Good vibrations
The inspiration for the 1966 Beach Boys song “Good Vibrations” came from producer and composer Brian Wilson’s mother who spoke to him about people emitting vibrations. She used the example of dogs that would bark at some people and not at others and how these dogs could pick up vibrations that were not visible to humans. Although I had heard “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys many times, I did not expect that the concept of vibrational energy would ever arise during a three day sacred plant medicine ceremony but in 2017 it did.
2017 could be best described by a phrase that Queen Elizabeth used in her 1992 speech, “annulus horribilis” or Latin for horrible year (#thecrown). My four-year-old son received a tentative ADHD diagnosis, my dog of 12 years was diagnosed with a terminal illness, I had begrudgingly taken a sabbatical from my legal practice to work on a construction project, and I was recovering from my second miscarriage.
Through a three day sacred plant medicine retreat, I scratched the surface of my suffering, grief, anxiety, and depression. On the second day of my three-day retreat, I was able to connect to the soul that I miscarried and I witnessed it being lifted away and taken into a vast space of consciousness and non-duality. The following morning I had my integration session with my ceremonial facilitator/soothsayer; she held my hand gently and told me that I had to concentrate on raising my vibration when I returned home. I questioned her at length, and she patiently explained that everything we expose our senses to has an impact on our vibrational energy, from the gross to the subtle…the music that we hear, the shows we watch, the scents we wear, the food we eat, the company we keep, and the thoughts that we think. She had artfully planted the seed, and finally two years later the seed began to germinate.
• Einstein said that “everything in life is vibration.”
Vibrational energy experts corroborate the advice that was given to me during my integration session. Emotions like joy, peace, acceptance, and contentment vibrate at higher frequencies, while emotions like fear, anger, and despair vibrate at lower frequencies. Therefore changing thoughts and behaviors can speed up or slow down the vibrations occurring at the cellular level.
Inside of our cells, our atomic and subatomic particles vibrate at characteristic rates. Different particles can vibrate at different rates depending on the conditions around the molecule, temperature, for example may impact vibration.
There are also lifestyle modifications that may be implemented to increase your vibrational energy:
Gratitude—Take a moment to appreciate what is working well in your life
Meditation and breathwork— Deep breathing calms your nervous system
Generosity—Be generous, both materially and emotionally
Diet- Eat organic foods and reduce meat, fried, or processed food when possible
Reduce alcohol and toxins from your body when possible
Spend time in nature—This can be as simple as taking your dog for a walk without your phone
Create and nurture healthy and loving relationships—Surround yourself with people who charge your energy/vibration versus people who drain your energy/vibration
Listen to and watch high vibrational media—Be discerning with social media, television, and music
Here are some of the lifestyle changes that I have made: I cook more, practicing discernment with the sourcing of ingredients; I have increased my yin and mindful yoga practice; I find opportunities to express my gratitude and generosity to my friends and family (this can be as simple as a text message); when the planets align, I focus on the sounds, smells and sights in the park when I walk my dog; and I limit social media. For me, the impact of these changes were not immediate, but gradual. I was consistent with my practice and lifestyle and slowly I began to see and growth in my mindfulness, overall health, and wellbeing.
When I take a retrospective look at 2017, I realize that it was annus mirabilis, or a remarkable year, because it marked the year that I began taking a closer look at my life. I began consciously choosing the way that I responded to life circumstances that were beyond my control. I began to open my heart and mind. I will end this blog with a Ram Dass quote:
“When I look back on the suffering in my life, this may sound
really strange, but I see it now as a gift. I would have never
asked for it for a second. I hated it while it was happening
and I protested as loudly as I could, but suffering happened
anyway. Now, in retrospect I see the way in which it deepen-
ed my being immeasurably.”
Sources:
- "Annus horribilis speech, 24 November 1992". The Official Website of the British Monarchy. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009
- Beri K. (2018). A future perspective for regenerative medicine: understanding the concept of vibrational medicine.dx.doi.org/10.4155%2Ffsoa-2017-0097
-Priore, Domenic (2005). Smile: The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece. London: Sanctuary. ISBN 1860746276
-Stanborough, R. (2020, November 13). What is Vibrational Energy? Retrieved April 16, 2023 from https://www.healthline.com/health/vibrational-energy