frequency the sand goes into chaos before re-aligning itself into its new and more complex geometric form. This new form REQUIRES reorganization of the sand during which it is not obvious what new form will appear. Often when we are amongst the chaos, we falsely believe that order has been lost and that where we are headed can only be to a lower or familiar form. However, it is this total reorganization, as uncomfortable as it may be, that is REQUIRED in order for these new intricacies to appear. In our personal lives we often see this when we make an upgrade to ourselves, no matter whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual, this change often stimulates even greater change in our lives as those out of resonance with our new vibrational state no longer feel aligned. When we resist this change, we create more friction in our lives, rather than honoring and respecting ourselves and those relationships that were only meant for a season. On a collective level, we can feel ourselves butting up to these changes and in the midst of the chaos. Between the frequency of what we once were and what we will become. WE COLLECTIVELY however have the opportunity to influence our next collective vibration. Through our individual efforts to elevate our vibrations and be in coherence, we activate through resonance those with a similar state, pushing them to even greater vibratory states. Never losing sight that although we may appear to be in a state of chaos, the next version of humanity COULD be even more complex and beautiful, it is up to us to decide. As Alan Watts says, “what looks like chaos at one level is harmony at another.” We may not yet see the pattern we are becoming, but perhaps on another plane the pattern is already clear.
Works Cited:
Journal of Consciousness Exploration & Research| January 2020 | Volume 11 | Issue 1 | pp. xxx-xxx 100 Christianto, V., Susilo, K., & Smarandache, F., Roles of Cymatics & Sound Therapy in Spirituality & Consciousness
Admin. (2022, May 15). Resonance – Definition, Examples & Resonant Frequency With Formula. BYJUS. https://byjus.com/physics/resonance/
Gurjar, A. (2015). Analysis of patterns of healing sounds using cymatics. http://www.academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/93216950/Analysis_of_Patterns_of_Healing_Sounds_Using_Cymatics?sm=b
Cymascope. (2022, January 26). Cymatics History – Cymascope. Cymascope – Cymatics and the Cymascope Device for Sound Research. https://cymascope.com/cymatics-history/